Edith’s review of James Fixx’s bestseller, The Complete Book of Running, was published in the May/June 1978 issue of Inside Running Magazine.
When I bought The Complete Book of Running as a gift, I made the mistake of looking through the pages before gift-wrapping it. Before I knew it, I had read straight through the book well into the night. It’s that kind of book! A new runner could be hooked by page 2, planning his or her first marathon by page 193, with aspirations for Boston by page 204.
James Fixx writes from personal experience as well as from ample resource material. The book is divided into 3 parts: ‘The Whys of Running’, ‘The Art of Running’ and ‘The World of Running.’
Dr. Robert Jones, preventive medicine specialist, cites 15 factors which increase the likelihood of having a heart attack. All 15 can be reduced through exercise, especially running. Says Fixx “If not directly, indirectly, because anyone who becomes a regular runner will probably stop smoking, eat less and eat greater portions of wholesome food.”
The author cites studies that have shown the positive effects of running on the aging process, the pleasure of sex, and mental changes. In fact, Fixx devotes an entire chapter on “What Happens to Your Mind.” There are comparative charts such as calories used in popular sports, i.e. golf (200) vs. running (1,000) per hour, and the corresponding physiological result to the body from the various sports comparing the effects of the cardio-respiratory system, balance, weight control, digestion, sleep, etc. Running wins overall on all the benefits.
Quoted. With some amusement is an excerpt from the now famous article by Dr. J.E. Schmidt which appeared in Playboy Magazine March 1976 edition, “Jogging Can Kill You,” with portions of the exchange of letters between Dr. Schmidt and Dr. George Sheehan (the famous medical expert on running), the latter countering all of Dr. Schmidt’s claims.
Very early in the book the reader gets into the serious aspects of jogging and running; first steps, taking stock of what kind of shape you’re in, medical checkup and stress test “if you have any doubts about your health.” The author hastens to point out that “beginning runners who are badly out of shape or who try to do too much too fast, almost always have trouble” but “most can start out with just a little activity and gradually build themselves up.”
This leads into warming up, where to run, how fast, how far, soreness, and finally an entire chapter on “Getting Thin.” READ THIS if you are serious about running and have put off losing weight.
Fixx is writing for the serious runner by Chapter 7…techniques of training for speed and endurance. There’s a really great chapter on “Racing” with good tips for winning and improving records.
A chapter devoted to the “Mythology of the Woman Runner” will be of particular interest to women runners. It’s tremendously objective. A tantalizing “Over Forty” chapter with words of hope tells us how we actually improve with age and tells of the joy of getting into new age groups to better the chance of winning. “Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you should do less” and a “middle-aged marathoner needs to run as many miles as a younger one.”
Encouragement is also given to the much older runner with the story of a group of sedentary old people who started training and became almost as fit as long-time athletes. Parents will enjoy the chapter on kids, “they’re faster and tougher than you think.”
Finally, a section to help us through the problem of fitting running into our busy lives and schedules, to justify the time it takes to train and keep in shape, the hours running takes away from other interests and hobbies, not to mention wives and husbands, families and friends.
We are admonished to keep ever before us the importance of continuing our running, in spite of many obstacles. “One of the nicest bonuses in running is that you need no equipment.” This is a nice lead-in to the chapter on “Gear.” It doesn’t matter what you look like, and there is good advice on shoes, clothing, etc.
A must for Houston runners is the section on “Heat.” Also discussed is altitude training, wind, fog, cars, people (harmless and hell-bent) and dogs.
Other interesting subjects included: how to avoid chapping, stretching to avoid injury, runner’s knee, shin splints, blisters, cramps, side stitch. There’s a good section on nutrition with a lot of common sense thrown into the pot. “There’s no proof that special foods or extra vitamin supplements are necessary as long as people eat a normal, balanced diet.”
Also discussed is fasting, carbohydrate loading, vitamins, coffee, sugar and alcohol. Dr. Bassler, the controversial pathologist, says, “Alcohol is responsible for fewer deaths than such everyday foods as sugar, starch, and saturated fats.” But Fixx adds, “if you want to become really serious about running, you may decide to stay away from alcohol altogether.” Surprisingly, Fixx also devotes four pages to the vegetarian diet, its pros and cons, and included a delicious sounding recipe for Wheat Loaf which could be tempting to a confirmed meat eater.
Boston Marathon veterans will delight in Fixx’s personal memories of that marathon complete with a highly original map of the 26-mile course.
As if these fact-filled chapters are not sufficient reading, there are appendixes on “Everything You Need,” a guide to shoes, gear, publications, organizations; “The Physiology of Running” written in simple language; and one on “How to Take the Harvard Step Test”; and a select bibliography.
If James Fixx left out anything, I’d like to hear about it, for it is certainly The Complete Book of Running. You can’t lose on this one!
Edith Kokernot is a Gulf AAU Master Champion and a member of the Houston Masters Sports Association.