Running Science Optimizing Training And PerformanceJohn Brewer0/00 commentsRunning is a deceptively simple sport. At its mostbasic, you need only shoes and comfortable clothes you don't mindgetting sweaty. Yet each time you lace up, all your body's moving partsmust work together to achieve a gait that will keep you injury-free.Many other factors also affect your performance, from the weather andthe surface you run on to your shoes, your diet, and even your mentaland emotional state. Science plays an important role in most, if notall, of these factors.As a sports scientist and Running Fitness columnist, John Brewer hasreviewed hundreds of scientific studies, and he offers runners thebenefit of their findings in Running Science. Each chapter explores adifferent aspect of the sport through a series of questions. Many of thequestions address practical matters: Do you really need to stretch?Which running shoes best suit your form and foot strike? Doescarbo-loading lore stand up to scientific scrutiny-could a big bowl ofspaghetti be the difference between a PR and a DNF? Other questionsenhance appreciation for the incredible feats of the sport's greatathletes. (What would it take to run a two-hour marathon? Perfectweather, a straight, flat course, competition, and a lot of luck!) Theanswer to each question is presented in a straightforward, accessiblemanner, with accompanying infographics.Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned runner with many miles andmedals behind you, Running Science is a must-have for anyone interestedin the fascinating science behind the sport.