IronFit Secrets for Half Iron-Distance Triathlon Success: Time-Efficient Training For Triathlon's Most Popular Distance

I think the most useful reviews are ones in which the product in question was actually tested. This is why I waited until after my half ironman before writing this review. I did Steelhead 70.3 less than a week ago and I’m happy to report that, using only this book (and never having done a half iron before), I utterly destroyed even my most optimistic goals! I’m still on cloud 9 just thinking about it! For a little background, I’m a middle of the pack age-grouper and have done about 4 olympics and 12 or so sprints so, as you can see, I’m no Dave Scott. My Oly PR is 2:57 and I trained hard for that using a personalized online program. So, let’s cut to the chase. Here are the pros and cons of this awesome book: Pros: 1) It has everything you need in one short and simple book. Besides the training programs (3 of them), there are sections on heart rate training, specific swim workouts, strength training, stretching, core work, transitions, nutrition, race day fueling/hydration, equipment, technique, mental aspects, recovery, injury prevention, missed workout adjustment, adjusting the programs for tune up races, etc. Like I said, it has everything. And it’s all very clearly explained. 2) It’s time-based instead of miles-based. This makes time management for busy people like us much easier. Of course, If you’re slow, you may not achieve the distances you should be so some adjustment may be required (for example, starting the program early to build you fitness). This is what I did which I’ll explain later. 3) It’s designed with a great degree of flexibility built right in. I used the “intermediate” program which includes 2 rest/slide days. These “slide” days and where they occur are the key. Every Friday and Monday are rest/slide days. To quote the book: “…use them to slide your rest days forward or back one day to better fit your training schedule...”. At first, I thought 2 days of rest/slide was one too many and thought I would use the Monday rest/slide session for an extra swim workout. It turns out that the slide days were crucial in maintaining consistency. I missed very few workouts because I could do it on a slide day when life got in the way (which it always does). 4) It is heart rate based. Be careful with this one. Initially, I used a formula which underestimated my max heart rate by a wide margin. This made for some painfully slow workouts. Only when I actually measured my max HR using one of the protocols described in the book (I did the 5k run protocol) did my workouts become appropriately challenging. Don’t worry, they explain everything you need to know about the zones and all that. 5) Brick sessions. I thought the bike-run bricks proved to be useful come race day. I was used to the feeling of running right off the bike. Not everyone agrees with the utility of brick sessions but I thought they helped. Some are very long, though. For example, the intermediate program calls for a 4 hour 15 min bike workout followed immediately by a 45 min run. I usually cut the run short (but don’t tell the Finks!!). 6) Intervals, hill repeats, and other hard sessions. While not super fun, I feel that these really helped increase my speed and strength. Don’t skip them. 7) There are 3 full training programs to choose from. These are the “just finish”, the intermediate, and the competitive programs. I chose the intermediate program because I wanted to more than “just finish” and the competitive program looked like a bit much. It turns out that the intermediate program was pretty time consuming and intense in my opinion (but you ARE training for a half ironman after all!) However, I would choose it again. It’s also laid out in a very easy to understand format (unlike other some other programs that have multiple codes for workouts written in a complex spreadsheet-like format). 8) There are only 2 swim sessions per week in the intermediate program. This could be a con depending on your philosophy. I view the swim as something to complete in a reasonable time without being exhausted. If you hope you rock the swim, you may want to add another swim session (on a slide day perhaps) or do the competitive program (which includes the option of a 3rd swim session). But the 2 per week swim worked for me and my goals. It worked out to about 5000 yds/week. I suppose you could do more yardage while sticking to 2 sessions/week if you’re worried. Now for some cons: 1) Only 2 swim sessions per week is not enough according to some folks but it fit my goals nicely. (see above). 2) Some of the bike and run workouts are longer the other half iron training program I’ve seen. The longest run was 2:15 (about 14 miles for me) and the longest bike was 4:15 (about 70 miles). Still, come race day, I felt more than ready because of it. It’s the first time during a tri that I wasn’t wondering why the hell am I doing this and when is it gonna be over. However, I did experience some hip pain near the end of the program so maybe it was a lot for my body to handle. Long story short, listen to your body. 3) It’s not personalized. I was worried about this one since I’ve purchased custom plans from the internet in the past with pretty good results. “How could a program from a book compare to an expensive, personalized program from a real coach?” I wondered. Well, from this experience, it compares very favorably and for a truckload less money. You could buy an aero helmet with the money you save. Just one additional point. I was a bit rusty since I slacked so bad in the off season, so I decided to do the first week of the intermediate program for a month to prepare myself for the 16 week program. This turned out to be a very good idea. So I essentially turned this 16 week program into a 20 week program. You may not need to do that but I thought I would just throw it out there. In summary, this book was exactly what I needed to prepare for my first ever half ironman. I highly recommend it. I would have been happy with 6:20 but my secret dream goal that I didn’t anyone about was to break 6hrs. I demolished even my dream goal by 20 solid minutes! I never felt so great after a tri in my life. If you got through this review, then you’ll have no problem with a half ironman. I hope it helped and may you demolish your dream goal too!

Don Fink's book is the best "How to" book in triathlon that I have read. It is an easy read and yes, it does have the obligatory real people stories that are the fillers in a "How to" book, but Don is a master at simplicity and he gets it. What he gets is what people want (well, what I want) in a triathlon "How to" book: Simplicity, explanations of why and guidelines; lots of guidelines. Don Fink puts it all together in a clear and concise read that includes a "competitive, intermediate and just to finish" workout plan. Is it for everyone, well, if you are an age-grouper who chooses to self-coach, then YES, it is for everyone. I have also read Don's book called Be Iron Fit. This book parallels Be Iron Fit in simplicity but varies in ways that matter when racing the Half Iron distance. You can choose to modify the training programs in the book to suit your own needs or goals but still use his simplistic approach as a guide. Probably the best thing I liked about the Iron Fit program, which returns in this book is the regularity of the workouts, week after week. He varies the intensity and duration but every Monday is off or slide day, Tuesday is a run, Wednesday is a bike/run etc. Other trainers weekly programs have you varying from week to week. As an age group triathlete and someone who works 9-5 every day, routine is something I can plan for, with my family, workout partners and work. Excellent book that I would highly recommend to any self coached triathlete.

Excellent book! Really worth buying :) I especially appreciate the 3 different programs and the whole explination around heart rate training

I've done a couple long distance swims over the years and I did a sprint triathlon about 10 years ago. So taking on a half iron man in my mid 30s was going to be a challenge. Not so much the distance but the time training with a full time job, wife and young. On the just finish program", I recently completed a half in 3 mins under my goal of 6 hours and 30 mins. So not only did I finish but I was a middle of the pack participant. This book allowed me to train over 16 weeks and do it in a systematical way for my busy lifestyle. I did 90% of all my training while my family was still sleeping in bed or after the baby went down for the night. I took the "just finish" plan and made google spread sheets. Then I chipped away, day after day and week after week. With the flexibility of this program, I was able to move and shuffle things back and forth. I never missed a workout in the 16 weeks because I was able to adjust to whatever popped that day or week. I could type a book about this book so Ill wrap it up in saying that you should buy this book! If you are like me and want to enter this world without a personal trainer, then this is it. It was the most important tool I used in competing the race. There is a million accessories that people buy for triathlons and it adds up quick if you go that route. This book should cost a lot more than all of those useless bells and whistles.

I've been working with Don as a coach for marathon training for the last year and a half and was able to achieve a five minute pr at the 2013 NYC marathon despite difficult conditions. What I like about Don and it comes through clearly in his books, is that he keeps it simple without dumbing down. There are an incalculable number of variables involved in distance training and it is important to maintain a sense of the big picture. In his latest book there is a great deal of useful practical information on all the aspects of triathlon presented in a clear easy to understand manner. Everything is in there. You're not going to get a lot of diagrams on metabolic processes ala Joe Friel but what you will get is a book that has all the info you need and just as importantly exudes a true love of endurance sports as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. He's a real enthusiast. After reading it I was inspired to start training for my first triathlon!

I'm training for my first IM 70.3, my first triathlon ever. This book provides you with a ton of tips and explains in details everything you need to know about an IM 70.3 (training, strength, stretches, nutrition during training, during race day etc.). It provides you with 3 training plans: "competitive" "intermediate" and "just want to finish". Plans start 16 weeks ahead of the event. I am following the competitive one. So far so good. The race is in 3 months. This book is on my bedside table and I re-read it as I go through the training and things start to make sense to me. Happy purchase!

Having successfully used Don Fink s IronFit Ironman programs to get a personal best in Lanzarote Ironman I was really looking forward to Don s take on Half Iron-distance racing. As Don points out early in this book the distance maybe half but the training principles are not halved. It's all about boxing clever and Don Fink shows you how in a straightforward structured and easy to read format. The three programs depending on your time and commitment are a great base for any athlete and if you are considering doing an ironman70.3 or half distance race. This book is a great place to start? Thank you Don and Mel. Roll on lanzarote 70.3 this September.

Goods: Lot of Good drills for swimmer and all the other section. Suggested stretches cool down post and pre warmups. Lot of concentration on strengthening core and muscle stregthening. Heart zone and training on heart zone has more concentration. Cons: But very less on correction of technique for runners. Good training plan and I am following them for my workouts. Lets see how the result is

This is the second book I have read by Don Fink and I feel that style and level of detail of the book is spot on. Don has a great ability to reduce down training to common sense basics that anyone can follow. I look forward to applying his program for an upcoming half ironman

I just starting reading this book. It is very informative , and explains in details the various options for training depending on time available . So far I think it is worth reading it as it provides key advice to those who want to do their first ironman or those who want to improve . Really well written