This new edition of The Triathlete's Training Bible covers all of the specialized training needs of triathletes, including completely updated nutrition, recovery, and weight training information. The book also contains seasoned advice on the mental aspects of training. Author Joe Friel shows how to achieve greater fitness by examining personal strengths and weaknesses, and devotes individual chapters to planning, racing, rest, and recovery. Appendices include annual training plan worksheets and suggested swim, bike, run, and combined workouts.

This is an excellent book. It gives you thoery and practice for triathlon training. I would recommend it to everyone who wants to run a triathlon. I wouldn't call it a downfall but something that I felt as I read it was that it is the best marketing tool a coach could ask for. Many of the practices in the book require expensive tests or equipment that a coach will have access to. This creates a feeling of yerning for the ability to spend more money on the sport. It is tough because you probably wont find a more complete book, but on the other side it makes normal people like me feel like I am not committed to the sport and a cheap skate to boot.

I bought this book about 2 months ago while I was preparing for my first triathlon. I read a lot of the previous reviews, and I have to say that the major selling point for me wasn't the positive reviews. It was actually the negative ones who said the book was too hardcore. WOOHOO!! This was my kind of training manual. It's true that the suggested fitness programs are designed for people with several hours of available training time each day, but this can easily be tailored to meet a more restictive schedule. I really liked it because, besides the suggested training programs, the book is chalk full of information with drills and technique tweakers to improve each of the three sports. I know I'm just a beginner, but since all the negative reviews seem to be coming from other beginners, I thought I'd throw in my two cents.

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