Customer Reviews

Workouts in a Binder for Swimmers, Triathletes, and Coaches

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

 

 

I went back to swimming after a 25 year hiatus. Running and biking were no longer options for me. A year after diving back in, I had a set workout that I liked to do -- EVERY time I hit the pool. For my 46th birthday, someone bought this for me off my wishlist and six months after starting to use this book, I still thank the person who bought it for me several times a month. And the gratitude is genuine.

Looking to shake my workout up a bit, this book rocked my entire workout program. I thought the resistance training I was doing in the gym would help my swimming, but it invariably resulted in injuries every time I tried to increase resistance. Now, because of the improvements in my swimming, my swimming actually helps me perform better in the gym and pushing myself there actually results in far fewer injuries! If there has been one thing to which I can attribute my progress in the pool, THIS BOOK IS IT! My success in the pool has made me fall in love with this sport all over again. When I wake up and it's a gym day, I tend to hit the snooze button once or twice, but on swimming days?? I'm up and at 'em! Count on it!

While each workout has a shorter version and a longer version, this book is definitely not for beginning swimmers. The shorter version of the workouts run on average 3600 yards or meters depending on your pool. Not too sure about the longer version of the workout because frankly, for me to swim two miles or more, I'm toast! I don't even look at the longer versions (yet!). There are several workout plans to choose from, which I personally love because I never have to sit and figure out which workout I should do today; I just look it up in the plan. I do agree with other reviewers, the workouts in this book are definitely easily modified, so if you don't have enough time to complete a given workout at least you can still fit a well rounded workout into your day. I love that water won't damage this book, but I do still keep it in a zip-top bag on deck because once this puppy gets wet, you'll have to dry each and every page. After all, you don't want the smell of your favorite workout book waking you up in the morning.

This book ROCKS!! As a former collegiate swimmer and current masters/triathlon coach, I use this book frequently and recommend it to anyone training for a triathlon or swimming race. The individual medley and stroke sets are especially helpful. I also like the workout plans.

Thanks to the Hansen brothers for this masterful book!!

Great book for training for longer swims, not suitable for beginner swimmers. I am comming back to swimming after a 10 year vacation and most of these workouts are a little hard for me, but they are easily adaptable.

Alot of good workouts for a middle of the road masters swimmer who needs the push when swimming alone. Only drawback is not enough variety in the free-style workouts.

I purchased this book to add variety to my current workouts. It does an excellent job. I'm an experienced swimmer (high school and college), so I have no problem with the stroke workouts. Someone just learning how to swim all four strokes might feel differently. For each workout there is an "A" version (typically between 4 and 5 thousand yards) and a "B" version (3 to 4 thousand yards). Virtually all the sets are on rest intervals, not explicit times, so my workout buddy who is a little slower than I am gets to do the same workout, too. I haven't had it long enough to address some of the other reviews' issues of mold, but it seems to dry out well enough between workouts without any special treatment. Overall, I'm very happy with the book, and enjoying the workouts it gives me.

I've purchased several swim workout books and have generally been frustrated that they aren't 1) handy around the pool because they aren't waterproof; 2) the workouts are too challenging; or 3) the workouts are too easy. Well this book masters all those issues. It is deck ready (waterproof) so you can leave it at the end of your lane. It has a great number of workouts with an "A" level (hard core swimmer who likes heavy yardage) and a "B" level (a swimmer looking for a little less yardage). The workouts are broken down into distance free, middle distance free, sprint free, the individual strokes, etc. The authors have also created multiple guides for planning your workouts into a 13-week regimen or a 26-week regimen. For those working out on their own, without a coach, this is THE workout book you need.

I swim almost everyday, and the workouts in the "Workouts in a Binder for Swimmers, Triathletes and Coaches" is a great tool. I am constantly challenging myself with the routines, and have referred quite a few people to the book. My "Workouts In a Binder" books (I have 2 books) are probably the most important part my of swim gear, aside from my goggles.

good workouts. you can mix it up quite a bit. the text size is big enough for my aging eyes. you do have to set out to dry, but otherwise, I highly recommend for those trying to get a good workout in on their own.

Great book...a little difficult to understand the abbreviations and "language" of the book at first. I recommend taking the time to read the intro and definitions in the book, then taking a look at the workouts to figure out what everything means prior to actually swimming. Tried out the Distance Free 1A swimming yesterday...got quite a workout from that! Can't wait to do the IM workout.

This book is fantastic. The workouts are great and easy to customize to the distance I want to go. I've been using the workout plans and the variety is great. I cannot say enough good things about this book.