Road Racing For Serious Runners by Pete Pfitzinger, Scott Douglass, and Bill Rodgers. I have not yet read it, but it is reported to be a good manual for serious racers. We all konw Rodgers, but Pfitzinger is also a former Olympian who was famous for peaking at just the right time. Read more about the book or buy it. Galloway's Book on Running - a classic by Jeff Galloway.
Main point is that hard and EASY days are needed for improvement.
A great book for a beginner. Read more about the book or buy it. Bill Rodgers' Lifetime Running Plan . Read more about the book or buy it. Best Runs by Joe Henderson.