The Complete Book of Triathlon Training: Ironman Triathlon Edition by Mark Kleanthous

You know me. I love books; especially books related to health and fitness. I have especially been drawn to triathlons so I naturally find myself clawing at any good information I can find on the subject. Recently I enjoyed reading The Complete Book of Triathlon Training: Ironman Triathlon Edition by Mark Kleanthous. As a coach myself it was particularly interesting to get another coaches' prospective on training and racing, but I especially liked to get an "out of the country" British coaches' perspective. I found myself comparing and contrasting the differences and was entertained by simple differences in word usage like "swimming costume" and "allen keys." Aside from the differences in word use, I found many of the triathlon training truths I have come to know well as an experienced athlete myself. I really liked how Mark included a section at the beginning of the book entitled "What type of athlete are you?" I think it is helpful for athletes to identify what possible attributes they might possess and what is possible. This helps them understand what they can expect to get out of the sport as a whole and what level they are beginning at. It can also serve to identify potential pitfalls and is really the platform to helping them learn effectively, so thumbs up to you on that one Mark.I found a lot of kernels of truth in the book that were very relatable to what I have experienced as a coach trying to help people enjoy fitness. I work with a lot of beginners and often see people stuck in one of the athlete types the author identifies as a Brief Enthusiast which could be characterized as: "You never really give fitness a chance because you give up before it becomes enjoyable." This probably grabbed my attention because New Years Resolutions are starting to take shape for many and it's not a secret that weight loss and improved fitness are always on the top of the list. But people seem to give up too easily. One thing that people need to understand is that everyone's motivation to do what it takes to be fit ebbs and flows but the difference between good athletes and "brief enthusiasts" is commitment and discipline to do it even if you don't want to. Eventually it does become enjoyable. As the author suggests; training is not linear and runs in cycles. This is true for everyone and "sometimes slower is better." Doing something is what counts.I also particularly enjoyed the pictures sprinkled throughout the book depicting triathlon greats like Chrissie Wellington, Mirinda Carfrae and Chris "Macca" McCormack. It's always great to see them in action.The author really did a good job at touching on so many different aspects of the sport like time management, visualization, hydration, nutrition, sleep, warm-up/cool-down, stretching, setting goals, bike fit, wetsuits and many other things that go into effective training. The book echoed many of the training concepts I try to teach my athletes like streamline swimming, proper cycling skills and efficient running. The book also includes some generalized training schedules which can provide a basic structure and could serve as a helpful place to start but also recognized the value of hiring a coach stating that "Triathlon is complicated, and coaches can often see things that are missed by the athlete. Consequently, they can usually help with organization, motivation, restraint, injury prevention, etc." And I would add, while books can serve as a valuable resource they can never take the place of a coach that can adapt the training for you specifically and individually and demonstrate proper technique live and in person. The encyclopedia section of the book will undoubtedly serve as a valuable resource for athletes to use for reference as well. Overall I think it was a good read and a great addition to any endurance athlete's library. To learn more about how you can obtain your own copy visit Cardinal Publishing Group.Stay Healthy,Coach Lora Erickson"Blonde Runner"www.BlondeRunner.com