The revolution of health and fitness has arrived

I've been waiting to write this post for a while now, and it gives me a great sense of excitement, humility, awe and wonderment as I do so. What follows is my review of the book, "Power, Speed, Endurance, A skill based approach to endurance training,"written by Brain MacKenzie, Glen Cordoza, and contributions from the most knowledgeable guys I've ever met or read.

This book is by far, the most complete, comprehensive and forward thinking approach as to how to train for life. Yes, the title would indicate that its for endurance athletes, but that's slightly misleading. The book does what no other training guide, be it sport specific or educational does - it is rooted in the principal that everything we thought we did correctly, like running, biking and swimming, is a skill that needs to be revamped. And not simply revamped by pounding out more work, the book reveals that when you treat each element as a skill, your level of fitness, your enjoyment of training, your quality of life, will increase at a geometric rate. This book isn't just for athletes, its for everyone. Something no other "Tri-specific", "run specific". etc, can do. In a world where people literally rely on "Running for Dummies", or "Triathlon for Dummies", its become obvious than any idiot with a pulse, an editor and one marathon under their belt, can write a book. The beauty of Power, Speed, Endurance is that it destroys all conventional thinking normally associated with your standard endurance program, because the author, and contributors have used themselves to test, retest, and then retest again, everything that they have done. Not for just a year, but for years, researching constantly, experimenting constantly to find the better way to train. To find a better way to move. Think about that. What other book on health or fitness stresses the importance of moving better? Until now, none that I know of.


The Crossfit Endurance model is the source of much debate in the endurance circles, but I would say that anyone, be you a fan, or a hater, will change your thinking as to what Crossfit Endurance really is after reading this book. Brian painstakingly breaks down the 4 sports - running, biking, swimming, and rowing, then provides the dearth of information on the necessity of the lifts, the met-cons, the mobility, everything you really need to be fit for life. That's why this book applies to the normal health club member, crossfitter, beginner endurance athlete, top age grouper or elite. In fact, you don't have to race one blessed event, and you will still be fitter and healthier than ever by reading it. Absorbing it. Understanding that its not to be done for a month, 3 months, a year. Its for life. The writing is no-holds barred, the curtain has been pulled back to reveal the essence and importance of skill work. For example, prior to meeting Brian 2 and a half years ago, I was pretty certain I knew how to run. That all changed in the first 48 hours of meeting Brian. I realized that not only did I not know how to run, I wasn't even running. I call what I was doing forward motion. Yes, I was moving forward fast at times, but not nearly as fast or efficiently as I do now. By embracing the notion of running as a skill, and the same mindset with every part of triathlon, lifting and metabolic conditioning, I've become a more complete athlete, as well as a faster and more efficient one. One that doesn't break down. That is all due to Brian, and the use of Crossfit Endurance made available in this book. And let me assure you, anything I have learned and continue to learn, has come from him. The fact that I've become a science geek is due to his provocation, his mindset, pushing me, all of us, to be better. To raise our game. To learn more, to give more. That comes through in this book loud and clear. He firmly admits what he is writing will cause controversy. And that's absolutely fine. I have been called a heretic by the multisport community for agreeing with his methods. And I sleep damn well at night.

I encourage each of you to read it. I can't stress that enough. The section on nutrition alone is worth the price. For anyone who really wants to understand how CFE works, how its meant to work, how your body is supposed to work, read this book. I am honored and humbled to have been asked to write this review, as I feel its such a small thing compared to what I have been given by Brian and all the guys at Crossfit Endurance. This is for the guys who busted their ass the last 10 years studying, experimenting, developing this system, and for all of those who use it daily to train and to live. And its not done, as this process is simply beginning.

For those of you who don't believe in what the CFE crew does, I feel sorry for you. Truly. You are living half a life. That sucks. Bering close minded, allowing your ego to get in your way, its preventing you from experiencing true fitness. So for those who maintain that mentaility, I challenge you to read the book's forward, written by TJ Murphy. He admitted to hating CFE without knowing the first thing about it,ow, he's one of its biggest advocates. Its funny how that happens. Our jump to judgment before we even get to know a person, or a group of people. And that will of course continue, but I know it doesn't bother me at all. If it did, I don't think I'd get out of bed in the morning. Same goes for the men in this book. If they gave half a second to being concerned about who liked them, this book would be a pipe dream. Read, absorb, live.

Stay strong,

Guy