The Triathlete's Training Bible (2nd Edition) Reviews

• The best. Period.

  
  By A2MVGN3HQUBSVW on 2008-01-17
  In my opinion, the goal of this book is to give people who want to compete in triathalons a scientific, self-coached training plan. Does it deliver? Absolutely. The book accomplishes this through six, cleanly divided parts.
  
  Part one, "The self-trained triathlete" is concerned with the "philosophical" basis for methodical training. It deals with things such as attitide and commitment, which are as important to me as the physical training.
  
  Part two, "From lab to real world" talks about the scientific foundation of training and goes into the science and priciples of training (i.e. progressive resistance, periodization, etc.).
  
  Part three, "Training with a purpose" seems to pull together parts one and two in which a system of purposeful training is described. This part will help the reader to determine exactly what their training needs are and the best ways to address them.
  
  Part four, simply titled "Planning" is really the heart of the book. Here the book helps you design your own training plan for a season, week by week.
  
  Part five, "Racing and recovering" takes you through the many details of preparing to race and recovering after. In other words, it gives you info on what to do before and after the actual race. This information is essential as many athletes neglect to recover properly before starting training again for the next race.
  
  Part six, "The competative edge" talks about other supplemental aspects of training that can contribute to peak performance. Here the book covers things such as swimming tips, weight training ex's, eating tips, keeping a training diary, etc. I like to think of this chapter as a kind of "tie up the loose ends" section.
  
  Truly a book that lives up to its name, I can't see many readers coming away from this book without picking up much useful information- from the beginner to the experienced. Athletes who have shoulder trouble that interferes with their training might also find Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff helpful too. Happy training!
  
  

• REVIEW BY AN OLDER,RECREATIONAL ATHLETE

  
  By A3H1YGFIYYTMIF on 2003-08-04
  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.
  
  

• Comprehensive and scientifically proven

  
  By A2CBZ8A3BQUUIG on 2000-09-06
  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".
  
  

• informative

  
  By on 1999-08-29
  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.
  
  

• The title says it all...

  
  By on 2001-11-20
  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.
  
  

• This book is essential for any self-coached triathlete.
  By AMTZHKD85U9F3 on 1998-12-14
  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.
  
  

• If you are serious...
  By A241WNPCHWNDB9 on 2002-08-17
  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.
  
  

• training bible....
  By A100TFWISFG91K on 2004-09-09
  Training bible? Maybe for the top 5% of triathletes worldwide. But seriously though, I enjoyed reading the historical references and the way the author used evidence based data to solidify his arguments. However, at many points in the book, I found the authors writing style kind of dry and uninteresting. The section on periodization nearly put me to sleep (and I'm usually into that stuff). I didn't like the chapter where he used peoples personal training stories and regimens, I couldn't relate to that schedule. If you are like most recreational triathletes and don't have forever and a day to train, this may not be the first book to consider.
  
  
• Easy to follow training throrough training manual.
  By on 1998-12-09
  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.
  
  
• worth the money
  By on 2000-09-12
  of countless training books in the market, this one definately worth the money as it is an inch thick and has over 350 pages of information. you do not need to be a triathlete to appreciate this book. you may be only interested in running but buying this book not only do you learn more about running than other so called specilized running books in the market but you get to know more about cycling and swimming - three for the price of one - why not ?
  
  
• The Holy Grail of Individually Trained Triathletes
  By A3GLKF3B1UDN6H on 2001-06-21
  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.
  
  
• Mortals need not apply
  By A3R0ZSI3Z0QIXC on 2001-10-02
  With all due respect to the author; unless you are training for the olympics or an Ironman, do not get this book. This book was rated for experienced triathletes, definitely not for beginners or novices. Too technical and scientific and a very dry read. Hire a coach, you're better off.

  I'm a runner and am venturing into Triathlons. In a few years I may be able to understand this book and it may be of some value.
  
  

• Not for the Beginner Triathlete
  By A2K33U28OS8ZH9 on 2004-03-19
  I have been doing triathlons for three years and I feel this book is not for the Beginner Triathlete. This book reads like a College Text Book and is appropriate for the seasoned triathlete as it has invaluable technical data. I do not recommend this book for the beginner triathlete because I feel that it does Not address the mental and psychological aspects of doing a triathlon. Both of which I feel are extremely important hurdles for people to overcome when entering mutisports races. I recommend "Triathlon 101" by John Mora for beginning triathletes.
  
  
• Nothing to inspire you, quite boring.
  By ACO4KL534MP62 on 2004-04-19
  I bought this book because it was highly rated and expected it to be a "bible" of triathlon. Instead it mainly focuses on how to cycle your training years and how to manage your time according to your goals. The chapter on technique and equipment is only very brief and superficial, Friel merely points out that you should get some swimming lessons to learn to swim faster, and maybe buy fancier equipment to cycle faster. The psychological side is also quite thin, and there just isn`t anykind of personal touch in the book. I really don`t feel like opening it again. In endurance sports you must have that "inner-burning" to keep you going, and quite frankly, Friel gives the feeling of an arm-chair theoretician of himself in this book.
  
  
• Ultimate guide to finish a Triathlon in dream time limit
  By A15JOB0IDE0UNI on 2001-07-19
  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.
  
  
• Blah Blah Blah
  By A3JKA1WQZKAD8E on 2002-01-16
  ...I have read about four triathlon books and this definitely ranks last. The author bores you with complex concepts and fitness buzzwords. One good thing I can say about this book - At least each section is short, so you will eventually get through it.

  If you want some good info on triathloning, then read 'Triathlon 101' and subscribe to 'Triathlete Magazine' or 'Inside Triathlon'.
  
  

• A labor of love
  By A1QEJTTCUNWJEK on 2000-02-26
  All you'll ever need for endurance training. A lifetime of training experience is condensed in one book. Equally valuable for the novice and the experienced endurance athlete. This may be the best book I have ever owned.
  
  
• Beginners need not apply!
  By ADHC9GGUWQRVO on 2002-08-15
  Ok, maybe this book would be good for me if I wanted to have my third Hawaii Ironman be my best ever. But since I am still wobbling along on my bike in the sprint distance, the book is currently a door stop. Maybe this means that I am not yet a "competitive" multisport athlete :)
  
  
• Good for someone wanting to progress
  By A1RATXEWYK8NXZ on 2006-03-21
  This is the only pure triathlon book I own, so I can't compare, but it answered 95% of the questions I had about how I go about improving from being a bunch finisher. The other 5%, well I suppose the author has to draw the line on detail somewhere. For example, the section on swimming skills is a 3-4 page summary of the total immersion swimming book.
  
  It presents lots of ideas which are fairly easy to understand on their own. It then requires that you put the effort to read (and reread many times in my case!) to really 'get' a lot of concepts. Only then can you put your own training plan together. For this reason it might be a bit too complex for a complete beginner who wants a simple set of guidelines. In summary, an Excellent book for anyone who has done some triathlons, likes understanding concepts and making plans and wants to improve their placings.
  
  
• The Latest & Best Tri Book Out There
  By on 1999-11-04
  Saw Joel speak at Ironman this year. Sharp guy! The book is very complete and easy to follow.
  
  
• Perfect for triathlete beginners
  By A1EBZX6FXJ8J0M on 2004-09-14
  I've practiced a lot of sports since I was very young but I've never tried to 'tri'. I thought I knew a lot about endurance training but I was wrong. Friel's training book has been very useful and covered almost everything: training basic principles, periodization, skill assessment, nutrition ...
  Most of all, Friel's book gave me the 'ability' to prepare my own training annual plan and to schedule my workouts (with correct volume & intensity levels according to periodization) on a weekly basis. Definitely a "must have" for beginners and intermediate triathletes.
  
  
• Serious
  By A1OTCXNCXGXUVP on 2005-11-17
  For the recreational triathlete this book will be a bit overkill. However, if you are seriously wanting to bring your times down to a competetive level or if you are wanting to embark in an Ironman (or even 1/2) distance race, the tools offered here will greatly aid you. From how to plan your season, structure your training to peak at just the right time, measure your progress and workouts to target your specific goals; this book will give you the knowledge you need to step it up.
  
  I was also a fan of the Cyclist Training Bible (by the same author) long before this book this came out. You'll find the information in both scientifically sound, tested, trusted, enlightening and will no doubt help improve your performance no matter where you're at now.
  
  
• Great resource for new and seasoned triathletes.
  By on 1999-09-05
  This book was the most organized and thought out training manual for triathletes. The author is well organized in his thoughts and how he presents his program to the reader. I would and have recommended this manual to many new and seasoned triathletes.
  
  
• A great coach
  By A7MRSNWVZ4TY6 on 2001-06-20
  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.
  
  
• disappointing for beginner
  By A3NSXAYT8I2CSZ on 2006-09-30
  I had read all the rave reviews so was disappointed by my own experience. I am a new-comer to multisport competition. I found this book to be too much theory and not enough practicality; what was practical was presented in an incohesive way. I could see this being good for the serious triathlete, but for me, I found better use out of Eric Harr's book and on the internet.
  
  
• For the Hard Core
  By AGQ07215EBBRL on 2006-11-04
  AS a regular guy this book was much to advanced for me. It was very detailed and if I was looking to compete at the front of the pack it would be much more useful.
  
  
• Amazing. Just amazing!
  By AF6R8AMOIDEOL on 2001-12-17
  This is just my kind of book. Exhaustive and yet accessible. Extreme;y well organised with a very detailed index. Together with the (...) site, which highly facilitates the set-up of a complete triathlon training program either for the neophyte or the pro, you can't go wrong. The title says all: a Bible!
  
  
• absence of science
  By ASLLFXQRLAR9G on 2005-04-17
  I bought this book after reviewing some comments here on Amazon. Since I am interested in both the physiology behind training and training itself, this seemed a good choice. I thought that if it could be criticized it would be on the account of too much information rather than too little. Unfortunately, I now think otherwise. It has barely covered the basics in how to put together a plan based on the athlete's specific needs.
  
  
• A very helpful tool
  By AEJ8N7JNZ1NO on 2005-08-03
  I am a novice triathlete and was looking for a good place to start. Since I don't know anyone in my area that runs in triathlons I turned to the next best thing, a book. The Triathlete's Bible has helped me set goals, training objectives, and given me all the tools and resources I need to accomplish them. It has also taught me how to plan out my work out schedule for a year down to a week so that I stay focused, especially once winter comes where I'll have to do a lot of indoor training. All and all I would say a great book for people of all different ability levels.
  
  
• The most comprehensive triathlon training book available..
  By on 1999-07-28
  I loved this book. I read it straight through and keep going back to it for information as the season progresses. A must-buy for the serious self-trained triathlete.
  
  

• Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series

• Training Plans for Multisport Athletes: Your Essential Guide to Triathlon, Duathlon, XTERRA, Ironman, and Endurance Racing
• Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier
• Your First Triathlon
• Going Long: Training for Ironman-Distance Triathlons (Ultrafit Multisport Training Series)
• Triathlon Swimming Made Easy: The Total Immersion Way for Anyone to Master Open-Water Swimming