Customer Reviews

Serious Training for Endurance Athletes-2nd Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
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Whilst this book is aimed primarily at the serious endurance athlete, I wish to widen its appeal after having used the book to good effect at the age of 59. Consequently, I would suggest you do not allow yourself to be restricted by the title because you do not have to be a competitive endurance athlete to gain maximum profit from this work.

Nowadays, my own memories of winning the regimental mile (and in a very credible time!) are very distant. Nevertheless, I still go running with a pack on my back (old airborne habits die very hard!) as the battle of mind vs middle age spread enters the hardest phase yet. It is a fact that the older one gets, the harder all physical training becomes. This book, however, proved its worth in the first few pages by showing me an easier way to obtain similar results. After all, the book commences with; "Consider your own objectives." Says it all really.

There are many times in life when we all believe we know best and never more so than when it comes to physical training, but, consider this; If such training was as simple as just going for a jog, then why are others obtaining university degrees in the subject with some gaining high paid employment - especially in the field of sports injuries. The reality is, we who go for a run (and often do nothing else!) are not gaining maximum benefit from all that hard work.

Whilst the focus of the book remains the serious endurance athlete - and from which all such people will gain enormously from a thorough study of the content, I was particularly impressed by the way in which the book is able to benefit those of a lesser standard. There is no point in boring people with a blow-by-blow account of my own physical condition because no two people are alike. Nevertheless, if this work can be of great assistance to me - in my 60th year!, then there is something here for anyone with a wish to improve their own physical abilities and, therefore, their own appearance and, ultimately, health.

It is a simple fact that when you are fit and slim you not only look good but also feel good about yourself. Such results, however, are not obtained through liposuction, pills or other easy solutions - they are obtained through hard graft and physical endurance. What is important, therefore, is for each individual to start at their own level, understand that level and go on to gain maximum profit from their own physical input and this book shows the way.

Lesson one; Do not be embarrassed! Nobody is laughing just because you are wearing a tracksuit. Lesson two; Buy a copy of this book and make a start. Lesson three; Enjoy!

NM

This book provides great knowledge in a highly readable format. Rob does a great job providing a structured solution that can be applied to any training regimen. For amateurs and professionals, beginner or seasoned veteren, this book is a must have for anyone interested in endurance training.

After reading several other books on triathlons and trying to start some training programs, I was beginning to get discouraged. I couldn't find a program I liked, so I wouldn't stick with it. SERIOUS Training for Endurance Athletes proved to be the solution I needed. This book will let you form a training plan that gives you specific times and goals for each workout. Having those numbers in mind will help you make it through that last interval, last mile or last lap. Good luck and train hard!

This is a very good systems design book that details how to develop a "best available strategy*" training program to accomplish a goal you set -- e.g., run a 50 Minute 10K race in late August. I know of no other book so good at letting you set a goal and then derive a fully structured training program for meeting that goal.

* based on current optimization theories regarding load (HR), workout duriation, periodization ...

I bought this book on the recommendations of Amazon customers and I must admit that I wasn't disapointed. Sometimes you don't know what you're going to get when everyone gives a book 5 stars. Sometimes it's hard to get an unbiased review.
I was pleased with the book and what others have said is true. I recommend this book to endurance athletes looking for reasons and explanations on why to train a certain way and what it will do for your body in the long run.
However, I am a competetive rower and there were few topics that took rowing into account. Most of the training is geared towards running/cycling/triathetes and not specific to rowing as much as I was hoping. Also, there is way too little emphasis on resistance training. Most of the book is about setting up a mathmatical training plan and says to devote time sparingly to strength training. I'm not an expert on other sports, but I do know that power through strength training is vital for a strong pull on those oars. I suggest devoting more time in the SERIOUS formula to weight training in the gym than the book suggests, especially in the early training weeks.

As for the rest of the book, it's great, but it takes a *LOT* of paperwork. Fortunately my wife is handy with MS Excel and plotted all the charts for me with forulas that makes it all easy. However, without her I know that I would be daunted and discouraged at the task of making all the charts and calculations by hand. In a future updated edition (I hope that they make one) the book should come with a CDROM loaded with all the charts and formulas, or at least a web site link for downloading them. In the 21st century it's good practice to have online content and I hope to see it with this great text book.

As a cross-country skier, I thought this book was great! Together with "Tao of Skiing," and "Ski Skating with champions" it is an essential part of my collection.

This is a good book for people who have never done a sport at a high level, because it will show you how to do a good training and give you ideas for exercises, it is also for people who plan to do some sport for a special event (for example, training for a 1 week and more mountain hike)

I would not really recommend this book to people who already do high level taining and who allready are in a training program, because they probably allready know most of the exercises and ideas of this book (or at least something equivalent)

Although I rarley compete in races of any sort, the SERIOUS system enabled me to architect graphs and charts to acknowledge my strenghths and liabilities in my fitness plan. The SERIOUS acronym also clarified my elemenatry misconceptions of Speed, Endurance, Race/Pace, Intensity, Overdistance, Up/Verticle, and Strength. Implementing a training log was also beneficial for stratifying new plans, goals, and highlighting accomplishments. If your a genuine competitor who seeks the extra winning edge, I highly reccomend that you incorporate the SERIOUS system into your training arsenal.
-AllotofVision-
Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va

Although I rarley compete in races of any sort, the SERIOUS system enabled me to architect graphs and charts to acknowledge my strengths and liabilities in my fitness plan. The SERIOUS acronym also clarified my elemenatry misconceptions of Speed, Endurance, Race/Pace, Intensity, Overdistance, Up/Verticle, and Strength. Implementing a training log was also beneficial for stratifying new plans, goals, and highlighting accomplishments. If your a genuine competitor who seeks the extra winning edge, I highly reccomend that you incorporate the SERIOUS system into your training arsenal.
-AllotofVision-
Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va

I bought SERIOUS Training for Endurance Athletes to develop a training regemin for adventure racing. After a few months of following the advice presented in the book, I raced sucessfully in a two-day 148km race. After the race I developed a one year training program and I am now 7 weeks into it. I'm looking forward to the upcoming race season. If you want to learn more about endurance training and suceed in endurance sports, this book is for you!