Customer Reviews

Full Time & Sub-Nine: Fitting Iron Distance Training into Everyday Life

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Not being a triathlete or a distance runner, I wasn't sure what to expect when I reviewed David Glover's Full Time and Sub-Nine. Every sub-culture has its own language and expressions, and I was worried that I would be lost and miss the best parts of what David had to offer.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself immersed not in a training manual, but in a story about one man's struggle for balance in a life full of promise but also long on adversity. David is an excellent story-teller, and this well written work pulls you in to his life early on, when he wasn't yet a superior athlete at the top of his game, and describes his life's journey from Idaho Falls to the Naval Academy and beyond, including his successful battle with cancer.

The author does an excellent job of relaying what was going through his mind when he was diagnosed with cancer, and how he channeled the frustration at his loss of fitness into a burning desire to complete in Iron distance triathlons, one of the most grueling sports in all of athletics. He also gives a painful glimpse into how his desire to be the best led him to almost obsessive training, resulting in bouts with burnout and two failed personal relationships.

Through all the adversity, David pushes through, becoming a better athlete and a better person after each challenge. Along the way, he gives advice specifically about training for endurance races and generally about finding balance in life. Established triathletes and couch potatoes alike will find his writing style well organized and easy to follow, and for those not in the sport, he teaches you everything you need to know to keep up with the story.

David's resume backs up the technical portions of his book; he's competed in 19 Iron distance triathlons and won four of them. Experienced triathletes and novices will both find important training information they can use. But this book is also a good news story to those facing cancer or similar afflictions, and David's comfortable style makes it an easy read for athlete and patient alike.

Author David Glover's book "Full Time & Sub-Nine: Fitting Iron Distance Training into Everyday Life" is more than just an accounting about physical fitness and Iron man competitions. His battle with cancer also weigh-in on what motivates his life journey. We get a glimpse of him from childhood and his parent's divorce, through his education at the US Naval Academy and onward to submarine duty. Of course, all his career planning is altered when he is discharged because of his cancer.

The reader will get only small pieces of his emotional state between his narratives about the races and his training programs. It is enough, however, that you can see how these races became a much greater focus in his life than even his own personal relationships. It results in break-ups and divorce. There is something inside him that continues to push him. There are personal costs for this passion to race that he may never fully realize until much latter in his life. But Glover comes across as dedicated and driven to achieve success, at least in his physical world.

The book would be a great reading experience for any runners, swimmers or bicyclists but an even better one if you are into Iron Man races. There is a wealth of knowledge about how to prepare emotionally and physically inside these pages. It is interesting to hold your interest even if you are not a runner or into sports. His story is inspiring at times and certainly entertaining.

Very well written book, from how he decided to become a triathlete, how it affected his life, what it took to become a pro, and what he does today. Lots of good detail on races, training philosophy and what it takes to win at both cancer and athletics.

I had the fortune of meeting the author several months ago and can honestly report that he is just as friendly and down-to-earth in real life as he is in the book and by all appearances an everyday guy. He has the same obstacles and responsibilities in life as anyone else -- a full-time job with travel, family and friends, a house, illnesses -- yet unlike most people, he has pushed through them with frightening determination and focus to accomplish athletic feats that I would never even dream of attempting.

By his own admission he keeps company with the likes of Olympic athletes and Navy SEALs, which in my mind already puts him a rank above mortal homo sapiens, so it really struck me when, early in the book, he describes how there was a time when marathon runners and Ironman competitors seemed as superhuman to him as he does to me now. As someone who until recently had all the athleticism of a hippopotamus, it really gave me a shot of confidence, not to mention perspective, to know that he hadn't been born with those quads and that he'd once been in my position in some small way.

The bulk of the book is devoted to his nerding out (this is not a derogatory term -- I love when people nerd out on their passions!) on triathlons, detailing his training, races and packed schedule. The only thing missing from the descriptions were maybe some definitions (I still don't know what a split is), but they were not necessary. The point of the story was clear, and I was able to apply some of his life lessons to my own training right away.

If ever you need an illustration of how applying yourself mind, body and soul can take you to the top, this is it.

It was hard for me to put the book down. I am a triathlete that struggles with balancing work/personal areas and I dont always make good choices. It was refreshing to read David's Journey. I particularly liked his style of writing where everything is not perfect (especially his health) and he does not mind admitting his own challenges and even short comings. The book is filled with choices, both good and ones that the author might like to "do-over". It struck me that this is really what life is all about. Learning to make better choices. The other thing that jumped out of the book cover was the absolute importance of having goals. I think its a great book for anyone who interested in improving their life. I made a "good choice" reading this one. I hope he writes another.

David Glover's book takes the reader on a journey from his early start with running through his completion of several triathlons. It is about much more than running and triathlon, however. The book is an honest and straightforward account of Glover's life, including his battle with cancer at a young age. Glover discusses the commitment as well as the toll of training for multi-sport events. He talks about what happened to relationships, how his career changed, and about goals. This is an inspiring story and not just for those interested in triathlon.

David Glover writes clearly and honestly. I enjoyed reading about his journey through life and how he dealt with having cancer at such a young age. As an athlete I was inspired by his focus and determination to achieve such high levels in the sport of triathlon. He teaches through his stories about lessons learned in both his relationships and perspectives on life. I use the book periodically as a reference for great quotes and I would recommend this story to anyone who wants to be inspired!

If you're looking for a book that combines an inspirational personal story with insights that will help you become a better athlete and a better person, you'll enjoy this book. David Glover is a high achiever who has overcome great obstacles. His books is a narrative of his experiences as an elite triathlete that records the highs and lows on his road to success. While this isn't a formulaic "how to" book, you will learn important lessons. This is a fascinating look at how someone accomplishes what most people think is nearly impossible.

It's written from a really personal standpoint and the author admittedly doesn't do the life-balance thing that we're told needs to be there as triathletes. That being said, the book is a decent read and shows ways to work around constraints and how long distance triathlon involves a lifetime of progressions and adjustments. I'd recommend it to anyone considering a full Ironman distance.