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Home > Be Iron-Fit: Time-Efficient Training Secrets for Ultimate Fitness
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Be Iron-Fit: Time-Efficient Training Secrets for Ultimate Fitness
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By Don Fink
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 (27 Reviews)
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From our affiliated sellers:
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Publisher:
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Lyons Press
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Edition:
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1st
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Published:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Paperback
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Pages:
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288
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| Product Description: |
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Ever dream of being an elite endurance athlete and competing in races like Hawaii's Ironman?
Professional athletes are not the only people who have the ability to attain superior athletic accomplishments. Every season tens of thousands of amateur triathletes compete head-to-head, pushing their physical and mental strength to the absolute limits. The standard Ironman competition is a true test: a 2.4-mile open-water swim, followed by a 112-mile bike leg, and a 26.2-mile marathon run.
Sought-after multisport coach, Don Fink assures readers that the challenge is not too difficult, the dream is not impossible. His time-efficient training methods have been honed over the years and have been proved to aid anyone in achieving their athletic dreams. Be Iron-Fit provides practical training information in a step-by-step, enjoyable way so that even everyday athletes can attain ultimate conditioning.
Included in this revolutionary guide is information on:
- The essential workouts
- The training cycle
- 12-week training programs
- Effective time management
- The principle of gradual adaptation
- Effective heart-rate training
- Preparing with training races
- Proper technique
- Equipment tips
- Race and pre-race strategies
- Mental training
- Effective goal setting and race selection
- And much more
With the proper preparation and training techniques explained here, virtually anyone can attain supreme fitness.
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Customer Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
Closest thing to a shortcut, December 25, 2004
By JM II (Athens, GA United States)
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It took me years of injuries, online training plans, and ill-spent money to learn what Mr. Fink has consolidated into 280 pages. If you are an Ironman or aspiring Ironman, this book belongs in your training library.
Most Ironman triathletes spend as much time fretting about their training as they do actual training. If you are serious about Ironman, you will certainly buy many more training books, however, this one is the best I have found that touches on all of the essential elements of a successful Ironman campaign.
The Table of Contents reads like the 17 Commandments of Ironman training:
The Dream, Time Mngmt, Essential Workouts, Training Cycle, Gradual Adaptation, Heart Rate Training, 30-week Training Plans, Flexibility and Strength, Training Races, Technique, Transitions, Equipment, Strategies, Mental Training, Goal Setting, Maintenance, Recovery.
Amen.
18 of 18 people found the above review helpful.
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by far the best triathlon training book..., September 9, 2004
By trilungdoc (trilungdoc)
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This book is tailored to those triathletes who have busy schedules and perhaps a perceived lack of training hours during the week. Currently I am nowhere near doing an ironman but Don Fink's explanations and approach towards triathlon/ironman training makes it seem somewhat possible. His writing style is direct and concise, although doesn't skimp on essential details (like trainsition periods, for example). Just from reading the section on heart rate monitoring made me realize how inefficient I was training. He also mentions tips on how to efficiently squeeze extra training hours out of your week, which is definitely possible. He provides algorithms to follow for training, which for me and like a lot of other people I know, is a tremendous help, as opposed to training "how we feel". This isn't just for those who want to do ironman distances...this is for anyone who is serious about making the most out of their training schedule, which is what we could all use.
11 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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 Inspiring and Informative, October 7, 2005
By S. Scott Zimmerman (Orem, UT USA)
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I've read a dozen or so books on triathlon. Some are more informative (like Complete Triathon Book by Matt Fitzgerald and The Triathlete's Training Bible by Joe Friel) and some are more inspiring (like Becoming an Ironman by Kara Douglas Thom), but this book strikes a nice balance between being informative and inspiring. I especially like the many tips on time management--how to work your full training program around demands of work and family. So why not 5 stars? I think the book should have been 50 pages longer and included more depth in some of the important subjects that all triathletes need to know about.
9 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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"Be Iron Fit" - full of practical advice, September 29, 2004
By Ironman Martin (Harrison, New York)
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I am in my second season of racing Ironman-distance triathlon, and find that the book is a wealth of practical, usable information which helps me get through the nuts-and-bolts of Ironman training, while remaining employed and still familiar to most of the inhabitants of my house. Don understands the age-grouper lifestyle,(which often includes family, kids, dog, job, etc. etc.) but also the desire among some of us to go wicked fast and qualify for Kona. He provides a framework to be successful at these (sometimes) conflicting goals.
7 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Ironman in less than a year, October 18, 2004
By R. Krementz (NJ)
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I really enjoyed this book, and used it while training for an Ironman. I am 49 years old, hadn't done any excercise since high school, and had bloated up to 250+ pounds. I took off 60lbs with Atkins, and started training for a marathon. Less than a year later I finished the Wisconsin Ironman.
Don has really good advice if you are short on time and not starting in great shape. Very realistic program.
7 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Incredible Book, July 12, 2004
By dawn (bridgewater, nj)
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This book is the best book I have read regarding
triathlon training. I am doing Lake Placid Ironman in less
than 2 weeks, and I keep reading and re-reading
this incredible book. Every time I read this
book, I learn something new.
Don has coached me, a mother of two young children and full-time co-owner of a business and has taken me from a non-swimmer
to an Ironman. His time-saving ideas
work and this book is a book I just can't put
down. I couldn't name from favorite chapter:
they are all excellent and cover virtually
every aspect of triathlon.
The layout of the book is user-friendly and
interesting. I especially enjoyed reading
the stories about "everyday" athletes.
I highly recommend this book!
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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Mis print on book cover, December 14, 2005
By james benson (Liverpool UK)
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The book actually contains 3 different training programs based on a 30 week training cycle. The book cover refers, incorrectly, to 12 week programs.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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The Journey is Possible, June 1, 2004
By Joe Brooks (Wayne, NJ United States)
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I picked up this book on a Monday and finished on Tuesday. I could not put the book down. Very inspirational! I have read other triathlon books and have competed in several Ironman distance races, and this book explained things more clearly and in a way that jumped started my motivation to take my training to the next level. Other triathlon books are like college textbooks, this one was a great read and very inspirational, I have already recommended the book to my training parterners.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Inspirational, May 21, 2004
By A Customer
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The premise of the book is that very ordinary people can acheive very extrodinary things with effective time mamangement and discipline. This is captured best by the very inspirational profiles spread across the book. Don profiles elite Ironmen to regular people working 50-60 hrs a week and still finding time to effectively train for the grueling race and not only finish but excel. In effect the author is saying...look no excuses! If you want something whether it be Ironman or anything else there are ways to do it even with the demands of family, friends and work. This is what imapcted me most about the book. I've never done an Ironman and not sure I ever will but I have to say i wanted to sign up for one as soon as I put the book down. Let's face it these guys are amazing. Anyone who has swam a few hundred meters in a pool knows swimming 2.4 miles in open water is no easy task, followed by just 112 miles in aero bars while trying to ingest a few hundred calories an hour, while fighting the conditions is darn tough. And then after you've been hunched over your bike for 4-6 hours running a marathon! Don breaks it all down and makes it sound attainable, through training schedules and mental tactics like breaking the race down in smaller increments. Its a great read and if you want to be inspired read it!
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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great read!!, June 21, 2004
By J. Scott Horns (Findlay, Ohio United States)
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After 13 yrs. racing triathlons I was very happy to see that I still had a lot to learn thanks to Don's book. It is a fun and informative read for sure. Any level athlete will benefit from his great training and organizational advice. I have already found ways to fit more training into my life after reading this book.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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The best book on triathlon training for busy athletes, June 10, 2004
By Dimitri Ofengenden (New York, New York)
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Don was my coach for over a year so I had the first hand experience of his time-saving training strategies. Since starting
to work with Don i was able to dramatically improve my fitness by training less than 8hrs/week while juggling 60hr work weeks and 3hr/day commute. I looked forward every month to the new workout schedules since all workouts were fun and challengingI was very happy to see that Don put all of that energy and excitement of his personal coaching methods in this book. The programs and advice are invaluable for busy triathletes with family, work and other responsibilities. I am sure going to use this book for all my future training and races
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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and the lightbulb went on, June 18, 2004
By Eric Vollmuth (Mendham, NJ United States)
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Get this book first, then read the others.
I went to Don & Mel Fink's Triathlon 101 class and then bought the book. I read it on my next business trip and the lightbulb went on. This book distills the info from the bibles, websites, nutrition guidelines and articles down to what you really need to get serious and infuses it all with first-hand experience and common sense. The few tips that I first incorporated into my training have yielded noticeable results and gave me the confidence to set goals in line with my potential not the limitations of my schedule.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Finished with flying colors!!, September 17, 2008
By KristenIM (Columbus, Ohio)
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I have been doing small triathlons for several years and decided to train for my first Ironman in 2008. Though I bought several books to read, this book was BY FAR the most helpful, insightful, and effective. The author really helps you identify your individual goals and prioritize what you need to focus on to achieve those goals. He also makes it very easy to understand which other books have failed to do.
I followed the "Intermediate" plan even though I was a first time IMer. I completed the very trying and challenging Ironman Lake Placid in July of 2008 with flying colors and finished in much better shape than I expected. I trained completely alone for 10 months with the help of this book and a LOT of motivation. I fully believe my IM finish was made possible by the content I learned in this book and highly recommend it to anyone thinking of completing their first IM, or even veterans who want to improve their PR.
One thing I wish the author would have focused on a little more... I found this VERY surprising during the race as I guess I had been anticipating the worst.... IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! If someone would have told me how much fun I was going to have I would have NEVER been as nervous as I was. It was an absolute blast... 3 inches of rain and all! Smile and have fun during the race!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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beIRONfit, June 4, 2004
By Michael P. Shannon (Gillette, NJ United States)
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Great read. Wish it was published before I purchased the other 20 other triathlon books. Motivational, informational and inspiring. Made me start building my 2005 race calendar, to include an Ironman. Thanks Don!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Follow Fink to the Finish, May 21, 2004
By Rich Donnelly (Tuxedo Park, N.Y., United States)
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The book is a fast and great read, loaded with information for the novice and experienced triathlete. It reads like a college text: Ironman 101, 201 and 301, all in one book, for the beginner, intermediate and advanced athlete. You'll want to take out a highlighter, mark up the pages and take notes. I know I did. Fink's training programs take you step-by-step through the process needed to train properly for an Ironman. It demystifies what's necessary, and unnecessary, for the regimen leading up to, during and after the race. It removes all the guesswork so you can focus on the hard part: the workouts. Even triathletes who do not fancy themselves Ironpeople will gain useful knowledge on how to train for shorter-distance races. And it also provides answers to questions we all have but don't know who to ask. After reading it, you'll be more than motivated to Be Iron Fit and become one of Don's disciples.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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A must-have for triathletes!, May 21, 2004
By Justin Baum (Rochester, NY United States)
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There are a lot of books on triathlon training, but few are as easy to understand and enjoyable as this one. Don covers everything you need to get to the start line healthy, happy and race ready. He even writes out the week by week program for you - from soup to nuts. . Of course, the hard part is getting out and doing them, but that's not Don's fault. As a top age group athlete who coaches many other age group athletes that have jobs and families, Don understands how to get the most out of limited time. If you want to be an Ironman triathlete, Don Fink is the guy that's going to get you there.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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be iron fit, November 16, 2008
By T. Craig (Hawaii)
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My husband used this book to train for his first triathlon event...he went from complete novice (had to purchase everything, bike, shoes...) and completed an IRONMAN in Switzerland. Now he's training again for another Ironman and his 65 year old father is going to participate too! This is the best step by step all you need to know book available!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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 Solid for the beginner, February 1, 2008
By SF Tri Guy (San Francisco, CA)
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I purchased this book several years ago when I was training for my first Ironman. I really enjoyed reading it, but quickly felt the workouts were too simplistic for me. I did a lot of research on my own and started to realize that there is so much more science out there than what is included in this book. It is a decent starting place, but training for Ironman is a serious deal. If you are on a tight budget, it's a good read. If you can afford an established coach, your time training will be much more efficient.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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surprised, October 10, 2007
By mystacool (canberra oz)
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I was very surprised when i read this book because there is a lot of junk getting around, i have a wonderful knowledge of all things physical and its hard for me to find information that i dont already know and then this book came along, granted im new to triathlon but this book has not only given me direction but goals and great programs to get from A to B. I would have paid $1000.00+ for this book, thank you Don.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent, June 8, 2004
By kirksfca (madison, NJ United States)
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Excellent book. Easy to read, and still provides the technical information in an understandable manner. The training programs in the book are detailed, and structured in a way they can be followed while balancing work and family life. Many of the stories in the book are valuable as they provide insight into how others have managed to train, and keep themselves mentally focused. Of all the books on ironman training, this is the one book I would recommend to anyone. There has been one typo though, the training programs are 30 weeks, not 12.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Helped Me Finish My First Half Ironman, May 5, 2011
By M. Seavers (St. Louis, MO)
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I quit smoking two years ago and wanted to do something unique to a non-smoker. So, I signed up for an Ironman. I had never ridden a bike, hadn't swam in years, and was only a recreational runner. So, I needed something that could take me from zero to completing a race. This book was exactly what I needed!
This book is packed full of relevant, useful information about how to complete a race. It not only gives you actual, detailed, day-by-day plans, but also the theory and background on building endurance to help you problem solve as you go through your training. I especially loved that the book has three plans: one for "Just Finish", one for "Competitive", and the third was somewhere in between.
His advice on time management, and the real Ironman athlete profiles/advice throughout the book helped me with believing this was really possible for someone with a full-time job.
My one critique is the lack of material on the level of fitness required in order to start. This book assumes you can start out with a 45 minute run, a 30 minute bike ride, and can handle an hour in the pool. I was able to finish my Half Ironman in Kansas last year, but realized I wouldn't be in shape for the full Ironman in time. I am now doing more Half-distance races to get more experience before trying a full. The tools and plans in this book are perfect for a first-time athlete looking to finish a Half or Full distance Ironman.
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Changed my life!, August 30, 2010
By Hank Hirsch
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I stumbled upon the book Ironfit (Don Fink) 5 years ago as I prepared to compete in my first short distance triathlon. To me this book became my bible and was without a doubt the most valuable resource to help me. As I've progressed in the sport of triathlon and endurance racing I have constantly revisited this book. The book is easy to understand, well written and packed full of useful training/racing tips. When I decided to register and complete in my first Ironman, there was no doubt that I wanted Don Fink to coach me. His wonderful guidance and principles of his Ironfit program have helped me to complete that Ironman within my goal time. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has Ironman dreams or simply wants to get stated in triathlon.
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Great Info, September 4, 2009
By Fun Chic (Cave Creek, AZ)
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I bought this for my hubby who is training for the AZ Ironman in NOV. He loves this book and feels it is loaded with great info. It was recommended to us by a friend who used it to train for an Ironman and he felt it was the best training book out there.
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Excellent Book, June 8, 2009
By Burk Seymore (Sant Rosa Beach, FL USA)
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Great book and if you follow the plans in it you will have a very successful race. Some say there should be a little more running speed work so that is my only question about the book.. I have done 2 IM and plan on IM AZ for this fall. I felt very prepared at both and know I will at this years race.
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Review of Iron Fit, January 13, 2008
By DocMucles (Surprise, AZ)
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This is the best Comprehensive Triathalon training manual I have found. It is wonderful for the beginning or intermediate triathalete. I would highly recommend it.
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BIG Energy GIVER!!!, September 30, 2007
By Archelon (New York, NY USA)
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This book is incredible. I have read many books in my long period on earth, but this one has possibly changed my life the most. I bought this book after slogging through Gordo's book left me overwhelmed.
Don Fink lays everything out in plain language. He never makes miraculous claims,certainly there is no easy way to becoming an Ironman. However, he presents examples of folks busier than me who have done it, and done it well. He presents them, not in a glorfied way, but as humans to whom we can all relate. ( In fact reading his book has made me Karen Smyers fan all the way! )
Equally important to Fink's training strategies, are his lifestyle suggestions. Catching quick naps, managing time, family meetings....these are all concepts we can employ on or off season. However, I found the single most brilliant feature of the book to be Don's concept of identifying life's "energy givers" versus "energy takers" and using your own power to minimize your exposure to the latter. Reading this book taught me that I have some control over what life dishes out to me, and how much I let it effect my race. I take this concept with me along my journey in life every day - as well as the confidence that came with finishing an Iron triathlon.
Anyone who has ever dreamed of finishing an Ironman -- even if it is a decade away on your time plan, PLEASE read this book.
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The best ultra triathlon/ironman training book in circulation, December 6, 2011
By Patrick J. Krawietz
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I used this book to complete my first ironman-distance triathlon a couple of years ago. I recently bought a copy for a friend of mine who will be training with me for the 2012 Texas Ironman. This book provides three training schedules (beginners, intermediates, and competitors) you can use to meet your IM goals. It also provides outstanding training and time management tips. The author is/was an Ironman and doesn't get so technical when it comes to the subject material. Get it used and it will be money well spent. Good luck. Enjoy your training.
PK
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