This book is a comprehensive guide to running the marathon and it's advice has lasted over the years. The authors represented both the younger (Olympic trialist) and older runners.

It sold a total of over 74,000 copies, 30,000 copies of the Russian edition (Target 42) were sold in the Soviet Union at the time of the 1980 Olympics. Readers used it as their training guide in every continent and it was endorsed by Bill Rodgers multiple winner of the Boston Marathon.

The listing of chapters gives a good idea of what it contains.

1. Aiming at the Marathon
2. Training Methods
3. Diet - you are what you eat
4. The Effect of Stress on the Body
5. Race Equipment
6. Problems during Training
7. The Race itself (pacing)
8. Marathoning in the 80's
9. Information specific to Women.
10. The Latest in Human Physiology Information
11. The Finish Line and More -- longer races

• Appendices Records, Races, and a bibliography

Even a used copy is worth having on your bookshelf.

Much of the material is now also on the web at Runners' Information.

“Target 26 - a practical guide to marathon running,” Skip Brown and John Graham, Macmillan Publishing, NY, USA, editions in 1978, 1980 (Canada), 1983

ISBN: 1st edition: 0-02-028820-4 and 2nd edition: 0-02-028100-5 (Large Trade paperbacks)

Used copies vailable from the author, or through Amazon.com at prices from $1.00 to $8.00, plus shipping and handling.