Customer Reviews
The best. Period. - By: Mark, 18 Sep 2008 
In my opinion, the goal of this book is to give people who want to competein triathalons a scientific, self-coached training plan. Does it deliver? Absolutely. The book accomplishes this through six, cleanly divided parts.
Part one, "The self-trained triathlete" is concerned with the "philosophical" basis for methodical training. It deals with things such as attitide & commitment, which are as important to me as the physical training.
Part two, "From lab to real world" talks about the scientific foundation of training & goes into the science & priciples of training (i.e. progressive resistance, periodization, etc.).
Part three, "Training with a purpose" seems to pull together parts one & twoin which a system of purposeful training is described. This part will help the reader to determine exactly what their training needs are & the best ways to address them.
Part four, simply titled "Planning" is really the heart of the book. Here the book helps you design your own training plan for a season, week by week.
Part five, "Racing & recovering" takes you through the many details of preparing to race & recovering after. In other words, it gives you info on what to do before & after the actual race. This information is essential as many athletes neglect to recover properly before starting training again for the next race.
Part six, "The competative edge" talks about other supplemental aspects of training that can contribute to peak performance. Here the book covers things such as swimming tips, weight training ex's, eating tips, keeping a training diary, etc. I like to think of this chapter as a kind of "tie up the loose ends" section.
Truly a book that lives up to its name, I can't see many readers coming away from this book without picking up much useful information- from the beginner to the experienced. Athletes with foot pain that interferes with their training might also find The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution helpful too. Happy training!
Excellent book that deserves the title bible! - By: G. Krawczyk, 02 Sep 2008 I have no experiencein the sport but after reading the book & creating my training programme i am already quietly confident about my first years results.
I can only reccomend this from a novice point of view however my reccomendation is to read it cover to cover its a great book & well wort the money.
Great information, great presentation - By: Michael Bironneau, 13 May 2008 My only regret is not having bought this book earlier.
I've been running for a year & now I want to train for triathlon. I bought this book hoping to find some guidance, & I found much more. This book:
-Focuses on every aspect of training, or as the author says "eating, living, & sleeping triathlon"
-Exposes & explains rigorous yet simple training methods & plans for complete novices or experienced competitors
-Gives tips on running/biking/swimming technique
-Gives specific details regarding ironman triathlon (e.g. specific pre-race nutrition)
-ALWAYS backs arguments up with studies & other forms of evidence
-Has appendices with workout plans, workout journals, yearly workout planning sheets, & more
Furthermore, I found the presentation of the book very enjoyable (easygoing style of writing, many charts/graphics to aid comprehension).
Triathletes Training Bible - By: Mr. Dominic I. Clacy, 04 Jul 2007 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 & improve your triathlon performance. You will learn how to train smarter, not harder, & 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 & goals for the next racing season. In addition to the physical aspect of training, Friel addresses the importance of mental preparation & 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 & reach your maximum potential.
My Review
When I first bought this book I had only beenin 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 & 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 & endurance sessions & how to tailor them to my goals & needs. I don't do a lot of club training & so being able to turn up at the pool during a public swim session, getin the fast lane & have a challenging & rewarding swim was essential. Before tailoring these sessions training could become boring & monotonous. The inclusion of specific drills & workouts for each sport made a welcome change & my style, especially my strokein 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 guidein this book has helped me no end & 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 phasesin training, events etc.
Periodization was something I had never employed with my training & 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 & 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 & nutrition. Vitamins & minerals, antioxidants, protein supplements etc are all discussedin detail explaining why you need them & what they do, not just `You need them!'. The periodisation of a triathletes diet is also discussed detailing fat, carbohydrate & 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 & why a coach preaches what he/she does. Understanding how to train & prepare yourself to race is essential if you wish to succeedin multisport. The Training Bible will ensure you reach your race at optimum performance. A book I will never throw away!
The Triathletes Training Bible - By: , 23 Jul 2002 This book is excellent for the novice triathlete willing to learn a bit more technical information. The book is well segmented into easily digestible sections. The writer is an experienced coach & world triathlete so gives confidencein his work.
