Training and eating

[Veronica]

If you have the time and not the money, I would recommend getting the Triathlete's Training Bible.

Even without having to read the book anymore, I have used Joe's principles to set up my athletes with programs and it takes at least 2 hours to do the start-up, then about 1 hour per month to update their plan as they go along. And that's without having to go back to the book, read things etc. I think the first time I did my own program it probably took me about 5 to 6 hours to figure it out, then about 1.5 to 2 hours per month.

The book has been around for a while so you can likely get it through your local library.

A bit of a hijack...

I feel like I've been bumbling along for four years, trying to make canned plans work for me. They never do. I wasn't ready, willing or able to do the amount of running. I don't want to give up my strength training time and I don't need to swim three times a week. And I need to have yoga a regular part of my week.

Of course this book was one of my first purchases and it's sat on my shelf, pretty much unread. In fact I just hunted down to make sure I still had it. Guess it's time to give it a serious look and make my own plan.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

A bit of a hijack...

I feel like I've been bumbling along for four years, trying to make canned plans work for me. They never do. I wasn't ready, willing or able to do the amount of running. I don't want to give up my strength training time and I don't need to swim three times a week. And I need to have yoga a regular part of my week.

Of course this book was one of my first purchases and it's sat on my shelf, pretty much unread. In fact I just hunted down to make sure I still had it. Guess it's time to give it a serious look and make my own plan.

Veronica

Me too. I can't seem to make canned plans work for my schedule for a whole host of reasons (mostly different from yours, V!). I also have this book somewhere and I need to hunt it down when I get home tonight.

Thanks for posting this Wahine - you may have saved my 3rd tri season!!

[Wahine]

One of the things I love about Joe's book is that he emphasizes prioritizing your workouts and learning how to fit it into your schedule, being on the lookout for overtraining and the necessity of prescribed rest. I do think that he overestimates to total number of training hours required to reach a certain goal.

One of my favorite quotes as a coach is the title of one of his sections in the book. "Train like a race horse, think like a bumblebee".

The race horse comment is to illustrate that sticking to a plan and not throwing in extra junk miles is the best way to reach a goal. When a race horse is done it's workout, it doesn't second guess that it's time to stop and rest, it just does.

The bumblebee comment is an analogy for believing in yourself. Apparently, physics cannot readily explain how it is possible for a bumblebee to fly. It just does because it knows it can.

[Veronica]

My copy is a first edition. He's on number 3 now. I just ordered the new one from Amazon after comparing pages of content and reading his introduction. Most of the new info is about training intensity and nutrition. I figure those are kind of important. Plus it was only $17.00.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

Heh - turns out, I didn't have it. I have his Cyclist's Training Bible, but not the tri one. So I just ordered it too...with a Christmas gift card. Free and it arrives Friday! Can't beat that with a stick.

V - have you had a chance to dig into it again yet?

[Veronica]

I've glanced through the old one. My new one should get here today. Funny how now what I read actually makes sense. I'm looking forward to maybe, actually having a training plan that works for me. I want to keep it fun, but I also want to break through some barriers.

I am in awe of people like Kacie who can spend so much time training and still sound like they are having fun. I think that's part of why I'm reluctant to get a coach. I'm not sure I'd find having coach "fun." My trainer is fun, but that's only two hours a week of doing tough stuff.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

I would venture a guess that Kacie doesn't blog about the training sessions that totally bite, but I do know what you mean!

I think that having a coach could be fun if you have the right one. And finding that right one might not be so easy. That's why I hesitate - I fear throwing away a ton of money on something that may not work out due to my other commitments. At least if I'm the one setting up the plan, there is less guilt and cost involved.

[kacie tri-ing]

One of the things I love about Joe's book is that he emphasizes prioritizing your workouts and learning how to fit it into your schedule, being on the lookout for overtraining and the necessity of prescribed rest. I do think that he overestimates to total number of training hours required to reach a certain goal.

One of my favorite quotes as a coach is the title of one of his sections in the book. "Train like a race horse, think like a bumblebee".

The race horse comment is to illustrate that sticking to a plan and not throwing in extra junk miles is the best way to reach a goal. When a race horse is done it's workout, it doesn't second guess that it's time to stop and rest, it just does.

The bumblebee comment is an analogy for believing in yourself. Apparently, physics cannot readily explain how it is possible for a bumblebee to fly. It just does because it knows it can.

My coach LOVES that quote too :-)