Ready to Run by Dr. Kelly Starrett - Book Review

There are many books on the market available today that will give you a training program to complete every race distance from the 5k all the way up to the marathon. Heck, you can save some money by searching the internet for a program if you really want. I don't recommend that as there are some classics available that should be on every runner's bookshelf. Running to the Top by Arthur Lydiard, Pete Pfitzinger's Advanced Marathoning, Daniel's Running Formula (Dr. Jack Daniels), and the Hanson Marathon Method.

There are other books out there that are designed to teach you HOW to run. The POSE Method is probably the most well know system. But there is one book that is missing from the world of running - the book designed to help keep you running. Running is a destructive sport that can play havoc on the body. You can have the best training program in the world or the world's greatest coach, and it doesn't matter if you keep getting sidelined with running injuries.

This is where Ready to Run steps in. Dr. Starrett is not who you may expect to buy a book on running from. While he surely does some running in his life, I am fairly certain he wouldn't describe himself as a runner. What Starrett is, however, is a man obsessed with movement, mechanics and mobility. What he strives to do in Ready to Run is help those of us who are runners improve performance and reduce the risk of injury. Or, as the first chapter is titled, he wants to help you become a durable runner.

The book is divided into four parts. Part one is Starrett's philosophy and basic ideas on running. Part two is a breakdown of his twelve standards with each receiving it's own chapter. The third part introduces the mobility work that relates to runners, and part four goes into specific running injuries and the applicable mobilizations.

As a runner or someone who runs you will want to concentrate on part two and the twelve standards where everything from posture to footwear is addressed.  Some of what he discusses here you may find controversial (flat shoes) while some is just common sense (hydration). You need to go into this with an open mind, understanding the standards presented are designed based on science and research, not myth and folklore.

Within each chapter there is a briefing, a "runner to runner discussion," a test for the particular mobility being discussed, as well as recommendations for mobility exercises (where applicable) located in the third part of the book. If you are good with the standard you can either move on or use the information presented to make your body even better at the standard. Your choice, of course.

Personally, this is a book I have been waiting for for a long time. I purchased Starrett's first book, Becoming a Supple Leopard in hopes of keeping my body highly functional for the long term. It has been helpful, but a bit overwhelming. There was all this information but I had trouble connecting the information to practical application. This book connects those dots, allowing anyone the ability to get your body to where it should be on a functional basis. This book shows you how to get your body organized, eliminate pain, and get your body ready to run.

Who Should Read Ready to Run?

If you are an athlete who has to run in your sport of choice or while training for your sport, this book is for you. Staying healthy should be the number one goal of anyone who is active in sport. Staying healthy, unless you are a freak of nature, takes some work. When you run you put stress on the body that will help you improve performance, but it also puts stress on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. If you run you will inevitably have some "issues" at some point ... most of us sooner rather than later.

As someone who loves to run I want to be able to continue doing it for as long as possible. If you are reading this I suspect you feel the same. Over the years I have been relatively injury-free, which I am grateful for, but am always concerned about my body wearing out from the stress I put on it. Ready to Run is the resource that will allow me to continue on for years to come.


Thanks for reading!!!

Train hard. Stay focused.
Jon