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The Endurance Handbook: How to Achieve Athletic Potential, Stay Healthy, and Get the Most Out of Your Body


Are you a triathlete, runner, cyclist, swimmer, cross-country skier, or other athlete seeking greater endurance? The Endurance Handbook teaches athletes how to stay healthy, achieve optimal athletic potential, and be injury-free for many productive years. Dr. Philip Maffetone’s approach to endurance offers a truly individualized” outlook and unique system that he has refined over three decades of training and treating athletes, ranging from world champions to weekend warriors. Maffetone’s training and racing philosophy emphasizes building a strong aerobic base for increased fat burning, weight loss, sustained energy, and a healthy immune system. Good nutrition and stress reduction are also key to this common-sense, big-picture approach.

If you are looking to increase your endurance and maximize your athletic potential, The Endurance Handbook is your one-stop guide to training and racing effectively.

Here’s what sets this handbook apart:

  • Focus on Aerobic Base: The core principle revolves around building a strong aerobic foundation. This approach is claimed to enhance fat burning, boost energy levels, and strengthen your immune system.
  • Combating Overtraining: The book emphasizes avoiding overtraining and instead promotes a balanced training philosophy that prioritizes long-term progress over quick fixes.
  • Maffetone’s Training System: Dr. Maffetone, the author, introduces his unique training system honed over decades of experience with athletes of all levels.
  • Debunking Endurance Myths: The book challenges prevalent myths surrounding endurance training, potentially shedding light on misconceptions that hinder performance.

Overall, “The Endurance Handbook” positions itself as a comprehensive guide for athletes seeking a data-driven approach to improve their endurance and achieve optimal health.

24 reviews for The Endurance Handbook: How to Achieve Athletic Potential, Stay Healthy, and Get the Most Out of Your Body

  1. Southy
    April 21, 2019
    Interesting
    Great read
    Helpful? 0 0
    Lynda K
    December 26, 2018
    Excellent in-depth info needed to become more healthy, provides life long habits for not just getting fitter, but doing while being healthy too. A must for an athlete wanting to live long healthily.
    Excellent in-depth info needed to become more healthy, provides life long habits for not just getting fitter, but doing while being healthy too. A mus...More
    Excellent in-depth info needed to become more healthy, provides life long habits for not just getting fitter, but doing while being healthy too. A must for an athlete wanting to live long healthily.
    Helpful? 0 0
    CarMul
    October 6, 2018
    I'm converted!
    A friend recommended Phil Maffetone for my training. I am training by his method since June and I find this book and also his Big Book of Endurance ru...More
    A friend recommended Phil Maffetone for my training. I am training by his method since June and I find this book and also his Big Book of Endurance running invaluable. I have read this book numerous times and refer back it regularly. I find all his books overlap with the exact same information but all his books also complement each other too for the full Maffetone experience. My only negative is that he writes very much from American perspective...so sometimes is does not translate well as I am a European and our food culture and legislation can be vastly different - I feel he should write more generically and be more inclusive to all nations, as we are all the same at the end of the day, and his method works for everyone, not just the American market.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Michael Henderson
    August 12, 2018
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good, sound advice
    I will read any book that Dr. Phil M. writes. Always adhere to his sound advice.
    Helpful? 0 0
    walter g
    December 16, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    This is a good follow up to the Big Book.
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    Tom Harte
    September 12, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you haven't studied the MAF method... Buy this book (-:
    This is an incrediblly insightful & thought provoking book by s brilliant man.
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    Steve Trumbull
    June 9, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book!
    I like this book very much. Great Information on nutrition to help the running to become fat adapted. Great advice on on running in your aerobic zone....More
    I like this book very much. Great Information on nutrition to help the running to become fat adapted. Great advice on on running in your aerobic zone. Just a overall great book. I could probably read again and learn more.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Cori Bruckner
    March 12, 2017
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Well organized, great intro information, ready to get more in depth information so I am going to go back to his initial book.
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    Clod Racine
    October 22, 2016
    Five Stars
    great book on aerobic endurance
    Helpful? 0 0
    MARGARITA D GERON
    May 23, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars loved it!
    finished it! loved it!
    Helpful? 0 0
    Dr Alan Viau
    February 27, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars How anyone can achieve their athletic potential
    I recommend this book for anyone trying to improve their performance. Although Maffetone approaches health from an endurance triathlete perspective - ...More
    I recommend this book for anyone trying to improve their performance. Although Maffetone approaches health from an endurance triathlete perspective - the concepts are all true and equally applicable to everyone.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Jonathan Cojuangco
    January 23, 2016
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book is easy to follow
    In the year since using Phil Maffetone's MAF method, I have been able to run two marathons, including a Disney World Dopey Challenge (which consists o...More
    In the year since using Phil Maffetone's MAF method, I have been able to run two marathons, including a Disney World Dopey Challenge (which consists of four consecutive days of a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon) without any injury. This is my first full year without injury and without decreasing mileage.

    The book helps in understanding the differences between the roles of the aerobic and anaerobic systems in run training.

    The book is easy to follow, and the method is clearly described. It may not be for everyone, but for now, it is the method for me.
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    Mr. S. Montgomery
    December 10, 2015
    Handbook to real health and fitness, cuts out some bad mainstream ideas where many go wrong.
    Life affirming and inspiring, this is a handbook to health for the mind and body and explains how to achieve your athletic potential, safely and witho...More
    Life affirming and inspiring, this is a handbook to health for the mind and body and explains how to achieve your athletic potential, safely and without burnout or damage to yourself. The ideas are not mainstream, yet explained well by Phil and based upon evolutionary thinking and practical experience. You soon understand where the majority of us have been going wrong for so long. If only I could talk to my younger self, I would pass on the knowledge I've learnt from this book. Listen to your body, train slow, eat healthily, avoid refined carbs, go barefoot & move more, tune in, maybe lift a few weights and have fun.
    Helpful? 0 0
    jim stanton
    December 2, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you are interested in lifelong fitness and health then this is for you!!!
    Great book....it addresses fitness from an individual standpoint. There are no "do 10x400m at 90% effort" workouts. Its all based on your own fitness ...More
    Great book....it addresses fitness from an individual standpoint. There are no "do 10x400m at 90% effort" workouts. Its all based on your own fitness and health status and is a prescription for continuous improvement
    Helpful? 0 0
    Petr Havlicek
    October 31, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect book from one of the best author in endurance ...
    Perfect book from one of the best author in endurance sport. Maffetone healthy approach is unique and yes, the 180-age formula is working.
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    Christopher Kelly
    October 30, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love Phil Maffetone
    I love Phil Maffetone! I'm a pro mountain biker and I wish I'd known about Phil 15 years ago. I could have saved myself so much heartache. Over the ye...More
    I love Phil Maffetone! I'm a pro mountain biker and I wish I'd known about Phil 15 years ago. I could have saved myself so much heartache. Over the years I've fallen into every trap Phil describes in this wonderful book. No other coach is thinking as progressively as Phil. When was the last time you heard a coach talking about the importance of methylated B vitamins? Details matter. Highly recommended.
    Helpful? 0 0
    FI
    September 23, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    great book! a must read for everybody
    Helpful? 0 0
    D. Brock Williams
    September 2, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Accurately describes role and method of cardio in your training, and it _is_ important!
    Very interesting and informative book! I can already feel that putting these principles into practice is adding years to my "active" life. Thanks Ch...More
    Very interesting and informative book! I can already feel that putting these principles into practice is adding years to my "active" life. Thanks Chris McDougall for including Dr. Maffetone in Natural Born Heroes, and thanks to Ben Greenfield for doing a podcast on NBH.

    Despite spending age 8-21 in the pool as a swimmer, I never really understood how do aerobic conditioning right. Now, at age 42, after 5+ years of working to be Paleo and shunning aerobic conditioning like longer runs, etc., in favor of more HIIT type activities and training, this book helped me understand the role of aerobic training and conditioning in my exercise and conditioning program, and how to do it to maximum benefit.

    I never took HIIT to the point of burnout, but now I think I can prepare my body for many more years of healthy activity using these principles. I have replaced a few of my higher intensity workouts with MAF workouts, as they are truly invigorating rather than draining. I may not be doing it exactly right, but I'm 80%+ in the right direction. And, having added this training to my schedule, I feel that when the hard workouts come, I'm not as drained afterwards and recover more quickly.

    Strongly recommended for any athlete from single digits through death.

    For non-athletes looking for a way to become more athletic, I view Maffetone's methods as the best way to start down the path, but I'm not sure this is the right book to bridge the gap as the presentation of the information is geared to enthusiastic or seasoned athletes.
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    TRICIA ACEVEDO
    August 31, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Great book to understand body performance and causes that hold someone back for getting a good balance of exercise healthy well-being.
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    Tracy Reed
    August 28, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must read if your goal is to be fit AND healthy.
    This is THE MANUAL if you have had issues with running and injuries or not being able to improve your running. Phil Maffetone gets to the heart of the...More
    This is THE MANUAL if you have had issues with running and injuries or not being able to improve your running. Phil Maffetone gets to the heart of the matter by explaining that you are probably breaking your body down instead of building it up. You may seem more fit, but you are probably less healthy. It's the less health part that creeps up and causes injuries and in some cases death. This is a must read if your goal is to be fit AND healthy.
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    JAM
    August 21, 2015
    A true reference
    I got all previous books from Dr. Maffetone and they constitute my basis for training.Few authors at today can match his knowledge and the way he expo...More
    I got all previous books from Dr. Maffetone and they constitute my basis for training.
    Few authors at today can match his knowledge and the way he exposes his ideas which reach you simply and directly.
    Great help also for data-oriented athletes.
    Totally awesome!
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    El Professor
    August 8, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Build your aerobic engine - guidelines from a great coach
    A well-done book summarizing the lifestyle that will support both health and endurance excellence. The Maffetone method seems to remain controversial...More
    A well-done book summarizing the lifestyle that will support both health and endurance excellence. The Maffetone method seems to remain controversial (unliked) but I think a lot of this can be attributed to unwillingness to put in the time it takes to develop "a great aerobic engine". It's also culturally out of sync with the high-intensity-every-workout training that often (but not necessarily) characterizes crossfit-like training programs. After a typical MAF workout one should feel energized and certainly not ready to meet "Rabdo" - that's totally out of sync with our adrenaline obsessed culture.

    BUT - Maffetone's training method works. Take the time to build your aerobic engine and you will soon be running (biking, rowing...) circles around the athletes who only training high intensity. It's important to note that Maffetone is not against high intensity training - it just needs to be in its place - on top of a well-developed aerobic engine. Read the book, take the time and build your aerobic engine. You will not regret it.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Joey
    July 23, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Excellent addition to his other books.
    Helpful? 0 0
    Matt G.
    July 9, 2015
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Very Best in the Field!
    I have done a lot of studying in the field of endurance as far as diet and training goes. I have had the greatest success, by far, utilizing many of ...More
    I have done a lot of studying in the field of endurance as far as diet and training goes. I have had the greatest success, by far, utilizing many of the methods Dr Maffetone teaches. I successfully completed a tough Black Hills 100 and continue to improve daily after somewhat of a long plateau in performance for myself. The MAF method and the 180 formula have opened up more levels for me and I have confidence in the process that I will continue to improve! Very grateful to Dr Maffetone and his research!
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