What is Reddit's opinion of 80/20 Triathlon: Discover the Breakthrough Elite-Training Formula for Ultimate Fitness and Performance at All Levels?

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80/20 Triathlon.

His website is 8020endurance.com. He also sells pre-built structured training plans based on the 80/20 method on TrainingPeaks. There is a free maintenance plan on there that should get you started with training, but you will probably want to get a plan specific to the Ironman distance. It'll have the right training volume, rest weeks, a taper phase, etc.

I started in triathlon in 2010 and did a handful to 2012 before taking a few years off. Over the holidays in 2015, I decided to sign up for a 70.3 in 2016, so I was all in! I have seen big improvements each year since then, including my third year at USA Triathlon Age Group Nationals this year and just qualifying for 70.3 World Championships in my second 70.3 this August. Needless to say, I got a bit hooked! It is tough to balance family and social life with it beyond my regular day job. Many workouts are on the bike trainer after kids bedtime, and I'll often run during lunch at work or incorporate the kids into the run.

Start easy on the swim in a local pool. Build up distance like you would for running, and work on some drills every time as a part of your warmup. 80/20 Triathlon has some good drill work in it. Also check out the 8020 Endurance website. And, of course, join /r/triathlon!

Thanks - is this the 80/20 tri book you're referring to? https://www.amazon.com/80-Triathlon-Breakthrough-Elite-Training-Performance-ebook/dp/B078W6PPBJ

80/20 Triathlon. Well worth the read.

https://www.amazon.com/80-Triathlon-Breakthrough-Elite-Training-Performance-ebook/dp/B078W6PPBJ

Still very much a beginner runner, but here's my quick story as a data point:

I started running in August 2020 or so, using this zero-to-5k plan. I was 250lbs at 5'10", doing mostly powerlifting style workouts. I was turning 30, and I decided I wanted to be able to run, since I hadn't ran a straight mile my entire life. In typical newbie fashion, I ran way too fast and didn't pace myself at all. I was running at sub-10 min/mile pace during the run portions of my run/walk sessions, which I had no business doing as I was nowhere near that pace. I completed that program and ran a 5km in 40 minutes. I continued running and completed my first 10km in November-ish in 1:20.

After achieving that, I took some time off, the holidays hit, and I got lazy. I went back to powerlifting for a while and basically stopped running. Earlier this spring I decided I wanted to do an Ironman triathlon, which I've been training for ever since. I bought a copy of 80/20 Triathlon (running version HERE), which has been awesome for improving my swim/bike/run performance. I had always heard the saying "run slow to go fast," but I never knew how to implement that, i.e. what exactly is "slow" versus "fast" and how do I measure it?

Now I mostly do time-based low-effort workouts, meaning under 90% of my lactic threshold heart rate. I use an HRM strap with a Garmin watch to keep myself in the correct training zones and avoid the medium intensity trap. I haven't done a 5k or 10k time trial since starting the 80/20 style of training, but my last run around 5k in distance was under 29 minutes, and my last run around 10k was just under an hour. My pace at the top of zone 2 (low effort) is around 10:15 min/mile now, and I feel like I could hold that pace basically forever (compared to being gassed after <2 minutes at that pace when I started). I now weigh 180lbs, which has undoubtedly helped my running pace. I think after another 10lbs lost I'll start eating at maintenance again, which should help fuel my workouts and hopefully allow me to progress even faster.

https://www.amazon.com/80-Triathlon-Breakthrough-Elite-Training-Performance-ebook/dp/B078W6PPBJ

Buy a physical copy of this book. It will teach you how to build a training plan. If you are heavy, you are risking injury, so swimming and cycling is where you keep your intense training, running...just don't get injured.

The real secret is this: Increasing your training volume because it doesn't feel like enough, leads to injury and overtraining. Increasing the intensity of your training because it doesn't feel like enough, leads to injury and overtraining. Stay injury free and recover.

If you want metrics, you will need to do an FTP test. Triathletes and cyclists are data geeks. Meaning heart rate monitor chest strap and a power meter are pretty standard training tools....or, a Heart Rate Monitor and a GPS watch.

Buy all the shit you need for 3 sports is a large investment, not to mention race entries, hotels, driving to the event...etc. Swimming and running are pretty cheap: swimsuit/goggles, shoes. Cycling...is a bottomless pit you can throw money into.