Vertebrate Publishing: Smart Running out now, offering a reliable resource for runners looking to develop

There is a lot of information out there for runners who are looking to improve but few reliable sources that provide evidence-based advice. Smart Running, by Jen and Sim Benson, is your go-to guide to basic training principles, the interplay of body and brain in endurance sport, nutrition, injury, technique, gadgets, racing and kit. This book will be particularly useful for runners who’ve taken up the sport in the last couple of years and are looking to try new things – such as ultras, trail running and multi-days – or new runners looking for a reference.

Written in an enjoyable and interesting style, the book is brought to life with photography and stories from a range of inspiring runners.

Co-author Jen Benson said, ‘We’ve both read many, many running books, and have a bookcase full at home. But we found there was a divide between the serious science-focussed running books and the chattier, advice-based ones. We also found many books were narrow in scope, aimed at a specific group of people, or those training for a specific race distance, or those who wanted to know about kit and navigation. We felt there was a big gap for one book that tackled everything – because runners (like us) are interested in everything there is to know about running!’

Running is one of the most popular sports in the UK and, with gyms, swimming pools etc shut during lockdown has prompted a lot more people to go running. Between March and June 2020 858,000 people downloaded the Couch to 5k app, designed to get people running. Statistics show that around 7 million people in England run regularly and 2.3 million Brits have done parkrun. Brits spend over £600m per year on running shoes and apparel.  

Smart Running’s USP is that it’s based on solid science but explained in a very accessible way, and also includes plenty of good ‘how to’ content – whereas other running training books tend to read more like textbooks or be based around non-technical ‘how to’.

Jen Benson is a trained practitioner in mindfulness for runners, a growing area in running, which feeds into the book’s content on motivation and self-determination, goal setting, habits, imagery and if-then planning, self-talk, knowing your ‘why’ and voluntary slow breathing.

The book also includes other topics not covered by other training guides such as diversity and inclusion in running, the differences between male and female runners, women and ultrarunning, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postnatal running, the menopause, what happens as runners age.

Smart Running was published on 18th April and is available now from Adventure Books by Vertebrate Publishing.

Click here to order your copy. 

Check out the Vertebrate Publishing RIA Foundation Member profile here  .