Training for the Uphill Athlete: A Manual for Mountain Runners and Ski Mountaineers

I bought this book earlier in the year (2020) and was immediately impressed with its layout, stunning visual appeal, and intellectual content. The superbly illustrated section on 'Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome' (credited to Phil Maffetone) was especially pertinent to me and was all the excuse I needed to continue my glacially slow locomoting at Zone 2 'intensity'. The 'vacuum cleaner' analogy really helped my understanding of the physiology involved in the aerobic base building process and was perhaps worth the price of the book in itself. Regardless of some gripes about the 'core' training section, and the fact that I am too old to put into practise a LOT of the information in this book, I still love it. Mr House and Mr Johnston's knowledge, experience and passion is the driving force behind this great book, and their UpHill Athlete website (with its excellent series of podcasts). I commend them for presenting this material in such an inspiring way and I think it is the gold standard text in this field.

Explains the process very well, and every fitness level is catered for.

I think this book ultimately provides the scientific base for what everyone else is already telling you, do your easy runs easier, build your base aerobic fitness before race/distance specific training, don't copy elite training because it won't work for you. Once I got past the chapters that reinforced those messages, as many other books already do, and the book started to present more specific programs and training types, I started to flick through it rather than properly read and take it in. Unless you're totally committed to micro-managing your training for 100% achievement, which unfortunately I feel most people do not have the time for, then the detail becomes overwhelming. If you're a recreational runner, or anyone other than an advanced club/elite runner, then like me you might find the later information in the book is just not that relevant. It's great to understand the scientific base and for the general training methodologies to be reinforced, however I would have liked more information on what specifically are advantageous training methods for "uphill athletes" whereas I feel this book is about general fitness and works on the road equally as well as on the trails. I'm a mid-level club runner who most enjoys the hills and the trails.

This book sets out clear training principles for uphill athletes with excellent explanations as to why the plans work. The author usefully explodes the myth that high-intensity training is a substitute for low-intensity graft when developing endurance. The book has many interesting anecdotes from top athletes but never feels judgemental when describing slower participants. Highly recommended.

Super useful, thanks.

Excellent book for any ultra endurance athlete, all of the technical terms explained clearly and simply in English, so many simple training actionable to take away and apply to your own specific training plan. Excellent book and source of future reference !

I’ve spent years in and around mountainous terrain, either going up or coming down. There are few texts available that aren’t bro or media centric affairs. This isn’t one of those, you can draw similarities from texts such as New Alpinism and others but to find a text rich in information, experience and science is rare indeed. Good stuff!

So comprehensive but also accessible. The knowledge and credibility of the authors came through. I would say some of the charts and graphics would better come through in the print version but it was my choice to buy the Kindle version so still a 5 star for the content.

Esse conteúdo vale ouro, não conheço nenhum outro material que aborde de maneria tão técnica e prática a preparação para esse tipo de evento esportivo, que já é extremamente específico por natureza. É informação para toda uma vida esportiva dentro de um livro.

Very useful book with practical information as well as nerdy graphs for those looking to self coach. They talk about the what, why, and how in a easy to understand manner, and example training plans. Nothing is new if you are a seasoned athlete, such as LT1 and LT2, zones, etc, but the book ties all the theory together very well.

"Training for the Uphill Athlete" was my first deep dive into structured training. Having already completed three marathons before buying this book, I felt my old training methods weren’t giving me the results I wanted, especially as I transitioned into trail running. This book was an absolute eye-opener and will save you a lot of time and frustration by teaching you how to train effectively and avoid burnout. The key takeaways for me: Building an aerobic base: The book emphasizes the importance of dedicating months to low-intensity Zone 1 and 2 training, with maybe one uphill sprint session per week. This foundation is crucial for long-term endurance. Holistic training cycles: Instead of focusing on individual sessions, the book teaches you to think in larger cycles, such as 3-4 week blocks (e.g., 2-3 weeks of intensive training followed by a recovery week). This approach allows your body time to adapt and avoids the dangers of overtraining. Energy systems explained: The book gives a fantastic explanation of how aerobic (fat-based) and anaerobic (glycogen-based) ATP production works, and why relying on fat for energy is more sustainable for endurance athletes that go for hours on end. I highly recommend this book to anyone involved in endurance sports, particularly runners. It’s filled with practical advice and scientific explanations that will make a huge difference in your training. A must-read for anyone looking to take their performance to the next level!

Très bien

This is an amazing resource for the self-guided mountain enthusiast. Whilst there's a big focus on skimo racing and trail running, the principles taught in the book make it easy to vary the program to suit your own goals (eg. backcountry skiing).