Anyone read "Woman Triathlete" by Christina Gandolfo

[beetle]

Just wondering if anyone has read this and has an opinion aboout it? Would you recommend it to others?

[mimitabby]

I haven't, but if you do, please post a book report!
m

[Tri Girl]

beetle, I've read it, and I like it. There seem to be lots of tri books for women, and I bought this one and the one by Sally Edwards. IMO it's better than Triathlons for Women by Sally Edwards.
It has lots of good info and tips if you're starting out in the sport, with training programs, nutritional advice, and how to avoid injuries (and even training while pregnant). I still re-read it every now and then for reminders on what I need to be doing to get it right (like in the off season when I get lazy and need to get fired up again :p ).
If you can, try to go to a bookstore and read through it before buying. Then again, that advice is really for me, as I usually wind up flipping through a book, then get it home and realize that I don't find as helpful as I did when I was in the store.
Like I said, it's just my opinion, but I like the book!

[beetle]

Tri Girl - Thanks for the feedback and yes (In answer to your question on the shorts thread) I am planning to do an HIM (well actually IM is the goal but that's a little way off. I have "Endurance Athletes Edge" by Marc Evans which I find a little to calculated IYKWIM and "The Triathlete's Training Bible: A Complete Training Guide for the Competitive Multisport Athlete" by Joe Friel. I like Joe's book the best and have read it through heaps as I bought it a couple oof years ago when I was training to do an English Channel crossing - the are virtually no endurance swimming training publications so I just adapted his program suggestions for an IM training program - it obviously worked as I managed to get from England to France.

What did you think of the pregnancy chapter? I am pregnant again and have trained through more consistently this time but have just made my goal maintenance of base fittness so that I can get back into a proper program sooner after the baby is born.

I agree that it would be best to look IRL before I buy but these books are so rarely on the shelves, even here in Sydney :rolleyes:

I think I might get it (Christmas pres :) ) especially if you say that you still sometimes go back to it - sounds like you've been on the tri scene for a while.

[Tri Girl]

congrats on your pregnancy, Beetle!!!
The pregnancy chapter seems to be pretty good (having never been pregnant, tho, I can't look at it and think "yes, that IS good advice when pregnant"). It has tips and info for training/maintaining fitness while pregnant and info for training during each trimester. It also has some post delivery suggestions. Seems good.

If you think you may like it, then I would go ahead and buy it (especially since it's rarely on shelves- didn't even look at where you lived). If you don't like it, then there's always the possibility of giving it to someone you know (we do book/clothing/bike accessory swaps with my friends all the time).

Since you're thinking about the full IM (or it could even be adapted for the half), I would highly recommend the book Going Long by Joel Friel and Gordon Byrn. That book was my bible while training. It's been written and highlighted so much by me it looks like a wreck. So much helpful training advice, and especially nutritional advice (which I really needed help with on those long rides and runs and for race day). That is the BEST book I've found for training. The Woman Triathlete is good, but I don't find there's any diff. in training advice for men and women- especially when going long. If you had to buy one, my bet would be on Going Long over Woman Triathlete just for the extra focus on long distance racing. In Going Long there really aren't programs set up (sample workouts are given, but no long term IM schedule), but the info was easily adapted the the training program I did. I did the one on www.trifuel.com (under training programs, and then under the 36 week Iron distance training program- they also have a half training program, but it's not as detailed and not as helpful-I'd just do the first 20-25 weeks of the full program for a half). I swear by that program and will use it again for my next IM (and it's free- even better). While I wasn't able to complete the workouts in the time they had (I'm thinking it was designed for faster athletes), it did the perfect job of steadily increasing my durations and intensities, while keeping me injury free (my knee is bad and I didn't have a problem during the program).

Again, sorry for being so long-winded.

You swam the English Channel????? WOW!!!! I'm so very impressed! How far of a swim is that? That's just incredible!!!! I'm just amazed at your accomplishment!!!! WoW!!! :D

[mel1976]

Hi Beetle

I have the book and have just started reading it, but like what I've read thus far.

I bought the book off Amazon.com in the US and had them posted to Australia (I'm in brissy). Took several weeks, but I bought several books at the same time to spread the cost of postage over the books. Amazon.com actually messed up my order and thus sent me two packages. They ended up telling me to keep both (too far to send them back to the US!), therefore I have a spare brand spanking new copy if you'd like to borrow (or buy) the book from me.

I also have (and have read) Sally Edwards "Triathlons for Women" but thought that it was an okay read, I'd probably rate it 5.5 out of 10.

I also have Complete Triathlon Book by Matt Fitzgerald, The Triathlete's Training Bible (2nd Ed) by Joe Friel and Training Plans for Multisport Athletes. I've not yet read these three.

I'm a bit of a book/mag junky so whenever I develop a new interest, I seem to accumulate an entire library.

Speaking of library, thats the other option, try one of your local libraries, or university libraries (they often let general public borrow but there may be a membership fee), to see if they have a copy of you can ask about reciprocal borrowing rights at other libraries that may have the books that you want.

Cheers
Mel

[beetle]

Tri girl - Thanks again for all the comments. Interesting that you suggest Going Long as I've seen it advertised in a couple of mags. Might put that on the list for next. I hadn't heard of www.trifuel.com so will definately have a good look there. It's great to actually hear about peoples successes with workouts. The English Channel is 22miles in a straight line (though few people are lucky enough to swim in a straight line) - it took 12.5 hrs and I was very tired afterwards. Actually speaking of books and swimming, I just got a copy of Lynne Cox's Swimming to Antarctica which I'm finding an easy but motivating read - good for holiday reading. Since I'm now off on a bit tangent I watched Touching the Void just before my swim (have not read the book yet) which is Joe Simpson's account of climbing out of a crevass and being rescued after a terrible mountain climbing accident in Peru (I think Peru). It is an amazing story and incredible to see how the human body can be pushed in extremes.

mel1976 - thanks for the offer but after dropping some hints DH has decided it would be a good Christmas present and I managed to track a copy down at one of the bookstores in the city. I know what you mean about being a book junky - DH is teasing me at the moment and suggesting I think I can read my way through a HIM :) ah well I'm just a sucker for research I think. Love you library iidea, I actually cleared out the running, swimming and tri shelves at the local library the other day. Seems someone else had a few tri and cycling books out but I got a couple of good ones especially a one on running. A uni library might be a good option actually, I hadn't thought of that. My brother is doing PE teaching, I should ask him what they have on the shelves. Will be keen to hear what you think of the oother books you've got.

[Tri Girl]

beetle,
I'm just shaking my head and picking up my jaw in complete disbelief and utter amazement at your feat. 22 miles???? The 2.4 in the IM was FAR too long to spend in the water, I just can't imagine doing that for 12.5 hours. WOW! You have all my admiration!!!!! Wow, wow, wow...

I've got a few questions for you. How did you manage nutrition during the event? Was there someone following you in a kayak or boat to provide you with things you'd need over the course of the event? Were you the only swimmer out there doing it? Did you ever turn over and float to rest? Were you in full wetsuit and wetsuit cap? What was your training like? Sorry so many questions, but I find it simply fascinating that you did that, and I've never known anyone who's done that. Thanks for entertaining my ridiculous questions.

[Wahine]

Beetle,

I'm with Trigirl. The English Channel, that is amazing. I've done many a half IM and one IM with one on the way and I can't imagine swimming for 12.5 hrs. That's longer than it took me to do IM CND!!

I'd love to hear more details about your training, nutrition etc.

Wahine

[Bikingmomof3]

beetle, I've read it, and I like it. There seem to be lots of tri books for women, and I bought this one and the one by Sally Edwards. IMO it's better than Triathlons for Women by Sally Edwards.
It has lots of good info and tips if you're starting out in the sport, with training programs, nutritional advice, and how to avoid injuries (and even training while pregnant). I still re-read it every now and then for reminders on what I need to be doing to get it right (like in the off season when I get lazy and need to get fired up again :p ).
If you can, try to go to a bookstore and read through it before buying. Then again, that advice is really for me, as I usually wind up flipping through a book, then get it home and realize that I don't find as helpful as I did when I was in the store.
Like I said, it's just my opinion, but I like the book!

Tri Girl,
I will look for this book. Thanks for the tip. I need all the help I can get. :)

[Offthegrid]

The English Channel?!?!? OMG! Do tell us more about it!!!

But, back to the question ... I haven't picked this book up because I'm not looking for instructional books at the moment. I'd like to read more books of personal triathlete's journeys.

[beetle]

Well what a busy Christmas so far, seems everyone has or is getting gastro - ah well I'm sure it will be a good story for next christmas. Got the book though and have nearly read the whole thing. I am glad I got it as there are a few suggestions etc that I will take on board and had not heard of or seen before.


I've got a few questions for you. How did you manage nutrition during the event? Was there someone following you in a kayak or boat to provide you with things you'd need over the course of the event?Yes, it is compulsory to have a certified pilot and boat with you for the whole crossing. I stopped and kicked on my back every half hour for feeding. Which was carb drink from a bottle tied to a rope so it could be retrieved. I had planned to have some solid food as well but didn't feel like it when there.

Were you the only swimmer out there doing it?There were actually 3 swimmers in the water at the same time though we each had a separate boat with us and ended up quite spread out as we all swam at different speeds.
Did you ever turn over and float to rest? No, just when I had my feeds
Were you in full wetsuit and wetsuit cap?Nope. Just a standard pair of swimmers, silicon cap and goggles. The rules are pretty strict and the crossing would not be counted if done in a wetsuit. This is actually a whole dimension of the training as it is possible to acclimatise ones self to cold water, which I did reasonably well by the time of the swim. It was about 14degC (58-60degF I think)

What was your training like?I spent a lot of time pool training until it was warm enough (50degF) to train in the ocean and then started with 10 min swims and built up to 6 hrs when it was warmer. The longer training swim I did was 8hrs on a Sat and then 7hrs the next day about 5 weeks before the crossing. Getting back in on the Sunday was so hard as I had had a lot of trouble with my shoulder and really stiffened up overnight.

I tried to setup a 6 month periodised program similar to what is used by a lot of triathletes. It was a good exercise and I planned a lot more training than I actually did. I learned a lot about the need for goal setting, knowing your available time and having a focus for each session. As I was only swimming I suffered from shoulder problems that were a result of the massive increase in hours swimming I was doing from previous years. In some ways I think that would make tri training a bit easier beacause at least you can and have to switch sports regularly.

[Tri Girl]

Wow, beetle. You're amazing! Thank you for answering all my questions!
I'm in awe of your accomplishment- and not wearing a wetsuit is just mind boggling in those temps. I guess I shall not complain about the "cold" water early in the season (which is still warmer than your swim water).
Sounds like you did an exceptional job of setting up your own training and doing everything you needed to do. I'm impressed at your efforts in creating a program for yourself. And just like long distance running, I'm sure all the time you spent swimming made your shoulders a bit sore and overused. Anytime you do one thing, your body takes a beating. That's why I like tris so much- plenty of variety and the muscles don't have time to be hurt and overused.
If you have any pictures from that event, I know I would like to see them (and I'm sure others here would love it as well).
Congratulations again on your accomplishment.

Oh, and I'm glad you like the book. It's pretty good!

[Bikingmomof3]

Amazing Beetle, simply amazing. :cool: Congratulations on your accomplishments. :)

[btchance]

For what it's worth, I am using this book to plan my training this year. Hopefully it will help keep me a bit more focused. It looks like it may work (that is, if I follow what I write ;) )

And Beetle - awesome job on swimming the Channel. That's amazing!

[susanm8048]

Hi Mel1976,
I have just shot off a PM asking whether you still have the copy of "Going Long" and are wanting to sell it.
I hope so!!