Can You Do a Tri in 12 Weeks? This Book Says Yes (& We’re Giving It Away)
I may have run a marathon, but the idea of doing a triathalon still intimidates me. I know a lot of people who do them regularly (including our very own FBG Kristen—woot, woot!) and love them. No matter the distance, the thing that really gets me is the gear and, to be honest, the lingo. A brick? A transition area? A sprint vs. an Olympic? There’s much to be learned. But if you’re a newbie like me, your life just got a whole lot easier with The 12-Week Triathlete by Tim Holland (you may recognize Holland from his time training Good Morning America host JuJu Chang to compete in her first triathlon).
This book isa guide to triathlon training for triathletes of all levels. As someone who doesn’t know much about the sport besides that it involves a swim, a bike and some running, it was a great read for decoding the aforementioned lingo and getting a really good sense of what it takes to train for and complete a triathlon. With chapters on each part of the race, nutrition, strength training, flexibility, and what to do before, during and after the race, Holland pretty much covers it all. He tells you what gear is essential and what you can save on—an incredibly beneficial part of the book for any tri newbie.
He also lays out detailed 12-week triathlon training plans for all the of the tri distances (sprint, Olympic, half Ironman and full Ironman), each with a beginner, intermediate and advanced option. While the advanced plans are complicated enough to make your head spin a bit, the beginner options for all of the distances—especially the shorter ones—are extremely realistic and doable. In 12 weeks, his plan can literally take a mildly active person into a sprint triathlete with not even that much of a time commitment. Cool beans.
What’s really nice about this book, too, is that there are pictures! Lots and lots of color pictures. Many of them are of Holland, which seems kind of odd page after page, but they really liven up what could start to feel more like a triathlon-training textbook if it was just straight text. The stretching and strength-training exercise photos are particularly helpful, and I love, love, love that his plan puts such an emphasis on these two areas, as many endurance racers tend to focus on cardio, leaving their strength and flexibility to suffer (I sooo skimped on those two things during marathon training and may have gotten injured because of it.)
While seasoned triathletes probably won’t get a whole lot out of this book besides the training plans (which still are very helpful), I really think tri newbies and intermediates who are looking to take their triathlon training to the next level would benefit from reading the book.
Want to read 12-Week Triathlete and see if you agree with our review? We’ll select one random U.S. reader to win a copy! Just leave a comment with why you’d like to win this triathlon training book, and we’ll select a winner in about a week. The winner will be notified via email and in the comments below. G’luck triathletes (or soon-to-be triathletes)! —Jenn
Comments
This book looks great! I just found a new love for fitness and would love this book for additional training. Thanks for writing about it.
I completed my first two sprint triathlons this summer (woot)! I enjoyed them, but I have a goal for next year — feel better while I’m doing them 🙂 This book would be a great resource for me to take my game to the next level. Thanks for reviewing it.
this book would be awesome! i’ve done 1/2 marathons and centuries, but no triathlon. like you, it kind of intimidates me, even thought i KNOW i can do the distances. i’d love to read it!
i’d love to do a triathlon,but I would definitely need some advice like this book!
A tri is in the plans for next year. This book would be helpful!
Would LOVE to read this to jump start my training for a triathlon! Woo hoo.
My fiance is an avid triathlete–I’ve been to dozens of his races and am really inspired to get try my first sprint! He’s training for his first Ironman, so this would be great to be able to be able to train too! It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing for a while but the concept of it has really been intimidating. I think this book would help ease the anxiety of it and let me go for it!
The thought of a triathlon *is* intimidating. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t on my long-term goals. I bet the book is great fora newbie like me.
My husband did his first tri this past summer and I committed to do one with him in the spring! I’m 9 mos pregnant right now and want to start training after the baby. I would love this book! I learn more by reading rather than following, so it would be perfect for me. Great review!
I have never done anything even close to a triathalon! i am currently losing weight and getting fit and tri are the ultimate fitness goal! i am probably a year or so from getting to that point but the info would be a great start!
I’ve recently started running, and have been thinking of taking on a triathlon but have no idea where to start – – this would be perfect for me!
i just started swim training and i’m itching to tri!
Ohhh, I would love love love this.
Everyone keeps telling me that I should do a tri, but the swimming scares me… (secretly I think I want to do one) right now, I run and strength train – but would love a plan to work in the biking and swimming into my routine…
I have a few friends who always do any they can find,triathlons being their favorite! They have so much energy and motivation…I am scared to death of the idea of such a challenge!Yet I crave the challenge!I’m always pushing myself harder when I work out,saying just one more or 5 more min,another rep….you get my drift! I need to overcome my fear of challenges that are outside myself, I need to prove my hard work pays off and that I CAN DO IT!I want to overcome my fear of a real challenge,show myself I am capable,and DO IT! I could come in last in a triathlon,but once I do it,I’ll have overcome a fear and moved forward in my intention of a fit life.
Live fit,live strong,show love,share peace
I would love to complete a full tri. With a little training and help from this book I’m sure I’d would be able to complete this goal.
I have always wanted to do a tri. With the correct training I am sure I will be ready. 12 weeks though???
I’m always looking for new things to do so I avoid the plateau and tris sound soooooo much fun
Always looking for new training tips and techniques!
I’m currently training for my first triathalon on 10/16. Really excited about this book, it means that my sudden urge to do a tri with only three months training might actually work… 🙂
I am 45 yrs old and have been working out in earnest for the past 2 yrs. I have been running and doing 5ks for The past year along with a few obstacle course races. My next goal – triathlon!!
I would love to take my fitness to the next level and am looking for this kind of inspiration!
I’ve always said I was going to try a tri, but the biking and swimming intimidate me! I’d love to check this book out!
I am completing my first Tri this year and have loved training!! Next year I hope to up my level and would love some guidance to that!
I would love to win this book to get some ideas for well rounded training and
to pass it along to my Goddaughter who is currently training for marathon running ~
I’d love to win this book. I’ve been incorporating more biking and running into my workout routine. I’ve been reading a lot about the different types of tri’s out there, and this sounds like an excellent resource to help explore the topic. Tri’s seem like a logical progression in my fitness goals to add to my list of ways to challenge myself. Plus, I’d love help tackling the transition and gear questions that are very confusing.
I’m dying to try a tri, but I’m a little afraid of the training, so this book would be perfect!
My worst fear has always been deep water, so this past spring I decided to conquer that fear and start training for my first sprint triathlon on October 1st. I never did any sports in high school, so I’m completely relying on my own motivation and basically starting from scratch. This book would help fill in the holes in my training and help me conquer my fear of water!
I’m going to train for the Tri for a Cure here in Maine next summer, and I’d love to have a great roadmap. I love having a detailed plan to guide me when I’m trying something new!
I’d love to try a tri!
I’m training for my 8th triathlon and my 1st sprint one right now, so I would love to have a little more guidance!
My first goal is next year’s inaugural Hollywood Half-Marathon and hopefully triathlons will soon follow. Would be great fun training but races make me so nervous! Maybe this book would help.
Would love this book. I do a lot of halfmarathons, but tri’s just scare me a little!! This would give me a great plan to follow!! 🙂
Cathy
This sounds great! I’ve done one triathlon, but instead of swimming it was kayaking. I’m still terrified to do a “real” tri where I have to swim…perhaps this would help me! 🙂
Hi FitBottomedGirl! I just copied a bunch of your playlists – thanks, they’re great! I’d love to be your book winner – why? because I’m turning 50 in 3 months, and would love to try to tri!
I’d love to read the book because, frankly, I don’t believe I could do a triathlon EVER … must less in 12 weeks without getting injured. What about all the stress on your knees and ankles?? I’m open-minded and willing to read it — after all, optimism says that I HOPE I’m wrong! But I’ll need the book to find out …
I’ve always wanted to try one. This book would help out a ton and help the nerves that I have for just even thinking of starting to train for one.
I’ve been thinking about trying a tri for a few months now- I just need to put all the pieces together!!
I would love to win this book, my husband just did his first Sprint Tri and I would love to have some guidance so I could do one with him.
I’d like to win this to read it and see if it helps me with my running and overall fitness.
I’ve recently been thinking about trying a triathalon next year – this book would be helpful!
I would like to win this book because I think it would be a great tool for me to use in achieving something that I have only ever dreamed of. It’s scary and intimidating but I know if I put my mind and heart into I can do it…phewwww…let’s give it a try!
This looks like a great book for me! I’ve been debating back and forth on doing a tri for a month or so… I’m pretty sure next spring I will (w/ MN weather I only get a certain time of the year to do this!) ha ha
I’m running my first half-marathon in 3 months (eee!) and was planning on starting some marathon training shortly after … but doing a tri between the two might be fun!
Oh wow, i would love to win this…started training for a TRI a year ago and got side-tracked with kidney stones. Blah! Would love some guidelines to get motivated again!!
I would love to win this book. I have recently lost some weight and toned up and am constantly pushing myself and my body to the next level. I am always looking for new ways to challenge my mind and body and that means trying things out of my comfort zone-like a tri. A tri, is my next goal to tackle, and this book would provide vaulable information to help me achieve that goal.
Would love the win the book. I am in Australia, but have a US postal addy!
I would love to win this book. I’ve done marathons (training for one now), but not a tri. This would be very helpful!
I have done a few sprint triathlons this year, but never had any training for those pesky transition areas and such. I would love this book to guide me and get me on the road toward decreasing times!
I would love to win this book because yesterday after my husband’s first tri he told me I need to do it with him. I’m currently dealing with tendonitis related to running so would really appreciate the strength & stretching information.
Have you been reading my mind? I’ve been contemplating a tri lately! This book would be awesome!
I have done a half-marathon, and have been contemplating doing a tri. If I win this book, it was meant to be, and I will begin training Sept. 4th- my birthday
I really want to do a tri next summer, and this would give my husband incentive to buy me a new bicycle for my birthday! 🙂
My 40th birthday is rapidly approaching (156 days, but who’s counting)and I am setting some goals for myself. Ya know, so I can kick 40’s ass!!! A tri is on my list. Come on and tell me how to do it in 12 weeks!!! Bring it.
I am doing a triathlon NeXT november. I been running on and off for a year now. I started a spinning class
meanwhile I buy my bike. I just don’t have a clue about swimming. My husband is willing to help me train
since he’s a triathlete but i would love to have a better guide, the book would help me a lot!
I have lost 115 pounds (in less than a year)…about 15 more to reach my goal!
My goal is to complete a tri before I turn 40…I have a year to do this!! I would LOVE to have this book as my campanion 🙂
Never done a tri. I’d like to, and I’d need *all* the help I can get!
Congrats, Amanda — you win the book! We just emailed you for your mailing address. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
–FBG Jenn
I just completed my first tri, 4 weeks post surgery. I was not mentally up to par, but would love to read this book in preparation for my next tri! I am an injured marathon runner and am still trying to mentally make the switch from running to biking and swimming – triathletes are a tough bunch!
Good site i’m intersted on starting triathlon myself i have to do a ironman or ironman 60 to 70. 3