5 comments about The Fit Swimmer : 120 Workouts & Training Tips.

1. A good book for intermediate swimmers but offers little technique or help for people just starting out in the sport.



2. Swimming is one of those curious beasts of the American athetic sports scene: vast multitudes participate (recreational, summer, competitive, etc.), but very few really know how to improve. As in other sports, many parents wind up coaching as their children get involved in swimming as there are too few coaches available. There is much to learn! Stroke technique, using the clock, training the aerobic and non-aerobic energy systems, how to author and conduct a productive and interesting workout, etc.

   To those who might feel intimidated by all this, this book brings help in the form of workout structure. The workouts range from basic beginner to advanced workouts for accomplished swimmers. I have used Marianne's book to keep my workouts (as an age-group coach and Master's swimmer) interesting and my swimmers are always eager to swim.

   I highly recommend this book for coaches and swimmers who are self-coached.




3. Like many triathletes I had a bit of swimming in my background when I started racing, but certainly not enough to be competitive. I occasionally swam with organized groups but my consultant travel schedule made sure that was infrequent. I got a copy of The Fit Swimmer, read it cover to cover and made up about a dozen workouts from the suggested routines. The section on open water racing was particularly valuable. While training diligence was definitely part of it, this book was the #1 resource for me in competitively placing in events ranging from local races to National and Ironman distances. Ms. Brems meets 2 imperatives: she explains things simply and she gives you the tools you need to progress from a relative novice to a competitive swimmer. Like a craftsman and apprentice, she leaves it up to the reader to figure out how to best use the extensive toolset in the book. I found that creating about a dozen workouts on 3x5 cards from her suggested routines and rotating them did the trick (store them in a ziploc bag for use poolside). You can experiment with different routines to test how your body responds. I now coach people on an occasional basis, and strongly encourage each of them to read the book before we start.



4. This book has really helped me improve and vary my workouts and make the masters swim class I teach more interesting.



5. This book is just about everything you will need if you are looking for swimming workouts. It takes you right from the very basics to advanced workouts. It also helps you correct swimming positions. I've already decreased my free style lap time just by making little adjustments. Simply Great!

5 comments about Hawaii The Big Island Trailblazer: Where to hike, snorkel, surf, bike, drive.

1. Lots of detailed info, good maps, great pics, best directions and extremely well laid out for picking out all the cool places everywhere on the island. We lucked out and got to see lava flowing down the mountain near the volcano. For driving directions and staying out of danger, it's full of dos and don'ts.
   
   This was this best thing we took with us on our honeymoon. It's so well organized and we used it as a tool to plan our daily escapades. I highly recommend this book for travelers who haven't been before and are looking for ideas and advice from authors who tell it like it is.



2. YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK. We have traveled to the big island many times, but still have not discovered or seen everything. This book reaches beyond of the general guide books and one of the other more popular reads about the island. Great for those who are into hiking and especailly for driving tours. Snorkelers will like some of the off the beaten path places to go.



3. Great book, I bought it after having figured out which islands to visit using the book by the same authors, no worries Hawaii, which is a must buy if you don't know where to go and what you want to do. Following input from the first book we picked 1 day Honlolu, 5 days big Island and 9 days Kauai.
   The big island trailblazer is unique in that the information on trailheads and how to find them is really really accurate, if you have to follow a dirt road for 2 miles and then stop next to a hidden bridge then that information is there. You rarely spend hours searching for stuff, the detail on where to look for something once you get to the end of the trail is less good, but that is because in the islands appear not to go in for signposts in a big way, so we were often looking at something and wondering whether or not this is it. Best ofs were generally good, didn't understand focus on Hilo, we went there on a Sunday and it felt like a run down sad little town, but maybe on a weekday there is a different vibe. The only negative is that restaurants mentioned a little more information on them to help you chose would help unless you like the sticky table-top ketchup bottle and drip coffee atmosphere and generic grub, this is fine if it is what you want, but you don't need a guidebook to discover such places, of course to be fair the book doesn't target the foodie population nevertheless a little more selectivity would help though or just a little more text on the restaurants. From personal experience if you are staying in Kapaa on Big Island try the restaurant Rapanui, a small hole in the wall joint run by a saturnine chef from New Zealand and his partner, its location is not attractive (in a mall when you enter Kapaa on the coastal road from the north on the left after the bend in the first mall), and it is BYOB but the food is really, really well cooked, from a European stand point, fresh, flavourful, beef melts in your mouth, rice/coconut nuttily satisfying, great, cooked but crunchy veggies, freshly made sauces, not a bottle or deep fryer in sight. Another great place to eat is Jays on the road towards southpoint, before the turn-off to Puuhoonuau (I forget the spelling) national park, two step snorkeling and the painted church from Kappaa, it is described in the guidebook, really spectacular and don't be put off by the appearance of the kitchen/living area. Oh and for sandwiches, a satisfying stop is Choicemart on the Highway 19 approximately in the area of the Manago Hotel, Choicemart is on the left, there is a great Vegan Cafe next to Choicemart and the sandwiches sold there and in Choicemart are spectacular. The locals recommend Choicemarts plate lunch especially on Lau Lau Friday. We tried to get it on Sat and it was all sold out. And the snorkeling at two step was the best we had on the island. Ok after all that digressing: if it is culture/food you are after then you need an additional book or to do some food research ahead of time online, for hiking, biking, walking and general reliable information then the trailblazer is a great book. Another option is to get the No worries Hawaii that has almost all information on all islands best ofs etc and then supplement that with a more foodie cultural guide for the islands depending on what you want. We did this for Kauai, although Fodors Kauai while better on culture etc really did badly for hiking and trails and was way less reliable than the Sprouts books.



4. Two years ago we took a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. Unfortunately we were in port too short a time and only went on a few packaged bus tours. We returned to the island we liked the best (the Big Island) last month and fortunately had the Trailblazer along as our prime guide. We hiked to and swam in the Blue Lagoon which is on the cover: the highpoint of our vacation.
   
   In the back of the book are hotel and restaurant suggestions from which we made our reservations and were quite pleased. For accuracy and good practical advice it's right on target.



5. This guide gave our vacation itinerary a real boost. It has wonderful timeless images of places and people which simply exude calm, chill, beach culture latitude attitudes.
   
   Photography is top notch and the information is partioned into sections so you can chew off each piece to explore at your leisure depending on how much time you've allowed for your vacation. Trailblazers do it good.

5 comments about Diver Down.

1. One of the best diving books I have read. Makes you re-think how you dive.



2. I think among divers it is generally known, that the majority of dive accidents could easily have been prevented with better planning or better reactions to occuring problems.
   Newer divers, and even some experienced ones, however lack certain experiences, that make dives safe while still being enjoyable.
   This book gets you thinking...
   I myself came away from reading it with one or two things that I will do differently in the future...
   I can recommend this book to any diver.



3. Diver Down is an easy to read book that appeals to all divers, expert or novice. The book focuses on mistakes made by divers at all experience, levels which in some cases cost them their lives. Reading this book will enable you to learn valuable lessons without making the same mistakes these unfortunate divers made.



4. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. As someone looking to get recertified in scuba, I learned a great deal on how NOT to be a statistic.



5. Scuba Diving magazine has run all of these stories. Was hoping for something I had not seen before. Did not research this before I bought it, did not realize it was just same stories. If you read Scuba Diving magazine, Lessons for Life you don't need this book unless you are looking to have them at your fingertips in one volume. Wish I had not spent the money on this.

No comments about Complete Conditioning for Swimming.

5 comments about The Swimming Drill Book.

1. it's really useful and well designed, with very clear images...
   you need it to improve your swimming technique...



2. This book is quite good for a review of the majority of strokes - great help to coaches and swimmers. It cover's about 90% of all the drills I have ever seen in my swimming lifetime.



3. The Swimming Drill Book
   This book is well written and illustrated. There are easy to practise drills wich state 1) the purpose of the drill, 2) the procedure to follow and 3) the focus points to concentrate on to achieve body position. The author has covered the four swimming strokes, the starts, turns and finishes in an easy to cognitively assimulate style of writing. Overall if you wish to improve your swimming strokes the practise drills in this book will aid your endevours, all you need is to practise, practise and then practise.



4. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK TO ASSIST THE BEGINNER TO ADVANCED SWIMMER. FANTASTIC FOR THE SWIM TEAM STUDENT TRYING TO IMPROVE STROKE PERFORMANCE.



5. I purchased this book thinking it would help me with my adult learn-to-swim classes. It did in a round about way. I would purchase this book only if your into drill swimming and need help with the basics.

4 comments about How to Teach Your Baby to Swim: From Birth to Age Six.

1. We started using this programme with our two year old, but it would be much better put into practise with a newborn. It is much slower going at this age, though the lessons and ideas are still working. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who is expecting or who has a new baby. The programme is simple, easy, and fun. Before your baby can walk or talk, he will be swimming. You can't ask for better than that.



2. This is an excellent, precise book about introducing your baby and young child to the joys and wonderful benefits of mobility in the water.
   
   There are other books out there but this is by far the best I've read on the subject. I really enjoyed the MANY clear and descriptive pictures showing you the exact form of what is being described.
   
   It is more thorough than any other book I've read. They take you step by step, year by year, all the way from the time your child is one day old up until their sixth birthday. They teach you how to help you baby swim under water, dive, blow bubbles, climb out of the pool, float on their back, and more, while thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. By the time they are six they will be able to swim in numerous yards using a perfect crawl stroke. It is anything BUT stressful but rather fun and productive.
   
   Just hearing of even one child who has drowned or nearly drowned (and is now brain damaged for the rest of his life) is reason enough for every parent to be serious about teaching their young child to swim. The gift is yours to give. This book will show you how to do so in a fun, easy, beneficial, and productive way.
   
   I would enthusiastically recommend it to any parent who has a child under six and would like to give them the beautiful, priceless gift of water safety, enjoyment, increased brain growth and function, and superb physical fitness.



3. this book is only good if you started teaching your baby to swim when he was a newborn and it doesn't give many different choices. had some helpful tips, but overall I think I'll buy another one. my recommendation...skip it



4. The program is tedious and impractical. Tells you that you are better off with a Japanese tub to practice in, and requires lot of practice from you and baby on daily basis. There are other fun and simple programs out there that would teach your baby to swim, float, turn and breathe out of water and this is definitely not the one with a simple solution.

5 comments about Workouts in a Binder: Swim Workouts for Triathletes.

1. The workouts in this book are very helpful (especially if you have any other books by Gale, these workouts fit right into her training plans). I especially love how waterproof the book is and that it easily props up by itself. This makes it very convenient to prop it up and the end of the lane, and just go!



2. This book has saved me from the monotony of swimming laps. Having "something to do" while at the pool has given me extra motivation and feelings of success. The workouts are just the right length (I can choose the shorter versions if I need to finish in under an hour). I swim in the pool to train for open water triathlons and this book does more than prepare me to get me there. I use it 2-3 times a week. It is WELL worth having!



3. This book is a great addition to my training library. Not only does it have great workouts, the waterproof pages are awesome. You can take it to the pool and not worry about it being ruined by water. You can just throw it on the side of the pool and go. The workouts are easy to use and are very challenging. Probably the only complaint about the book is if the pages get wet and you don't dry them off completely before throwing it into your workout bag, they stay wet. But overall, great purchase!



4. I like this book for the sheer reason that when I swim longer workouts, I tend to forget how many yards/meters I have done after I get out of the pool. By having this poolside, I can do the various workouts and then know the total distance covered. The variety of workouts is practically endless and the book is holding up fine. It sure beats just swimming lap after lap at the same pace. I tried a lap counter that you wear on your finger and that is okay for grinding out 1500 meter swims, but if you are doing a mix of speed and endurance, the binder works better for me.



5. These workouts are very much like what you would see a swim team doing day in and day out. The book is for swimmers looking to push themselves to a higher level in terms of endurance and speed and does not address strokes. It presumes that you already swim about a mile a day, so there is no plan for building up except maybe by segmenting the workouts. There is some ramp up time to learn the coding associated with each workout, but everything is explained in the intro section. The title says it all.

5 comments about The Ultimate Guide To Weight Training For Swimming (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming) (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming) (Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming).

1. Every swimmer knows that strength and conditioning is everything. The stronger and better conditioned you are, the better swimmer you will be. That's why i bought this book, and it did exactly that. It improves your strength, conditioning, stamina, and endurance, and reduces injuries too. The weight training programs in this book hit the nail right on the head for what I was looking for - a swimming specific workout.



2. I found that this book increased my speed, strength, and endurance. Often times, by increasing strenght, swimmers lose efficiency in their strokes. I found that this book did a great job increasing stroke power, while reiterating the need to maintain stroke efficiency. A GREAT BUY!



3. Of all the training books out there today, this is the only one i have seen that really speaks to the swimmer specifically! This is an invaluable resource for any swimmer or coach. I would recommend this to the novice swimmer or a pro. Two thumbs up!



4. This book is an excellent training guide for the swimmer at any level. I have been swimming for many years and after reading this book I have taken my skills to a higher level. I feel much stronger in the pool and my endurance has really increased. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to anyone who loves to swim.



5. I strongly recommend this book. I've been using it for just one month and I see the improvement in my swimming workouts!!

5 comments about Slow Fat Triathlete: Live Your Athletic Dreams in the Body You Have Now.

1. I enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to my friends. I'll be doing my first triatholon in a few months. It is a very good motivation and introductory book. I'm reading another book for more detailed information into the actual training.



2. Great book. Couldn't put it down- its not really a training book but a "calm your nerves, here is what it is really like" if you are slow, fat and want to be a triathlete. Of course, it works too if your not a slow fat triathlete as well.



3. I love this book!!! It's great for unsure beginners!! The author really helps you with even the smallest details you need to know. I was so afraid to enter the tri world b/c I thought it was so elite but the author made me realize that ANYONE can do it and so can you!! Buy this book if you are new to triathlons and unsure of yourself. You will feel like a winner even before you race!!



4. This is a solid book written for the tri newbie or anyone interested in learning more about the sport. Don't buy this book if you're looking for a training manual or trying to figure out what you need to do to get prepared for your first race. It's a solid book to kick you in the rear and lead you to that next step if you can get past all the cliches & attempts at humor. The Triathlete's Training Bible is a "must read" if you're serious about putting together a plan of attack.



5. I loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down. It offers inspiration to all of us who are fat and slow or just new to triathlon, and want to compete. I bought this one and Triathlon Training in 4 Hrs. a week. They go well together.

5 comments about Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier.

1. I really needed help with my swimming (freestyle/crawl); a guy at the pool who moved thru the water in a truly enviable way recommended it. I got it. I did the drills. I made the effort to understand the theory. I actually enjoy swimming now. I checked out a lot of books on swimming from my local libraries and none compare favorably to this one. The Total Immersion school of thought also surpassed everything I found in my online quest for info on how to improve my swimming.



2. This book and the video, Freestyle Made Easy, improved my swimming greatly. The key concept is to shift your effort from overpowering the water to streamlining your profile in the water. I don't have any quantitative measures for the improvement it made in my swimming, but I would guess it increased my speed 100%, plus it made swimming much more enjoyable. I took up swimming as a substitute for jogging, and was getting a sore right shoulder from my crawl (rotator cuff?). The Total Immersion technique alleviated that. And I still haven't finished the book. I am just an ordinary swimmer, taking the regular red cross swimming lessons as a little kid. I never swam competitively or trained seriously, unless you count doing the lessons in this book. I am also closing in on 60 years of age, and am very glad to have discovered this book.



3. The proof is in the water. Balance and proper physics are the replacement for going anaerobic by flailing your arms and legs. Learning how much bouyancy you own and how to "lengthen your boat," will relax you. And you will reduce you stroke count early on. The text and diagrams are clear and motivating to novice through elite swimmers.



4. This book will make you a better swimmer almost instantly after reading the first 100 pages. The content is easy to read and for almost all levels of swimmers.



5. Having seen excited reviews and high rating, I decided to buy the book as well. I found that this book does NOT make an exception from ALL those pretty much useless books which offer QUICK RESULTS with LESS EFFORT.
   Too many tirades about "wrong" way of traditional swimming, "revolutionary" methods presented in this book, etc. But in fact, the impression is created that you don't need to work hard but just do a few exercises in this book and you can outswim people with long experience. Exercises seemed quite useless and not that "revolutionary" as they promised to be.
   Overall, valuable information is too limited. I would suggest other materials, including DVDs of USA Swimming - Swim Fast series.