A Heart for Running is the true story of John McDonnell, who took up running in 2010 after a wake-up call about his health and never looked back. What started as a way to lose weight became a life-defining passion, taking him from his first 5K to over 30 marathons across Ireland, the UK, and beyond.
Then in 2017, a stroke caused by an undetected hole in his heart threatened to take it all away. But John wasn’t done. This is the story of how he fought back, chasing the dream of a full return to the sport that had already saved his life once — and setting his sights on the ultimate goal: breaking the 3-hour marathon barrier.
Told with raw honesty and plenty of humour, A Heart for Running is a memoir about resilience, passion, and refusing to let setbacks write your story. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or someone who’s never laced up a pair of trainers, John’s journey will remind you that the road ahead is always worth taking.
The Beginner Runner’s Manual is the complete guide for anyone who wants to start running — and actually stick with it. Written by an experienced running coach, it cuts through the confusion and gives you everything you need to get moving with confidence, whatever your starting point.
From running form and breathing techniques to injury prevention, gear, and nutrition, the book covers every base in plain, practical language. There’s no jargon, no guesswork — just clear advice and structured training plans designed to get you from your first tentative steps to a consistent, enjoyable running habit.
Whether you’re a complete beginner, returning after a long break, or someone who’s tried before and struggled to stay motivated, this manual gives you the tools, the plans, and the mindset to make running a permanent part of your life.
Running Your First Marathon Made Easy is the guide you need if you’ve just signed up for your first marathon and have absolutely no idea how you’re going to get to that finish line. Written by coach and experienced marathoner John McDonnell — who has guided hundreds of first-timers through the process — it takes you from the initial doubt and nerves all the way to race day, step by step.
At the heart of the book is a full 20-week training plan, built around the real demands of preparing for 26.2 miles. John covers everything along the way: nutrition, hydration, recovery, pacing, gear, and the mental side of training that so often gets overlooked. It’s the kind of honest, practical advice that only comes from someone who has been through it many times over, both as a runner and as a coach.
But this is more than a training manual. Running a first marathon has a way of changing people, and John understands that better than most. His aim isn’t just to get you to the finish line — it’s to show you what you’re capable of when you commit to something that once felt impossible.
If you’re standing at the start of that journey, this is the book to have in your corner.
Marathon Training Strategies is for runners who have already done a marathon — and know they have more to give. Written by coach John McDonnell, it’s a no-nonsense guide to training smarter, racing better, and hitting a time goal you can genuinely be proud of.
The book is built around six structured training plans targeting everything from sub-4:00 right up to sub-2:45, so wherever you’re starting from and whatever you’re chasing, there’s a plan designed specifically for you. But the plans are only part of the picture. John also digs into the areas that can make or break a marathon: nutrition and hydration, injury prevention, race day strategy, and the mental side of pushing through the harder miles when the legs start to argue.
It’s the kind of comprehensive, experience-backed approach that goes well beyond simply logging miles — because running a personal best takes more than fitness. It takes preparation, strategy, and knowing what to do when things don’t go to plan.
If you’re ready to stop just finishing marathons and start racing them, this is where that work begins.
Running for Beginners is for anyone who has ever watched a race and wondered whether they could do that — and quietly suspected the answer might be no. Written by coach and runner John McDonnell, it’s a six-week guide designed to take you from complete non-runner to confident 5K finisher, one manageable step at a time.
The book gives you a week-by-week training plan built specifically for beginners, with clear guidance on when to run, how far, and how to progress without burning out or getting injured. Alongside the plan, John covers the fundamentals that new runners often have to figure out the hard way — running form, breathing, the right gear, nutrition, and how to stay motivated when the novelty starts to wear off.
Six weeks is a short time, but it’s enough to change how you think about yourself as a runner. That’s really what this book is about — not just getting you to a finish line, but showing you that the finish line was never as far away as it seemed.
Your first 5K is closer than you think.
Step Up to 10K is the natural next move for runners who have found their feet at 5K and are ready to push further. Written by experienced running coach John McDonnell, it’s a practical guide to making the jump to 10K while also getting meaningfully faster at the distance you already know.
The book introduces the training techniques that take you beyond simply logging miles — interval sessions, tempo runs, hill work, and progressive training that builds real speed and endurance. Whether you’re in your first or second year of running, the plans are designed to meet you where you are and move you forward without overwhelming you.
But the goal here isn’t just to finish a 10K — it’s to make you a better, stronger, more confident runner across the board. A faster 5K, a smoother stride, and a deeper understanding of how to train smart are all part of the package.
You’ve already proven you can run. Now it’s time to find out how good you can get.