You Are an Ironman

July 11, 2011
New York Times reporter Steinberg (The Gatekeepers) collects the personal tales of six people who set the completion of an ironman triathlon as their goal. All completed the Ironman Arizona in 2009 except for one who was injured and unable to compete; the title is taken from an iconic announcer's proclamation as each triathlete crosses the finish line. Their preparation is an engrossing story of pain and perseverance, which, while accessible to a general audience, may be mundane for triathletes. Steinberg, who is not yet a triathlete, states that the book is an "attempt... to capture what this experience feels like, not just for the participants themselves but for their spouses and children." Only one of the triathlete spouses was unsupportive; her voice is largely silent until the end when she "shed the ambivalence, sometimes bordering on hostility, with which she had once greeted her husband's Ironman dream." While the narrative is compelling, more focus on her perspective would have captured the complete experience. Photos.

August 1, 2011

New York Times reporter Steinberg (The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College, 2002) tells the stories of six ordinary people's attempts to complete an Ironman triathlon.

For most people, the idea of the triathlon—a 2.4-mile open-water swim followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26-mile run—probably seems insane. For others, doing all three of those things within a 17-hour span is a challenge to be met. In his second book, which takes its title from the finish-line greeting given to those who succeed, Steinberg attempts to show the day-to-day struggles of several individuals trying to achieve this goal by completing the Ironman Arizona 2009 race. In addition to the strenuous requirements of the race, several of the subjects faced additional challenges, including high blood pressure, recovery from cancer and, most incredibly, a double lung transplant due to cystic fibrosis. The altruism of the participants is of particular note. Many are conflicted about the selfish nature of their pursuit and the time their rigorous training takes them away from their families, but nearly all are raising money or awareness for a worthy cause. The narrative, written in a breezy journalistic style, jumps from character to character as they navigate the ups and downs of their training, competing in shorter races and juggling their other responsibilities. Steinberg lightens his authorial load by liberally quoting from the athletes' blog postings. Though the goal for which they are striving, described by one race official as a "poor man's Everest," may be remarkable, the majority of their experiences on the way to the finish line are more mundane, and none of their personalities come through strongly enough to provide readers more than a casual rooting interest.

The author does not provide deeper insight into the nature of human endurance, but anyone dreaming of completing a triathlon or just seeking to get off the couch and into better shape will find inspiration here.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

September 1, 2011
The Ironman triathlon, for all the armchair athletes in the crowd, is the most grueling triathlon in the world: a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and then a full marathon. All in a row. With a 17-hour deadline. It's an almost unimaginable physical challenge, but lots of people attempt it each year. This book follows a handful of amateurs, as opposed to professional triathletes, as they train for and compete in the Ironman. It's the kind of book that makes you think: I could never do that. Followed by: But wouldn't it be something to try? At first, this book sounds like a serious change of direction from Steinberg's previous The Gatekeepers (2002), about admissions to premier colleges, but, actually, it isn't so far removed. Like that book, this one focuses on people with clearly defined goals and ambitions but who can be stopped in their tracks by forces beyond their control. A compelling look at what may well be the most extreme of the extreme sports.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)