Becoming an Ironman: First Encounters with the Ultimate Endurance Event

by Kara Douglass Thom

An inspirational collection of oral histories about the experience of competing in one's first full Ironman triathlon. This is the ultimate test of a 2.4-mile open-ocean swim, a 112-mile bike race, and a full 26.2-mile marathon, all raced end-to-end in one grueling day. In the style of First Marathons , this book is not a how-to or a technical it is pure, heartfelt human experience. Each person's story is compelling and dramatic in its own way. Collectively, the stories are both instructional and uplifting—for anyone even dreaming of attempting this forbidding challenge. As one triathlete said, trying to recount his first race, "I have searched for a way to describe the indescribable. I feel as though I climbed a huge mountain, saw an incredible vista, and now am back on the ground trying to relate what it looked like. It's like trying to describe childbirth or God or making love." These stories come from men and women of all ages and abilities. Some are stories from the champions, and some from those who could not even finish. Together they testify to all the joy and agony of the race; and they provide priceless personal advice on nutrition, equipment, clothing, mental preparation, emotional fatigue, terrain, and weather. An unforgettable ode to our fastest-growing endurance sport. Kara Douglass Thom has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and currently is the editor of the Dallas Medical Journal. She is a freelance writer for Triathlete magazine and The Dallas Morning News . Her writing has appeared in Runner's World and Spirit magazine, among other publications.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

So INSPIRING! The stories range from champion finishes to those who didn't finish (DNF). So many people think of the marathon as the ultimate endurance event, but what about the Ironman? Here, you run a marathon (26.2 miles) AFTER swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112 miles. I laughed and cried and swore up and down that one day I'm going to be one of those crazy people on that crazy journey.

[Jose Pena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book to be inspired. This book has a collection of stories about people who became ironmen. If you are interested to read what an iroman is, then this book is for you. This book helped me with my first ironman.

[Joni Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great. Seriously. I am a runner and a cyclist, but not a Triathlete for lots of reasons, but I love going to Triathlons and yes I have been to Kona. But this book. (I read the older one on marathons, but it didn't hook me the same way!) I am not going to spoil it, but reading about the early racers and how they ate and suffered and made it through, long before all the technology was awe-inspiring. You don't need to be an athlete to appreciate these stories. Just Wow! Totally recommend! (early Ironmen actually stopped at restaurants for chow and even took 24 hours to complete.) I love all the real food they ate. And lack of technology. And the spirit of Aloha...even for the events not in Hawaii.

[Adam Boltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories were great, I just wish they were more recent as Ironman has changed in 20 years.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some essays were better than others. As expected with different authors. Would have preferred more from the editor to tie them all together.

[Zeryck Russon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great collection of Ironman stories from every background and situation you could think of. Gives you a slight idea of the race and how it feels. But also makes you realize you have absolutely no clue how it feels until you actually do it. I’m re-motivated. If there’s one thing I get done this year it is this race.

[Douglas Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Ironman,’ like Kleenex, is a brand name; generically the distance is called 140.6 or sometimes ‘ultra.’ Any way you slice it, going long is a freaky prospect, and I soaked up a lot of reassurance from this book when I read it a few years ago. Written for iron-distance first-timers, it’s full of about 25 athlete race reports that recap the venue, the organization, the writer’s performance, the challenges, and how they were surmounted. While some entries are by elite athletes (the ones I wish I could be), most are by average age groupers just like me. Entries are immediately satisfying; when they get tired, discouraged, elated, you’re right there. Absorbing their learning, race plans, gear selection, mental preparation, and thoughts on other variables (e.g., the weather) was immeasurably helpful. The freakiest entries were by writers who DNF’ed (Did Not Finish). Sometimes it’s a mechanical issue, sometimes your body just breaks down, but racers need to deal with this specter despite a year or more of training. Best line: “You’ll want to get comfortable in your relationship with God, because you’re going to be talking to Him quite a bit out there.”

[Jeff]

An enthusiastic documentation of insanity written in the voice of each competitor. Thom visits with first time triathletes, old school competitors from the early days, top pros and elderly athletes. My favorite? The Australian who collapses mere feet from the finish line and is subsequently rushed into emergency surgery, where a chunk of his large intestine is removed after the effects of severe dehydration. He goes on to complete the race the following year.

After the first few chapters, you'll be drinking the Kool-Aide too.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest take-away from these stories is that no one regretted their decision to be in the race. Six months out from my first IM I have the same fears as many of the people in the stories. Reading these stories makes me understand that overcoming fear and other obstacles is part if the experience.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm thinking of doing an Ironman triathlon someday, soon I hope. This book was a compilation of the experiences of several Ironman participants. There were over 50 year-olds, disabled people, first timers and even people who Did Not Finish. I found their experiences inspiring and instructional. A must read for anyone who's ever considered completing an Ironman.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good compilation of first encounters with 140.6 miles of swimming cycling and running. It probably built my expectations of my first one up unreasonably but it remains my most important hobby, and this remains a must for anyone else considering going long.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book overall - inspiring stories, sad stories, and some stories which get lost as copies of the rest. But reading it just before watching the 2010 Ironman Kona made seeing all of the people out there in a different light.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend loaned this to Mike when he was training for his first Ironman triathlon. This has personal accounts by all sorts of people regarding their first Ironman experience. Some stories are funny, some are sad but all are inspirational.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring. I'm training for a marathon, so reading about people who swim and bike for so long and THEN take on the distance is mind numbing to me. This is my first real exposure to triathlon, and I know I'm going to have to try it now! A very entertaining book with a real purpose!

[Duane Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read the stories from the early years of the IRONMAN, some of them were actually pretty funny. There are a number of inspiring stories but some were very similar. This is not a training manual though you can certainly learn from other peoples experiences.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice compendium of stories from those who have completed (and not completed) 140.6 on their first try. the stories could be pretty similar, but gave a nice little glimpse into the world of ironman triathlon.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned what can go wrong during an ironman and some tricks. I became motivated to do a marathon after reading this book.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the personal experiences of many people doing an ironman motivated me to make a marathon my goal. If the marathon goes well I'll do an ironman.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out very inspiring, but got kind of monotonous. The stories were exciting, but there were too many and they were too similar.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and it contains some inspiring stories. I do not recommended this book for anyone that is not a triathlete or anyone that is not interested in triathlon.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and inspiring.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

"ironMan will trivialize past hardship and prepare you to minimize those to come"
One of the many good quotes and motivators read in this book.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is very inspirational. I even enjoyed the dnf chapter.

[Kaitlin]

Inspirational, cant wait to do an Ironman.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will do one, one day for sure!

[Ashley]

Great book for inspiration and for those who are short on time.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the stories are different and interesting to read - a fun diversion/summer read.