Approaching this book as a member of its target audience, I can safely say that taking up running as a hobby can be daunting. Being an avid reader of runner's Web sites and blogs, as well as a subscriber to running podcasts, it is clear that runners are very opinionated people, and that one can find contradictory advice out there that could confuse the beginning runner.

Dave Kuehls does a fine job of presenting a clear program to the novice runner. He begins with the mental game, asking, "Why run?" and, "Why 3 months [to train for a 5K]?" Though these sections could be fleshed out a bit more, Kuehls' approach is to keep his chapters concise. As a running primer, this approach works quite well though, because often a beginner just wants to get out and go, not wasting a lot of time "reading the manual."

Kuehls spends a chapter on choosing the correct apparel, with attention to weather considerations. Subsequent chapters cover running surfaces, times of day, and diet. The running surfaces chapter in particular was helpful to me. Seeing runners on sidewalks and roads near my home, I confess that I had not considered the effects of the different surfaces on the body.

The opening sections of the book covered every question I have thought of as a beginning runner with regard to preliminary running considerations. The next few chapters detail the actual act of running--stretching, mechanics, preventing, and treating injuries. As with the rest of the book, the emphasis is on providing a brief but thorough overview for the novice runner.

The final chapters provide practical training programs that gradually take the runner from a sedentary life to a day-by- day, week-by-week program culminating in the 5K race. Kuehls provides schedules for different types of runners too--from those who just want to survive the 5K to those who want to finish in 34, 32, 30, or 28 minutes. Though each day of the three-month period is accounted for, Kuehls does discuss allowing for illness and the occasional off day.

The final chapter looks beyond the first 5K and encourages the runner to keep it up by challenging him/her to improve upon their distance or time.

Criticisms: the training programs all start with a half- mile run, which may be a bit ambitious in the first couple weeks. Comparing this to the C25K program (Couch-to-5K), Kuehls expects the runner to run approximately five minutes on the first day. This may not sound like much to the seasoned runner, but it can be difficult and intimidating to the beginner. However, to be fair, that is the only running in the first day, whereas in the C25K program, there is a lot more alternating of the running and walking intervals, so it really just comes down to a matter of preference. Kuehls' programs are thoughtfully drawn up, increasing the distance run very gradually. The only other criticism I would have is that the training program intervals are only given in miles and not minutes. The beginning runner who may not be committed enough to invest in a high-tech pedometer might find it easier to measure minutes, though I understand such an approach would not guarantee that the appropriate mileage will be met.

In summary, I recommend Dave Kuehls' 3 Months to Your First 5K to anyone just starting out with a running program. His approach is common-sense but not condescending. It is clear Kuehls has a love of the sport and wants to share it. The information is clear and concise, and is sure to be of great help to the beginning runner.