Mix of Oprah, "Sports Illustrated" and "Running Times"

Hardcore runners will read "Runner's World" because they have to. It popularizes the sport, and brings newcomers 'up to speed' about issues and techniques important to them, as well as clues them in on who is who out on the road. a great magazine, except I simply prefer the depth of training and racing issues "Running Times" provides a bit more. Really... I wish I could've given this magazine a 3.9.

Running is a funky subculture, and "Runner's World" defines and educates that culture.

Since the late George Sheehan wrote his famous column that emphasized running as spiritual endeavor, "Ruuner's World" has taken on an Oprah Winfrey/Deepak Chopra sort of generalist running philosophy. That's not all bad, as I think the magazine thoroughly encourages fitness through running.

It isn't all fluff. There is plenty for the more avid runner to soak up. The avid runner will find their marathon coverage, especially Boston and New York,impressive.

Their running shoes review is what any runner will benefit from. It details every aspect of what makes a great shoe, almost to the point of parody. However, parody or not, their analysis will help you buy the shoe you need for your foot for your distance in your environment.

Buy a subscription to "Runner's World," lace up, and get out on a run!

I fully recommend "Runner's World."

Anthony Trendl

Monthly Motivation

Runner's world is a very traditional magazine with geared towards mostly a middle-aged audience. The authors manage to give the same advice every month and make it sound different. That may be one of the things that makes this magazine so motivational. I keep reading about people who have run every day for the last fifty years or who run in 30 below weather, and I wonder what's keeping me off the roads.

The Rave Run two page spread photographs are lovely. They each show a runner in a really cool environment with a quote. I have some of them hanging on my wall. I get especially motivated by the one of a man running through the woods when the trees are coated with ice and the ground blanketed with snow. It looks so beautiful, who wouldn't want to go out and run. The ask the expert or Q&A section has the most diverse and informative information from month to month mostly because the questions come from readers and the answers come for a variety of experts. The nutrition section isn't particularly useful. The science seems simplified to the point that it isn't exactly true, and the suggested menu for one of the carbohydrate dinners starts out with 1 cup broiled swordfish along with five or six other things; not really practical in my opinion.

Runner's World has a nice coverage of racing events past (results) and future (racing calendars), and my hometown of Boulder, CO is mentioned somewhere at least once per issue :). Runner's World encourages everyone to be a winner even if he or she doesn't finish first. It is full of tips for beginners just staring to run and more advance information about training for seasoned amateurs. Some of the information is useful and some is not, but there is enough useful information to make reading worthwhile.

Only one issue's experience

I bought the issue because I was told there was an article about beginning runners training for their first half marathon. The article was mentioned on the cover. It turned out to be a fluff piece giving reasons why it was better to run a half marathon than a full one for your first long race. I didn't find a lot more depth. Motivational, some general ideas, but I didn't come away with a lot of technical information.