Swim, Bike, Run [Paperback]

Glenn Town (Author), Todd Kearney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1993

This covers every facet of preparing for a triathlon in a logical, easy-to-follow progression. The book has four parts. "Getting Started" covers the basics including the physical, financial and social demands, and considers proper clothing and equipment. "Biomechanics" helps the athlete perfect his/her form, prevent injuries and reduce race times. "Training" demonstrates how to develop a schedule, and provides and overview of the changes in the body, and advises on nutrition and psychology. "Competing and More" gives the strategies necessary for a successful race day or week.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics (Trade) (November 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873225139
• ISBN-13: 978-0873225137
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,395,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The gospel when it first hit press; outdated now, June 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Swim, Bike, Run (Paperback)

This was the first book I owned on the subject and could not believe the amount of training that the authors recommended one need do to finishi a triathlon. Given that the book is a bit old, I believe that these recommendations are a sign of those times. Nowadays, people know that one can do very well at the sport of triathlon on significantly less training, and I point the interested reader in the direction of books such as "Time-saving ..." and Sleamaker's "SERIOUS Training...". These books are equally scientific, but do not put as much emphasis on having to cover so many miles, but rather inform you on how to spend whatever time you actually have to train.

I would not recommend this book to a newcomer, nor to a seasoned triathlete anymore, but a few years ago I might have...

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too technical for beginners, March 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Swim, Bike, Run (Paperback)

I am a previous distance runner (high school and college) who also enjoys mountain biking and recreational swimming. I have never competed in a triathalon before. For a beginner, this book focused too much on the technical aspects of training for professional triathletes.

Much of the book focused on complex training cycles and tracking methods. I had hoped to see recommended programs for beginners, such as base level resistance training to increase muscle tone and endurance, and base level cardiovascular workouts, followed by guidance for moving to the next level.

I also would have liked a listing of organizations in my area that organize triathalons.

For the most part, this book assumes the reader is already familiar with triathalons and training. I would recommend beginners look elsewhere.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it works, May 9, 2000

By 

Eddie Lechuga (USA ..North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swim, Bike, Run (Paperback)

I'm a new transition to triathlons. This book works well for me because I'm prepared to accept the information the book has to offer. The information is objective and the training methods presented appear well organized with technical reasoning backing up the new concepts I learned here. I feel the author is genuinely concerned about the readers success and therefore disagree with other reviewers comments' that the there is too much (unnecessary) training. My thoughts on this matter are that Triathletes need a sufficient amount of training to efficiently compete and I think once again the author backs up the reasons why the training is important . My interpretation of the general training outline presented is that this will prepare one well for the stresses of half ironman competition, but one can adjust up or down from there to suit their racing needs. For a 1994 copyright, this book is well worth the money because the facts, figures, and methods being used appear to be genuine by even today's standards. If you wish to find something exactly for you please visit your local full service health club and pay several hundred dollars for a genuine taylored plan, this is a serious statement for those being extremely serious about this sport. But for the novice like me, this book tells me everything I need to know at this point. See you on the course friends...