Richard L. Brown, PhD, is a veteran coach and exercise physiologist. He has mentored championship runners at all ages, from high school to masters, and at all levels, from novice runners to Olympic athletes and world champions. Brown has served as a personal coach to an impressive list of world-class athletes, including Shelly Steely, Suzy Favor Hamilton, Vicki Huber, and Mary Decker Slaney. He is particularly known for guiding Slaney to her double gold medals at the 1983 Helsinki World Championships. He is one of few people to have coached athletes in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games as well as the Paralympics. He has coached athletes in six recent Olympic Games and Olympic Trials. Brown began his career in 1963 as a three-sport coach at Bullis Preparatory School in Maryland. He continued at the United States Naval Academy, at Mt. Blue High School in Maine, and then with the Athletics West track team as a director and exercise physiologist. In 1983, Brown was head coach of the U.S. World Championship cross country team, and he has been coaching independently ever since. He has been recognized by USA Track and Field as a master coach. Brown earned his doctorate in exercise and movement sciences from the University of Oregon in 1992. In addition to serving as lead author of two previous editions of Fitness Running, he has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals on health and fitness. He is in demand as a speaker and clinician on issues related to running and fitness. In 2001, Brown founded the Eugene Health and Performance Foundation to promote fitness and running performance internationally. He continues to be associated with that foundation while living in Eugene, Oregon.

"Fitness Running will help you put your vision into place, plan your strategy for success, enjoy the process, and have fun."Gabe Jennings-- 1500-Meter U.S. Olympic Trials Champion, 2000

• Part I Before You RunChapter 1 Running Health Assessment Chapter 2 Running Gear Chapter 3 Running Form Chapter 4 Challenge and Adaptation Chapter 5 Recovery Chapter 6 Fitness and the Female Runner Part II Plan Your ProgramChapter 7 Program Setup Chapter 8 Types of Running Workouts Chapter 9 Pre- and Postworkout Routines Chapter 10 Cross-Training Chapter 11 Runner's Diary Part III Training SchedulesChapter 12 Beginning Training Chapter 13 Fitness Training Chapter 14 Short-Race Training Chapter 15 Half-Marathon Training Chapter 16 Marathon Training Chapter 17 Postrace Recovery and Injury Training