Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First, the good. I've been a big fan of Core Performance workouts since reading the first book by Mark Verstegen. As I shifted toward more endurance sports like triathlon, I found the original book to be less helpful. Core Performance Endurance is the long-awaited combination of a core conditioning program with endurance training. On this most important point, I think Verstegen has again come through in a big way. Workouts emphasize flexibility, core strength, and injury prevention. Days are divided by emphasis on "strength", "power", "regeneration", and "rest". The idea is that, through this approach, an athlete will train efficiently and get the most results for the effort expended. What most people would call the "cardio" work is here referred to as "energy system development" or ESD. ESD work is done on most days, but it varies between slow days at less than race pace, relatively short intervals at race pace, and brief intervals at greater than race pace. The goal is to use the combination of approaches to improve the lactate threshold, the point where muscles start to "burn" and increase the level at which an athlete continuously perform without lactic acid build up. This flies in the face of "more is better" training, and it is consistent with the most recent advances in exercise physiology.
The Bad. If you are expecting a spoon-fed workout, you will be disappointed. The ESD workouts do not specify which sport is to be performed. That approach would work best for a pure runner or biker. For a multi-sport triathlete, it leaves a fair bit of the work in designing the program to the individual. For instance, should a swim be combined with a "power" day or a "strength" day? Should one alternate? How should "brick workouts" (two sports one after another, usually biking followed by running) be integrated? I like to take a hands-on approach to the details, but I can see how many might be put off by this. This book should properly be considered a foundation to an endurance exercise program, helping an athlete maximize their results and prevent injury. It should not be considered the whole program in itself.
The Ugly. An athlete progresses through stages (i.e. A, B, C) and levels (1, 2) that increase in length of time and difficulty. When ready to go to "level 3", you are instructed to go to the website, coreperformance.com. The problem? It's a site that REQUIRES A PAID MEMBERSHIP. I thought this was pretty sleazy. I don't think I would have bought the book if it had been marketed as "Two Thirds of Core Performance Endurance". When I first read the instruction to go to the website, I was pretty steamed. I was ready to dash off a 1-star review and trash the book. After I cooled down, I decided that, had there NOT been a 3rd level at all, I would have thought the workout was still pretty darn good. Judging the workout program by what is between the covers, I am reasonably happy. I decided to do my best to inform potential buyers and let them decide if it was a deal breaker or not. Consider getting the free trial offered at the site before buying the book, just to see if you think there is any value added for you.
So, for an excellent and innovative workout, I think Core Performance Endurance delivers. It would have been a much better book if it wasn't also a teaser for a subscription for an online exercise program run by the author. 4 stars.
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