Triathlon Training in Four Hours a Week: From Beginner to Finish Line in Just Six Weeks

by Eric Harr

Book Overview

The Transforming Power of Triathlon Training for a triathlon will get you in the best shape of your life, not to mention give you a new and exciting fitness pursuit. More than that, it will change... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1579547486
• ISBN13: 9781579547486
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Rodale Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The starting line for triathlon training

There are bigger triathlon books, and there are books with more detailed training schedules. There are books to hone your swimming, and books to make you run faster, but there is probably no better book for starting the sport of triathlon than Eric Harr's For starters, Harr does a decent job as a motivational writer. This is no small feat for an accomplished athlete writing to novices. Harr manages to inspire without condescending. He gets you excited about the sport. Next, he sets the stage. He goes into the basic equipment required to train for and complete the race. He gives estimates regarding costs and recommendations as to specific brands he has used (this was probably the only part of the book that felt dated, given the 2003 publication). He also asks you to give realistic assessments of your fitness and your race goals. These include simply completing the race, trying to complete a longer distance than previously, or even competing to win (more about that later). He helps a reader plan a training schedule that matches their fitness level with their goal while allowing time to have a life outside of the sport. This is followed by more detailed discussion of the various stages, with chapters on swimming technique and drills, biking (conditioning, equipment, and safety) and of course running. He discusses the importance of heart rate monitors and interval training, and he covers when to push your training, when to back. He doesn't particularly go into the science behind the training, but his recommendations are similar to other writers in the field. Above all, he strives to keep the training schedule compatible with achieving athletic success within the time constraints of the modern recreational athlete. He puts it all together in sections that describe workout plans. These are tailored to fitness level and personal goal. They include recommendations as to sport, duration, and intensity (divided into zones I to III in increasing order of difficulty). These plans are outlines, leaving some details to the athlete. This is the recommendation for the 3rd week of a 6-week plan for a "Fitness Enthusiast", the 3rd highest in his 4-level hierarchy of fitness: Week 3: Moderate Intensity Monday: rest Tuesday: swim for 30 minutes in zone II Wednesday: run for 30 minutes in zone III; strength train for 40 minutes Thursday: swim for 30 minutes in zone I; bike for 60 minutes in zone III Friday: rest Saturday: Brick workout - bike for 50 minutes in zone I, then run for 20 minutes in zone II Sunday: strength train for 20 minutes Other miscellaneous chapters include discussions of injury prevention and treatment, nutrition, and motivation. An often overlooked aspect of endurance training is strength training, but I found that chapter to be very up to date. The exercises incorporate aspects of modern strength training, such as core training, and he discusses home as well as gym workouts. Now, is this the only book a triathlete

Great place to start your triathlon training

This book is perfect if you are interested in training for a triathlon, but are just not sure how to do it. I run and bike, but have never done a triathlon before. I just did not have any clue how to design a program that would allow me to incorporate running, swimming, and cycling in such a way that I would be able to finish a sprint distance triathlon. Using the program in this book I was able to train for and easily complete my first sprint triathlon. If you have any interest in training for a triathlon and do not know how, I would HIGHLY recommend this book. It is not technical. It makes you believe you can do it, and it provides a program framework that works. The program(s) in this book cover fitness levels from bare beginners all the way to single sport Gods (runners, cyclists, etc.) They are geared towards a sprint distance, but adaptable up to 1/2 ironman distance. Each program is doable (time wise). You do not need to quit your job and divorce your wife. Overall, fantastic. If you want to train but do not know where to start, this is where to start.

It worked!!!

I trained for my first triathlon completely out of this book. Before I started, I was in so-so shape but didn't know how to do the crawl and could not swim a single lap without stopping. I memorized the breakdown of the swim stroke in the book, practiced for a couple of months, and then six weeks before my race (sprint at Pacific Grove 2004), I started his training plan and followed it to the letter. I lost weight, got in great condition, and ended up finishing 13th in my division! I had a fantastic race, smiling most of the way, and crossed the finish line feeling like a rock star. Just a few months ago I never thought I would ever do something like this, and now I've joined a triathlon training team and am preparing for my second race in November. I'm in the best shape of my adult life, I love cross-training, and I am very, very grateful for this book. Believe me, if I can do it, *anyone* can. Get this book, finish a triathlon, and amaze yourself at what you can accomplish!

book changed my life

I bought Harr's book and completed my first triathlon (Skylands - Clinton NJ: .5Swim/14.1Bike/5K run), and just want to thank him. This book was extremely inspirational and helped me get thru some of the rough spots during those early AM training sessions. The "one minute promises" & "motivation follows action" were constants mantras going through my head. The author gives a lot of great advice, and I constantly referred to it during training.As a 39 year male starting to tip the scale near 195, I couldbarely run a 1.5 mile in early June. Since then, I have lost over 17 pounds and I'm in my best shape ever in the last 15 years. I have also had some great quality time with my kids (5 & 7) who would accompany me on their bike during a couple of runs. (This made for some great & unexpected interval training since my son would take off on his bike trying to catchbunnies!). I have much more energy, and it seems far easier to handle lifes daily stresses.I beat my stretch goal of under 2:00 hours with my family cheering me on. The people (volunteers & triathletes) at the event were extremely friendly and helpful, and it was a fantastic experience. Needless to say, I'm hooked !!! Now I just have to figure how I can get my time under 1:50for next year...Thanks!

Much More Than Meets the Eye

This book should be titled "Training to Live a Better Life (by Doing a Triathlon)" The author talks about excuses we all give about fitness -- and how to overcome them. He explains how to use exercise to live a better life, rather than simply burn calories. He advises you to view workouts as a golden opportunity to "bond" with those you love every week. He explains how, when you finish your triathlon, mentoring others can be rewarding for you...and for them. He provides inspirational stories about people who did this and how it transformed "much more than their waistline." There is also tons of nuts-and-bolts information in this book, too: how to choose the right running shoe, how to avoid injuries, how to get properly fit on your bike, how to execute the proper swim stroke, how to choose gear without over-spending, how to eat, how to lose fat, etc, etc, etc. I believe triathlon is going to be taken up by hundreds of thousands of Americans because of this book. And we need that right now. Nice work, Mr. Eric Harr. And thank you.