Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals: And Doing the Duathlon Too

by Steven Jonas

The ultimate distance race is within your reach―a completely updated edition of the now-classic work. This book was first published twenty years ago in the early days of the sport. It has continued to sell to beginners and recreational multisport athletes by showing them how, starting as a fitness novice, they can cross the finish line happily and healthily, and have fun doing so, without turning their lives upside down along the way. Steven Jonas, a former nonathlete who began racing in middle age, now has over 160 multisport races―and two decades' worth of evidence that his training program works―to his credit. This twentieth-anniversary edition features a friendly, wider format; the latest advice on equipment, race choice, and preparation; and Jonas's programs that will train you for standard-distance duathlons and triathlons on 31 to 5 hours per week for 13 weeks. It even shows you how you can do the ironman distance.

Genres: Health, Fitness

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Dr. Steven Jonas is Professor Emeritus of Preventive Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine, and the Program in Public Health, at Stony Brook University. He served at Stony Brook Medicine for 43 years, 1971-2014. He has published 17 books on topics ranging from public health textbooks to sports medicine, diet, and triathlon books.

Reviews

[Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the 2006 release. A bit dated (GPS watches not really covered). But the training plan is very simple - basically it is about minutes per workout, building over 13 weeks to prepare. But peaks at 6.5 hours of training in a week - very reasonable. Focus is for beginners building to Olympic length, not Ironman or those needing detailed technical help.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book - required reading for beginning multi-sport athletes. His mindset is exactly what most people need to get the most out of the sport.

[Karyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm doing a triathlon in a few months and hoped this book would have some tips. While I always enjoy reading things about working out, this book fell short. It's well-written, I just didn't learn anything I didn't already know about endurance sports. It feels like I could have written this book, and I've never done a triathlon. I am sort of following one of the training schedules (I modified it a bit to fit my obsession with running and new found love affair with swimming; not that I don't like biking, I just don't feel as strongly about it as I do the other two sports) and if my race goes well, then maybe the book will have been worth the read. But as of right now, not so much. . .

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking to do your first triathlon? Don't have much of a running, biking, or swimming background? Want a proven work-out pattern, some "straight talk" on what expect, and lots of positive encouragement? Jonas does a fantastic job in speaking to "Ordinary Mortals" about all of the above. His 13-week training program is very do-able, and proven. Though the book was written in the '80's, he's updated it and I found the content very relevant for my needs. I will be running my first triathlon this year. Just like he says: if he can do it, I can to!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to the triathlon. Love the author's attitude. He's slow (legitimately slow, not like those people who talk about their easy runs being 8min/mile) and competes just to finish and have fun.

I'm not fond of the training plan. It's based on time, not distance, and most of it doesn't specify swim/bike/run, you decide how you want to split up your training. I prefer more structure. That said, the guy's been racing for 25+ years, so it clearly works for him.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

yeah, i mean, this was cool. the one i read was a little dated (a changing room for switching clothes between events? yeah right, they don't have that shit anymore!) but gave some good basic tips, like about cadence for cycling. glad i got it from the library rather than buying it.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and lucid work by a fitness MD. Great practical knowledge and fun read as the doc takes you through his 1st triathlon (at age 45) through his 100th (in his 60s). Motivating and full of answers for the beginner.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book was really helpful. Jonas laid everything out really clearly and gave some good pointers for first time racers. Can't wait for my first duathlon!