My copy is sitting with the the page corner of the first chapter being folded with dust an inch thick on it.
seems i made it through the intro then fell asleep never to pick it up again.
on the contrary i have read ‘born to run’, ‘once a runner’, ‘again to carthidge’, ‘ultramarathonman’ … and others a couple times with great anticipation for the next chapter.
when ‘off season’ gets here again, i will make another run at Macca’s book, but only because i don’t consider myself a quitter…
You’ll get better sleep if you clean your room.
i guess i should have used ‘pink’ on the 1" thick dust comment.
my wife does all the cleaning, so i’ll let her know about the sleep/clean room thing…thanks!
I didn’t know enough about him before to hate him before reading the book, and still don’t hate him, but I now have more reason to not appreciate him.
It’s not exactly a page turner.
Having trouble bringing myself to finish the last few chapters, it’s just not that interesting.
Totally coincidently, a post of my review of the book went up on www.ironman.com just today.
My copy is sitting with the the page corner of the first chapter being folded with dust an inch thick on it.
seems i made it through the intro then fell asleep never to pick it up again.
on the contrary i have read ‘born to run’, ‘once a runner’, ‘again to carthidge’, ‘ultramarathonman’ … and others a couple times with great anticipation for the next chapter.
when ‘off season’ gets here again, i will make another run at Macca’s book, but only because i don’t consider myself a quitter…
Very interesting, I had precisely the opposite reaction. I even brought Macca’s book to a date I had (that’s how hooked I was). On the other hand, i got through 5 or 6 chapters of “once a runner” and it’s been sitting collecting dust for the last two months. I’m just not in the mood for it. - Maybe one day, when i run out of things to do.
‘Born to run’ is a great book that i’m reading for the second time. I read through it too quickly the first time.
I enjoyed the audiobook. I got it on audible.com. You may be able to get it free for trying it out? Was great for several hours on the trainer. I appreciate his competitiveness myself.
I also agree a good book and fun read but if you don’t like Macca the book may rub you further in that direction.
I give it an “OK”. I found the portion that covered his upbringing very interesting. I really found myself liking the guy in that section. Then he spends many, many chapters covering the head games that he has perfected. I thought this was very long, and probably overstated the importance. Instead of saying, yes I was a jerk sometimes, he says I was only percieved as a jerk because it gave me the edge over my competition. Overall, I thought the book was a little long and thin on actual content. There was some interesting training tips and insights included, but he probably could have cut the book in half.
This part of the head games spoils the book more than the excess of self-congratulation. Head Games do not work.
But the book has interesting things, as I said.
Read it, employed his tactics to “sabotage” the other racers @ my XC tryouts (told them to go out nice and easy, then “attacked” the main field when I was ready, not when they dictated, and held 'em off)…I probably got more from this book than most people…but I still recommend it.
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**P.s.: not a good read to Macca haters **
Isn’t it time to get rid of the term “haters”?
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I picked up the book to read while flying to Europe and finished the book before the plane landed. Found it very interesting and gave a good insight into one of the best if not best male triathletes of all time.
Unfortunately, there is a legion of macca haters…His statements also did not help …Therefore I used the term. It applies to many detractors of Macca. I do not like his auto-affirmative style, but reading the book i understand him better.
And I learn a lot more about Triahtlon…So…It´s a good book to a lite read.
i generally don’t read books penned by athletes, save for LA. but this one was not bad at all.
It was a very interesting read.
He discusses alot about mental tactics and getting in your opponenent’s head. In all honesty, this portion of the book didn’t interest me much as I am not a pro posting messages to other pros on twitter in an effort to win Kona.
What I enjoyed most was simply his discussion on the path he took to get where he is and the challenges he faced along the way.
It gave me a better appreciation for what Macca has done for the sport.
I became a hater after reading it, but thought it was a great read.
OK, I am not a hater, but I do not think he is a god either. Great triathlete that needs to have the hype for his ego. Yes, he is is one of the best ever. A very easy and good read. Worth the time and money.
I became a hater after reading it, but thought it was a great read.
OK, I am not a hater, but I do not think he is a god either. Great triathlete that needs to have the hype for his ego. Yes, he is is one of the best ever. A very easy and good read. Worth the time and money.
But is he really one of the best ever? Let’s get real, for a decade he’s been racing B Grade. In A grade so far he’s hardly set the world on fire. He’s good, but probably just scrapes into the top 10 of all time.
Scott
Allen
Welch
Brownlee
Gomez
Bennett
Whitfield
Robertson
are all WAY above Macca.
The book would be more appropriately named " I could no longer win in the most competitive level of the sport, so I followed the money"
I think your top 10 is way off the pace. Good racers but not the top 10. How does 2 x Kona wins = B Grade? Can only assume you’re trolling…
Macca has achieved a lot at all distances of triathlon, more than all but a very small group. I think of him like Ali: great fighter who had all the moves and made the sport more interesting by adding tension. Its not my style but its who he is and good luck to him for backing himself so publicly.
I am sure for all sports we could argue who is “great”. Macca has won at the top level at all distances for I think he should be listed somewhere in the greats. As I am old school (meaning I am OLD), I realy like greats to have won at all distances—Ironman and in non-drafting races as well. Do I think Brownlee is great? He is the best at his style of racing and damn fast. But I am prejudice about the ALL distances aspect. So…
Yes, it is a bias. May not be “right”, but OLD people can get away with things you young pups can’t. Maybe it is perspective? Or I am just wrong?
Mark, Dave, and even Welch, raced in a time where you had to compete in all distances to make a living. The Sydney Olympics and ITU changed all that.
Never thought I would argue for Macca? Something is wrong with me, must be ill.
Best ever- Macca? No, but the best hype/marketing!