Athletics Books

Very detailed, I found "serious cycling" easy and enjoyable to read. Ideal for the self - coached athlete, it helps personalize your cycling program depending on your present abilities. While reading you find that there is much more to training and becoming a better rider then you first thought, but it puts the "why" into training in addition to the "how" giving a better understanding and appreciation with what changes your body must undergo to be a better cyclist.

Periodization, training modes, keeping diaries and more... The nutrition section I found to be a little "old school" but, nevertheless, interesting and backed by studies. This information is aimed at the "serious cyclist" and may be too much for someone not willing to put forth the 15+ hours a week.

Burke, a well known name among cyclists, gives very detailed and sometimes complicated advice about how to train, how to create a training schedule for various goals, how and why to make a training diary, etc. Readers should be aware that his advice is aimed at the very serious cyclist, and his training schedules range from those for serious collegiate cyclists (~15hrs/week) to professionals (~25+ hrs/week). His advice is sound, but it may be more than most people really need. His peak mileage (feb) is 2000miles--that's 500 miles per week!

A big question for me when buying my first book on training for racing, was "Who provides the most reliable and important information?" I have seen Dr. Burke quoted in a variety of sources including Bicycling magazine, Velo magazine, and Chris Carmichael's web site. So I had the impression he is respected in the sport. Further, when reading his writings in other sources, he has gone into the underlying physiological processes that contribute to one's performance on a bike. As such, I decided to purchase his book based on his apparent credibility and the depth of information he provides. Strengths of his book include its excellent coverage of what goes into training for competitive cycling. From beginning "base training" to sprint training, periodization, and planning one's training for the entire year. He also speaks at length on nutrition, equipment/rider aerodynamics, body positioning on the bike, and adjunct training methods. Again, there is an emphasis on underlying physiological processes including some discussion of relevant research. I would say the book's weaknesses lie with it's failure to address racing tactics. Certainly, you learn about what is happening with the body at race pace, but this book will not tell you about positioning for a sprint or pacing one's self for a time trial.
In short, buy this book if you are serious about racing and want to enhance your knowledge of what goes into training for competition. Don't buy this book if you want to learn about tactics.

Most fascinating account of a family and the business that they started in a small community that reached such great heights. Especially interesting to me, because of a few day's visit to the German town of Herzogenaurach and nearby Army Base in Bavaria, several years ago.

the book was in great condition and I am enjoying reading it! Thank you so much!

Between the pages of this book lie the family saga of two brothers who ended up being torn apart due to war, personality and family. There is not really a happy ending although there is reconciliation among the posterity. Developing a better shoe and running a company are not necessarily the same thing as the players find out in this biography of two major shoe giant companies: Adidas and Puma. Although the book was good, it felt tedious and drawn out in place. I'm sure the author was trying to make sure that all the major players were included but maybe some of them should have been left out in the editing process. This was an interesting read into the world of sports and the attire accompanying the players and teams. Look for everyone from the soccer great Pele' to David Beckham and Joe Montana. I did appreciate the thoroughness that the author devoted to this work.

Even though I know drug use runs rampant in track and field today, this book presents a side of the sport that dearly needed to be said. Most people have been too scared to publicly talk about it which I applaud him for. This book also brought to my attention the new style training methods on speed which I found extremely helpful. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks Maurice Green or Donavan Bailey aren't on Steriods or any other form of banned ergogenic aids.

A well-written book. I highly recommend this to anyone involved in developing sprinters, as it sheds the light on the techniques of one of the sport's greatest coaches of all time. I applaud his courage to step forward on an issue that is commonplace these days. Both men's and women's elite sprinters are on performance-enhancing substances, and will remain as long as GH and such substances cannot be detected (forever). The fact remains that Ben Johnson performed at the level that he did in a time when all other sprinters were unable to do so. The current sprinters are breaking his record, and are doing so through the same means. Again, an exciting read for coaches interested in following the development of some of the world's fastest men and women in the way that it should be and is done.

This book was written after the Seoul Olympics and after Ben Johnson's 1st place finish. However, the logic and the motivation for using synthetic performance enhancements amongst world class athletes is clearly outlined and is applicable to all professional athletics, not just Olympic level track and field, where the financial stakes are huge for both participants and sponsors, and media attention is unrelenting. Recent revelations by MLB stars like Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti confirm the logic and motivation so clearly, honestly and cogently outlined by Francis in Speed Trap.

Most disturbing is that there doesn't seem to be any turning back on this path of drug use among elite athletes as long as athletics continues to be the potent economic engine that it is, and continues to hold out the promise of lottery-type earnings to hopeful young athletes all over the world.

Chris Dortch is a terrific basketball writer who regularly covers the SEC and helps put together the Blue Ribbon Basketball guide each year. He has written an excellent book that covers all 12 SEC programs, discusses their histories, and focuses on a 10 year period during the early 1990's until the early 2000's, a period when the SEC was at the top of the college basketball world.

The book features detailed accounts of each program's successes, terrific recruiting stories, insights into the various coaching personalities, and helps put a lot of the wins and losses into context. A terrific read for any SEC basketball fan.

This is the book for the hard-to-buy-for-Dad- an easy to read, interesting look at SEC basketball- I will make two Dads happy with this one!

While the writing tends to be more of a reporter's style and doesn't deviate much from a recitation of the facts and events, it is still a very interesting read about the development and trials of the basketball programs around the SEC. Dortch knows this topic as well as anyone and does great job of covering the league.

Highly recommend this book for any fan of the SEC

This appears to be the only publication, apart from Mike Plant's wonderful book Iron Will, that records the early years and development of triathlon. Both the text and the multitude of pictures (with very amusing captions) bring to life the events and colorful characters that shaped the sport. There are many personal (often very entertaining) anecdotes, some scraps of personal philosophy, and references to athletes and others whose names will likely be known to few people outside the sport. There is no attempt at a careful chronology, or thorough analysis of the development of the sport over time, and there is an inevitable emphasis on the Hawaii Ironman race. There is also little narrative thread; instead it is the kind of book one can haphazardly dip into for inspiration and entertainment. This book provides a highly idiosyncatic historical perspective on triathlon, which will certainly be enjoyed by experienced triathletes who have done or are contemplating doing an Ironman race. A thorough history of triathlon remains to be written, but it will likely be a lot less entertaining than this book is.

I picked this book up this weekend at the Columbia triathlon. Tinley was there, and was signing the book. I haven't read the whole thing yet, but so far it looks like a great history of this somewhat unusual passtime.

Tinley has been there pretty much from the start, and his collection of anecdotes and photographs from many sources (Mike Plant especially) tells the story very well. Tinley's writing has improved since his early days (some of the articles in "Finding the Wheel's Hub" are pretty tough to read), and, hey, he's Scott Tinley! If you're a triathlete, you should have this book on your shelf next to your training log.

This is an excellent book with one really annoying problem. The proofreading is some of the worst I have ever seen. Lots of misspellings and typos as well as poor grammar. I would love to give this book five stars but it is so difficult to read that I cannot. Great pictures and Tinley is simply an awesome guy. If you are at all into triathlon you must have this book. Just be prepared for major typos.

Rarely does a book title tell you everything that's going to be inside the covers, but The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running sure does. No topic is left uncovered, or better still, in trail parlance, no rock unturned in covering every possible question about making way on those earthen paths.
I first read this book before I began the adventures enjoyed running, training, and racing on trails. It supported my thirst for knowledge and, incidentally, how to quench the real thirst in the woods.
With a few years of ultradistance runs and races in the ultra bank, I find referring to the book is like asking a trail friend a question . . . except in this case Nancy Hobbs and Adam Chase are true ultimate ultrathoners themselves.
You can't call yourself a trail runner or ultra racer without your own copy underlined, pages turned down, carried with you like one's favorite gear.
Phillip Gary Smith

Very comprehensive book, very thoroughly covers all aspects of trail running, racing, gear, nutrition, training, etc. Most appropriate for someone with little/no experience, but a good read even if you have been around a bit !

At the end of the day you just have to get out and run. Have a good one !

Just as you wouldn't start running a road race without the correct shoes, shorts, shirts and gear; you wouldn't want to start running on the trail without first reading this book from the people who have the most experience and have run the greatest variety of courses. This is a great book for the novice to intermediate trail runner who wants to understand how to acquire an intimate and healthy relationship with running off-road. It covers nutrition, techniques, terrain, gear, climate, and much more. If also covers those nasty little surprises like snakes, mountain lions, bears, boars and insects. This guide gives you important abstracts and introductions to heighten your trail running experience; required reading for any beginner.

This product arrived in a very quickly after ordering. It was well packaged and in perfect condition. I was very happy with the quality of the fabric and stitching and it was well-worth the price! It was a gift for a relative who lives in Utah and he was delighted with it.

This transaction was satisfactory in every way. The hoodie is wonderful!! My son is delighting in it!!

Prompt delivery. Plan to order another at a later time.
very please with product

Great book! This book really illustrates how heavy handed the NCAA is. The book also shows what a horrible person UT coach Bruce Pearl is. Illinois and LSU really were treated unfairly by the NCAA.

While some of the information in the text is outdated and other information is dubious, the thesis is still solid. As we gather to witness future pro sports stars in action, we should as a society reflect on the price paid for our entertainment. Yaeger asks: is it worth it? Are we in fact supporting the win at all cost attitude while looking the other way at possible injustices in our institutes of higher learning? Is this really what we want to teach our children? If these questions provoke you, perhaps you should read this book.

This book skewers they NCAA in as ruthless a manner as the NCAA treated student athletes and coaches. From swimmers banned from competeing simply because they took of time from school to compete in the Olympics to kangaroo courts where the rules of evidence do not apply, the NCAA meted out out their own particular brand of injustice.

With one sprint triathlon under my belt, I was looking for training programs, injury prevention and info on progressing to the Olympic distance triathlon.

SWIMMING CHAPTER: Jargon/vocabulary guide was helpful. I would've appreciated more photos or illustrations for the suggested drills.

CYCLING CHAPTER: Good general information. The VO2 max and lactate threshold discussions were over my head but will probably come in handy as my training advances.

RUNNING CHAPTER: This is my strongest event so I didn't find much new information. The suggested training programs were quite extensive and included discussion on both speed and endurance work.

TRAINING PROGRAMS: Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman and Ironman distances.

STRENGTH TRAINING: The weakest chapter in my opinion. Suggested exercises were quite basic. You'd probably do better with a session or two with a trainer or another reference.

As a newbie, the nutrition and equipment sections were very helpful. The pricing guidelines came in handy when scouting out bikes. Interesting chapter on training while pregnant.

Overall, this book is a good resource, especially for those new to one or more of the events.

I am going to use this book to train a 16 year girl triathlete in Surat, India, since there is not a single qualified coach in this area. I feel that I can use this book to understand the sport in detail and guide her during training for the next National School Game. This is going to be my bible for training the triathlete.

This book is very easy to read. Christina has done an excellent job compiling articulate women (pro triathletes, exercise specialists, nutritionists, psychologists, coaches, etc.) to give their expertise on the varying components of training for a triathlon. There are specific drills for each sport as well as training regimens to follow from a sprint to an ironman triathlon. Not only does she cover the physical components of training, but also the mental and nutritional aspects. I have read other books on triathlons, but this is the first book I read where I wanted to get off the plane and jump into the training program immediately. I've been competing for a couple years and learned more from this book than from a camp I attend. Another aspect I appreciated about this book, is everything about it is written from, and for, females. I found myself reading it and feeling empowered by other women and their levels of accomplishment. There are lots of examples and illustrations in this book to keep the reader interested and informed. It's a fun, educational, well-written read. Kudos to Christina and her editorial skills.

An excellent introductory study of the issues which affect the ADHD athlete. Very readable. Interesting discussion of interplay between styles of concentration and different sports: eg. in which sports is ADHD an asset or a liability? Emphasizes the important role of the coach in giving consistent positive feedback. Gives suggestions re. ways to talk with coaches about ADHD and child's needs. Intriguing discussion of effects of medication on level of play. Summary of ways in which techniques aimed at improving the mental game (such as anxiety management or improved focus) can improve performance and enjoyment of their sport for ADHD kids.

This book is an easy and enjoyable read; at times you even find yourself smiling at the examples Michael Stabeno uses to illustrate his points. The book is comprehensive as it discusses what ADHD is, common misconceptions of ADHD, communication and coaching strategies, the implications of medication, and parenting tips for the athlete. I appreciated the discussion on perceiving common behavior traits of ADDers as assets rather than liabilities for the athlete. The strategies and tactics he provides are common sense and easily applied. As a parent of a child with a head injury who presents with ADHD-like symptoms, I have found the communication and coaching tips very applicable to life skills...getting ready for school, completing homework or chores. The information is straightforward, thought provoking and useable! I recommend it to all parents and coaches who interact with ADDers of any age.