I did my first ironman last fall, and I know I need a better training plan and detailed training schedule. I also don’t have $150-$250 a month to pay a personal coach to give me one.
Which book has the best ironman training schedule? I know I can afford a $10-$30 book much better than a personal coach.
Going Long
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Going Long is a fine book, but a bit too intricate for many first timers who need a more basic understanding of things. I think Sleamaker’s S.E.R.I.O.US. book or Don Fink’s Iron Fit are great. The former is an easy way to understand periodization, which is essentially the same for any and every program (Going Long is too complicated; too many variables) the later has a real-world approach (again, which Going Long seems to lack). Both have excellent and easy to follow week-by-week programs.
Be Iron-Fit: Time-Efficient Training Secrets for Ultimate Fitness
By Don Fink
Includes a 30 week IronMan plan.
I don’t think you can beat Joe Friel’s Triathlon Training Bible for an overall triathlon training guide, including ultra distance racing. Going Long by Friel and Gordo Byrn focuses on ultra racing.
Going Long is an AWESOME book with lots of info but it really doesnt give you a specific week by week plan, it gives a few general examples of a few weeks. Might try Gale Bernhardts Book “Training Plans for Multisport Athletes” or Frey and Huddles Book “IM Training” a 26 week plan, very detailed…
I cannot gush enough about Gordo Byrn and Joe Friel’s Going Long. I know this is a cliche, but if you only buy one book about triathlon training at long distance- buy that one.
There are so many common sense anecdotes and insights in there that could only come from a guy like Gordo.
Gordo Byrn, one of the authors (the primary author as indicated in the forward) finished Ironman Canada in 1997 about 10 seconds in front of me, for a finish of about 10:47 something, in the top 200 of the race if I recall correctly.
Gordo decided to get serious about training, something many of us entertain the thought of doing. Gordo did get serious though. He came back a year or two later and nearly won the thing- I think he either did win or was second overall. It was an incredible ascension from everyman athlete to absolute elite level professional Ironman.
Gordo’s insights are so valuable, and the book is highly usable. It seems like every bit of information is a mini-gem. I very highly recommend this book.
Another winner is Brad *Kearn’s Breakthrough Triathlon. *
Joe Friel…Triathletes Training Bible
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I know its not a book, but for a plan that literally gives you every work-out, every day for an Ironman I would get one of Rich Strauss’s plans @ Crucible fitness. Out of my small library of Tri books (Dave Scott, Going Long, Sleamaker and Browning) only Sleamaker and Browning come close to a schedual, and then you have to build it up in an Excel spreadsheet(it works, I did that for several years). Thats all good, and there’s much to be learned from each of those books, but as far as actual execution of a training plan its so much easier when all the workouts are set out for you to follow. BTW overal I’m not personally crazy about Going Long, although the description of pacing the Ironman bike may be worth the cover price alone.
Bob
If you just want a straight-up schedule, I would say that Don Fink does it best.
However, I think it’s far better to build your own schedule based on your goals, limiters and time availability. Personally, I think you should buy all 3 books.
Sleamaker and Browning for the general format of the training plan (their spreadsheet lays it all out for you)
TTB for the process of identifying goals, limiters and training methods (much more detailed than Sleamaker & Browning)
Going Long for refining the program specific to the needs of the Ironman (e.g. what a specific build period bike session looks like for IM racing, what the taper for an IM should look like and proper race day execution).
Put all 3 together and you have a solid training plan. Sure it may take you a few weeks to read through them and work out a program but it’s time well spent. Definitely beats losing faith in a cookie-cutter program because it’s not doable with your schedule or meeting your needs, or more importantly you lose belief in it because you don’t understand the ‘why’ of each session (very common).
Alan.