Customer Reviews

Becoming an Ironman: First Encounters with the Ultimate Endurance Event

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really looked forward to reading this book as a source of inspiration, but I think the editor ends up missing the boat by overzealously trying to preserve the ironman's own words. This means that crucial facts about people's lives are left out, or the reader is plunged into the middle of the tale, not really understanding whose story is being told, or why we should care. Rather than having the effect of making the race more immediate, this ends up making all of the stories seem alike. We don't necessarily get backstory about who this person is, or from where he/she got the drive to do this ironman, or why. The stories are often told as if the teller is speaking to a good friend, who already knows everything about the speaker, and just needs to hear how this one race went. I hope if the editor decides to follow up this volume with another, she heeds this critique. I would love to buy another volume, but only if more information about the athletes is included.

"Becoming an Ironman" is a collection of personal stories of the first experience of many athletes attempting their first Ironman Triathlon. An Ironman Triathlon is a race consisting of a 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride followed by a marathon (26.2 miles). Some runners may consider the marathon to be the ultimate endurance event and with good reason, the marathon is not to be taken lightly, but Ironman only lets you run a marathon after one has traveled 114.4 miles. Since "Ironman" is actually a trademark of the World Triathlon Corporation, the "Ironman" name can only be used for a race sponsored by the WTC. But any triathlon of 140.6 miles can be considered an "Iron" distance race and the finishers are no less an Ironman as those finishing a sponsored race. 140.6 miles is a long, long way to go, and typically there is a 17 hour time limit. In "Becoming an Ironman" many athletes will tell of their experience in their own words.

The stories contained in this book are broken into a variety of sections. There are stories from those who are middle of the pack athletes and who struggled with the Ironman but still found strength to complete it. There is a section featuring athletes who learned in their first attempt that they were quite good at this distance and turned in excellent times which put them among the leaders. Conversely the stories of those who finished Ironman with only a minute or an hour to spare are no less compelling. Then there are the Did Not Finish (DNF) stories of those who for one reason or another had to drop out of the race or just could not make it to the finish line in time (the one who finished some six minutes after 17 hours was tough to take).

Every one of these stories provides inspiration to push through my pain in a race and furthers my desire to one day attempt and complete an Ironman despite the pain I know it will cause. But these same stories collected in "Becoming an Ironman" suffers from the fact that while reading a handful of these stories is easy and inspiring, reading every story back to back becomes repetitive. Yes, everyone struggled and gutted it out and provides a reason to be inspired, but it is essentially the same story every time with minor variations. The different sections helps as the stories are grouped into similar kinds of experiences, but it is still a lot of take at one time.

My recommendation is that this is an excellent book about the Ironman experience from the perspective of the average (if "average" can describe anyone attempting Ironman) athlete, but the reader should only read a few stories a day. Each story is only a few pages long and this way there will be less of a sense of burnout by the time the end is reached. Inspiring stuff, here.

-Joe Sherry

I got into triathloning (is that a word?) because I no longer wanted to do marathons. I've completed 3 marathons, and after each one, I said that was the last one. But I really meant it after the third, and took up triathlon as an alternative. I just completed my first Olympic distance triathlon, and had a blast. I love triathlon!

I bought this book because I know several people that have done an Ironman, and I have always thought they were crazy! But after reading the stories, I now have an overwhelming desire to do one. This has actually made me very angry! I stopped doing marathons because they hurt! Now I want to add a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike ride in front of it?!?! I've lost my mind!

I never envisioned the Ironman as an adventure, but to read the thoughts of each participant, it seems like the Ironman is more about the journey, and not about the race. Each athlete has their own approach and outcome, and I could relate to each. The book is divided nicely into different sections. I liked to read about the ones that barely made the cutoff of 17 hours. I will be one of those people! And to know that some professionals actually DNF'd their first attempt is somewhat comforting.

The book is just a great compilation of life stories - knowing who you are and where you are going. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves triathlon. But if you've ever said "I'll never do an Ironman", you better watch out!

As a long time triathlete (16 years), I found this book to be a much needed breath of fresh air. Since I have been involved in the sport, triathlon has evolved from a rough and tumble gunslinger's kind of challenge to a much more refined and scientific undertaking. There is almost nothing in this book about lactate threshold, bladed spokes, or the merits of the electrolyte-replacement-drink-of-the-moment. There is a lot about peanut butter, which I for one, am glad to see.

This book, and the stories inside, return us to the true nature of triathlon. The fundamental reasons we all race; to challenge ourselves, to be healthy, to have FUN, and to find out what is really out there for us to experience in this short life.

I am returning to the sport after a somewhat lengthy sabatical. I can honestly say that I think I lost sight of why triathlon is important to me. I think I forgot about the roots of this great sport. I never really had a burning desire to do an Ironman, although I always thought I would do one eventually. A couple of halfs had helped to fuel the "long-distance" fire. I am back on my bike, ready to go, and this book has been a gas can.

Inspiring!

This book is filled with the inspiring first-person accounts of Ironman participants. It provides a personal insight into the struggles and aspirations of a wide variety of competitors, from first-time amateurs to seasoned professionals. The stories are compelling and personal - the writing is not edited much at all, allowing the voice of the writer to come through strongly, so that each story offers a unique perspective. I found the book consistently moving and inspirational, and although I'm just starting to train for my first triathlon, I can't help but dream of one day becoming an Ironman myself! If you have any interest in triathlons, or endurance sports in general, or if you just enjoy reading about personal athletic triumph, read this book.

This book has described an event to me that has always been something I have aspired to trying someday, yet I have never been able to get the right answers that I needed in terms of very basic "how did it feel" questions, from the few friends I know who've actually done an Ironman. I was moved to tears and now, after reading these wonderful stories, I can say to myself that yes I can do an Ironman, and more importantly, that I WANT to do an Ironman.

This book is a must-read for those wanting to do an Ironman. It serves as an inspiration (I can do this too, if they did...) as well as a reference for a "how-to" on things to do/not do in training for/completing your first Ironman.

Every first Ironman experience was different and unique and inspirational in the book..... from the Pros (wow - they had some of the same problems as age-groupers) to the Physically Challenged, to the Middle-of-the-Packers, to the Over 50 (they are truly admirable in my mind) to the DNF-ers.

I have done my first Ironman and it was a great read to see other first experiences. This book, Becoming an Ironman, makes me want to do another...

From cover-to-cover "Becoming an Iroman" provides all triathletes that much needed charge to help them tackle their first, second or third Ironman.

The author also manages to show her readers that the triumphs and pitfalls faced by the profiled triathletes can be similar to their own fears and fortunes that they encounter in their sport.

You don't have to be an endurance athlete to feel the power of the testimonials Mrs. Thom shares in this heartfelt account of various encounters by 1st timers in what is termed "the ultimate event". Just as John L. Parker's classic "Once a Runner" impacted even the once-a-week jogger, this book has the ability to change one's life and more importantly, change one's views on living.

Buy, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of "Becoming an Ironman". You may not be ready to immediately tackle this daunting event, but every person has a mountain to climb, a picture to paint, or a poem to write. No book could better motivate one towards that all important first step.

This is a copy of a letter that I wrote to the author. I do not think I can review it any better. This book took me only 2 days to read, I could not put it down!

I was the guy that had you sign your book and made you give me your address so if the book was not good, I could get my money back. Well... it was great! You did a good job at selecting a cross section of the population, from the "normal" ironman to the "I did my first one in 9 hours, and I was not happy with that time because I am a great athlete" people. It was so neat to get my latest edition of Triathlete and see your book reviewed. They really did not do it justice. I plan to let my wife (who thinks I am crazy for all this Tri stuff)read it so maybe she will understand. I find the hardest thing about triathlon is making people understand why. Your book goes a long way in doing this. I cannot wait until I do my first Ironman in Wisconsin next year. Maybe I will run into you there. Take it easy, and thanks for the great book.