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Tweet Are you ready for a monster discussion on base training, the Maffetone Method, and more training geekery? I definitely am – and this article is a beast – so grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a wild ride. Today we’re going to cover several questions and topics: What is “base” or “foundational” training? What is the Maffetone Method?
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Are you a triathlete, runner, cyclist, swimmer, cross-country skier, or other athlete seeking greater endurance? The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing 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...more
Published September 22nd 2010 by Skyhorse (first published September 1st 2010)
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Rating details
Jul 18, 2013Keith rated it liked it
What would you think of an author who redefined common, well-known terms to suit his own preference?
The usual definition
- Aerobic - with oxygen - metabolism yields 26-28 ATP per glucose molecule (depending on metabolization pathway)
- Anaerobic - without oxygen - metabolism yields 2 ATP per glucose molecule.
These are not loosey goosey terms. They have a specific meaning with lots of research behind them.
His redefinition:
- Aerobic - metabolization of fat
- Anaerobic - metabolization of sugar
Aerobic...more
Jul 22, 2011Sarah rated it really liked itThe usual definition
- Aerobic - with oxygen - metabolism yields 26-28 ATP per glucose molecule (depending on metabolization pathway)
- Anaerobic - without oxygen - metabolism yields 2 ATP per glucose molecule.
These are not loosey goosey terms. They have a specific meaning with lots of research behind them.
His redefinition:
- Aerobic - metabolization of fat
- Anaerobic - metabolization of sugar
Aerobic...more
Shelves: non-fiction, running, training, read-in-2012
Knocked off a star for lack of citations. If you're going to repeatedly reference studies, please note somewhere which studies they are!
Aug 23, 2017Andreas rated it really liked it
After reading Natural Born Heroes I was motivated to start running myself and to try out Dr. Maffetone's method of slow aerobic running. The method itself can be found on the web together with a lot of additional information so you can save money and don't have to buy this book.
I feel with the readers who think that the book is too long. This probably has to do with the fact that the training method is different to what people used to do and many are not willing to take it serious. The author ha...more
I feel with the readers who think that the book is too long. This probably has to do with the fact that the training method is different to what people used to do and many are not willing to take it serious. The author ha...more
Aug 31, 2012Low rated it it was amazing
This book really should be every runner that values longevity's bible. Packed with knowledge it can and should be the guide to be a good runner's guide.
Jun 27, 2019Michael Loveless rated it it was amazing
Phil Maffetone has written a must-read book for anyone interested in fitness. He starts with the idea that a person can be fit and yet not be healthy. Use of steroids and overtraining are two examples that could lead a person to excel (temporarily) in athletics, even as they make themselves less healthy. The book promotes a natural, even conservative approach to fitness and health. For instance Maffatone says that one of the best ways to correct muscle imbalance, pain, and injury is to go barefo...more
While this book has some good information in it, I think there's a couple of problems.
First off, it's WAY too long. I feel like I was being given the same information in multiple ways, multiple times. Maybe I wasn't supposed to read this end-to-end, as I did. Maybe it's meant more as a reference. But I didn't come away from the book feeling excited and motivated.
Second, it feels more opinionated than I'm sure he probably intended. I understand the ideas behind systems dynamics, and that physica...more
First off, it's WAY too long. I feel like I was being given the same information in multiple ways, multiple times. Maybe I wasn't supposed to read this end-to-end, as I did. Maybe it's meant more as a reference. But I didn't come away from the book feeling excited and motivated.
Second, it feels more opinionated than I'm sure he probably intended. I understand the ideas behind systems dynamics, and that physica...more
Dec 02, 2014Michelle Lines rated it it was amazing
It's not a big secret.... I have a love affair with the marathon. It's without a doubt my favorite, yet far and away my worst distance. And I'm not going to stop chasing my potential in it anytime soon. That being said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The time has come to change things up - enter Dr. Phil Maffetone.
This book brought two very interesting concepts to my attention and did a pretty damn good job of justifying th...more
This book brought two very interesting concepts to my attention and did a pretty damn good job of justifying th...more
Aug 08, 2013b bb bbbb bbbbbbbb rated it liked it
Most of the recommendations made for endurance training seem reasonable, thoughtful and worth a try. I'm going to. It doesn't seem like there is much to lose since there is a strong common sense aspect to the guidance. Although, maybe that is because I am already undergoing a transition toward longer distance at slower paces.
Some of the claims (particularly with regard to diet) are fairly bold and argued with more certainty than the constantly changing science of diet, physiology and training ar...more
Some of the claims (particularly with regard to diet) are fairly bold and argued with more certainty than the constantly changing science of diet, physiology and training ar...more
I really enjoyed this book and learning about Dr. Maffetone's philosophies. This book did convince me to take an (albeit short) 3 week aerobic only (mostly) 'break' from my years of anaerobic training. Now that I'm back to anaerobic workouts, I have forced myself run easy on easy days. I am feeling more rested and am sleeping much better! I'm also trying to adhere to some of his diet philosophies; we'll see how that goes :) overall, very good information and an easy read (if you're into that ki...more
If you're looking into low heart rate training, this is a pretty good primer. Maffetone is pretty rigid in his methods and they seem counterintuitive. However the few times I've stuck with it, I've seen some results. As far as the flow of the book, it's pretty dry and cumbersome, but the information is so valuable it's makes it easier to take in.
I have read and followed the book for a about 12-15 months. These methods don't work as much as the author insists. You will see some improvements, but only if you volume is pretty high. But the approach is too imbalanced to be useful in a race. In reality, one needs to train cardiovascular system as well as the muscular system. Races can't be the only stimulation for high intensity activity.
The definitive book on aerobic threshold training by the man who invented it. A must read for endurance athletes who want to improve their game.
There is a great deal I could say about this book and a great deal of detail in which I could say it. However I'll confine this to a few succinct points. Since these points are themselves lengthy a quick TL;DR is:
'The author is not so much wrong as he is only 80% right. Rather than settle for a partial solution that gets you going but petters out: pick up 80/20 running and get a more complete and more scientifically backed approach to endurance training that will have you improving for many yea...more
'The author is not so much wrong as he is only 80% right. Rather than settle for a partial solution that gets you going but petters out: pick up 80/20 running and get a more complete and more scientifically backed approach to endurance training that will have you improving for many yea...more
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Apr 19, 2019Laura Westmeyer rated it it was amazing
Fantastic for people interested in training for an endurance event. This is not a book that you read from cover to cover (and I have not done that, I should say). But rather, it's more of a technical reference book for the endurance topics that you're interested in learning more about.
For me, I suppose I have been into endurance activities for quite a while in past and current phases of life (backpacking, dancing, hiking, road biking, mountaineering, trail running, cross country skiing as the m...more
For me, I suppose I have been into endurance activities for quite a while in past and current phases of life (backpacking, dancing, hiking, road biking, mountaineering, trail running, cross country skiing as the m...more
3 Stars*
*The asterisk is because it’s difficult to fairly evaluate this book without implementing the concepts to test their validity.
Overall, this book is heavy on training philosophy, but light on implementation. It contains little guidance on actual training plans to follow and instead focuses on big picture concepts. It generally reads like a book written by a physician and frequently goes into great detail on biological processes. My main takeaways from the training sections were don’t le...more
*The asterisk is because it’s difficult to fairly evaluate this book without implementing the concepts to test their validity.
Overall, this book is heavy on training philosophy, but light on implementation. It contains little guidance on actual training plans to follow and instead focuses on big picture concepts. It generally reads like a book written by a physician and frequently goes into great detail on biological processes. My main takeaways from the training sections were don’t le...more
Some interesting concepts. The MAF portions are super interesting and the testing related to it. The biology pieces around muscle types and some other areas interesting as well. However he drones on and on and on about so many topics it is hard to stay motivated. Some of his discussion around nutrition makes little sense to me and not backed up by research and seems out of touch with other material I have read. The concept of go slow to go fast and using a test to monitor aerobic performance is...more
May 14, 2019Carlos Villalobos rated it it was amazing
Wow. Dr. Phil's method has inspired me to go completely low-carb and pursue my first 100-mile ultramarathon using fat as my primary fuel source. This book gave me all the tools I feel I need to achieve this.
I read Dr. Phil's book after reading Natural Born Heroes (by Chris McDougall) first, and then Fat For Fuel (by Dr. Joseph Mercola).
I read Dr. Phil's book after reading Natural Born Heroes (by Chris McDougall) first, and then Fat For Fuel (by Dr. Joseph Mercola).
Mar 23, 2018Wilson Halim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
A book that opens the path to overall health and athletic benefit
Dr Phil Maffetone focused on both fitness and health. He looked into holistic approach including training, diet, and rest. You will not find specific technique here but this book is the key to the door of holistic approach to excellent health and fitness.
Dr Phil Maffetone focused on both fitness and health. He looked into holistic approach including training, diet, and rest. You will not find specific technique here but this book is the key to the door of holistic approach to excellent health and fitness.
The book repeats a central point that you should not overtrain, and as an endurance athlete you should always conduct your endurance training around( or under ) your target heart rate, around 180-age. And by training in the zone, (it's the only?) way for you to build up your aerobic capability consistently and without injury.
I like that the author go a great distance to pull up anecdotes and studies(less) to prove his point and convince his readers. I guess get driven athletes to slow down thei...more
I like that the author go a great distance to pull up anecdotes and studies(less) to prove his point and convince his readers. I guess get driven athletes to slow down thei...more
Does Maffetone Method Work
Nov 02, 2017IGOR BRAUNE rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Excellent insight for a sustainable healthy lifestyle
If you are feeling fatigued or stressed, this book offers a different view of aerobic x anaerobic training plus brings good insights about how food can play an importan role in this equation. Enjoy!
If you are feeling fatigued or stressed, this book offers a different view of aerobic x anaerobic training plus brings good insights about how food can play an importan role in this equation. Enjoy!
Jun 30, 2019Angelica McMurtray rated it it was amazing
I got into running late-ish in life (late 30s but am obsessed and fascinated by all things endurance: training smart, not getting burnt out, staying injury free. This is opposite of the ‘no pain no gain’ mentality which for some can be tough to train in. I love this book because it’s taught me to look at the big picture and to just be patient with training.
Aug 20, 2019Aaron Terrazas rated it really liked it
Hard to say how much of this is out of date, but still worthwhile
Oct 27, 2017Gediminas Palskis rated it it was amazing
Enjoyed. Would appreciate more references to the scientific article or where to find it.
Great advice and food for thought even if you are not an indurance athlete. Valuable insight in to how macro and micro nutrients impact your health and fitness goals.Well worth the read.
Maffetone Method Training Plan
Aug 10, 2017Dilyan Dimitrov rated it really liked it
Insanely long and informative book about endurance training. Seems like to be THE BOOK if you plan to be an endurance athlete. It didn't get 5 stars from me, because it was too damn long and I felt he was repeating himself a lot about different topics like zone training and muscle imbalance.. It could have been smaller book saying the same information. Who wants to read almost 70 pages about foot and everything related to it - bones, muscles, injures, massaging, etc.
Really want to like this book due to the pseudo-intellectual nature of it. Many of my running peers recommend this text.
I can slough through university textbooks, but for someone attempting to be high-brow while simplifying for the common-man, the book ended up being too long and windy.
Needs a better editor. Seriously. I have been trying to finish this one for 3 or 4 years. Finished many university-grade biology, mathematics and physics textbooks within that time span and never really got past h...more
I can slough through university textbooks, but for someone attempting to be high-brow while simplifying for the common-man, the book ended up being too long and windy.
Needs a better editor. Seriously. I have been trying to finish this one for 3 or 4 years. Finished many university-grade biology, mathematics and physics textbooks within that time span and never really got past h...more
It is about endurance, and it's big!
I'm not much of a runner (more of a crossfitter) but starting to be more interested in aerobic/endurance training. And for that, Mafetone is emerging for me as one of the leading voices.
There's a lot to take in here but the best part of the book for me was the portion about training. I am completely on board with his training approach (at least trying it) of slow training. And just like the many patients he discusses, I have had to slow my mile time down by...more
I'm not much of a runner (more of a crossfitter) but starting to be more interested in aerobic/endurance training. And for that, Mafetone is emerging for me as one of the leading voices.
There's a lot to take in here but the best part of the book for me was the portion about training. I am completely on board with his training approach (at least trying it) of slow training. And just like the many patients he discusses, I have had to slow my mile time down by...more
Explains how to build a good aerobic base and improve body's ability to burn more fat rather than sugar for energy. How specific food can influence this.Build endurance by burning more fat.
Add psyllium to your diet.
Protien is very important to build muscles and provide enzymes for digestion etc. Our bodies are well adapted to digest animal source foods. Animal foods contain high levels of essential amino acids. Fish, turkey & duck. avoid farm-raised fish. Wild caught fish best. wild game mea...more
Add psyllium to your diet.
Protien is very important to build muscles and provide enzymes for digestion etc. Our bodies are well adapted to digest animal source foods. Animal foods contain high levels of essential amino acids. Fish, turkey & duck. avoid farm-raised fish. Wild caught fish best. wild game mea...more
I think some of the stuff in here is tedious. But as a book of reference for every runner out there, it's great. Personally, I see it as a book with a set of ideas, some of which you can adapt and potentially follow. For instance, the maximum aerobic function principle is one I feel like I've benefited from.
Thus ultimately, it depends a bit on what you want from this. Perhaps my expectations were a bit misguided, as I hoped for something a bit more motivational, but if you want ideas and resear...more
Thus ultimately, it depends a bit on what you want from this. Perhaps my expectations were a bit misguided, as I hoped for something a bit more motivational, but if you want ideas and resear...more
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“By measuring an athlete during all aspects of training, I made the important discovery that anaerobic stimulation, which can come from any anaerobic workout and any physical, chemical, or mental lifestyle stress, had the potential to interfere with the development of the aerobic system, thereby reducing endurance potential. An important aspect of building the aerobic base, I quickly learned, is that during this process, anaerobic training should be minimized—ideally eliminated—from the training schedule. And, athletes need to become more aware of how stress affects them.” — 0 likes
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