22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Triathletes Training Bible, 4 July 2007
This review is from: Triathletes Training Bible (Paperback)
The Triathletes Training Bible 2nd Edition: Joe Friel
Blurb
Coach Joe Friel touts the benefits of creating a scientific, self coached training plan to refine your skills and improve your triathlon performance. You will learn how to train smarter, not harder, and apply proven techniques for increasing endurance without overtraining. Friel equips you with the know-how to build a personal training plan based on your individual needs and goals for the next racing season. In addition to the physical aspect of training, Friel addresses the importance of mental preparation and training, from attitude to zealousness.
Whether you are an amateur, professional, or training for your first triathlon event, you will find comprehensive information to help you achieve your goals and reach your maximum potential.
My Review
When I first bought this book I had only been in the sport of triathlon for a couple of months. During those months I had been swimming twice a week, cycling twice a week, running twice a week and weight training twice a week. My sessions were just endurance based spending say an hour swimming or running or cycling for a couple of hours with the club.
The first thing this book taught me was to make my sessions specific, why I needed speed and endurance sessions and how to tailor them to my goals and needs. I don't do a lot of club training and so being able to turn up at the pool during a public swim session, get in the fast lane and have a challenging and rewarding swim was essential. Before tailoring these sessions training could become boring and monotonous. The inclusion of specific drills and workouts for each sport made a welcome change and my style, especially my stroke in swimming has advanced noticeably.
I always trained with a training plan or diary but I never really knew how to create one properly. The step by step guide in this book has helped me no end and even now I still refer to it at the end of each season to plan the next! Templates are given so the correct format can be obtained for tracking weekly hours, different phases in training, events etc.
Periodization was something I had never employed with my training and again Friel has provided step by step instruction from base to race periods going into detail for each phase as to what workouts should be performed and for how long. Appropriate testing techniques are included to ensure you are always working to your peak potential.
Another section that I found rewarding was that of supplementation and nutrition. Vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, protein supplements etc are all discussed in detail explaining why you need them and what they do, not just `You need them!'. The periodisation of a triathletes diet is also discussed detailing fat, carbohydrate and protein intake throughout the season.
Of course there is no equivalent to one on one coaching from a qualified professional. However this book ensures that you understand your sport and why a coach preaches what he/she does. Understanding how to train and prepare yourself to race is essential if you wish to succeed in multisport. The Training Bible will ensure you reach your race at optimum performance. A book I will never throw away!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best present I ever bought!, 1 Feb 2009
This review is from: Triathletes Training Bible (Paperback)
Hi bought this book for my son who tells me it is everything he thought it would be and more. He is a personal trainer who started triathlons 18 months ago. He consults the book most days and finds it invaluable and would recommend it highly to anyone either considering triathlons or to someone already doing them, there is something in it for all.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
I know a lot of people enjoyed it but..., 22 April 2009
This review is from: Triathletes Training Bible (Paperback)
I found it overly complex and lacking in focus. Friel introduces a lot of new and not very intuitive terms for what is basically excercising at different intensities. I also found it did not fit very well in my (rather limited) athletic library. The best parts on training theory, volume, intensity and methods seem to be lifted directly from "SERIOUS training for the Endurance athlete" (Sleamaker and Browning) which IMHO is a much better book. That said, Friel does add some good guidance on periodisation, tapering and incorporating "B" races into the racing season. I also found that the swimming advice was much clearer and more detailed in the cited source book "Total Immersion" (Laughlin). To be fair, he always cites his sources. The case studies are quite interesting but not really relevant to me. The nutrition chapter might be useful for someone who eats poorly, but I eat a really healthy vegan diet and use SIS REGO etc, so not much there for me either. Also where is the section on race strategy, transition, etc?
So try it, perhaps you will get more out of it than I, but hey, don't call it the bible, Sleamaker and Browning already wrote that (in my opinion its the reader that decides, not the author).
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