Anyone using Triathlete's Training Bible?

I agree.  I bought another book by Friel (Going Long).  It's a great book and has some terrific advice.  It also helps you establish an annual plan, but then gives only rough guidance as to how each week and each workout should look.  I solved this problem in two ways:

1)  This year is my first year training for traithlons.  I decided that simply logging the hours would get me as much benefit as trying to micromanage my workout setups.  Just mix it up a little and hit the road, right?  It seemed to work for me.  I pretty much followed the hours that I laid out, and I took recovery weeks when they were on the schedule. 

2)  Beginnning 11-Oct, I will be training for Ironman Arizona on 9-Apr-05.  I bought Training Plans for Multisport Athletes, which refers repeatedly to Friel.  However, this book has specific workouts placed on specific days, with several plans.  I have chosen the 26 week Ironman plan.

There is an "on-line Virtual Coach" on the Training Bible website - is anyone using that? if so do you feel it is worth it?

Thanks,

Gary

I thought about usng it, but had a hard time paying that much for it when I have the book sitting in my hands.

I don't recall the details, but I think we got in trouble for this a while back.  (ie - copying TTB spreadsheets) 

Of course I could be on drugs and its not a problem.

If you look at the workouts in the back of the book, he lists which phases of training they should be done in.  I just consider what I think my weaknesses are and do the workouts listed in the book (or a reasonable facsimile of them)   that seem to target my weaknesses, along with at least one LSD (zone 1/2) session in each sport.  At least that's what I do when I have time to really sit down and plan. 

This is my first season planning my own training, only my second season tri-ing so whether this works remains to be seen

When I frist read the book I had way to much information overload.  I worked out my plan then read the book again a few times until I finally understood his concept.

Someone made an excel worksheet out of all the plans: hours, annual, weekly, and workouts.

I modified them and made them automated to caculate the times and I have added the workouts to the right side so I know which workouts are scheduled for that week.  I try to balance the volume of hous so that bike is twice what the running or swimming is for that week. I try to follow each hard workout with a recovery workout or rest day (work induced).

If you want the spreadsheet which has all the charts that I made, just email me.

Hate to be a wet blanket, but before this gets going I'm obligated to point out that this has been discussed before here and Ron heard from Joe Friel about it as there was information in the thread that was in violation of the copyright of the TTB.

comments from the previous thread by Mr Friel:

I just removed the xls spreadsheet that was attached to one of these posts.  Discuss the TTB all you want, there just can't be any attachments of redisplayed info as of copyright restrictions.

Sorry.