Runner's World Run Less Run Faster: Become a Faster, Stronger Runner with the Revolutionary 3-Runs-a-Week Training Program

I really like the plans in this book. I have had several knee injuries in recent years, so trying to minimize the amount of running I do while still trying to improve my times is important to me. This book gives you specific workout plans for 5k, 10k, half and full marathons, all with detailed information about how fast you should run each workout based on your current time. You run three times per week, but they are all fairly intense runs!They also include cross training workouts to do twice per week, and strength training and stretching workouts. This book also includes marathon training plans for multiple Boston qualifying times. Even though you are only running three days per week, you can pursue and achieve ambitious goals with these training plans.

I am 47 y/o and have been using Run Less, Run Faster for the last two years to help achieve my goal of a sub 1:40 half marathon. I have been very happy with the three quality runs each week. I do the speed/interval run and tempo run on treadmill, and long run outdoors. They are very challenging runs, but usually am pleasantly surprised after I complete these sessions. I use the pelaton for pretty hard rides on the cross training days. I have more energy for the runs and have had much less issues with injuries. I strength train for 45 mins twice per week. I plan to continue using this training book

It’s a really good book! My personal issue is that I’ve always been bad at my many attempts at running because I’m bad with numbers. I hold a masters in a mental health field, but just don’t do well with the calculations for times/distances, especially while exercising. I never remember what rep I am on etc. That being said, the book does a great job at providing charts for times and intervals etc. I was excited to get out in the community to find a distanced track to begin, but am coming up empty. I can find a straight path (in measured) but the times/distances always become jumbled during the training. I am hoping someone can recommend an app that these training plays are already on, or that there is an app in the works. 🤞

I had been using the revised edition for the past couple of years. I have experienced good improvement in my times; however, I never really used the strength and stretching exercises. I recently came across the new third edition and noticed that they added a chapter to the book (chapter 16) that gives excellent detail of what strength and stretching exercises to do by day of the week. This is really easy to follow so I incorporated these into my daily workouts. Interestingly, once I incorporated those my times began to fall even more and no more nagging little injuries. For me, the addition of this chapter is worth the price of the book. It’s a great plan as long as you ease into it (if you are starting from little experience), follow it consistently, and are honest about your abilities. I have had really good results with it over the past few years that I have been using it and as an older runner it has kept me free of serious injuries.

Very helpful book to extend your training even if you are not an active runner.

My partner and I chose this plan for our last marathon primarily due to the cross-training: as cyclists with events and races that overlapped some of the marathon training schedule, we didn't want to abandon cycling in total favor of running.This plan has some hard runs, and I appreciated all the charts but it was a bit of work to cross-reference all of it. Neither of us quite hit the pace the book said we could hit, we were both close and both set new personal records.We'll be using this plan for our next training cycle!

This is my second copy, the original is stained with sweat, dirt, sport drink, a little blood here and there, pencil notations, postit notes, and since it was not up to date with Boston times, I decided to replace it with the latest edition. This plan got me to Boston. My first qualifying attempt was a disaster, I trained using mostly a "pile up the miles" attitude and it didn't work, not even close. Then I bought RLRF, followed the plan and qualified with 14 minutes to spare. I was never tired or injured during the training cycle. I used swimming as my cross train. I even learned to look forward to interval Tuesday. Early on I had some questions so I emailed the author(s). Got a response within 24 hours answering my questions and offering advice. That's nice!

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