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I've created a set of links for the best websites that have been made running in the US and the upper Midwest. The best sites I have discovered in my multiple years of searching are displayed here. They are ranked according to their value in their respective category. If books are more of your thing, I've also included an annotated bibliography at the bottom. I've ranked them according to how much I enjoyed them, but even the tenth book is just about as good as the first. I have some quotes from each book, as well as my opinion on each.
Runner's
World
The leading comprehensive running magazine in
the US also has a massive website. Updated daily, it contains a neat searchable
calendar that allows the user to find any RW-sponsored
race in the world.
Track
and Field News
My personal favorite website for the sport of
track and field. Keeps the authoritative lists
of US national records. The Hot
Links, updated weekly, are the best track and field links for the current
week.
Dr.
Stephen Pribut's Running Injuries Page
This is one of the best sites for running injuries and on proper form.
It's laid out very nicely with links to every important article on the site.
High School Runner
Site maintained by Runner's World. Has a comprehensive listing of summer
camps for all ages.
United States Track and Field Long Distance
Running Division
The homepage of the committee that oversees American national distance
runners.
Running Times
Homepage of a medium-sized magazine. Contains a nice pace
chart.
Asics Track
and Field Shoes
Official page about my favorite shoe brand, Asics.
Track Online
Works as an automatic search engine based on the topic the user selects at
the opening page.
Wisconsin
Interscholastic Athletic Association
A website about the best high school runners in
Wisconsin. The track
section contains the previous year's state meet
results, state meet
records, and some other
links. The cross country
area has past results as well.
Raceberry
Jam
A collection of websites on NCAA Division III running, as well
as Minnesota high schools. The webmaster maintains a constant list of
national qualifiers for the D3 Indoor
and Outdoor
Championships.
The
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Men's Cross Country
The team homepage for one of the best D3 teams in the country.
It has an updated roster
and results for the past several seasons.
Wisconsin
Cross Country Coaches Association
Has near-complete coverage of the Wisconsin high school cross country
season. Updated after many meets during the season.
The
University of Wisconsin-Madison Men's Cross Country
The homepage of the best Midwest collegiate running program. Has a team
roster with bios, schedule, and results.
Wisconsin InterScholastic
Track Coaches Association (WISTCA)
A newer page with an archive
of Coaches' All-State teams.
Wisconsin
Boys' High School Track Honor Roll
Updated weekly, it has the top 15 ranked performers in each track and field
event, regardless of division. The site is maintained by Jack Rauwerdink
of Oostburg, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference
An in-depth website with links to every conference team's websites.
Wisconsin
Cross Country Camp of Champions
Homepage for one of the top summer high school camps in the Midwest.
Midwest Foot Locker Cross
Country
Contains results of every Midwest championship since its inception in 1985.
The
Wisconsin Runner Racing Team
Homepage of the 2000 National Cross Country Champs.
Leader-Telegram
Buckshot Run (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)
Page on one of the "top ten running events in Wisconsin."
Annotated Bibliography
Jordan, Tom. Pre:
The Story of America’s Greatest Running Legend.
Emmaus, Pennsylvania:
Rodale Press, Inc., 1997.
This is my personal favorite book about running.
Steve Prefontaine’s life is a tragic story and the author does an
excellent job of portraying the real Pre. Jordan’s
prose is smooth and an easy read. Only
168 pages, so it is over quick, too.
“These memories two decades ago were given without prodding, sometimes eagerly, as if grief could be mitigated by sharing…Indeed, many at the time still spoke of him in the present tense, saying, ‘Pre runs that third lap hard,’ or ‘Steve likes to wear purple a lot’” (1).
Galloway, Jeff. Galloway’s
Book on Running. Bolinas,
California: Shelter
Publications, Inc.,
1984.
Galloway’s book is complete for nearly any running topic.
Workout plans, physiology, and nutrition are researched in-depth.
Not necessarily for beginners, but it still is an excellent book.
“I guess I was the equivalent of a ski bum, working for college degrees in history and social studies during the school year and following the racing circuit in the summer. I’d had some wonderful times those summers-rich and varied experiences. I’d made lots of friends, shared the joys and agonies of racing with other competitors, traveled abroad, and seen practically every state in the union” (10).
Fixx, Jim. The
Complete Book of Running. New
York: Random House,
1977.
This book is the classic novel from the running boom of the
1970’s. It’s a pleasure to
read. Fixx goes in-depth about the
healthful effects of running.
A bit from the introduction:
“Although my thighs ached and my lungs burned-it didn’t help that I had
smoked two packs of cigarettes a day-I kept at my running.
I wanted very much to avoid another pulled muscle.
Three or four times a week I would shuffle a half-mile or so, seldom
more. When the pressures of work
became too great, I work stop all together, but sooner or later, I always
drifted back to it” (xvii).
Scott, Steve, and Marc Bloom. The Miler. New
York: Macmillian, 1997.
The autobiography of the American national record holder in
the mile. Covers his entire running
career from high school until the writing of the book.
A nice read.
“Just because I can tolerate pain doesn’t mean I
don’t fear it. I do. The pain is like a bad headache that travels through your
entire body. Just when you need to
speed up, the ache takes over and you want to slow down.
Your muscles and joints, tendons and ligaments, heart and lungs l have to
work overtime while lacking vital oxygen. That
hurts” (xii).
Watts, Denis, Harry Wilson, and Frank Horwill.
The Complete Book of
Middle Distance
Running. London:
Stanley Paul, 1972.
If you’re curious about the workouts of world-class
athletes, this is the book for you. It
has the plans for the record holders of the 70’s. Pretty interesting tome.
“…This is why I disagree with the coach who says ‘I
treat everyone alike-all my athletes do the same sort of training.’
If one method was right for every runner, then this sort of coach would
produce world-beaters year after year” (11).
Bloom, Marc. Cross
Country Running. Mountain View,
California: World
Publications, 1978.
A book devoted to the fall sport of cross-country.
It paints an excellent view of what the sport means to the competitors. I would highly advise any reader not to take the workouts
suggested seriously, though. They
are inappropriate for any non-world class runner.
“Yet it was not until the 19th century that
cross-country began to gain a shape and structure…In fact there is an
interesting historical parallel between the development of cross-country in
England and baseball in America” (8).
Henderson, Joe.
Jog, Run, Race. Mountain
View, California: World
Publications, 1977.
A guide for beginners.
It has a step-by-step plan for starting up that continues to take even a
novice to a more experienced level.
“‘Whenever I feel the urge
to exercise, I lie down until it goes away.’
I don’t know who said that. And
when I had the urge to look up the exact words and who uttered them, I laid down
until it passed. But whoever it
was, he has lots of people practicing his advice” (2).
Johnson, Joan.
The Healing Art of Sports Massage.
Emmaus,
Pennsylvania: Rodale Press,
Inc., 1995.
The best book I’ve found on
one of my favorite relaxation techniques: massage.
It covers massage techniques for numerous other sports, as well.
The book is a very practical guide.
“This book contains the most
practical information that you will want to explore the beginning.
If you’ve never done massage before, don’t worry.
Like sports themselves, massage is so natural that everyone is capable of
it” (x).
Schubert, John.
Running: A Celebration of the Sport and the Best Places in
the World to Enjoy It. New
York: Byron Priess/Richard Ballantine, Inc.,
1992.
“It’s a quiet, snowy night. The road is coated with an inch of snow, a perfect consistency that offers just enough traction for my running shoes. No fool is out driving in this weather, but I’m bounding down a country road, enjoying the view” (1).
Bannister, Roger.
The Four-Minute Mile. New
York: The Lyons Press,
1955.
The first sub-four minute
miler’s autobiography. Old and
sometimes awkward, it still is a very interesting historical read.
Bannister tells a neat story.
“My body had long since exhausted all its energy, but it went on running just the same. The physical overdraft came only from greater willpower. This the crucial moment when my legs were strong enough to carry me over the last few yards as they could never have done in previous years. With five yards to go the tape seemed to recede” (214).