Customer Reviews

Serious Training for Endurance Athletes 2nd

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think this book is excellent. It provides detailed information on how to plan your own training schedule with all the required components. I think too many athletes have one training pattern which they just repeat week after week. If you want to take your training to another level and want to build yourself a professional training schedule realistically based on time available for training; this book is for you. It is very easy to understand for me and it goes quite straight to the practic.

This is a very good systems design book that details how to develop a "best available strategy*" training program to accomplish a goal you set -- e.g., run a 50 Minute 10K race in late August. I know of no other book so good at letting you set a goal and then derive a fully structured training program for meeting that goal.

* based on current optimization theories regarding load (HR), workout duriation, periodization ...

After reading several other books on triathlons and trying to start some training programs, I was beginning to get discouraged. I couldn't find a program I liked, so I wouldn't stick with it. SERIOUS Training for Endurance Athletes proved to be the solution I needed. This book will let you form a training plan that gives you specific times and goals for each workout. Having those numbers in mind will help you make it through that last interval, last mile or last lap. Good luck and train hard!

I bought this book on the recommendations of Amazon customers and I must admit that I wasn't disapointed. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to get when everyone gives a book 5 stars. Sometimes it's hard to get an unbiased review.
I was pleased with the book and what others have said is true. I recommend this book to endurance athletes looking for reasons and explanations on why to train a certain way and what it will do for your body in the long run.
However, I am a competetive rower and there were few topics that took rowing into account. Most of the training is geared towards running/cycling/triathetes and not specific to rowing as much as I was hoping. Also, there is way too little emphasis on resistance training. Most of the book is about setting up a mathmatical training plan and says to devote time sparingly to strength training. I'm not an expert on other sports, but I do know that power through strength training is vital for a strong pull on those oars. I suggest devoting more time in the SERIOUS formula to weight training in the gym than the book suggests, especially in the early training weeks.

As for the rest of the book, it's great, but it takes a *LOT* of paperwork. Fortunately my wife is handy with MS Excel and plotted all the charts for me with forulas that makes it all easy. However, without her I know that I would be daunted and discouraged at the task of making all the charts and calculations by hand. In a future updated edition (I hope that they make one) the book should come with a CDROM loaded with all the charts and formulas, or at least a web site link for downloading them. In the 21st century it's good practice to have online content and I hope to see it with this great text book.

This book provides great knowledge in a highly readable format. Rob does a great job providing a structured solution that can be applied to any training regimen. For amateurs and professionals, beginner or seasoned veteren, this book is a must have for anyone interested in endurance training.

Whilst this book is aimed primarily at the serious endurance athlete, I wish to widen its appeal after having used the book to good effect at the age of 59. Consequently, I would suggest you do not allow yourself to be restricted by the title because you do not have to be a competitive endurance athlete to gain maximum profit from this work.

Nowadays, my own memories of winning the regimental mile (and in a very credible time!) are very distant. Nevertheless, I still go running with a pack on my back (old airborne habits die very hard!) as the battle of mind vs middle age spread enters the hardest phase yet. It is a fact that the older one gets, the harder all physical training becomes. This book, however, proved its worth in the first few pages by showing me an easier way to obtain similar results. After all, the book commences with; "Consider your own objectives." Says it all really.

There are many times in life when we all believe we know best and never more so than when it comes to physical training, but, consider this; If such training was as simple as just going for a jog, then why are others obtaining university degrees in the subject with some gaining high paid employment - especially in the field of sports injuries. The reality is, we who go for a run (and often do nothing else!) are not gaining maximum benefit from all that hard work.

Whilst the focus of the book remains the serious endurance athlete - and from which all such people will gain enormously from a thorough study of the content, I was particularly impressed by the way in which the book is able to benefit those of a lesser standard. There is no point in boring people with a blow-by-blow account of my own physical condition because no two people are alike. Nevertheless, if this work can be of great assistance to me - in my 60th year!, then there is something here for anyone with a wish to improve their own physical abilities and, therefore, their own appearance and, ultimately, health.

It is a simple fact that when you are fit and slim you not only look good but also feel good about yourself. Such results, however, are not obtained through liposuction, pills or other easy solutions - they are obtained through hard graft and physical endurance. What is important, therefore, is for each individual to start at their own level, understand that level and go on to gain maximum profit from their own physical input and this book shows the way.

Lesson one; Do not be embarrassed! Nobody is laughing just because you are wearing a tracksuit. Lesson two; Buy a copy of this book and make a start. Lesson three; Enjoy!

NM

THis book is designed for SERIOUS athletes who want to get the most from their training without wasting time.
SERIOUS is an acronym for Speed, Endurance, Racing, Intervals, Overdistance, Uphill, and Strength. Each componemt is examined and explained. When combined they produce a well-rounded training program, focusing on time.
By using time, a person won't spend 1 hour training when 30 minutes will do. By using different components, a person receives a better overall fitness program while preventing burnout and lessening the chance for injury.
It sems strange to train for 15 minutes then stop but the intensity is greater so it balances out. I enjoy the long slow runs and rides. The time is great for clearing my mind and enjoying the scenery.
Setting up the initial program takes some time and tinkering, but well worth it for everyone who does multi-sport activities.

I first met Rob Sleamaker 10 years ago as a member of the U.S. Triathlon Team. At the time, I was training for ultra-marathon events (double Ironmans, etc.) and trying to creatively build massive endurance capacity without destroying my body. Rob helped me to shape a balanced year-round approach that allowed me to use my hard workouts productively and ensured that I was also doing the right amount of "base" work.

Make no mistake, the plan I used was not for the casual athlete - it involved 5-6 hours/day of training at times and every day was planned almost a year in advance. But if you can use this book to shape a program that fits your needs, but that is based on Rob's principles, you will be a happy, balanced and very fit athlete whatever your degree of committment.

By the way, the attitude that Rob taught me to approach training with has helped me in my post-triathlon life, as well.

This is a good book for people who have never done a sport at a high level, because it will show you how to do a good training and give you ideas for exercises, it is also for people who plan to do some sport for a special event (for example, training for a 1 week or more mountain hiking)

I would not really recommend this book to people who already do high level taining and who allready are in a training program, because they probably allready know most of the exercises and ideas of this book (or at least something equivalent)

This is the first book a serious athlete should read on endurance and multisport training. It provides a great foundation for everything you will need to know to develop your own effective training program. The writing team of Sleamaker and Browning work well together. Sleamaker gives you the theory and the facts, and Browning puts them into practice.