When I first began doing triathlons there were not many resources available. I was excited to try the sport but I had no idea where to begin. This book provided me with coverage on all topics. How to prepare for the swim and make my stroke efficient. Drills for the bike and run and even tips on gear, clothing and transitions. It was truly a savior. Now there are communities like [...] and online coaching services like trainingpeaks but if you're old school and just want to pick up a book, this is a great place to start

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to train for multisport
competition. It has giving me a guide for preparing for my
1st event coming up in May of 09.

This is the Wal-Mart of Triathlon training guides. There is a representative in every department of training, but it does not contain enough of the depth of knowledge and detail that you would like from a "Bible" to be truly satisfying. Throughout the book you will find diluted versions of other works and training books/products (Pose Method, Total Immersion, Paleo Diet, etc). I've found that reading the original sources is much more satisfying for that craving of knowledge. If you are really looking to gain in depth knowledge about the skills, training, and diet necessary for triathlon I would recommend reading the following books as either a supplement or replacement for this book:

1. Dr. Nichloas Romanov's Pose Method of Running (and DVD)
2. Daniel's Running Formula
3. Triathlon Swimming Made Easy: The Total Immersion Way for Anyone
to Master Open-Water Swimming
4. Easy Freestyle DVD (also by Total Immersion)
5. Bicycling Magazine's Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills
6. The Paleo Diet

One word: AWSOME.

Get it as fast as you can. Everything is finally available for even the non-pro.

This is a great book for both beginnners and intermediate triathletes. The book contains the basics, as well as advanced techniques, of training. The concept of "periodization" was especially helful for me. It is easy to read and the author fully explains everything. It is does not matter whether you train for sprint events or Iron Man level events, the concepts still apply.

it takes either a lot of hubris or some sort of confidence to put "bible" into the title of your book. joe friel doesn't do so without good reason. not only does this book come highly recommended from my collegiate triathlon friends, but in taking a triathlon "class" this semester to help with my pre-season training, this was our supplementary textbook. a great book through and through with advice for athletes on so many levels from a proprietor of the (tri)sport.

Buy this book! If you are a Triathlete, novice or Elite, this book will help you to train smart and reach your goals! Period.

I am an exercise scientist, and triathlete, and this is the best book on periodizing triathlon workouts that I have come across. It is very detailed, so is more geared toward intermediate to advanced athletes. If you are looking for good strength training workouts, though, this book does not have that. The strength training in here is very generic, not tri specific.

All triathletes should begin here. Even if you have lots of experience, you should own this book. Everything you need to know, every question you might have, this book will guide you in the right direction. Even after 6 years of racing, and 5 Ironmans, I still refer to it.

Very detailed training instructions for the novice to the expert...almost "too much" detail if you are just getting started. But, I really like that the author provides volumes of information based on solid training principles. If you like data and theory, you'll love this book.

In my opinion, the goal of this book is to give people who want to compete in triathalons a scientific, self-coached training plan. Does it deliver? Absolutely. The book accomplishes this through six, cleanly divided parts.

Part one, "The self-trained triathlete" is concerned with the "philosophical" basis for methodical training. It deals with things such as attitide and commitment, which are as important to me as the physical training.

Part two, "From lab to real world" talks about the scientific foundation of training and goes into the science and priciples of training (i.e. progressive resistance, periodization, etc.).

Part three, "Training with a purpose" seems to pull together parts one and two in which a system of purposeful training is described. This part will help the reader to determine exactly what their training needs are and the best ways to address them.

Part four, simply titled "Planning" is really the heart of the book. Here the book helps you design your own training plan for a season, week by week.

Part five, "Racing and recovering" takes you through the many details of preparing to race and recovering after. In other words, it gives you info on what to do before and after the actual race. This information is essential as many athletes neglect to recover properly before starting training again for the next race.

Part six, "The competative edge" talks about other supplemental aspects of training that can contribute to peak performance. Here the book covers things such as swimming tips, weight training ex's, eating tips, keeping a training diary, etc. I like to think of this chapter as a kind of "tie up the loose ends" section.

Truly a book that lives up to its name, I can't see many readers coming away from this book without picking up much useful information- from the beginner to the experienced. Athletes who have shoulder trouble that interferes with their training might also find Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff helpful too. Happy training!

I recently purchased 3 new tri-training books, and this was head and shoulders above the other two. In fact one of them was completely based on this book.

The only other one I would consider close is pretty old at this point, but still good if you can find it is "Dave Scott's Triathlon Training".

This is amazing book for any triathlete. It has everything you are looking for and goes into great depth about improving your body/time.

I highly recommend this book.

OK, let's face it. If you weren't a type-A personality, you probably wouldn't be a triathlete. Friel caters to the busy, detail-oriented tri set by explain the principles behind training - not just handing you a set schedule. To get better and push your limits, you must understand the physiology and the methodology behind the training. Friel provides this and more. This is a must-purchase items for triathletes of all levels.

I found this book very helpfull. It focuses on how to plan an effective training plan for Triathlons. It uses all the latest techniques in designing and developing a yearly, monthly, weekly and daily training and work out plan to prepare for and peak for your important races. I learned a great deal and understand a great deal more about how to train properly to achieve my best potential. It starts with the Base Period where enduance and conditioning are emphasized, the Build period when the serious training and development occurr, the Peak period where final touches to speed and power occurr and the Race period when the final touches are done including proper tapering techniques allow you to be rested and ready to perform your best. An excellent book and one to have on your shelf for ready reference.

I bought this book to get more knowledge and background about triathlons. I thought this book did an amazing job of teaching me the essence and knowledge I need to know to workout safely and build my own individualized workout plan. Granted, some of their examples are for pretty serious triathletes, there was a lot of useful information in there. I often find myself going back to the book after learning about other triathlon stuff to see what this author has to say about it. I would very highly recommend this book to people who are starting out as triathletes but have a background in working out. For example, have done a highschool/college sport or a sport for more than 5 years. I will see myself using this book for a long time. I did not find that I just read it once and it has nothing left to give me. I will re-read it and use it as a reference for a long while.

Very thorough book but a bit complex for the average triathlete. It can be a bit overwhelming but is helpful for most triathletes. I would not reccommend for a beginner getting into the sport.

The book is a step by step to creating your own triathlon training routine. I am somewhat new to the sport and this book really broke it down and explained it step by step. I cannot wait to see how my times have changed this year with the addition of this book.

This book presents a well-written look at triathlon training and will help almost any athlete train more effectively. It tells you what is known and what is not known about tri training, and provides an excellent base of information upon which you can experiment and develop a plan that works for you. It really is a book about how to train as opposed to one that explains how to run, bike, or swim. No single book can do all that, but this book will show you how to put all three sports together in a plan to improve your performance.

This book is great for the beginner to advnaced triathlete. I use this book along with a few others to create my training schedules. Joe has a lot of well reserched and well proven ideas in the book. Highly recommend.

Having done too many marathons, I've decided to dive into triathlons to create even bigger challenges. I've been told by fellow athletes this is the bible, and it didn't disappoint. This isn't so much for super elite athletes, of which I'm not, nor is it for the weekend warrior. It will, however, help anyone with some skills looking to be inspired, more disciplined and learn a bit more technical information. The training schedules and suggestions are easy to follow and construct. The book is well segmented into easily digestible sections. The author is an experienced coach and world triathlete so it gives confidence in his work.

Very complete book, useful for the professional to the advanced amateur.
It will probably scare off the newbees, but they have to bear in mind that the focus is the professional sporter, although the basic principles (periodization, focus, planning, etc) are valid for every triathlete.

Both basic and detailed information, along with training programs for the triathlete are included. There's just enough science for you to understand how to formulate your own programs.

This book is an excellent triathlon book. The author is an experienced coach and very good writer. The book has a scientific background and is great to read, it has the basic, the more detailed information, and also training programs. This book is a MUST HAVE for any serious triathlete and coach.

A well structured and thoroughly written training guide for triathlets. The fundaments of J.Friel's approach are explained very well and capture the reader's interest. It is not the "usual" training plans collection with success promises you get normally. The book helps the understanding of how to build up serious training for the his/her priority races and how to plan and schedule the training sessions and work outs. My only difficulty was to find the right level for myself (a beginner triathlete for the sprint distance), since my impression was that the book was aimed at more "serious" athletes than me. But I succeeded in extracting the information I believe was right for me. As an MD I appreciate the correct insides in training physiology, so I felt advised by a real expert. The supplied bibliographic references for further studies are an added value. I would recommend the book to anyone who would like to take his triathlon training in his hands but also to those who would like to gain a deeper understanding of how "serious training" should look like.

Stefanos Demertzis, MD, PhD

The Triathlete's Training Bible is THE authority on triathlon training. Joe Friel's training method is scientifically based (though he makes it a point to say that training is not a science alone - far from it, in fact), and he references numerous sources throughout the book. He presents the material, however, in such a way so as not to inimidate or overwhelm his readers.

This book is for those of us who want a personalized training program but can't afford the high prices of a personal coach. It is for those of us who enjoy learning and applying those methods to practice.

It is NOT for those of us who want a CANNED program that tells us when and how long to swim, when and how long to bike, and when and how long to run. If that is what you're looking for, seriously, look elsewhere. You'll likely be dissapointed.

But if you want to learn how to create and manage your own program succesfully, this is THE book to read. No doubt about it.

Note: Unless you exhibit perfect form, you will likely have to supplement this book with others on technique for the swim, bike, and run. It has some, but it is not heavy on technique, it is heavy on method.

AS a regular guy this book was much to advanced for me. It was very detailed and if I was looking to compete at the front of the pack it would be much more useful.

I had read all the rave reviews so was disappointed by my own experience. I am a new-comer to multisport competition. I found this book to be too much theory and not enough practicality; what was practical was presented in an incohesive way. I could see this being good for the serious triathlete, but for me, I found better use out of Eric Harr's book and on the internet.

This book went above and beyond everything that I expected. The author gives references for virtually every point that he makes. He is clear about his standpoint when it comes to a lot of issues, such as POSE running, and explains his reasoning.
A must have book for anyone with lots of information even for the amateur triathlete. The nutrition information in this book has made me reconsider my diet significantly.

This is the only pure triathlon book I own, so I can't compare, but it answered 95% of the questions I had about how I go about improving from being a bunch finisher. The other 5%, well I suppose the author has to draw the line on detail somewhere. For example, the section on swimming skills is a 3-4 page summary of the total immersion swimming book.

It presents lots of ideas which are fairly easy to understand on their own. It then requires that you put the effort to read (and reread many times in my case!) to really 'get' a lot of concepts. Only then can you put your own training plan together. For this reason it might be a bit too complex for a complete beginner who wants a simple set of guidelines. In summary, an Excellent book for anyone who has done some triathlons, likes understanding concepts and making plans and wants to improve their placings.

The amount covered in the book and the quality in which it was presented is absolutely the highest of positive adjectives. I recommend this book for those in search of a Triathlon Training instruction book, whether you're new to the sport or a veteran of any level. The bases are hit very well, the main points drawn on with accurate, relavent detail. Get this book.

There is no better resource for a triathlete than "The Triathlete's Training Bible". Nothing is left out. Don't expect to find canned training plans. By reading this book, you will learn how to create your own customized training plan. Hiring a personal trainer is the lazy alternative.

I could have done without the "history" lesson in the nutrition chapter. Still had some good information, though.

If you're a triathlete, especially a beginner, TTB should definitely be on your wishlist.

For the recreational triathlete this book will be a bit overkill. However, if you are seriously wanting to bring your times down to a competetive level or if you are wanting to embark in an Ironman (or even 1/2) distance race, the tools offered here will greatly aid you. From how to plan your season, structure your training to peak at just the right time, measure your progress and workouts to target your specific goals; this book will give you the knowledge you need to step it up.

I was also a fan of the Cyclist Training Bible (by the same author) long before this book this came out. You'll find the information in both scientifically sound, tested, trusted, enlightening and will no doubt help improve your performance no matter where you're at now.

This is one of the best books on triathlon I know of!
Very complete book with the research to back it up.
Still use is to look thing up after 2years.

The primary value I found in this book was in formulating a nutrition plan for an Iron-distance race. Very helpful.

The title says it all. This is the bible for Triathelete preparation. Author's philosophy is consistent throughout. Joe Friel is an experienced coach and it is demonstrated in this text. Applying just some of his principles has improved my times tremendously.

This book will give you an understanding of the principles that guide training for endurance sports and then give you a very practical, step-by-step method for preparing a detailed training program to achieve your goals. The plan will be based on the amount of time YOU have to train and the goals YOU set for your season. There are sections on special needs, like athletes over 40. The process does take some effort on your part, this is NOT a prefabricated plan, you have to put in the time to create it. If you are willing to do that, you will not be disappointed. (If you're not, then buy a different book, there are excellent ones that will lay out several plans for you and you pick the most appropriate one.)

I am a novice triathlete and was looking for a good place to start. Since I don't know anyone in my area that runs in triathlons I turned to the next best thing, a book. The Triathlete's Bible has helped me set goals, training objectives, and given me all the tools and resources I need to accomplish them. It has also taught me how to plan out my work out schedule for a year down to a week so that I stay focused, especially once winter comes where I'll have to do a lot of indoor training. All and all I would say a great book for people of all different ability levels.

I bought this book after reviewing some comments here on Amazon. Since I am interested in both the physiology behind training and training itself, this seemed a good choice. I thought that if it could be criticized it would be on the account of too much information rather than too little. Unfortunately, I now think otherwise. It has barely covered the basics in how to put together a plan based on the athlete's specific needs.

I've practiced a lot of sports since I was very young but I've never tried to 'tri'. I thought I knew a lot about endurance training but I was wrong. Friel's training book has been very useful and covered almost everything: training basic principles, periodization, skill assessment, nutrition ...
Most of all, Friel's book gave me the 'ability' to prepare my own training annual plan and to schedule my workouts (with correct volume & intensity levels according to periodization) on a weekly basis. Definitely a "must have" for beginners and intermediate triathletes.

I bought this book because it was highly rated and expected it to be a "bible" of triathlon. Instead it mainly focuses on how to cycle your training years and how to manage your time according to your goals. The chapter on technique and equipment is only very brief and superficial, Friel merely points out that you should get some swimming lessons to learn to swim faster, and maybe buy fancier equipment to cycle faster. The psychological side is also quite thin, and there just isn`t anykind of personal touch in the book. I really don`t feel like opening it again. In endurance sports you must have that "inner-burning" to keep you going, and quite frankly, Friel gives the feeling of an arm-chair theoretician of himself in this book.

If you have trained for enough to discover you don't know what you are doing and you need help this is the book for you. It covers pretty much everything about training for triathlon (most of the advise applies to any sport but the examples and emphasis is targeted to triathlon).
You could also stand up with the right foot If you are new to sports but can grasp the knowledge in here.
Good luck training

PS I am waiting for the revised version and I heard it is on the works

Friel's book is the ultimate in self-coach books. I own his entire series of "bible" books and find them to be fantastic. Each chapter is well written and scientifically based with appropriate references from the scientific literature. Friel has provided an important service to any serious athlete - he has condensed, summarized, and synthesized the scientific literature so we don't have to.
Highly recommended.

I read this book last year and found it really useful. It explains everything you need to know to make set realistic goals and create your own training program to achieve them. I made my own plan and followed successfully. I highly recommend the book.

I very rarely give any books a five-star rating but this book deserves 6! Most training books give you the "basics" about training, things you can find in almost any other book on the subject, and then included sample workout programs that may or may not work for you. Not this book, it covers the basics, yes, but goes into incredible, comprehensive detail about how to create your very own training program, one that will work for YOU! This is training from the ground up and can be adapted for almost any type of fitness activity, not just triathlon training. As they say, "Give a man a fish and feed him for the day, teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime." This book will keep you fed for a lifetime. Get it.

of countless training books in the market, this one definately worth the money as it is an inch thick and has over 350 pages of information. you do not need to be a triathlete to appreciate this book. you may be only interested in running but buying this book not only do you learn more about running than other so called specilized running books in the market but you get to know more about cycling and swimming - three for the price of one - why not ?

Just beginning to think about going for a triathalon and bought this book from amazon.com. Received it today and have been glued to it - FANTASTIC BOOK!

This book provides some great training plans for all types of triathletes, pro, amateur, and non-competitive. However, this book is also useful for single sport athletes. The basic concepts of nutrition, performance staging, and performanance monitoring are applicable to all sports. Joe Friel describes the triathlon experience from the start of training to recovery and includes helpful info such as equipment lists. Recommended for anyone considering multisport competitions.

Saw Joel speak at Ironman this year. Sharp guy! The book is very complete and easy to follow.

It's no hyperbole. This is indeed the most comprehensive book on triathlon training ever written. And unless the way people train changes radically in the next decades, I can't imagine anything surpassing Friel's book. Particularly of note are the scheduling guides and parts on periodization. I find his views on diet, although counter to my lifestyle, interesting as well.

Several people have mentioned the value of this work for self-coached athletes. I'm coached, yet I believe it's still my most valuable resource. You can never know too much.

My only misgiving is that my competition will read and follow the book!