Customer Reviews

The Triathlete's Training Bible: A Complete Training Guide for the Competitive Multisport Athlete

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After reading this book, many other books and articles on the sport seem to be poorly written. The author provides the whole picture for his claims by mentioning relevant scientific studies both supporting and nullifying his training method. He does not base any of this book on opinion, but does point out that there is also an art to training that has nothing to do with science.

He gives excellent instruction for all three sports including how to devise a training plan customized for your goals, the special skills required for each sport, and nutrition. It is a very comprehensive book and will take at least a couple of weeks to finish, but the education is priceless. I never raced a triathlon before this book and after reading it, I felt like I had more information in my head on the subject than most seasoned veterans.

The only negative about this book is that there needs to be more on swimming and to truly become a better swimmer you will need another resource; I believe he suggests Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin. Joe Friel's web site is http://www.ultrafit.com/ and you can go there for more tips or to inquire about personal coaching services. I sent him an e-mail questioning something in the book that I didn't understand and he responded the same day. I constantly quote the book to my friends. Maybe that's why it's called the "Bible".

I'm 57, and returned after a 15-year hiatus this spring to participate in multi-sport events. I think Friel's book would be great for the younger triathlete, or an older, dedicated triathlete with the time and energy to devote a aminimum of 20-25 hours a week to training. For the old geezer like me--- that is to say, a marginal athlete with a job, a family, other interests, and a maximum of twelve hours a week to train, this book is totally inappropriate. It's far too technical and clearly targets younger athletes already competing at or near the elite level. Something comparable to Galloway's 2nd edition book on running or his "Marathon---You Can Do It" would be far more useful to somebody at my level.

Not being of the multisport athlete ranks myself (I'm a runner)I endeavoured to branch out this year and try a triathlon using the advice given in this book. I found that not only was this book incredibly useful for the novice triathlete, it was also the best book on running I have ever picked up. Advice on training cycles, nutrition, strength training, and racing was invaluable even for runners alone. I would highly recommend this book for any endurance athlete.

This book is as comprehensive as it gets on training for and competing in triathlons. The author outlines training programs for triathlons of all distances - sprint races to Ironman. He takes you through a self-evaluation that assists you in determining your strengths and weaknesses. This is a tremendous help in guiding you towards improving your performance, at whatever level you are competing.

The information in this book is very current and will help any triathlete avoid the many pitfalls of the over-ambitious nature of triathlon training.

The title sums up what this book is about and who it is for better than any other training book on the market. It is a complete program for competitive athletes. If you are currently doing triathlons just to stay in shape and enjoy yourself without worrying about your finishing time, stay away from this book. Stick to your swim a little, bike a little, run a little and see what happens training program. But the second you find yourself saying, "I want to beat my previous time" or "I want to see how fast I can go", this is the book for you.

It is one of the only books out there that teaches you the information necessary to develop a customized training program that is perfect for only one person - YOU!

Beware of all the books written by the stars of their respective sports that show you what they did to win, then tell you to adjust their program accordingly. Granted, many of these books are interesting reading and have some insightful hints, but they don't teach you the skills to think up your own program that fits your lifestyle.

This book offers facts. It lets you decide how to incorporate all these facts into your own training, whether you are a first timer or elite competitor. The instant you decide that your last triathlon was not your best effort and you get competitive with yourself, buy this book.

Joe Friel's latest training book is possibly one of the most encompassing books about triathlon training out there. It covers nearly ever aspect of the sport. While some people may disagree with some elements of Friel's training schedules, there is little doubt that they are solidly based. It is extremely easy for a reader to make their own schedule from this book. It makes the process simple and easy to understand. This book is a must for any triathlete who wishes to either know more about training, or who wants to set up their own schedule for periodization triathlon training.

Joe Friel writes for serious athletes. This does not mean you have to be a professional, it simply means that you need to be willing to invest the time both to understand his training concepts and to follow the training plan you develop. If you are looking for a "quick fix" then visit his website and have a computer develop a training program for you.

Joe's insights about specificity and periodization are well accepted by top coaches and competitors. By reading this book you will understand how to peak for your most important competitions. In real life this means that you will "race" and not just "survive" your chosen events.

I originally bought the Cyclists' training bible, and I used it to train for a 200 mile bike race from Denver to Aspen, Colorado (and I placed in the top 10). I subsequently bought this book for my wife, an avid triathlete. She used it to put together a training plan that brought two PRs and improved her times in every leg. Joe's methods work.

Joe Friel has done an amazing job on preparing this comprehensive triathlete training manual. Engaging as a read from start to finish, yet cross referenced well enough for virtually anyone to open it and find specific areas, this book covers it all. Friel believes in the art and philosophy of training as well as the scientifics--of which there are plenty, so the reader is given a "why" as well as a "how." You will be immersed in training ideas, nutrition, physiological data, calendars, and more. This book was vital in pushing me from being a recreational participant to a legitimate competitor.

Joe Friel found exactly the essential information I needed to reach personal goals in Triathlon. I took his book really as a 'bible' for every day usage and finished Ironman Europe in Roth within 12 hours. All covered details in technique, nutrition and training were very helpful. Joe Friels Training Bible is not in my native language, but I prefer it because it's easy to understand. Congratulations for this great reference.

My husband and I have both read and used this book to plan our training schedules. It has made us smarter and better athletes on our feet, in the saddle and soon in the pool. I recommend this book to anyone interested in triathalons. It's as good as a coach.