A Life Without Limits — And Other Inspiring Running Books

I ran a half marathon and swam (almost) a mile on Saturday; then on Sunday, biked nearly 16 miles.

It’s not quite a triathlon yet, but I’ll get there, and it’s all thanks to this:

I read Chrissie Wellington’s “A Life Without Limits” a few weeks ago and haven’t been able to get it out of my head, so a review is in order.

The cliff notes: This book is awesome, read it.

The long version: I loved Chrissie Wellington’s story. It’s truly inspiring to regular folk like me, because she was once “regular folk.” Yes, she swam in school, she did sports in college — and, oh well, went on to bike the brutal terrains of Nepal, for fun. But Chrissie Wellington was “just” a government employee before she decided to become a professional triathlete… and proceeded to win the Ironman World Championship title several months later, followed by three more wins at Kona (four out of four). She won every single Ironman she entered.

How does that happen? How do you go from government busy-bee to Ironman World Champion?

You’ll have to read the book to find out. It’s a riveting story about an athlete’s life and her need to control everything; body image issues (and eating disorders); overtraining; clashing heads with coach; finding love and, of course, winning.

A Life Without Limits won’t tell you how to train for a triathlon, but it sure will make you want to try!

Favorite book quote:

“The brain is programmed to protect us, and that can mean imposing limits on what it thinks we can or should do. Constantly push at those limits, because the brain can be way too cautious.”

Here’s what I’ve got next on my reading list:
Currently reading Chris McCormack’s I’m Here To Win. That guy is quite arrogant, isn’t he?

Next up:
Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness
Born to Run
Once a Runner
Can’t Swim, Can’t Ride, Can’t Run: From Common Man to Ironman
and, don’t laugh, but I’m thinking this too:
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Triathlon Training

What’s on your reading list?

Today’s run:

Track Tuesday kicked my butt today, with 10 x 4-minute intervals (in zone 3 for 4 minutes; three-minute rest). I don’t know about Zone 3, but I managed to get in a bunch of 7-minute mile splits in there; hurray for the slow.

Yesterday:
4 miles easy with 6 sprints at the end (10 sec in Z5; 20 sec easy; repeat)… but I think I messed them up. Either way. My quads and left…. er, gluteus maximus (?) hate me right now.