Book Information

Book ID Asin: 1936608618
Book Title: Power Speed Endurance: A Skill-Based Approach to Endurance Training
Book Author: Brian Mackenzie,Glen Cordoza
Book Format and Price:
Book Format Name: Kindle
Book Format Price: $9.99
Book Format Name: Paperback
Book Format Price: $39.95
Book Price: $39.95
Book Category: Books, Health, Fitness & Dieting, Exercise & Fitness and unknown
Book Rating: 376 ratings

Book Product Detail

• Best Sellers Rank: #384,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #499 in Weight Training (Books)
  • #627 in Sports Training (Books)
  • #81,441 in Children's Books

• Customer Reviews:
  4.4 out of 5 stars 376 ratings

Book Review

Name: smf
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: I wish this book existed when I first started training.
Date: Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 27, 2012
Review: I have a background in competitive bodybuilding and have been semi-retired since 2009. I'm a full time personal trainer and with that being said, I'm constantly on the lookout for new, educational material to help myself as well as my athletes/clients. While I'm not a Crossfit instructor, I enjoy learning about the CF philosophies and especially love reading and learning Brian Mackenzie's theories on running and endurance in general. I also enjoy watching Kelly Starrett's videos on MobilityWod.com. He's hilarious, quick to the point, and his information is always helpful. He shares his views in the mobility section, which is a highlight of the book.

11 months ago I took up running and over the summer I ran 3 different races; a 12K, a 5 miler, and a half marathon. Coming from a bodybuilding background, I had never been a runner or incorporated running into my routines even in short sprints or HIIT. I despised running and would avoid it at all costs. Something switched in me last year and my attention shifted to endurance training- and long runs/races. The problem I kept encountering was that I'd have one injury after another. First it was crippling shin splints (that I'm sure ultimately turned into stress fractures in both legs), then it was a tight IT Band and knotted up Vastus Lateralis muscle that wreaked havoc on my right knee and took me out of training for a few weeks. Then both knees started acting up... then minor pain in my achilles. Rest and ice helped, but when I was purposely training for an event, I found it difficult to sit still and take time off.

Brian Mackenzie's theories about doing less (running shorter distances) is difficult to wrap your mind around at first because the old school "way" is long runs scheduled throughout your week leading up to a race. The longs runs were difficult for me in the beginning, but I gradually built up my endurance and embraced the mental and physical challenges that the long runs provided me. 10-13 mile training runs were super important in preparing me for the psychological side of running, which was very alien to me. I'm planning to run a full marathon in June, and Mackenzie's principles will be at the forefront of my training. I'll definitely put more of a focus on my mobility, and strength training this time around and not beat myself up running so much.

I received this book last week, and have already read through it pretty thoroughly. I've also started implementing some of the ideas and strategies listed. Right now I'm working on my running form, which needs a lot of work. I can already tell the pages of the mobility section will be worn down and bookmarked in no time- it's invaluable information. I'm aiming to compete in a Triathlon in July, so the swimming and biking section will get dissected soon as well.

While I don't strictly follow a Paleo diet, I eat pretty close to it 90% of the time and find it a suitable way for me to eat. I don't consume bread, pasta or rice and I feel that my energy levels are perfectly fine while running. However, before a race I'll deviate a bit and have a piece of toast with jam and almond butter (this is rare for me), but it did seem to help with my energy levels, especially during the half-marathon. Eating in this way also helps me keep my body fat lower than if I were to consume a higher carb/grain diet. Brian Mackenzie is a proponent of the Paleo diet and he briefly describes it in the book.

All in all, this book is great! Fantastic photos, excellent explanations and advice, all you need to do is give it a shot and test the theories. I feel this book is appropriate for the novice as well as the seasoned athlete, and for the skeptics- you need to read and apply these principles probably more than anyone. Someone mentioned in another review that the form/exercise description on some of the strength training movements was sketchy (the deadlift, I believe). To this I'd say, check out multiple YouTube videos on powerlifting movements if you're unsure how to do them. Hire a personal trainer with a background in these type of lifts, or join a Crossfit class to make sure your form is correct and you stay safe. It's difficult to look at a picture and know how to properly execute a complicated movement like the Deadlift. But hey, don't take my word for it. Read, apply, and kick ass!

Name: Peter Quigg
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Assumption - you know what that gets!!
Date: Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 17, 2012
Review: Pre-statements for this:

I have been coaching endurance athletes for 10 years, mostly runners with a few triathletes thrown in. I attended USAT and USATF level one clinics many years ago. I have dozens of all-americans, conference champions, school records and NCAA trophy teams in XC and Track.

Pros:

1) The sections on recovery and tissue mobility are worth the price of the kindle book. Myofascial release is given little attention in standard running/endurance texts though it is very important to overall muscle health and function.

2) The form sections are complete, but please refer back to the title of the review. I'll address this later, but it's a solid review of the pose method. Dr. Romanov's books are available, so for further info consult those...

Cons:

1) The standard Crossfit assumption is how runners just do LSD, paying no attention to mobility/strength/coordination/flexibility, etc. It's that we repeat the same general pattern, distances and exercises from week to week without viewing a runner as a total athlete. It's flat out insulting - majorly insulting - to most running coaches. Part of a "new way" of training is the intonation that the "old way" was flawed and poor.

2) There is nothing new - not even remotely so - in this book. "The runners of tomorrow will be strong. The runners will develop themselves through lifting heavy weight and running sand and hills; anything for a heavy, sweating effort." Percy Cerutty (the legendary Australian coach) said this... In 1955!!!!!

3) Periodization is the idea that you structure training from the least specific to your target race to the most specific work for your target race in a way that gets you to the starting line prepared in the best possible way to succeed at your target race. CFE removes this process. The same basic rules apply that CFE takes as their "new and true". You need different components at different times of year. You can't perform the same exercises more than a few weeks in a row. The body will adapt and plateau if one thing is maintained for too long. BUT, the difference is that it is planned in periodization to get you to the starting line to perform your best.

4) The lifts provided form an excellent base of strength for an endurance athlete. There are more specific/functional strength exercises you can/should perform as you get closer to race day. Yes, they will keep up your ability to perform in everyday life while extending your capacity as an endurance athlete. It's all part of that periodization thing. These variations in training can and SHOULD be planned, but CFE makes them random.

5) POSE pisses me off a bit. It has good intention, but once again there's the assumption no one runs correctly to begin with. I teach all of my athletes to pull with their glutes and hamstrings, maintain their foot strike over their center of gravity and those who don't do it to begin with are sure able to do it by the end. We build the strength in the weight room and teach through every day drills. I don't have a fancy name for it nor do I make a ton of money selling seminars, but it works.

Hopefully this all makes sense. Big words, decent ideas and a couple of big objections!!

Name: Lidner Blain
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: General, but useful
Date: Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 30, 2022
Review: It is very general. It has great illustrations. The advice contained inside is extremely useful, although rudimentary. In the end, it is a great book and should be part of every athlete’s repertoire and focus.

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