Best Endurance Training Books

Book rating updated 9.05.2024

Push your limits! Ranking the best endurance books of all time – the most popular endurance training books a must read.

  1. Born to Run

    4.7
    24 496 ratings
    Christopher McDougall
    The wonder of being able to run through such conditions by the Tarahumara Indians – known as the tribe with the ability to run long distances across the globe – reveals their amazing tenacity. The book is about adventure, personal discovery and scientific investigation. It questions whether those highly sophisticated modern running shoes really have helped or hampered such achievements, and whether simplicity and nature could revolutionize the training of runners. The result is a captivating race that promises to redefine the barriers of human capacity, keeping both eyes on new insights into health, happiness, and the soulful human relationship with running.
  2. Finding Ultra

    4.5
    6 347 ratings
    Rich Roll
    Chronicles personal accounts as they turned from an overweight individual to an ultra-endurance athlete. So, get the experience and find out how a real turnaround in one's life can be made through willpower and determination with respect to a change in diet and exercise.
  3. Never Finished

    4.8
    10 228 ratings
    David Goggins
    Recommended by: David Goggins
    Read about a journey from adversity to becoming one of the toughest endurance athletes, where she highlights the essence of self-discipline, mental toughness, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in her story. The story inspires overcoming obstacles on the will alone.
  4. Endure (Alex Hutchinson)

    4.5
    3 649 ratings
    Alex Hutchinson
    Recommended by: Chris Williamson
    Hutchinson explores the science of human endurance, blending cutting-edge research with compelling narratives of extreme athletic feats. He investigates the complex interplay between mind and body in pushing physical limits. The book covers topics such as pain tolerance, fatigue, hydration, and the psychological factors that influence performance. Hutchinson challenges conventional wisdom about human capabilities and offers insights into how individuals can enhance their endurance.
  5. Endure

    4.7
    3 022 ratings
    Cameron R. Hanes
    Recommended by: David Goggins
    A dedicated ultramarathon runner and bowhunter writes about pushing to exceed limits and shares personal stories and advice. It is an endurance of not just physical but mental endurance too, as the reader is urged to delve within him to explore his potentials and reach for greatness.
  6. A Life Without Limits

    4.5
    1 755 ratings
    Chrissie Wellington
    An autobiography by Chrissie Wellington, four-time Ironman World Champion and one of the greatest female triathletes. She details her transformation from one coming from a non-sporting background to an Ironman champion and speaks very openly about her triumphs, challenges, training, and racing experiences. These were interspersed with details of the eating disorders and injuries she has fought. This is a motivational book with good, practical advice on following your passions and living life to the full.
  7. 50/50

    4.5
    440 ratings
    Dean Karnazes
    50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days - and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! A memoir chronicling the author's ambitious goal of running 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days across all 50 U.S. states. Karnazes shares the physical, mental, and logistical challenges he faced during this extraordinary endurance feat, as well as the triumphs and insights gained along the way. An inspiring testament to the power of setting audacious goals, pushing beyond perceived limits, and embracing the joy of the journey. A must-read for runners and adventurers alike.
  8. The Pursuit of Endurance

    4.6
    280 ratings
    Jennifer Pharr Davis
    It details the life and adventures of record-holding endurance hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis. It recounts the excursions on the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and other long-distance hiking trails in the world. It outlines what it really takes - both physically and mentally - to take on the challenges of endurance hiking and the myriad of lessons one can learn on the trail. An inspiration and insight on how one reaches one's limit, finally able to catch one's dream.
  9. You Are an Ironman

    4.4
    239 ratings
    Jacques Steinberg
    It follows a number of athletes preparing for and, in the end, racing in the excruciating 15-hour Ironman triathlon. It also traces the physical, emotional, and psychological adversity the race brings while, at the same time, its triumphs and changes for these athletes. It gives insight into the mindset and strategies that have to be applied in order to accomplish that which seems impossible.
  10. The Triathlete's Training Bible

    4.5
    212 ratings
    Joe Friel
    This will be a book to bring together all aspects of training for a triathlon of any level whether sprint or Ironman distance. It will cover all major tenets of endurance training from the science to the art, with periodization, intensity, and recovery. Describes in detail each workout and training plan for swimming, biking, and running; the nutrition; the mental preparation; and the race strategy. Inside, the athlete will find invaluable insights and case studies from top coaches and athletes—an absolute essential for any triathlete looking to optimize their performance.
  11. From Zero to Ironman Triathlon

    4.1
    54 ratings
    Jem Bolt
    Beginner’s guide to preparing for one of the most grueling endurance races in the world—an Ironman triathlon. Including a step-by-step periodized training plan to prepare for increasing endurance, strength, and speed in swimming, cycling, and running, it provides further guidance on nutrition, recovery, and mental preparation including balancing training with work and family. Additionally, this is incorporated with motivational stories and advice from successful Ironman finishers.

FAQ

  • What are the best endurance books ever written?

    These are the top 10 best books on endurance training of all time and for this year (2024) sorted by rating:

    1. "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall
    2. "Endure" by Alex Hutchinson
    3. "Finding Ultra" by Rich Roll
    4. "The Rise of the Ultra Runners" by Adharanand Finn
    5. "Ultramarathon Man" by Dean Karnazes
    6. "The Lore of Running" by Tim Noakes
    7. "How Bad Do You Want It?" by Matt Fitzgerald
    8. "Eat and Run" by Scott Jurek
    9. "The Long Run" by Matt Long
    10. "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins.
  • What are the most popular authors of endurance training books?

    A: Here are authors of good books about endurance:

    • Joe Friel ("The Triathlete's Training Bible," "The Cyclist's Training Bible")
    • Phil Maffetone ("The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing," "The Maffetone Method")
    • Scott Jurek ("Eat and Run," "North")
    • Matt Fitzgerald ("80/20 Running," "How Bad Do You Want It?")
    • Brad Hudson and Matt Fitzgerald ("Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon")
    • Greg McMillan ("You (Only Faster)," "Running Fast & Injury Free")
    • Jack Daniels ("Daniels' Running Formula")
    • Steve House and Scott Johnston ("Training for the New Alpinism," "Training for the Uphill Athlete")
    • Timothy Noakes ("Lore of Running")
    • Mark Allen ("Fit Soul, Fit Body").
  • What are the best books on endurance athlete training?
    1. "The Triathlete's Training Bible" by Joe Friel
    2. "Daniels' Running Formula" by Jack Daniels
    3. "Endure" by Alex Hutchinson
    4. "Advanced Marathoning" by Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas
    5. "Hansons Marathon Method" by Luke Humphrey and Keith and Kevin Hanson
    6. "The Cyclist's Training Bible" by Joe Friel
    7. "The Well-Built Triathlete" by Matt Dixon.