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Laura Trott and Jason Kenny: The Inside Track
Shortlisted for the Cross Sports Award Cycling Book of the Year
10 gold medals don't come easy...
First comes the graft. Thousands of hours on the pedals, forever turning left, following that black line round, pushing your body harder than it is designed to go. Then comes the sacrifice. All familiar pleasures stripped away in search of perfection. Then the pain. Muscles burning, stomach churning, an ache in the bones. To pull all of this together to achieve an Olympic gold is impressive; to be part of a couple doing this in the same sport is rare; to do it ten times between you is unprecedented.
Laura Trott and Jason Kenny, Britain’s most successful female and male Olympians, invite us into their world, on to the boards of the velodrome and down the back straight of British pro cycling to give us the inside track on what it takes to become a champion.
This is the story of the races that gripped a nation; one of sprints and pursuits, tactics, mind games, medals and trials; of being so tired you collapse by the side of the track, so out of form you can’t finish a practice session; of what goes through the mind of an Olympian as they power towards the finish line; and of how a boy from Bolton and a girl from Cheshunt became the best in the world, while finding in each other the perfect partner.
10 gold medals don't come easy...
First comes the graft. Thousands of hours on the pedals, forever turning left, following that black line round, pushing your body harder than it is designed to go. Then comes the sacrifice. All familiar pleasures stripped away in search of perfection. Then the pain. Muscles burning, stomach churning, an ache in the bones. To pull all of this together to achieve an Olympic gold is impressive; to be part of a couple doing this in the same sport is rare; to do it ten times between you is unprecedented.
Laura Trott and Jason Kenny, Britain’s most successful female and male Olympians, invite us into their world, on to the boards of the velodrome and down the back straight of British pro cycling to give us the inside track on what it takes to become a champion.
This is the story of the races that gripped a nation; one of sprints and pursuits, tactics, mind games, medals and trials; of being so tired you collapse by the side of the track, so out of form you can’t finish a practice session; of what goes through the mind of an Olympian as they power towards the finish line; and of how a boy from Bolton and a girl from Cheshunt became the best in the world, while finding in each other the perfect partner.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2017
31 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 30, 2017
A very easy read of any sporting autobiography. Usually I don't like the 2 person format of the autobiography, but in this case it works very well. Partly because of the differences between Laura and Jason. Despite both being Olympic level cyclists and extremely dedicated to their sport, but personality wise they are very different apart from the opposites attract saying it works for the book as you get two perspectives on everything.
When I read the first chapter I knew this was going to be a good book. They talk about not only how hard the training is but how specific the training is for their event, they both admit that put them in another event and all the fitness is not carried over. They seem to make a very charming and likable couple. the book concentrates on how they got their in sports/cycling, their early years, their preparations and of course Olympic glory. The book is shared out pretty evenly. I have to say I was in stitches a points of the book about Jason's couple stories from a "lads" point of view. Trust me guys everyone of us could relate in or previously in a relationship could relate to this. Not only are these hilarious but they are so normal making the couple more likable. I really have to give props to Jason if I printed stories and home situations as he did I would be slapped silly (well sillier). He is a brave man. This a very enjoyable read I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for insight into to mind and life a great athletes, celebrities living their life, or simply just looking for something good to read.
When I read the first chapter I knew this was going to be a good book. They talk about not only how hard the training is but how specific the training is for their event, they both admit that put them in another event and all the fitness is not carried over. They seem to make a very charming and likable couple. the book concentrates on how they got their in sports/cycling, their early years, their preparations and of course Olympic glory. The book is shared out pretty evenly. I have to say I was in stitches a points of the book about Jason's couple stories from a "lads" point of view. Trust me guys everyone of us could relate in or previously in a relationship could relate to this. Not only are these hilarious but they are so normal making the couple more likable. I really have to give props to Jason if I printed stories and home situations as he did I would be slapped silly (well sillier). He is a brave man. This a very enjoyable read I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for insight into to mind and life a great athletes, celebrities living their life, or simply just looking for something good to read.
March 24, 2017
Excellent insight into the world (including very accessible descriptions of the complexities of the sport and training plans) and mindset of professional athletes, on and off the track. Well written, and humorous too. Being a fan of cycling helps, but I think this would appeal to a wider readership too.
May 30, 2017
The Inside Track is currently available to Kindle owners with a Prime account via the new 'Prime Reading' library. I mention this because - much as I like these two amazingly successful people - I probably wouldn't have spent good money on their shared autobiography. That's not to say I wouldn't generally spend on a cycling book - I have bought Victoria Pendleton's moan-fest of an autobiography, as well as several books on the Tour de France and on Lance Armstrong's deception - it's just that there aren't too many surprises in this book. Laura and Jason seem to be a very pleasant young couple of over-achievers but not terribly fascinating people - and that's what this book confirms: lovely people, totally obsessed with cycling and very successful.
It's perhaps reassuring to learn that they argue quite a lot but put together a rather introverted cycling-obsessed man and a rather extrovert, bubbly, cycling-obsessed woman and that's not the biggest surprise in the world.
I've rejoiced at all of their Olympic victories, wish them long and happy careers (and a long and happy marriage) but I quickly concluded that watching cycling is a LOT more interesting than reading about it when it's track cycling.
A tiny part of me feels a tad uncomfortable that all too often I'm left thinking 'So it sounds like sometimes they just got lucky on the day, over and over again' and in the light of the doping allegations that blot the road cycling sport, I'd like to have got a better sense that they won because of logical, rational reasons within their training and preparation. I understand that the team don't want to give away any secrets but the "Oh, it all just comes together on the day and oops, there goes another world record" passages leave me hoping that there won't be any future revelations to blot their astonishing success stories.
For a sports autobiography it's OK - no big surprises, no big revelations and the writing (I assume it's ghost written) is fine.
It's perhaps reassuring to learn that they argue quite a lot but put together a rather introverted cycling-obsessed man and a rather extrovert, bubbly, cycling-obsessed woman and that's not the biggest surprise in the world.
I've rejoiced at all of their Olympic victories, wish them long and happy careers (and a long and happy marriage) but I quickly concluded that watching cycling is a LOT more interesting than reading about it when it's track cycling.
A tiny part of me feels a tad uncomfortable that all too often I'm left thinking 'So it sounds like sometimes they just got lucky on the day, over and over again' and in the light of the doping allegations that blot the road cycling sport, I'd like to have got a better sense that they won because of logical, rational reasons within their training and preparation. I understand that the team don't want to give away any secrets but the "Oh, it all just comes together on the day and oops, there goes another world record" passages leave me hoping that there won't be any future revelations to blot their astonishing success stories.
For a sports autobiography it's OK - no big surprises, no big revelations and the writing (I assume it's ghost written) is fine.
August 13, 2017
3.5 stars! Though not necessarily the sort of book I might usually read, this one appeared on Prime Reading and it was a good opportunity to learn more about two wonderful British sportspeople. Great book, full of fun as well as in depth cycling information. My favourite part was Laura addressing the still taboo subject of menstruation in professional sport, something which really should be talked about more.
February 6, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. I remember watching the 2016 Rio Olympics and seeing Laura cry as Jason won his race and I remember thinking what a cute couple they were.
Even if you only watch the cycling at the Olympics, this book is well worth a read as it tells you more about the cycling world and the people in it as well as telling you about a lovely couple.
Even if you only watch the cycling at the Olympics, this book is well worth a read as it tells you more about the cycling world and the people in it as well as telling you about a lovely couple.
May 19, 2017
Another cycling biography! This one was a bit different from my usual ones because it's track cycling rather than road racing. An enjoyable read again. I am definitely not cut out to be a cyclist!
July 14, 2017
A great read
Glad I picked this one enlightened me on the background to a great and exciting part of the Olympics. Cheers.
Glad I picked this one enlightened me on the background to a great and exciting part of the Olympics. Cheers.
July 22, 2017
An enjoyable read of how they rose to being Olympic champions in 3 Olympics.
February 3, 2018
Such a honest and insightful tale to how two normal people become not only Olympic gold medalists but also married. Definitely worth a read
August 23, 2018
Interesting read for fans of either track cycling or the Kennys.
January 27, 2020
Really informative, entertaining and funny.
July 17, 2024
3.5 stars. Decent insight into them and their racing world. More from Jason than Laura. No gossip just telling it as it is.
August 15, 2024
I reread this every 4 years during the Olympics. As a very very casual cyclist, the level of dedication and sacrifices to their sport never fails to amaze.
February 6, 2017
Sometimes I struggle with these commercial type books as they go too far off into details about the person or their family that are not particularly interesting unless you know them. The interview style format of this one though, and the way Jason and Laura's relationship (bickering and all) is brought alive through them both telling their side of the same story is great.
The style of writing portrays Laura's chatty, bubbly personality in contrast to Jason's calm, measured approach well. You can almost tell who's talking without reading the name of the sub title and as a result it feels much more believable and superior to other athlete biographies that I always think feel very ghost written.
If you were glued to the Olympics last summer, a cycling fan, or even any elite sport fanatic then I think you'll really like this. It does explore the couples personal lives, but mostly in relation to how their relationship and development has affected their training.
The style of writing portrays Laura's chatty, bubbly personality in contrast to Jason's calm, measured approach well. You can almost tell who's talking without reading the name of the sub title and as a result it feels much more believable and superior to other athlete biographies that I always think feel very ghost written.
If you were glued to the Olympics last summer, a cycling fan, or even any elite sport fanatic then I think you'll really like this. It does explore the couples personal lives, but mostly in relation to how their relationship and development has affected their training.
December 30, 2016
I really enjoyed this book - it focuses much more on cycling and their careers and less about their childhood and growing up, as some autobiographies do. Also, the two person narration is not too annoying and actually works.
March 19, 2017
Very fun and readable insight into the lives of cycling champions. Both Laura and Jason come across as very down to earth and funny, and at the same time, this is a fascinating insight into the day to day life of someone training for events that happen just once every 4 years.
June 25, 2017
I thought it was a great book about how the two of them got together and progressed in their Olympic games through the years. I would recommend this book to anyone that has watched or follows the Olympic games every time it's on.
January 12, 2021
An easy dip in - dip out read. Interesting and the two person format worked well despite my original concerns prior to reading.
An honest account of their cycling and lives. Lots to learn and they felt like friends as you went through the book.
Would recommend
An honest account of their cycling and lives. Lots to learn and they felt like friends as you went through the book.
Would recommend
December 31, 2016
Really enjoyed this book, gives a great insight into the lives of our two great Olympic champions.
Read
February 13, 2017A nice story and an incite into the lives of British Olympics Golden couple.
February 26, 2017
was actually better than I thought it would have been
obviously very orientated towards their Olympic training and a v useful insight in what they do and sacrifice to prepare.
obviously very orientated towards their Olympic training and a v useful insight in what they do and sacrifice to prepare.
March 28, 2017
Enjoyed reading this book, gives a very good incite into all the hard work required to be an Olympic champion.
April 22, 2017
Really enjoyed this. Liked the style of writing and found it really held my attention
December 5, 2017
Incredibly easy reading and interesting insight to the highly competitive world of cycling. Give it a go!
February 26, 2018
good sports autobiography from two perspectives
July 1, 2018
Last book read before new job!
August 12, 2019
Loved it. Not just for the cycling. The relationship between them is a hoot.
February 3, 2020
Two stars but I'm a hard marker! Two stars is an enjoyable read. For their sporting prowess, talent, dedication, guts, determination... five stars.
April 5, 2021
If you're into cycling then it's a great light-hearted and easy read, learning a bit about two legends of the sport
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews