"Be Iron Fit" for a 1/2

It will get it done but I don't think you'll reach your full potential doing it. He has a 1/2 IM book out. I haven't read the 1/2 but I used Be Iron Fit for my first IM and just winged my 2nd. I heard many of the workouts are in Z3 instead of Z2, since you'll race in Z2/Z3 during a 1/2 instead of just Z2 during a full.

Did you feel the book prepared you adequately for the first one? I have the 1/2 book and plan on using it for my first one in July 2015. I've only raced sprints and Olys in the past.

Patti

Yes. I liked training with the book. My main concern was that the focus was building up to the IM not the 1/2 so I didn't know if there is really enough of a taper. I didn't know about his book for the half so I might check that one out

I bought the book on Amazon for like $10. It looks like a sound program, and I like that they give you off season strength work, take build up races into consideration ,etc.

Patti

I think so. I followed the advanced plan and I've never done anything above a sprint before. I did sign up for a HIM when he recommended it and had an awful experience but I knew where I needed to improve and I knew I couldn't skip the brick runs anymore. I did get a sub 12 hour IM following it. He seems like he knows what he's doing and reading it helped settle my nerves on other mental aspects of the race and leading up to it. It was more than just a 30 week plan for me. Of course a coach would help more but for $10-15 the books cost, you'll get your money's worth.

I used the book designed for a 70.3 and varied between the 3 plans. I did the intermediate swim because my swim was weak and I wanted the confidence of completing more than the just finish, I did the competitive plan for the bike (my strength) and the just finish for the run (less is more on the run as I get injured over time). It worked great. I finished 30 minutes ahead of my goal and with a huge smile on my face. Which may have been bad as I enjoyed it so much, I signed up for a full... :/ I plan to use the same author for the full. My hubs had great success with the full plan and I am already used to the format. Hth.

This is very helpful, nadaswimmer, and I was considering a "blend" of the advanced/intermediate.

Patti