Book excerpt: “A must-have for any woman targeting the distance.” —Runner’s World A no-nonsense, interactive guide that empowers all women at all levels to run their strongest, best marathon ever As recently as 1966, women were forbidden to run in the marathon. Professionals—including doctors—believed it was physically impossible and dangerous for women to run more than a mile and a half. But as with many other barriers women have faced over time, we fought our way in. Today, women make up almost half of the marathoning population. Yet most marathon training manuals are written by men. And while these men are experts when it comes to how men can and should train, women need training programs tailored to our bodies—to our unique strengths and weaknesses—so that we can avoid injuries and run at our peak. The programming in this book was created by a woman, specifically for women. Master the Marathon is a comprehensive guide to marathon training for women at all levels of running—beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The book takes you through everything you need to know to be prepared for the 26.2 miles of the marathon, including detailed training plans, strength training programs, building your mental awareness of your physical body, nutrition, guidance on finding the best marathon for you, identifying and avoiding potential injuries, inspirational advice, and other unexpected pieces of wisdom. Both incredibly practical and deeply motivating, Master the Marathon will help you unlock the strength and determination inside you to embark on the spectacular journey that is the marathon.