Triathlon books

shannone

Hi there,

Long time lurker on this forum, first time poster (so be nice )

I am very tentatively dipping my toe into triathlon waters, after completing a 10k over the summer and generally getting hooked on running, I want to add in a few more elements so I don't get bored! Also cheered on a friend to her first sprint tri and I have to say it looked like so much fun

Basically I want to know what book people would recommend for a beginner at triathlons, for explaining the best types of training, what gear, nutrition, prevention of injury etc etc

I have also been checking out tri groups in Dublin, any of you guys members of T3? they seem to train in my area which is fab

Thanks in advance

L

couerdelion

It's a topic that's come up often enough. A quick search threw up this -->
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=57484010

shannone

Thanks!

the bright idea would have been to search my topic before posting

doh!

stevire

Haven't seen this book mentioned in the other thread but I would highly recommend it:
"Triathlon Training in Four Hours a Week: From Beginner to Finish Line in Just Six Weeks" by Harr, Eric

It caters for all levels and cuts out all the BS and offers simple training plans etc.

tunney

stevire wrote: »

Haven't seen this book mentioned in the other thread but I would highly recommend it:
"Triathlon Training in Four Hours a Week: From Beginner to Finish Line in Just Six Weeks" by Harr, Eric

It caters for all levels and cuts out all the BS and offers simple training plans etc.

Probably a reason............

RacoonQueen

stevire wrote: »

Haven't seen this book mentioned in the other thread but I would highly recommend it:
"Triathlon Training in Four Hours a Week: From Beginner to Finish Line in Just Six Weeks" by Harr, Eric

It caters for all levels and cuts out all the BS and offers simple training plans etc.

What sort of training would you fit in over four hours?

sconhome

Its than from a complete beginner to finish line in just 24 hours of training? Havent read the book, but it seems a bit irresponsible to be encouraging people who may have zero fitness or a lifestyle of no exercise to think that its a good idea to just go straight into an event with minimal training.

Now I'm curious & will have to have a read.

Makes a mockery of the 10,000 hour rule.:rolleyes:

BennyMul

amphkingwest wrote: »

Makes a mockery of the 10,000 hour rule.:rolleyes:

are you surprised that there is such a book, people are getting lazy and all you have to do is look on them shopping channels (as I flick past honest) and its full of get fit in 10min a day, or get that 6pack by lifting the remote.
get the glory with 0 work attitude.

stevire

Loving all these negative reviews, the age old classic of judging a book by it's cover

tunney

stevire wrote: »

Loving all these negative reviews, the age old classic of judging a book by it's cover

Emmmmmm

four hours a week

2 swims == two hours
1 run == one hour
1 short bike == one hour

fvcked if you are doing a triathlon on that.

shotgunmcos

tunney wrote: »

Emmmmmm

four hours a week

2 swims == two hours
1 run == one hour
1 short bike == one hour

fvcked if you are doing a triathlon on that.

Or...
3* 30 min swims 2 sets one tech
2 * 30 min runs one hard one easy
1 hour brick as 40 bike 20 run
30 min bike with 20 hard

That would get you through a sprint IMO...

tunney

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Or...
3* 30 min swims 2 sets one tech
2 * 30 min runs one hard one easy
1 hour brick as 40 bike 20 run
30 min bike with 20 hard

That would get you through a sprint IMO...

At four hours a week EVERY session would be hard.

stevire

I can't really justify the book in a couple of posts in a forum but I'll add a few things. Training plan is very small part of the book, it's approx 10 pages long. It's essentially a beginners guide to all they need to know about preparing for a triathlon and tries to approach it from varying levels of fitness. The book deals with motivation, what gear, swim/run/cycle techniques, stretch/strengthen, recovery, injury treatment, diet/nutrition and meal plans, training program and race day.

He obviously recommends more than 6 weeks, and 6 weeks is only applicable to those with a some level of fitness behind them. To break down the training programs here are the different levels of fitness he mentions:

• Level 1: Slice Above Couch Potato (little to no fitness - Sprint Triathlon recommended)
• Level 2: Neophyte (baseline fitness - Sprint Triathlon recommended)
• Level 3: Fitness Enthusiast (Done a number of run events - Sprint/Olympic)
• Level 4: Single-Sporter on a Mission (Experienced Athlete, strong finish time - Olympic/half Iron)

To give an idea of the training plans, here's the one he pencils down for level 1.

Fitness Level 1: Slice Above Couch Potato
Person who has been inactive for a while and bad fitness level

Week 1: Adaptation

Mon: Rest
Tues: Swim for 30 minutes in Zone 1
Wed: Power walk/run 30 mins in Zone 1
Thurs: Rest
Fri: Rest
Sat: Bike for 45mins in Zone 1
Sun: Rest

Week 2: Adaptation

Mon: Rest
Tues: Swim for 30 minutes in Zone 1
Wed: Power walk/run 30 mins in Zone 1
Thurs: Rest
Fri: Rest
Sat: Bike for 45mins in Zone 1
Sun: Rest

Week 3: Easy

Mon: Rest
Tues: Swim for 20 minutes in Zone 1
Wed: Power walk/run 35 mins in Zone 1
Thurs: Strength train for 20mins
Fri: Rest
Sat: Bike for 45mins in Zone 1
Sun: Swim for 15mins in Zone 1

Week 4: Easy

Mon: Rest
Tues: Swim for 20 minutes in Zone 1
Wed: Power walk/run 35 mins in Zone 1
Thurs: Strength train for 20mins
Fri: Rest
Sat: Bike for 45mins in Zone 2 (Benchmark)
Sun: Swim for 15mins in Zone 1

Week 5: Moderate

Mon: Rest
Tues: Swim for 30 minutes in Zone 2 (Benchmark)
Wed: Bike for 30mins in Zone 1; run 30 mins in Zone 2
Thurs: Swim for 20mins in Zone 1; Strength train for 20mins
Fri: Rest
Sat: Brick: Bike for 20mins in Zone 1, run for 15mins in Zone 1
Sun: Strength train for 20mins

Week 6: Moderate

Mon: Rest
Tues: Swim for 30 minutes in Zone 2
Wed: Bike for 45mins in Zone 1; run 30 mins in Zone 2 (Benchmark)
Thurs: Swim for 20mins in Zone 1; Strength train for 20mins
Fri: Rest
Sat: Brick: Bike for 30mins in Zone 1, run for 20mins in Zone 1
Sun: Strength train for 20mins

Week 7: Hard

Mon: Rest
Tues: Swim for 30 minutes in Zone 2 (Benchmark)
Wed: Bike for 45mins in Zone 2; run 30 mins in Zone 2 (Benchmark)
Thurs: Swim for 20mins in Zone 1; Strength train for 20mins
Fri: Rest
Sat: Brick: Bike for 40mins in Zone 1, run for 20mins in Zone 1
Sun: Strength train for 20mins

Week 8: Event

Mon: Rest
Tues: Bike for 30 minutes in Zone 1
Wed: Swim 15mins in Zone 1
Thurs: Run 15mins in Zone 1
Fri: Rest
Sat: Swim for 10mins in Zone 1; bike for 10mins in Zone 1
Sun: Race Day

The first few chapters are up on Google Books:
http://books.google.ie/books?id=XC0Ykw9-zRcC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false

I'll still stand by the book, I thought it was a great resource for anyone looking to do their first triathlon. It's not as technical as a number of other triathlon books out there.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Going to speak to my coach and look at introducing more rest days!!

RacoonQueen

Alivia Gentle Whirlwind wrote: »

Going to speak to my coach and look at introducing more rest days!!

Does he know what they are?