Customer Reviews

Be Iron-Fit: Time-Efficient Training Secrets for Ultimate Fitness

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It took me years of injuries, online training plans, and ill-spent money to learn what Mr. Fink has consolidated into 280 pages. If you are an Ironman or aspiring Ironman, this book belongs in your training library.

Most Ironman triathletes spend as much time fretting about their training as they do actual training. If you are serious about Ironman, you will certainly buy many more training books, however, this one is the best I have found that touches on all of the essential elements of a successful Ironman campaign.

The Table of Contents reads like the 17 Commandments of Ironman training:

The Dream, Time Mngmt, Essential Workouts, Training Cycle, Gradual Adaptation, Heart Rate Training, 30-week Training Plans, Flexibility and Strength, Training Races, Technique, Transitions, Equipment, Strategies, Mental Training, Goal Setting, Maintenance, Recovery.

Amen.

This book is tailored to those triathletes who have busy schedules and perhaps a perceived lack of training hours during the week. Currently I am nowhere near doing an ironman but Don Fink's explanations and approach towards triathlon/ironman training makes it seem somewhat possible. His writing style is direct and concise, although doesn't skimp on essential details (like trainsition periods, for example). Just from reading the section on heart rate monitoring made me realize how inefficient I was training. He also mentions tips on how to efficiently squeeze extra training hours out of your week, which is definitely possible. He provides algorithms to follow for training, which for me and like a lot of other people I know, is a tremendous help, as opposed to training "how we feel". This isn't just for those who want to do ironman distances...this is for anyone who is serious about making the most out of their training schedule, which is what we could all use.

I've read a dozen or so books on triathlon. Some are more informative (like Complete Triathon Book by Matt Fitzgerald and The Triathlete's Training Bible by Joe Friel) and some are more inspiring (like Becoming an Ironman by Kara Douglas Thom), but this book strikes a nice balance between being informative and inspiring. I especially like the many tips on time management--how to work your full training program around demands of work and family. So why not 5 stars? I think the book should have been 50 pages longer and included more depth in some of the important subjects that all triathletes need to know about.

I am in my second season of racing Ironman-distance triathlon, and find that the book is a wealth of practical, usable information which helps me get through the nuts-and-bolts of Ironman training, while remaining employed and still familiar to most of the inhabitants of my house. Don understands the age-grouper lifestyle,(which often includes family, kids, dog, job, etc. etc.) but also the desire among some of us to go wicked fast and qualify for Kona. He provides a framework to be successful at these (sometimes) conflicting goals.

This book is the best book I have read regarding
triathlon training. I am doing Lake Placid Ironman in less
than 2 weeks, and I keep reading and re-reading
this incredible book. Every time I read this
book, I learn something new.
Don has coached me, a mother of two young children and full-time co-owner of a business and has taken me from a non-swimmer
to an Ironman. His time-saving ideas
work and this book is a book I just can't put
down. I couldn't name from favorite chapter:
they are all excellent and cover virtually
every aspect of triathlon.
The layout of the book is user-friendly and
interesting. I especially enjoyed reading
the stories about "everyday" athletes.
I highly recommend this book!

The book actually contains 3 different training programs based on a 30 week training cycle. The book cover refers, incorrectly, to 12 week programs.

I picked up this book on a Monday and finished on Tuesday. I could not put the book down. Very inspirational! I have read other triathlon books and have competed in several Ironman distance races, and this book explained things more clearly and in a way that jumped started my motivation to take my training to the next level. Other triathlon books are like college textbooks, this one was a great read and very inspirational, I have already recommended the book to my training parterners.

The premise of the book is that very ordinary people can acheive very extrodinary things with effective time mamangement and discipline. This is captured best by the very inspirational profiles spread across the book. Don profiles elite Ironmen to regular people working 50-60 hrs a week and still finding time to effectively train for the grueling race and not only finish but excel. In effect the author is saying...look no excuses! If you want something whether it be Ironman or anything else there are ways to do it even with the demands of family, friends and work. This is what imapcted me most about the book. I've never done an Ironman and not sure I ever will but I have to say i wanted to sign up for one as soon as I put the book down. Let's face it these guys are amazing. Anyone who has swam a few hundred meters in a pool knows swimming 2.4 miles in open water is no easy task, followed by just 112 miles in aero bars while trying to ingest a few hundred calories an hour, while fighting the conditions is darn tough. And then after you've been hunched over your bike for 4-6 hours running a marathon! Don breaks it all down and makes it sound attainable, through training schedules and mental tactics like breaking the race down in smaller increments. Its a great read and if you want to be inspired read it!

After 13 yrs. racing triathlons I was very happy to see that I still had a lot to learn thanks to Don's book. It is a fun and informative read for sure. Any level athlete will benefit from his great training and organizational advice. I have already found ways to fit more training into my life after reading this book.

Don was my coach for over a year so I had the first hand experience of his time-saving training strategies. Since starting
to work with Don i was able to dramatically improve my fitness by training less than 8hrs/week while juggling 60hr work weeks and 3hr/day commute. I looked forward every month to the new workout schedules since all workouts were fun and challenging

I was very happy to see that Don put all of that energy and excitement of his personal coaching methods in this book. The programs and advice are invaluable for busy triathletes with family, work and other responsibilities. I am sure going to use this book for all my future training and races