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 enlarge | Author: Dawn Dais
Publisher: Seal Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $8.44
You Save: $6.51 (44%)
New (27) Used (8) from $8.39
Avg. Customer Rating:  55 reviews
Sales Rank: 5376
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 220
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 1580052053
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.42082
EAN: 9781580052054
ASIN: 1580052053
Publication Date: January 3, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080818211952T
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| Customer Reviews:
Running in spite of myself June 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I had not run a race in 10 years. This did not bother me at at all. Until about 6 months after I was diagnosed with a serious kidney condition and my doctor uttered the words " Well, you'll probably never run a marathon, but you can still exercise." A few days later I saw Dawn Dais's book The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for Women in REI, and picked it up. As I started to flip through the pages I knew then that my little Asian doctor was going to be wrong, oh so very wrong.
Dawn Dais's book not only encouraged me to train and finish the 2008 San Diego Rock and Roll marathon, it also just plain made me laugh out loud every step of the way. Too many runners take themselves so seriously it intimidates all the rest of us flailing along the trail. If you love sarcasm and have a gift for laughing at yourself you will love this book. It makes even more sense if you've ever trained for a really long race as an adult, having never really done anything more strenuous than Spanish club in high school.
OK! I am on my way to 26.2 and it is all Dawn's fault June 5, 2008
As usual I came up with a great idea... I will run a marathon! This latest idea was met with the usual roll of the eyes and "just letter have her little dream" attitude. I started looking for information on running and came across this book. I headed on down to the bookstore (because wild ideas and inpatients are some of my most charming qualities) and I couldn't wait to have it shipped. I had to have it NOW! I read it cover to cover and about 80% out loud to the whole family. We were all cracking up and it has motivated me to get off my A double snakes and really do this. Now... I have run in the past... but not the last 5 years so we will see how it goes but this book is a true inspiration and a joy to read... even if you're not going to try something insane like run for 26.2 miles. READ IT READ IT READ IT... Aloha and see you on December 14th at the finish line... Hopefully not on a stretcher!
 Great inspiration, a bit overboard on the training... May 20, 2008
Like many of the reviewers here, I loved reading the book. Dawn's writing style reminds me a bit of a cross between Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry with a healthy dose of Young Woman thrown in. My sister recommened this book to me because she was convinced that either I wrote it (though there is no way I'll run a marathon; I'll follow along on a bike if needed), or that the writer knows me because the attitude of the writer is similar (a rare complement from my sister, since I liked the book).
First, though, unless you are blessed to live within an urban/suburban area complete with running trails, parks, running clubs, stores with Shoe People that actually know what kind of shoe is needed for a suppinator versus an overpronator, several hours a week you can devote to running and not, oh, let's say, cleaning a house and work, a few friends who are already runners and a couple of coaches thrown in, then you can pretty much ignore all that advice (y'know, running trails, running stores/friends/coaches, etc), and just focus on the humor and inspiration that seems to permeate the book.
IMHO, much more than training schedules (for goodness sakes, I plan to train 4 months for a little bitty 5K, not a flippin' marathon, so I think that her training schedule was a little bit on the insane side), are Dawn's insights, observations, common sense advice (Advil and bags of peas, plus a great running bra), and sense of humor make this book readable and REAL. Running ain't pretty. It's sweat and your heart trying to pound it's way out of your chest, and GU (frankly, I preferred the mushed bananas) and sore body parts that haven't been used in decades and toned legs and the ability to eat carbs - though gee, think there's a hint there as to why she wasn't able to lose any weight?.
I love how she points out her own motivation to run a marathon, her own personal growth as she manages to surprise those who know her by not quitting, and her words to the reader that there will awful days as well as good ones, that make this more of an inspirational/motivational book rather than a training one.
I am re-starting to run/jog/hobble after literally running away from running over 15 years ago, and very quickly just substituted the term '5K' for 'marathon' in the book, and well, it works for me. I don't know if I'll ever be insane enough to run a marathon, but at least I can try to find the humor in it all as I ice my poor knees...
Great Read!! May 17, 2008
This is such a good book. I don't think I have ever laughed so much while reading a book before this one. It is a really good story with some great tips if you are trying to get started in running.
Hilarious Account - but not really a training guide... May 1, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
First let me say that I loved this book. The author is a natural at not only being a superb writer, but getting lots of laughs from the reader as well. I consider this a very RARE combo, thus the 4 star rating.
If it's so great, why take off a star? Well, I ordered the book b/c I'm training for a marathon (very, very beginning training), and the title struck me as a sort of Holy Grail of getting off my bum and getting going.
Well, not so much. I would not consider this a training manual as much as it is a personal (and VERY funny) account of one non-athletes' quest to complete a marathon.
I didn't find solid info that applied to me -- and really I haven't seen or heard any evidence that it is safe or reasonable for a non-athlete to prep for a marathon in just four months.
I have used and would recommend other sources to come up with a solid training plan (i.e., "Marathoning for Mortals", by John Bingham).
On the other hand, I would highly recommend this as a very funny read about running and marathon training.
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