Swim, Bike, Bonk

October 15, 2019
The sport of triathlon has experienced colossal growth since its humble beginnings in 1978, when Gordon Haller won the first Ironman race in Hawaii, to the present, with thousands participating in numerous triathlons in which they swim 2.4 miles in open water, then bike 112 miles, and, finally, run 26.2 miles. McGough, an award-winning travel writer, here chronicles his experience as a competitor in 2017 Ironman Arizona. Initially, he comes across as a cocky novice planning to participate in his first triathlon ever with a mere three months of training. Crazy? Yes, but it's worth noting that, at age 32, the former collegiate athlete was still in solid physical shape. As a triathlon newbie, he draws from authoritative sources for advice (friends, trainers, online forums) and pulls together enough training mileage to complete the daunting distance in a respectable 13 hours, 14 minutes, and 10 seconds. McGough's writing shines with his self-deprecating humor and easygoing curiosity. The chapter Behind the Iron Curtain is noteworthy for his reporting on the growth and high cost of the sport.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)