Advertisement
20 Week Triathlon Training Plan: Your Blueprint to Race Day Success and Industry Implications
By Dr. Emily Carter, Ph.D., Exercise Physiology & Sports Science
Dr. Emily Carter holds a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology and Sports Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and has over 15 years of experience coaching triathletes of all levels. She is the author of "The Triathlete's Guide to Nutrition" and a frequent contributor to leading sports science journals.
Published by Endurance Magazine, a leading publication in the triathlon and endurance sports industry for over 25 years.
Edited by Sarah Miller, a seasoned sports journalist with 10+ years of experience covering endurance sports and a certified triathlon coach.
Introduction:
Embarking on a triathlon is a significant undertaking, requiring dedication, discipline, and a well-structured training plan. A crucial element for success is a meticulously designed training program, and a 20 week triathlon training plan provides the ideal timeframe for building the necessary endurance, strength, and skill for various race distances. This article delves into the specifics of a sample 20 week triathlon training plan, examines its implications for the fitness industry, and explores how such plans are revolutionizing the way athletes approach training.
H1: Understanding the Structure of a 20 Week Triathlon Training Plan
A successful 20 week triathlon training plan is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It must be tailored to the individual's current fitness level, race distance (sprint, Olympic, half-Ironman, Ironman), and available training time. However, several key components are common across most effective plans:
Base Building Phase (Weeks 1-6): This foundational phase focuses on building aerobic base fitness through consistent low-intensity training. Swim, bike, and run volumes are gradually increased, emphasizing endurance over intensity.
Strength and Speed Development Phase (Weeks 7-12): This phase introduces higher-intensity workouts like interval training, tempo runs, and hill repeats to improve speed and power. Strength training becomes more integrated to prevent injuries and enhance performance.
Race Specificity Phase (Weeks 13-18): This crucial stage mimics race-day conditions, including longer workouts that replicate the demands of the target triathlon. Brick workouts (back-to-back disciplines) are incorporated to refine transitions and improve endurance.
Tapering Phase (Weeks 19-20): The final two weeks are dedicated to reducing training volume and intensity to allow the body to recover and peak for race day. This prevents overtraining and ensures optimal performance.
H2: The Impact of a 20 Week Triathlon Training Plan on the Fitness Industry
The popularity of structured training plans, especially detailed 20 week triathlon training plans, has significantly impacted the fitness industry. This impact is seen in several ways:
Rise of Online Coaching: The availability of digital 20 week triathlon training plans has led to a boom in online coaching services. Athletes can access personalized plans and expert guidance regardless of their location.
Increased Demand for Specialized Equipment and Technology: The need for accurate tracking and analysis has fuelled demand for GPS watches, power meters, and heart rate monitors. This has driven innovation and competition within the sports technology sector.
Growth of Triathlon-Specific Events and Products: The increased participation in triathlons, driven partly by accessible training plans like a 20 week triathlon training plan, has spurred growth in race organization, equipment manufacturing, and nutrition supplements.
Focus on Holistic Wellness: Modern training plans, including a 20 week triathlon training plan, emphasize the importance of nutrition, sleep, and stress management, fostering a more holistic approach to athlete well-being.
H3: Personalizing Your 20 Week Triathlon Training Plan
While a template 20 week triathlon training plan can provide a framework, personalization is key. Factors to consider include:
Race Distance: A plan for a sprint triathlon will differ significantly from one designed for an Ironman.
Current Fitness Level: Beginners need a more gradual progression than experienced athletes.
Training Resources: Access to a pool, open water, cycling routes, and running trails will influence workout choices.
Injury History: The plan should be adapted to avoid exacerbating existing injuries.
Coaching Support: Working with a coach can provide personalized guidance and adjustments as needed.
H4: Beyond the Plan: Nutrition, Rest, and Recovery
A successful 20 week triathlon training plan is only part of the equation. Nutrition, rest, and recovery are equally critical. Adequate fuel and hydration are essential for optimal performance, while sufficient sleep and rest periods prevent overtraining and injuries. Strategic periodization of training load is crucial, preventing burnout and maximizing adaptations.
Conclusion:
A well-structured 20 week triathlon training plan is an invaluable tool for aspiring triathletes. Its influence extends beyond individual performance, driving innovation and growth within the fitness industry. By understanding the key components, personalizing the plan, and prioritizing holistic wellness, athletes can maximize their chances of success and enjoy a fulfilling triathlon experience.
FAQs:
1. What is the ideal number of training sessions per week for a 20-week plan? This depends on your experience level and the race distance, but typically ranges from 3-6 sessions per week, incorporating rest days.
2. How important is strength training in a 20-week triathlon plan? Strength training is vital for injury prevention, power development, and overall performance. It should be incorporated 1-2 times per week.
3. How do I know if my 20-week plan is working? Track your progress through metrics like heart rate, power output, run pace, swim times, and overall perceived exertion. Listen to your body and adjust the plan as needed.
4. What should I do if I get injured during the 20 weeks? Consult a medical professional and adjust your training plan accordingly, potentially incorporating cross-training activities.
5. What are the common mistakes to avoid in a 20-week triathlon training plan? Overtraining, insufficient rest, neglecting nutrition, and ignoring warning signs from your body.
6. How can I manage my time effectively with a 20-week triathlon training plan? Prioritize training sessions, schedule them strategically, and communicate your training schedule to your family and friends.
7. What are the best resources for finding a 20-week triathlon training plan? Online coaching platforms, books, and certified triathlon coaches offer a range of plans.
8. How important is tapering in a 20-week triathlon training plan? Tapering is crucial for allowing your body to fully recover and peak on race day. Failing to taper properly can lead to poor performance and increased risk of injury.
9. Can I modify a 20-week triathlon training plan for a specific race distance? Yes, you should modify the volume, intensity, and focus to match the demands of your chosen race distance.
Related Articles:
1. Beginner's Guide to a 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan: This article provides a simplified plan specifically for beginner triathletes.
2. Advanced 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan for Ironman: A detailed plan tailored for experienced triathletes targeting an Ironman race.
3. Nutrition Strategies for a 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan: Focuses on optimizing nutrition to support training and performance.
4. Avoiding Common Injuries During a 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan: Provides tips and strategies to minimize injury risk.
5. Mental Strategies for Success in a 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan: Explores mental preparation and resilience for training and race day.
6. The Importance of Rest and Recovery in a 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan: Highlights the crucial role of rest and recovery in preventing overtraining.
7. Using Technology to Optimize Your 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan: Discusses the use of technology like GPS watches and heart rate monitors.
8. How to Choose the Right 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan for Your Goals: Guides readers in selecting a plan based on their experience and aspirations.
9. Sample 20-Week Triathlon Training Plan Workout Schedule: Provides a sample weekly workout schedule for a 20-week training program.
| 20 week triathlon training plan: 80/20 Triathlon Matt Fitzgerald, David Warden, 2018-09-18 A breakthrough program for triathletes -- beginner, intermediate, and advanced -- showing how to balance training intensity to maximize performance -- from a fitness expert and elite coach. Cutting-edge research has proven that triathletes and other endurance athletes experience their greatest performance when they do 80 percent of their training at low intensity and the remaining 20 percent at moderate to high intensity. But the vast majority of recreational triathletes are caught in the so-called moderate-intensity rut, spending almost half of their time training too hard--harder than the pros. Training harder isn't smarter; it actually results in low-grade chronic fatigue that prevents recreational athletes from getting the best results. In 80/20 Triathlon, Matt Fitzgerald and David Warden lay out the real-world and scientific evidence, offering concrete tips and strategies, along with complete training plans for every distance--Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman, and Ironman--to help athletes implement the 80/20 rule of intensity balance. Benefits include reduced fatigue and injury risk, improved fitness, increased motivation, and better race results. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Be Iron Fit Don Fink, 2010-03-16 “Most how-to books are too technical or too shallow. Don Fink manages to pen a unique combination of information, anecdotes, and readability.”—Scott Tinley, two-time Ironman World Champion “Don’s book certainly made me think. A truly complete book for all abilities in the sport of triathlon that leaves no subject untouched.”—Spencer Smith, three-time Triathlon World Champion Ever dream of being an elite endurance athlete and competing in races like Hawaii’s Ironman? Pro athletes are not the only people who can attain such superior accomplishments. Every season tens of thousands of amateur triathletes compete head-to-head, pushing their physical and mental strength to the limits. The Ironman competition is a true test: a 2.4-mile open-water swim followed by a 112-mile bike leg and a 26.2-mile marathon run. In Be Iron Fit, sought-after multisport coach Don Fink draws on his time-efficient training methods to provide a practical program in a step-by-step, enjoyable way—so even everyday athletes can attain ultimate conditioning. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Triathlete Magazine's Essential Week-by-Week Training Guide Matt Fitzgerald, 2009-11-29 From Triathlete magazine––the most popular source for triathlete information––comes an essential guidebook of weekly training plans for all skill levels. As popular as the swim-bike-run sport has become in recent years, triathlon training remains a daunting physical and mental challenge. From short sprints to Olympic distance events, this guide from Triathlete magazine provides athletes with different plans for every skill level, and shows them how to build up their training to reach their ultimate goal. Good-humored narrative text accompanies detailed workout schedules, guidelines, weekly goals, and coaching tips. Including off-season training advice and photo-illustrated stretches and exercises, this is the book triathletes need to stay at the top of their game. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Fast-Track Triathlete Matt Dixon, 2017-10-18 Lays out all the elements needed to succeed and excel at triathlon without compromising the other important things in your life like family, friends and sleep. In Fast-Track Triathlete, elite triathlon coach Matt Dixon offers his plan of attack for high performance in long-course triathlon—without sacrificing work or life. Developed for busy professionals with demanding schedules, the Fast-Track Triathlete program makes your PR possible in Ironman®, Ironman 70.3®, Rev3, and Challenge triathlon in about 10 hours a week. Training for long-course triathlons once demanded 15-20 hours each week—on top of work, family, travel and other time commitments. For many, preparing for long-distance triathlon is more challenging than the race itself. Fast-Track Triathlete opens the door to your best performance in full- and half-distance triathlons in half the traditional training time. Dixon’s laser-focused, effective approach to workouts, recovery, strength and mobility, and nutrition means you can prepare for triathlon’s greatest challenges in just 7-10 hours per week for half-distance and 10-12 hours per week for full-distance. Fast-Track Triathlete includes: Dixon’s complete guide to creating a successful sport and life performance recipe How to plan out your triathlon training Scaling workouts for time and fatigue Training and racing during travel Executing your swim-bike-run and transitions plan on race day 10-week off-season training program with key workouts 14-week pre-season training program with key workouts 14-week comprehensive race-prep full and half training plans with fully integrated strength and conditioning Dixon’s first book, The Well-Built Triathlete, revealed his four-tiered approach to success in all triathlon race distances. Fast-Track Triathlete turbocharges Dixon’s well-built program so even the busiest athletes can achieve their long-distance triathlon dreams without sacrificing so much to achieve them. What other athletes are saying about FAST-TRACK TRIATHLETE: I went from marathons and sprint tris straight to a full Ironman in 1 year while overcoming an injury with this plan. The importance of sleep/rest, quality vs. quantity, endurance AND strength, nutrition, etc. -- this book shares such a realistic and balanced approach to training and helped me train for and complete my first Ironman (140.6) race as a working mother of 3 small children and a 13:32 finish time. Breath of fresh air read on triathlon training - planning - life balance, in context of performance improvement. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: No Meat Athlete Matt Frazier, Matt Ruscigno, 2013-10 Combining the winning elements of proven training approaches, motivational stories, and innovative recipes, No Meat Athlete is a unique guidebook, healthy-living cookbook, and nutrition primer for the beginner, every day, and serious athlete who wants to live a meatless lifestyle. Author and popular blogger, Matt Frazier, will show you that there are many benefits to embracing a meat-free athletic lifestyle, including: Weight loss, which often leads to increased speed; Easier digestion and faster recovery after workouts; Improved energy levels to help with not just athletic performance but your day-to-day life; Reduced impact on the planet. Whatever your motivation for choosing a meat-free lifestyle, this book will take you through everything you need to know to apply your lifestyle to your training. Matt Frazier provides practical advice and tips on how to transition to a plant-based diet while getting all the nutrition you need; uses the power of habit to make those changes last; and offers up menu plans for high performance, endurance, and recovery. Once you've mastered the basics, Matt delivers a training manual of his own design for runners of all abilities and ambitions. The manual provides training plans for common race distances and shows runners how to create healthy habits, improve performance, and avoid injuries. No Meat Athlete will take you from the start to finish line, giving you encouraging tips, tricks, and advice along the way-- |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Fast After 50 Joe Friel, 2015-01-10 Fast After 50 is for every endurance athlete who wants to stay fast for years to come. For runners, cyclists, triathletes, swimmers, and cross-country skiers, getting older doesn’t have to mean getting slower. Drawing from the most current research on aging and sports performance, Joe Friel--America’s leading endurance sports coach--shows how athletes can race strong and stay healthy well past age 50. In his groundbreaking book Fast After 50, Friel offers a smart approach for athletes to ward off the effects of age. Friel shows athletes how to extend their racing careers for decades--and race to win. Fast After 50 presents guidelines for high-intensity workouts, focused strength training, recovery, crosstraining, and nutrition for high performance: How the body’s response to training changes with age, how to adapt your training plan, and how to avoid overtraining How to shed body fat and regain muscle density How to create a progressive plan for training, rest, recovery, and competition Workout guidelines, field tests, and intensity measurement In Fast After 50, Joe Friel shows athletes that age is just a number--and race results are the only numbers that count. With contributions from: Mark Allen, Gale Bernhardt, Amby Burfoot, Dr. Larry Creswell, John Howard, Dr. Tim Noakes, Ned Overend, Dr. John Post, Dr. Andrew Pruitt, and Lisa Rainsberger. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The Triathlete's Training Diary Joe Friel, 2016-10-06 A perfect companion to any triathlon training program, The Triathlete’s Training Diary offers an ideal way for you to plan, record, and better understand your workouts and performance. With undated pages for use any time of the year, this diary offers plenty of space for all the objective and subjective performance metrics you might want to track in a smart format that’s been carefully designed, tested, and refined by Joe Friel, the top coach in the sport of triathlon. The Triathlete’s Training Diary is wirebound to lay flat and flips easily so you can look up past workouts or settle your pre-race nerves by proving to yourself that you’ve done the work. This paper workout log is simple to use, never requires a login or password, and can be completely customized to meet your needs for any triathlon training schedule. This physical record of your workouts will reveal insights that don’t display on an online dashboard. Fully compatible with Joe Friel’s best-selling training programs like The Triathlete’s Training Bible, Your First Triathlon, Going Long, and Your Best Triathlon, this diary simplifies the planning and execution of your triathlon training. High-performing athletes know that a training diary is an invaluable tool. Whether they work with a coach or train independently, even elite triathletes keep a training log to hone their feel for performance, consolidate training data in one location, track their progress, monitor for injuries and overtraining, and reshape their goals throughout the season. The Triathlete’s Training Diary includes: Coach Friel’s introduction to the essential details of keeping a training log. Friel’s guide to planning out your season. Season goals, Annual training hours, Weekly training hours 53 undated weekly spreads. Space for every training metric like rest/recovery, weight, workout type, route, distance/time, average heart rate and power, zones, weather, heart rate, RPE, and your custom notes Room for two-a-day workouts. Weekly Summary charts Race Results Summary to log finish times, split times, pre- and post-race nutrition, efforts, and age-group rankings Physiological test results such as VO2max and lactate threshold. Training Grids to graph the data you choose Road and mountain bike measurements with space to note adjustments Your favorite routes and best times Season results summary Race day gear checklist What gets measured gets managed. Add The Triathlete’s Training Diary to your program and you’ll unlock valuable insights that can help you improve in your sport. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Runner's World Run Less Run Faster Bill Pierce, Scott Murr, 2021-01-19 Finally, runners at all levels can improve their race times while training less, with the revolutionary Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training (FIRST) program. Hailed by the Wall Street Journal and featured twice in six months in cover stories in Runner's World magazine, FIRST's unique training philosophy makes running easier and more accessible, limits overtraining and burnout, and substantially cuts the risk of injury, while producing faster race times. The key feature is the 3 plus 2 program, which each week consists of: -3 quality runs, including track repeats, the tempo run, and the long run, which are designed to work together to improve endurance, lactate-threshold running pace, and leg speed -2 aerobic cross-training workouts, such as swimming, rowing, or pedaling a stationary bike, which are designed to improve endurance while helping to avoid burnout With detailed training plans for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon, plus tips for goal-setting, rest, recovery, injury rehab and prevention, strength training, and nutrition, this program will change the way runners think about and train for competitive races. Amby Burfoot, Runner's World executive editor and Boston Marathon winner, calls the FIRST training program the most detailed, well-organized, and scientific training program for runners that I have ever seen. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training Higdon, Hal, 2016-03-01 Hal Higdon’s Half Marathon Training offers prescriptive programming for all levels of runners. Not only will it help you learn how to get started with your training, but it will show you where to focus your attention, when to progress, and how to keep it simple. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: RUN Fitzgerald Matt, 2010-05-24 Most serious runners don't realize their potential. They simply stop getting faster and don't understand why. The reason is simple: most runners are unable to run by feel. The best elite runners have learned that the key to faster running is to hear what their bodies are telling them. Drawing on new research on endurance sports, best-selling author Matt Fitzgerald explores the practices of elite runners to explain why their techniques can be effective for all runners. RUN: The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel will help runners reach their full potential by teaching them how to train in the most personalized and adaptable way. Fitzgerald's mind-body method will revolutionize how runners think about training, their personal limits, and their potential. RUN explains how to interpret emotional and physical messages like confidence, enjoyment, fatigue, suffering, and aches and pains. RUN guides readers toward the optimal balance of intensity and enjoyment, volume and recovery, repetition and variation. As the miles add up, runners will become increasingly confident that they are doing the right training on the right day, from one season to the next. RUN marks the start of a better way to train. The culmination of science and personal experience, the mind-body method of running by feel will lead runners to faster, more enjoyable training and racing. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Training and Racing with a Power Meter, 2nd Ed. Hunter Allen, Andrew Coggan, 2012-11-27 Hunter Allen and Andy Coggan, PhD have completely revised the book that made power meters understandable for amateur and professional cyclists and triathletes. Power meters have become essential tools for competitive cyclists and triathletes. No training tool can unlock as much speed and endurance as a power meter--for those who understand how to interpret their data. A power meter displays and records exactly how much energy a cyclist expends, which lends unprecedented insight into that rider's abilities and fitness. With the proper baseline data, a cyclist can use a power meter to determine race strategy, pacing, and tactics. Training and Racing with a Power Meter makes it possible to exploit the incredible usefulness of the power meter by explaining how to profile strengths and weaknesses, measure fitness and fatigue, optimize workouts, time race readiness, and race using power. This new edition: Enables athletes to predict future performance and time peak form Introduces fatigue profiling, a new testing method to pinpoint weaknesses Includes two training plans to raise functional threshold power and time peaks for race day Offers 75 power-based workouts tuned for specific training goals This updated edition also includes new case studies, a full chapter on triathlon training and racing, and improved 2-color charts and tables throughout. Training and Racing with a Power Meter, will continue to be the definitive guide to the most important training tool ever developed for endurance sports. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Your Best Triathlon Joe Friel, 2014-03-12 Your Best Triathlon is a master plan that will guide experienced triathletes through every week of their season. For each phase of training, Joe lays out the path to success, outlining clear objectives and the guidelines to meet them. Joe Friel’s highly refined training plans for sprint, Olympic, half-Ironman®, and Ironman® race distances will help serious triathletes deliver a breakout performance, even those with countless races under their belt. Joe offers a tool kit of proven workouts that will isolate and develop specific abilities. Within each workout and plan, he offers easy modifications to better manage personal limiters and improve performance. Hundreds of thousands of triathletes have relied on Joe Friel and his groundbreaking best seller, The Triathlete’s Training Bible, to develop their own self-coached training programs. Now Joe Friel, the most experienced coach in triathlon, reveals his formula for advanced training and coaches triathletes to their best race ever. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Your First Triathlon Joe Friel, 2012-04-01 Joe Friel is the world’s most trusted triathlon coach and his friendly guide, Your First Triathlon, will get you ready for your first sprint or Olympic triathlon feeling strong, confident, and ready for the challenge. Friel has helped hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy the challenges of triathlon with his clear and comprehensive TrainingBible method. Your First Triathlon simplifies all the principles of Friel’s training approach for newcomers who want a simple, no-nonsense way to train for triathlon. The practical triathlon training plans in Your First Triathlon take fewer than 5 hours a week and will build the fitness and confidence you need to enjoy your first event. Your First Triathlon offers a 12-week training plan for total beginners as well as custom plans for athletes who have some experience in running, cycling, or swimming. Each triathlon training schedule includes realistic swimming, biking, and running workouts with options to add strength workouts. These simple plans will build anyone into a triathlete. Friel simplifies your triathlon race day with smart tips to navigate your race packet pickup, set up your transition area, fuel for your race, finish your swim without stress or fear, and ensure your race goes smoothly from the moment you wake up until you cross the finish line. Triathlon is a fun and challenging sport that can help you get fit, healthy, and feeling great. Your First Triathlon will help you get off to a great start in the swim-bike-run sport. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The Working Triathlete Conrad Goeringer, 2020-07-14 Includes detailed 18-week Olympic Distance & Half Iron Distance Training Plans! Stop worrying about not having enough time! No matter if you travel for work five days a week, are in the throes of medical residency, or put in 12+ hour days at the office, you can be exceptionally fast. Learn the principles, strategies, and tips behind the Working Triathlete training method to maximize your performance in fewer hours. LEARN HOW TO TRAIN WITH MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY The Working Triathlete was written for busy people who want to dominate in life and athletics. Learn how to cut out the fluff and wring every drop of potential from your body in the time you have available to train. YOU'LL DISCOVER: The secrets governing the Working Triathlete Training Methodology. Strategies to scale training to fit your life. Key workouts designed to enhance speed, endurance and efficiency. Ways to leverage tools and technology to optimize your training. Those who learn how to do more in less time tend to lead more fulfilling lives. Most athletes are busy individuals who have aspirations at work, home and on the racecourse. Fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice speed to live a balanced and productive life! YOU WILL ALSO LEARN HOW TO: Structure a training cycle for enhanced consistency and performance. Manipulate volume, frequency and intensity to maximize fitness in fewer hours. Approach your genetic potential in triathlon while staying sane, married and employed. A DIVORCE IS NOT A PREREQUISITE TO QUALIFYING FOR KONA! |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: IronFit Strength Training and Nutrition for Endurance Athletes Don Fink, Melanie Fink, 2013-01-01 Fully illustrated with depictions of proper exercise technique, this book contains exciting strength training programs based on sport (e.g., triathlon, running, cycling, swimming) and levels from beginner to advanced. For the marathon runner, triathlete, duathlete, distance swimmer, or cyclist, these programs will complement any other training regimen an athlete follows. Written without confusing jargon, IronFit® Stregth Training… provides concise and easy-to-follow information. Don and Melanie Fink of IronFit® have coached hundreds of athletes over several decades at all levels, from weekend warriors to world champions. Their innovative approaches to strength training and nutrition not only complement an athlete’s sport-specific training, but they do so in the most time-efficient and enjoyable way possible. Multi-sport and multi-leveled, this book provides 27 specific program schedules – 9 sports and 3 levels each to give readers: 1) A progressive strength and core training program for their specific sport and level. 2) A mind and body preparation program to maximize benefits. 3) A traveling strength and core program for travel with little or no equipment. 4) A fueling and hydration routine to maximize performance before, during, and after competition. 5) A healthy eating and lifestyle plan. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Training Plans for Multisport Athletes Gale Bernhardt, 2000 Offers multisport athletes advice on how to understand the science of training and effectively self-train, providing sample training plans for different levels of multisport events, specific workouts for each type of plan, ratings for exertion levels, and generic training plans that can be used for all ability levels. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The Cool Impossible Eric Orton, 2014-05-06 Featured in the book Born to Run, running coach Eric Orton offers a guide for every runner... Natural running is more than barefoot running. It’s about the joy of running that we were all born with and can reawaken. With a program focused on proper form, strength development, and cardiovascular training, Orton will help beginners, competitors, and enduring veterans reach “the cool impossible”—the belief that any achievement, athletic or otherwise, is within our reach. Inside you’ll find: * Foot strength exercises for runners to catapult performance, combat injuries, and transform technique * A total-body-strength program designed for runners * Step-by-step run-form coaching for performance and lifelong healthy running * A training program for building endurance, strength, and speed * No-nonsense nutrition for runners * Visualization and mind-training tactics to run and live the Cool Impossible * And much more… ATHLETICISM IS AWARENESS—awareness of form and technique, awareness of our effort level, and, most important, awareness of what we think. And with that awareness comes the endless potential for mastery and achievement beyond anything you thought possible. INCLUDES PHOTOS |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Ride Inside Joe Friel, 2020-10-06 From bad weather to business travel to traffic safety, there are dozens of reasons why cyclists and triathletes take their rides inside. Although indoor cycling workouts offer the ultimate control over workout conditions, most inside riders don’t get the most out of their trainers or spin bikes. RIDE INSIDE offers cyclists and triathletes a smart guide to getting more fitness from every indoor cycling workout. From the world’s most experienced personal cycling coach, Joe Friel, RIDE INSIDE reveals all the unique aspects of indoor riding: Mental aspects like motivation, focus, and enjoyment Changes in upper body stability, posture, and pedaling technique on a stationary bike Respiration, hydration, and cooling Inherent changes in power output Lower leg tension and eccentric loading from flywheel momentum Lower effort from lack of terrain changes, headwinds, and crosswinds Road-like feel Different shifting patterns All these differences of indoor riding add up to a big impact when the rubber hits the road. Drawing from the foundations of Friel’s classic training guides, The Cyclist’s Training Bible and The Triathlete’s Training Bible, RIDE INSIDE shows how to apply smart and proven training concepts to indoor cycling. Riders will get expert guidance on the best ways to set up a trainer or smart trainer, how to modify outdoor workouts for indoor cycling, how to better monitor power and RPE, and how to use social online training platforms like Zwift to make training better and not worse. Most critically, RIDE INSIDE shows cyclists and triathletes how to do indoor cycling workouts that actually meet their training goals instead of compromising. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Triathlon Sam Murphy, 2009 The definitive guide to the swimming, cycling and running event. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: IronFit Secrets for Half Iron-Distance Triathlon Success Don Fink, Melanie Fink, 2013-12-23 Why is the Half Iron-Distance the most popular triathlon distance? Because it is the perfect length for busy athletes with demanding career and family responsibilities. Full Iron-Distance races require such painstaking planning and sacrifice that it’s difficult to keep life in balance. The Half Iron-Distance is accessible, while remaining challenging. Also known as the “70.3” for the sum of its 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run, the half-iron triathlon is not simply a race for which an athlete can use a full-iron training regimen chopped in half. Doing so would in no way approach maximizing an athlete’s performance. The races are performed at completely different intensity levels, with completely different approaches. As a result, the training is completely different. IronFit Secrets to Half Iron-Distance Triathlon Success does for the half-iron what Be IronFit has done for the full-iron. It provides three sixteen-week training programs—Competitive, Intermediate, and “Just Finish”—and details everything an athlete needs to know to successfully prepare for and maximize performance at this racing distance. In as little as four months, any athlete can be physically and mentally ready for the world’s most popular triathlon challenge. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Triathlon Workout Planner John Mora, 2006-01-18 Train smarter and get better results no matter how busy your lifestyle. Triathlon Workout Planner is like having your own personal support team to prioritize training, fit workouts into your schedule, and plan for long-term racing success. By choosing the right workout at the right time, you can actually improve efficiency, technique, and overall fitness level in less time with these invaluable tools: -Three or four key workouts that serve as the core of your weekly training schedule -The 80/20 rule, which focuses on the 20% of training that gets 80% of the results -Workout choices based on available time and target heart rate for customized training -Eight weeks of log pages to gauge progress and make weekly adjustments, helping you stay on track and stay injury free -Racing plans for every distance—from sprint to Ironman Take control of your training and your schedule with Triathlon Workout Planner. Train more efficiently and effectively for better performance on and off the race course! |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Complete Triathlon Guide USA Triathlon, 2012-04-24 Triathletes, rejoice! For the first time, USA Triathlon, its elite athletes, and the nation’s most respected coaches share their secrets, strategies, and advice for every stage, every event, and every aspect of the world’s most demanding sport. From training to technique, fueling to recovery, if it’s essential to the sport, it is covered in Complete Triathlon Guide. In this guide, you’ll find invaluable bike-handling techniques straight from the pros, learn how to assess running form and improve running cadence and stride, troubleshoot your freestyle swim stroke, and shave seconds off starts and transitions. And you’ll go inside the sport for expert instruction and personal insights from triathlon’s biggest names: Joe Friel Gordon Byrn Bob Seebohar Sage Rountree Ian Murray Sara McLarty Linda Cleveland George Dallam Steve Tarpinian Krista Austin Iñigo Mujika Alicia Kendig Barb Lindquist Christine Palmquist Graham Wilson Jackie Dowdeswell Jess Manning Joe Umphenour Karl Riecken Katie Baker Kristen Dieffenbach Kurt Perham Mathew Wilson Michael Kellmann Mike Ricci Scott Schnitzspahn Sergio Borges Sharone Aharon Suzanne M. Atkinson Timothy Carlson Yann Le Meur With Complete Triathlon Guide you’ll enhance your training regimen with the most effective workouts, including stage-specific programs for swimming, cycling, and running; programs for strength, flexibility, and endurance; tactics that address individual weaknesses; and advice on tapering to ensure you’re in peak physical condition on race day. From the latest on equipment and technology to preventing injuries and dehydration, this guide has you covered. Whether you’re gearing up for your first race or you’re a hard-core competitor looking to stay ahead of the pack, Complete Triathlon Guide is the one book you should not be without. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: On Pace Matt Fitzgerald, 2022-08-05 Bestselling author and coach Matt Fitzgerald explains how to train for and execute a perfect race. Master the art of pacing and run your next 5K, 10K, half-marathon, or marathon at your real limit. Every runner knows pacing is critical. It can be the difference between a breakthrough workout and a backbreaker, between a PR and a DNF. In On Pace, acclaimed running coach Matt Fitzgerald reveals how conventional training and device overdependence keep runners from accessing the full power of pacing. With a mix of fascinating science and compelling stories from every corner of the sport, Fitzgerald shows that pacing is the art of finding your limit—running at a pace to finish the workout or cross the finish line completely out of gas. This quintessential running skill unlocks hidden potential and transforms the sport, enabling runners of all experience and ability levels to run free. Training plans for 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon events will hone your pacing skill through improved body awareness, judgment, and toughness. Choose from four plans, novice to expert, for each race distance. On Pace equips you mentally and physically to become a better runner, capable of knowing and executing your best effort on any given day. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Advanced Marathoning Pete Pfitzinger, Scott Douglas, 2008-12-19 Shave minutes off your time using the latest in science-based training for serious runners. Advanced Marathoning has all the information you need to train smarter, remain injury free, and arrive on the start line ready to run the marathon of your life. Including marathon-pace runs and tempo runs, Advanced Marathoning provides only the most effective methods of training. You'll learn how to complement your running workouts with strength, core, flexibility, and form training; implement cutting-edge nutrition and hydration strategies and recovery techniques; and taper properly to reach peak performance. With easy-to-understand day-by-day training schedules for 18- and 12-week preparation for weekly distances of 55, 55 to 70, 70 to 85, and 85-plus miles, Advanced Marathoning is simply the most comprehensive and efficient approach to marathoning. If you're ready to achieve your personal best, this book is for you. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The Rider Tim Krabb�, Tim Krabbe, 2003-06-12 The classic bicycle road racing book first published in 1978 chronicles a 150-kilometer European road race and its competitors in vivid, realistic detail. Reprint. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The 9-Mile Marathon M Marlies N Kort, 2018-04-25 In the RUNNING society most people will tell you what 9-MILERS are doing is IMPOSSIBLE. Running solid marathons without those endless long and slow 18+ mile training runs. Yet it's happening EVERY DAY! 9-Milers are the REBELS. The 'Crazy Ones'. The round pegs in the square holes. They're NOT fond of the traditional running rules. 9-Milers CHANGE things. They PUSH things FORWARD. You can't ignore them. 9-MILERS want to HAVING IT ALL. Living a busy LIFE with work, FAMILY and friends, AND enjoy the THRILL of running marathons at THE BIG EVENTS. Feeling GREAT. POWERFUL. Finish STRONG. FIT. Maybe even FASTER than they EVER thought POSSIBLE. Author and founder of 9MILER4LIFE Marlies Kort, 2h47 marathon finisher and Ironman 70.3 World Champion F40-44, doesn't want to CHANGE the way you're training today. With The 9-Mile Marathon Training System Marlies Kort wants to replace it with something TOTALLY NEW; training, running and 'living' The 9-Miler Way. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The 12 Week Triathlete, 2nd Edition-Revised and Updated Tom Holland, 2011-03 Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned triathlete, training for a Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman, or Ironman event, this book offers a complete, step-by-step program that will help you strengthen, tone-up, and both physically and mentally prepare for the |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The World Book Encyclopedia , 2002 An encyclopedia designed especially to meet the needs of elementary, junior high, and senior high school students. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: 25 Hours a Day Bare Nick, 2020 You have big dreams that fire you up, and yet a fear of failure is holding you back. You see the success others have achieved and doubt you could ever do what they've done. You tell yourself you lack the smarts, skills, or leadership capabilities to live out your dream, but the truth is, there's a massive gap between what you think you can do and w. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Marathon Hal Higdon, 2005-09-03 Features instructions for runners of all ability levels on preparing for a marathon, including training schedules, advice on diet, defensive running strategies, and tips for staying motivated. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Triathlon Science Joe Friel, 2013 The ultimate nexus of knowledge and performance--Cover. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Racing Weight Matt Fitzgerald, 2012-12-01 Racing Weight is a proven weight-management program designed specifically for endurance athletes. Revealing new research and drawing from the best practices of elite athletes, coach and nutritionist Matt Fitzgerald lays out six easy steps to help cyclists, triathletes, and runners lose weight without harming their training. This comprehensive and science-based program shows athletes the best ways to lose weight and avoid the common lifestyle and training hang-ups that keep new PRs out of reach. The updated Racing Weight program helps athletes: Improve diet quality Manage appetite Balance energy sources Easily monitor weight and performance Time nutrition throughout the day Train to getand staylean Racing Weight offers practical tools to make weight management easy. Fitzgerald’s no-nonsense Diet Quality Score improves diet without counting calories. Racing Weight superfoods are diet foods high in the nutrients athletes need for training. Supplemental strength training workouts can accelerate changes in body composition. Daily food diaries from 18 pro athletes reveal how the elites maintain an athletic diet while managing appetite. Athletes know that every extra pound wastes energy and hurts performance. With Racing Weight, cyclists, triathletes, and runners have a simple program and practical tools to hit their target numbers on both the race course and the scale. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: 28 by Sam Wood Sam Wood, 2017-04-18 CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR SHAPE, CHANGE YOUR LIFE 28 By Sam Wood combines quick, simple, delicious meals with a daily 28 minute exercise program. In just a year of the program, personal trainer and The Bachelor favourite Sam Wood and his team have transformed more than 100,000 people's lives. Now, for the first time, the best of 28 by Sam Wood has been brought together in a book. Including 100 of Sam and nutritionist Steph Lowe's popular recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. All based on their philosophy that we should turn the healthy food pyramid upside down - and prioritise real food with as little human interference as possible. Alongside satisfying, achievable recipes for every time of the day, 28 By Sam Wood includes a monthly meal planner, a regime of tough but achievable exercises for every level, and advice on taking control of your weight, your health and your life today. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The Time-Crunched Cyclist Chris Carmichael, Jim Rutberg, 2017-03-07 The Time-Crunched Cyclist reveals the fastest way to get fit for road racing, century rides, gravel grinders, cyclocross, Gran Fondos, and mountain bike events. With elite cycling coach Chris Carmichael’s innovative, time-saving approach, busy cyclists will develop fitness, speed, and power in just 6 hours a week. Now powered by Strava, this updated third edition of The Time-Crunched Cyclist training program taps into the most popular cycling social network to help cyclists get fired up to crush their workouts, one segment at a time. Through his popular endurance coaching service, Carmichael noticed that many busy cyclists are unable to make performance gains using conventional training methods; they simply don’t have enough time to train. So CTS developed a new approachthe Time-Crunched Training Programto help cyclists achieve competitive fitness and power without the impossible time demands of traditional training methods. The Time-Crunched Cyclist shows cyclists how to build fitness on a realistic schedule by tapping the power of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. Cyclists learn the science behind this alternative approach to training before performing the CTS field tests to get a baseline reading of their fitness. Nine comprehensive training plans include effective time-crunched workouts, nutrition guidelines, and strength training to develop the speed and endurance for a wide variety of cycling races and events. The new Time-Crunched Training Plans cover: New and Experienced plans for criteriums, road races, and cyclocross New, Experienced, and Competitive plans for century rides and Gran Fondos Gravel racing and ultraendurance mountain biking plans Intermediate and Advanced plans for commuters This new, third edition integrates Strava, the popular ride tracking and analysis program. Powered by Strava, the Time-Crunched program becomes interactive, social, highly motivatingand focuses riders on the training data that matters most. It also adds the Time-Crunched Diet, a sports nutrition approach designed to help riders optimize their power-to-weight ratio with new guidelines on eating behaviors and delicious recipes from chefs Michael Chiarello and Matt Accarrino. A new chapter on hydration and managing heat stress will show athletes simple ways to avoid overheating that lead to better performance. The Time-Crunched Cyclist can help you capture your best performanceall in the time you have right now. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The Triathlete Guide to Sprint & Olympic Triathlon Racing Chris Foster, Ryan Bolton, 2020-04-07 The Triathlete Guide to Sprint and Olympic Triathlon Racing will help you discover the speed, thrill, and challenge of triathlon’s most popular race distances. Not everyone has time to train for long-course triathlons. By pursuing triathlon’s shorter distances, you can enjoy all the total body fitness benefits of the swim-bike-run sport and discover the unique challenges of short-course racingall while enjoying a life outside of training. This complete guide from former pro triathletes Chris Foster and coach Ryan Bolton shares all the know-how you need to find speed and enjoy successful racing in sprint and Olympic-distance triathlons. Foster, now the Senior Editor of Triathlete magazine, shares his pro advice for how to set a smart race strategy, how to master triathlon pacing, how to execute fast transitions, how to train to improve your weakness and race to your strengths. Bolton offers smart, effective sprint and Olympic triathlon training plans so you can get started right away, no matter your background. Sprint and Olympic triathlons are triathlon’s most popular distances for good reasons. Experienced triathletes returning to the short course will enjoy a break from long, slow hours of training and rediscover the joy of speed. Active people looking for a new challenge can jump right into triathlon’s most beginner-friendly distances. The Triathlete Guide to Sprint and Olympic Triathlon Racing makes it simple to get back up to speed in the world’s most rewarding endurance sport. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: The Well-Built Triathlete Matt Dixon, 2014-05-29 In The Well-Built Triathlete, elite triathlon coach Matt Dixon reveals the approach he has used to turn age-group triathletes into elite professionals. Instead of focusing narrowly on training and workouts, Dixon reveals a more comprehensive approach that considers the whole athlete. Dixon details the four pillars of performance that form the foundation of his highly successful purplepatch fitness program, showing triathletes of all abilities how they can become well-built triathletes and perform better year after year. The Well-Built Triathlete gives equal weight to training and workouts, recovery and rest, daily nutrition, and functional strength. Dixon considers the demands of career and family and the ways different personality types prefer to approach training. The Well-Built Triathlete helps triathletes apply Dixon’s approach to their season and training plan. Chapters on swimming, cycling, and running explain the most effective ways to train for each. A purplepatch section shows how triathletes can peak their fitness for long streaks of high performance. Dixon’s holistic, whole-body approach to triathlon will help triathletes become greater than the sum of their workouts. By becoming better all-around athletes, well-built triathletes will train and race faster than ever. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Triathlon for the Every Woman Meredith Atwood, 2019-03-12 You Are a Badass for aspiring triathletes: a practical and inspiring guide to getting off the couch and on the trail to race your first -- or 50th -- triathlon When Meredith Atwood first shared her journey from tired, overworked wife and mom to successful triathlete, her story resonated with women everywhere, online at her SwimBikeMom blog and in the first edition of Triathlon for the Every Woman. Now with her own IRONMAN finishes, experience, and triathlon coaching expertise, Meredith is back with even more wisdom. In this fully revised edition, Atwood not only shares how she went from the couch to an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in just over a year, but also shares the latest expertise from coaches, nutritionists, and athletes on each component of the triathlon: swimming, biking, and running. With compact training plans, the most current nutrition advice, updated resources, and the latest information on long-distance racing, this new edition has all you need to make your triathlon goals a reality. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Once a Runner John L. Parker, 2009-04-07 The undisputed classic of running novels and one of the most beloved sports books ever published, Once a Runner tells the story of an athlete’s dreams amid the turmoil of the 60s and the Vietnam war. Inspired by the author’s experience as a collegiate champion, the novel follows Quenton Cassidy, a competitive runner at fictional Southeastern University whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. He is less than a second away when the turmoil of the Vietnam War era intrudes into the staid recesses of his school’s athletic department. After he becomes involved in an athletes’ protest, Cassidy is suspended from his track team. Under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, Bruce Denton, a graduate student and former Olympic gold medalist, Cassidy gives up his scholarship, his girlfriend, and possibly his future to withdraw to a monastic retreat in the countryside and begin training for the race of his life against the greatest miler in history. A rare insider’s account of the incredibly intense lives of elite distance runners, Once a Runner is an inspiring, funny, and spot-on tale of one individual’s quest to become a champion. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: Training Essentials for Ultrarunning Jason Koop, 2016-05-01 When elite ultrarunners have a need for speed, they turn to coach Jason Koop. Now the sport’s leading coach makes his highly effective ultramarathon training methods available to ultrarunners of all abilities in his book Training Essentials for Ultrarunning. Ultramarathoners have traditionally piled on the miles or tried an approach that worked for a friend. Yet ultramarathons are not just longer marathons; simply running more will not prepare you for the race experience you want. Ultramarathon requires a new and specific approach to training. Training Essentials for Ultrarunning will revolutionize training for those who want to race an ultramarathon instead of just gutting it out to the finish line. Koop's race-proven ultramarathon program is based on sound science, the most current research, and years of experience coaching the sport’s star runners to podium performances. Packed with practical advice and vetted training methods, Training Essentials for Ultrarunning is the new, must-have resource for first-timers and ultramarathon veterans. Runners using Training Essentials for Ultrarunning will gain much more than Koop’s training approach: · The science behind ultramarathon performance. · Common ultramarathon failure points and how to solve them. · How to use interval training to focus workouts, make gains, reduce injuries, and race faster. · Simple, effective fueling and hydration strategies. · Koop’s A.D.A.P.T. method for making the right decisions to solve a race-day crisis. · How to plan your ultra season for better racing. · Course-by-course coaching guides to iconic U.S. ultramarathons including American River 50, Badwater 135, Hardrock 100, Javelina 100, JFK 50, Lake Sonoma 50, Leadville 100, Vermont 100, Wasatch 100, and Western States 100. · How to achieve your goal, whether it’s finishing or winning. A revolution is coming to ultrarunning as ultramarathoners shed old habits and embrace the smarter methods that science and experience show are better. Featuring stories and advice from ultrarunning stars Dakota Jones, Kaci Lickteig, Dylan Bowman, Timothy Olson, and others who work with Koop, Training Essentials for Ultrarunning is the go-to guide for first-time ultrarunners and competitive ultramarathoners. |
| 20 week triathlon training plan: GRE Prep by Magoosh Magoosh, Chris Lele, Mike McGarry, 2016-12-07 Magoosh gives students everything they need to make studying a breeze. We've branched out from our online GRE prep program and free apps to bring you this GRE prep book. We know sometimes you don't have easy access to the Internet--or maybe you just like scribbling your notes in the margins of a page! Whatever your reason for picking up this book, we're thrilled to take this ride together. In these pages you'll find: --Tons of tips, FAQs, and GRE strategies to get you ready for the big test. --More than 130 verbal and quantitative practice questions with thorough explanations. --Stats for each practice question, including its difficulty rating and the percent of students who typically answer it correctly. We want you to know exactly how tough GRE questions tend to be so you'll know what to expect on test day. --A full-length practice test with an answer key and detailed explanations. --Multiple practice prompts for the analytical writing assessment section, with tips on how to grade each of your essays. If you're not already familiar with Magoosh online, here's what you need to know: --Our materials are top-notch--we've designed each of our practice questions based on careful analysis of millions of students' answers. --We really want to see you do your best. That's why we offer a score improvement guarantee to students who use the online premium Magoosh program. --20% of our students earn a top 10% score on the GRE. --Magoosh students score on average 12 points higher on the test than all other GRE takers. --We've helped more than 1.5 million students prepare for standardized tests online and with our mobile apps. So crack open this book, join us online at magoosh.com, and let's get you ready to rock the GRE! |
URL encoding the space character: + or %20? - Stack Overflow
Jun 6, 2014 · As the aforementioned RFC does not include any reference of encoding spaces as +, I guess using %20 is the way to go today. For example, "%20" is the percent-encoding for …
NVM installation error on Windows. Cannot find the npm file
Jan 8, 2025 · I searched and found that versions 23.10.0 and 16.20.2 are present in the folders of the same name C:\Users\KS\AppData\Local\nvm. By analogy, I created a folder v0.12.2 and …
OpenSSL Verify return code: 20 (unable to get local issuer certificate)
Jul 18, 2012 · I am running Windows Vista and am attempting to connect via https to upload a file in a multi part form but I am having some trouble with the local issuer certificate. I am just …
How to fix "SyntaxWarning: invalid escape sequence" in Python?
Commented Mar 20, 2021 at 21:11 2 @HaPsantran, r'{}'.format(my_variable) and '{}'.format(my_variable) are exactly the same thing; the difference between them accomplishes …
How to use C++ 20 in g++ - Stack Overflow
Apr 6, 2021 · g++-10 -std=c++20 main.cpp PS: if you want to go with v10 as default, then update links for gcc , g++ and other related ones, and use v9 (or whatever old you have) by full name. …
SQL Server® 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022 Express full download
Jan 25, 2017 · Microsoft added the possibility of downloading media in version 2022 directly to the installer:. If you need an older version and can't apply Juki's answer, you can use Fiddler to …
Connecting to localhost:8080 using Google Chrome
Jun 11, 2015 · I'm currently developing a card game using node.js and gulp, and suddendly Chrome stopped to find localhost:8080. After some research, some people had the same …
How to find server name of SQL Server Management Studio
Apr 18, 2013 · I installed Microsoft SQL Server 2008. When I start SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), I get the Connect to Server login window with a blank textbox for Server name.
How to fix SQL Server 2019 connection error due to certificate issue
Dec 17, 2021 · To improve the answer, let me sum up the comments: While setting TrustServerCertificate=True or Encrypt=false in the connection string is a quick fix, the …
python - Importing Matplotlib - Stack Overflow
Jan 31, 2017 · I am new to Python and I am learning matplotlib. I am following the video tutorial recommended in the official User Manual of matplotlib: 'Plotting with matplotlib' by Mike Muller.
