Keep in mind that these reviews are my biased opinions...
The titles of the books link to Amazon.com purchase/review pages
The original book is what started it all for me in terms of becoming fascinated with what distance running training was all about. It gets pretty scientific, but it is explained very well and no previous knowledge of physiology or exercise science is needed to understand all the concepts presented. What I found most fascinating when I first read it was that training is about periodization, specificity, and intensities of training. Visual diagrams showing different pace ranges (ie Threshold, V02max) helped me gain an understanding of how workouts correspond to workout types and what their purposes are. It presents a V02max equivalence chart that details what paces you should train at based on your race performances at different distances. I liked how it explains that must runners run hard track workouts too hard, and that forcing things isn't necessarily the best option for improving your fitness. I highly recommend this as a go-to guide for training. It contains programs that one could use in training from the 1500m to the Marathon. It can be read and re-read quickly and is organized well. A must-have for anyone interested in training themselves or just understanding important concepts of training and what the great Jack Daniels has learned through decades of coaching.
If you are on a cross country team (or just like the sport) you need to read this book! It is full of drama. Chris Lear covers the inside story of an "old school" CU Men's cross country team throughout the summer and into the NCAA championships. It goes into what its like to compete at the college level on a nationally ranked team. This is a good read because you get to go inside the minds of the runners, and share both their pain and their glory. An outline of training and the Colorado program is also mentioned.
The era is "back in the day" when guys like Jay Johnson, Steve Slattery, and Adam Goucher were on the team. A well written book overall- it was hard to put down!
This one book that captures the life of a runner...the long and lonely life in a way. For me, it was more like reading about the spirit of running, relating to the main character and his quest for glory, understanding, and overall meaning in life. There is a good storyline and many quotable passages that runners of all abilities can relate to....and could be proud of. This is basically the one and only novel purely about running and the life of a young runner- and it is quite popular in track circles. I think maybe it is a little overrated- but nonetheless it is a great book and the subject manner is of course interesting. Another must read!