25 Years of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship [Deluxe Edition] [Hardcover]

Bob Babbitt (Author), Jim Lampley (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2003

Ironman Hall of Fame Inductee Bob Babbitt and some of the world's best photographers loving share images and stories from what many consider the Toughest Day in Sport. With a forward from legendary sportscaster Jim Lampley and an introduction from Iron man creator Commander John Collins, this coffee table book chronicles an event that started out with 15 crazy entrants in 1978 and now, 25 years later, is considered the ultimate goal for athletes worldwide and the ultimate showcase for endurance sports. The name "Ironman" guarantees expertise in the field of triathlon and endurance sport. The year 2003 marks the 25th anniversary of this event that started with a handful of participants and has now grown to be one of the most popular events and also brand names in sport.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"No work captures the essence and history of the Super Bowl of Trlathlon like this book. If you're a trlathlete, or wish to become one, this book Is a must have." Rob Hyland Producer; NBC Sports; "I didn't think It was possible to truly capture the essence of Ironman's magic, Its extreme challenge. and the sheer joy of what the finish line means to all the competitors. But Bob Babbltt has done It! Using a masters touch, with story and photo, he reveals the heart and soul of Ironman. Anyone who reads this book will feel the emotion and drama of this great race." Mark Alien 6-time Ironman World Champion; "If you've done this race, you need this book. If you haven't. be careful -because, after a spin through Its pages, you'll want to." Austin Murphy Sports 'Illustrated" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

In the 22 years since Bob Babbitt first became an Ironman, he has given back to the sport perhaps more than any other. He completed his first Hawaii Iron man in 1980 and entered the Ironman Hall of Fame in 2001. His spirit of adventure, goodwill and sense of fun shine through in the many roles he continues to play in the sport as editor and co-publisher of the multi sport magazine Competitor, producer and host of a multi sport radio show, emcee of the Ironman World Championship carbo and award parties, and as the founder and force behind the Challenged Athletes Foundation. His presence in triathlon, especially the Ironman World Championship, mercifully acts as a counterbalance in a sport that often seems to take itself too seriously. From Triathlete Magazine

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Meyer & Meyer Verlag; 25th Annv edition (April 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841261009
• ISBN-13: 978-1841261003
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,772,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ironman Triathlon World Championships Desk Reference, June 11, 2003

By 

"daveeasa" (Carlsbad, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 25 Years of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship (Hardcover)

If you know who Bob Babbitt is, you don't need any other reason to purchase his book. In that case, I will assure you that it is everything you could possibly expect from the editor of Competitor Magazine and then some. As you read the captions and relive the moments in each year's race summary, you can't help but smile with gleeful anticipation of your next trip to the finish line. If you have difficulty explaining your compulsive addiction to your family and friends, this book will help bridge the gap. The pictures are stunning not only in their completeness but also in the quality with which they have been reproduced. You might remember the scene from a videotape or broadcast or maybe you were even lucky enough to see it live. But never have you seen the athletes leap from such glossy pages with the detail and ferocity that they do from Babbitt's creation.

Still, perhaps you don't really know who Bob is. Honestly, I didn't realize he had been inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame in 2001 until I saw the list in his book. I understood his mantra and I have always been happy to digest his publication whenever I stumble upon it. But, I never really assimilated what was so unique about Bob Babbitt until the night I spent with my nose glued to the pages of his book. I read every word, cover to cover. This was the night before a relatively important half Ironman race. I should have been sleeping, but I was transfixed.

I had always wondered why so many have said that Bob Babbitt has given back more to the sport than anyone else. The answer to my confusion lies entirely in the perspective that this humble and humourous man so graciously shares with anyone and everyone. Yes, you can get all of the factual history from Tinley's voluminous musings. And you get get the buzz of Kona from reading Mike Plant's Iron Will. You can be an armchair pro by reading about Brad Kearns' adventures. You can obsess about every detail of each workout in your schedule with Joel Friel's guidance. But none of these experiences give you the cumulative clarity and insight you get from Babbitt.

Babbitt's true gift to all of us is his understanding of how we view the giants and dwarfs of our sport, how we obsess about the great battles all the way from the front to the back. Babbitt can see exactly how we respect the grueling journey, the brutal conditions and obscene distances that make Kona so much more than just another race. Sure, Phil Liggett can bark through the leaderboard with his charming accent and amusing wit. Mike Riley can keep a crowd dancing for hours. Both of them are legends of our sport and without them it just wouldn't feel authentic. But neither of them can bring the experience home to your coffee table after the fact the way Babbitt has. While it may be impossible to dislike Babbitt and his clearly selfless ambitions, it is even more difficult to put on his glasses and not see Kona more clearly than you ever did before. You simply cannot read his words and not feel the excitement and drama he wants to share with you.

There are only two pages of the book that really don't belong, 48 and 49. They exist as a sad testament to the reality that nothing about triathlon seems to make any financial sense. Those two pages, however, are overwhelmingly offset by 126 and 127. Relive those 80's haircuts, see Jurgen in his Zorro shot, and revel in the cheesy humor that Babbitt has gotten all too good at through the years. If you want one reason to convince you of Babbitt's greatness, flip to this pair of pages and stay a while. In a sense, it's a mild spatterring of his life's work. It's also an extremely abbreviated list of the major players in Kona. But look beyond the faces, hair, gear, and race attire and you'll see Bob Babbitt waving at you from the pages of his book. He is inviting you to share his vision for a moment, making you feel like the most honored guest he has ever known as he serves up heaping portions of grit, determination, courage, and desire.

I put together the best multisport race of my life the day after reading this book. Thanks Bob!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Go To Book, June 9, 2003

By 

D. Mark (South Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 25 Years of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship (Hardcover)

Forget about the coffee table,t his book is one you should keep by your bed side and dream of the Ironman.
In one book, the author manages to capture the characters and color that define the Ironman Triathlon-this will become the quintessential history on the event and it earns the 25th anniversary title.

From the historical race figures such as Dave Scott and Mark Allen to the Judy Molnars, this book reaches the common reader and fanatic. The pictures are great, I am going to take mine with me all season and have people autograph their pages...Enjoy it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ironman Experience, May 20, 2003

By 

Ross P (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 25 Years of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship (Hardcover)

In short this book is superb , anyone that has had anything to do with the Ironman and especially those that have finished the Ironman will relish this book . The book provides a wonderful historical documentation of the Ironman through words and photos . The photos are wonderful and the stories contained within are written in Bob Babbitts unique quirky style . The book also lists the the placegetters of every race since the inaugral race of 1978 .

Put it along side Tinleys historical photo book . Well worth getting this one !