Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals (Paperback)

by Steven Jonas (Author), Virginia Aronson (Author) "On September 10, 1983, I did my first triathlon, the Mighty Hamptons, at Sag Harbor, New York..." (more)
Key Phrases: bike shirt, aerobic minutes, recreational triathlete, New York, Mighty Hamptons, Total Week (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Deciding to enter your first triathlon is a heady moment--you're ready for the challenge of a swim-bike-run race and pumped to get your body training. Chances are, though, that you're experienced in only one, maybe two of the sports. How do you incorporate the others? What kind of equipment do you need? How often should you be practicing each sport? And what if you're a complete novice, a wanna-be athlete who has not done any of the sports, and you want to enter a triathlon to motivate yourself to get into shape and improve your outlook? Steven Jones, M.D., a professor of preventive medicine and a successful triathlete, has all the answers and reassurances you'll need in his down-to-earth book, updated in 1999, Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals.

As he says in his preface, his book is for the person "who wants to engage in a new and different athletic experience without turning the rest of his or her life upside down in the process and wants to have fun doing so." Focusing on the "marathon-equivalent" triathlon, which is a 1.5-kilometer swim, a 40-kilometer bike, and a 10-kilometer run (although he does have a brief chapter called "Doing the Duathlon and Going Long"), Jonas helps you decide if a triathlon is right for you, gives his own personal history of how he went from a nonathlete to a racer, and advises on how to pick your first race.

From there, he discusses techniques, the basic principles of training, and how to establish your "aerobic base," the basic level of fitness (especially important for nonexercisers) you need before approaching his "Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals Training Program," a five-hour-a-week, 13-week program to train you for your race. Also covered in the manual is equipment and nutrition. Jonas's style of writing is accessible to the layperson--he doesn't burden you with technical terms or complicated zones or training levels. He even goes through an entire race with you, from the night before to putting air in your bike tires through the actual events right up to the aftermath of the race. The terrific appendix includes diagrams of stretches. While this isn't the book for a seasoned runner looking to improve his overall time, this is the ideal book to provide guidance and encouragement for newbies to the sport. Reading just a few chapters will have you itching to start racing. --Jenny Brown

From Library Journal
This is a book of personal opinions and experiences from a self-proclaimed "back of the middle of the pack" athlete. While Jonas does present basic triathlon information on swimming, bicycling, and running and very good bibliographies on these topics, most of the book is a personal account of his training and racing. Readers would be better served by Sally Edwards's Triathlon: a triple fitness sport (Contemporary Bks., 1983) or Paul Perry's Complete Book of the Triathlon ( LJ 10/1/83). Both books are much better at describing the event and preparing the competitor. (Illustrations not seen.) Thomas K. Fry, UCLA Libs.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Revised edition (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393318966
• ISBN-13: 978-0393318968
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #506,452 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #48 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Aerobics
  #57 in	Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Triathlon
  #73 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Exercise & Fitness > Triathlons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect book for the first time recreational athlete., May 19, 2000

By	"melenard" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

I am about to race in my first triathlon. I used the training program and advice offered in this book to prepare. I feel ready to race. The book helps the first time recreational triathlete train in a low stress and managable manner. I highly recommend it.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALL YOU NEED TO GET STARTED, October 9, 2001

By A Customer

The book delivers as promised!

When I finished the plan (taking you from SLOW running gradually increacing intensity over weeks and weeks), I was ready for my first Triathlon - The San Jose International - a 3/4 mile swim, 20 mile bike and a 6 mile run. No, I didn't win of course, but I finished! The process was so gradual, I KNEW I could do it every step of the way...

What a great feeling! I lost ove 30 pounds of fat in the process, too! This is the ONLY kind of training I have ever STUCK with!

I am about to do a HALF Ironman his weekend (TBF Half Ironman in Sacramento).

None of this ever would've happened if it weren't for me picking up this book...

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to fitness as a lifestyle, January 25, 2000

By A Customer

I first saw this book when I bought my first bike in college- I wanted to get into shape so I could ride longer. I've used his basic premise for over 7 years now through four cities, three schools, and two jobs to stay fit and keep workouts fun. Why does it work so well? Because it's flexible. If I feel like rollerblading for three days in a row, I "just do it". If I'm tired or sick, I rest up to two days in a row knowing that I can adjust my schedule accordingly. If friends invite me to go hiking or skiing on the weekend, I'm not tied down to a particular routine- I just play hard and count it into hours exercised per week. Another important component is measuring aerobic intensity against your current fitness level. If walking gets your heart rate up, you can stay at that level until your condition allows you to move on to something faster. Finally- a book on fitness that realistically acknowledges the demands of jobs, unexpected illnesses, family, friends, and fun!