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.
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.
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.
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!
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.