Awards

• Long-listed for William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2012
• Long-listed for William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2012.

Overview

Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2012. On October 14, 1989, driven by one of the most intense and lasting two-man rivalries in any sport, a pair of generational talents at the height of their powers ran a race that redefined human limits. The battle between Dave Scott and Mark Allen at the 13th Hawaii Ironman stands as one of the most dramatic stories in the history of athletics. The two greatest athletes of triathlon's pioneering generation raced side by side, literally, for eight straight hours at breakneck speed before Allen finally tore away from his longtime nemesis with less than two miles left in the 140.6-mile event. His margin of victory was a scant 58 seconds. So intense was the drama, the race came to be known as 'Iron War' - the single most awe-inspiring sporting event ever witnessed. More than a compelling story, Iron War is a fascinating exploration of how Scott and Allen pushed themselves and each other - and what it takes for anyone to break through perceived limits. Much as Christopher McDougall added depth to Born to Run by tying in new research on the evolutionary origins of humans as runners, Iron War shows how new discoveries in neuroscience explain how some elite athletes are able to literally will their bodies to do things that should be beyond their capacities. The book weaves an examination of the anatomy of mental toughness into a gripping tale of athletic adventure. With its emotional and intellectual depth, Iron War is a captivating and thought-provoking portrait of the human will.

Full Product Details

9781780871035

Table of Contents

Reviews

'a riveting read' Loaded magazine. 'For any triathlete or endurance athlete, or anyone who wonders what it takes to be the best in sport, 'Iron War' is an excellent read' Triathlete. 'His account of how and why these two men were driven to push themselves through pain unimaginable to most of us remains absorbing' Independent. 'It is a great read about an amazing event and two of the best Ironman triathletes to ever race in Hawaii' Triathlete Europe.

<p> Captivating, animated, uniquely readable and downright thrilling. [ Iron War ] is a truly great read--and an ode to our sport with all its quirky characters and epic venues...It is absolutely comparable to Krakauer, Bowden ( Blackhawk Down ), or Sebastian Junger ( The Perfect Storm )... Iron War is what we buy books for: Excitement, entertainment, information and inspiration. -- TriSports.com<p> A true page-turner about a too-little-known great moment in sports. -- Booklist (American Library Association)<p> For any triathlete or endurance athlete, or anyone who wonders what it takes to be the best in sport, Iron War is an excellent read...Readers will come away with a very strong understanding and appreciation for two of the true legends of our sport...as well as a very clear look at the greatest race ever run. -- Triathlete.com<p> Iron War really is a book that should be on your bookshelf if you have even the slightest interest in the sport of triathlon, but it also is

Author Information

Matt Fitzgerald is the author of numerous books on sports history and endurance sports. He has enjoyed unprecedented access to professional endurance athletes over the course of his career. His best-sellers include Racing Weight and Brain Training for Runners. He has also written extensively for Triathlete, Men's Fitness, Men's Health, Outside, Runner's World, Bicycling, Competitor, and countless other sports and fitness publications.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available