Running for Women

As best-selling author John Gray pointed out, men are from Mars and women are from Venus. There are obvious differences between women and men in anatomy, physiology, hormones, and metabolism. So why do most running books take a one-size-fits-all approach to training? Finally, here’s one that doesn’t.

Running for Women provides comprehensive information on training female runners based on their cardiovascular, hormonal, metabolic, muscular, and anatomical characteristics. In this authoritative guide, authors Jason Karp and Carolyn Smith answer the questions and tackle the topics women need to know:

• The impact of the menstrual cycle on hydration, body temperature, metabolism, and muscle function

• The most effective workouts for endurance, speed and strength, lactate threshold, and VO2max

• How and when to train during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause

• Preventing knee injuries, stress fractures, and other common running-related injuries

• Avoiding the risks of the female athlete triad—disordered eating, osteoporosis, and menstrual irregularities

• How to use sex differences to your advantage

Based on the latest research on estrogen, metabolism, and other sex-specific performance factors, Running for Women will change the way you fuel, train, and compete. If you are serious about running, this is one guide you must own.

Jason Karp, PhD, MBA, is a running coach, exercise physiologist, author, speaker, and creator of the REVO₂LUTION RUNNING™ certification for coaches and fitness professionals.

A TEDx speaker, Dr. Karp has given hundreds of international lectures at the world's top fitness conferences and coaching clinics. He has been an instructor for USA Track & Field's level 3 coaching certification and for coaching camps at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Jason was awarded the 2011 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, is a two-time recipient of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition Community Leadership Award (2014, 2019), and was a 2019 finalist for Personal Fitness Professional Trainer of the Year and 2020 finalist for Association of Fitness Studios Influencer of the Year.

Dr. Karp received his PhD in exercise physiology with a physiology minor from Indiana University, his MBA at San Diego State University, his master's degree in kinesiology from the University of Calgary, and his bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science with an English minor from Penn State University.
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Carolyn Smith, MD, is the head medical team physician and medical director in the department of intercollegiate athletics and athletic training educational program at Marquette University. She is also the executive director of the Marquette University Medical Clinic, an adjunct faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, and a member of the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Wisconsin. 

A lifelong runner, Carolyn competed for the University of Wisconsin and ran in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. She is a national age-group record holder, 100-kilometer and 24-hour national ultramarathon champion, and 7-time member of the U.S. 100K National Team.