I LOVED this book! Borrow or buy it, but definitely read it.
The end.
Okay, it’s not really the end. Even though I’ve been a lazy blogger all week, I’ll tell you a little but more about “Slow Fat Triathlete“.
Jayne Williams was well on her way to 300 pounds and the big four-oh and spent her days in a soulless cubicle. Like so many of us, she was full of aches and pains. She started her road to fitness by walking, then running on grass for a few minutes. When her legs hurt she swam. Eventually she got on a bicycle. Her fitness improved, her weight came down and she was feeling good. Then she was introduced to sprint-triathlon and thought that she might be able to do that.
This book is the story of how she became a triathlete (at the time of writing she had done a half-Ironman distance race too and many Olympic distance races). Admittedly a slow and fat one, but a very enthusiastic one.
Jayne is funny, articulate and inspiring. She addresses all the issues that we worry about: what shall I wear (always a problem for the more generously proportioned), how will I get into my wetsuit, where can I get a particular item, how do I find out about races in my area, etc? She really covers everything, has great tips and provides many resources.
This is not a training manual, it’s a refreshing introduction to the world of sport. For someone like me, who hasn’t competed in anything since my early teens, this book is an eye-opener. She teaches us that if we take it slowly enough, are sensible and work hard enough we can “live our athletic dreams in the body we have now”.
I no longer harbor any dreams of doing a triathlon myself, but I do want to run a 5K (maybe more) one day. And thanks to Jayne, I now know that I don’t have to wait until I’m thin. She really has inspired me to build up my fitness slowly, but consistently.
The best piece of advice in this book (repeated often)? Don’t fret over what you look like while exercising. Oh, and a sense of humor really helps!
This book was a joy from cover to cover and I strongly recommend it to anybody who has ever entertained the idea that they can’t do something. Jayne Williams will tell you that, given enough support, information and time, you can.
I am inspired!
Click on image for info.
It sounds like an interesting book.
South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Hot 100 Update
*hangs head in shame*
I have this on my night stand.
thanks for reminding me that I keep meaning to start it.
somehow, since I am not a triathlete , I keep skipping it in favor of others
MizFit´s last blog ..First Person Friday: my weekend.
That sounds very inspiring, may have to wander over to my library this weekend.
Robin´s last blog ..100 Days
I would love to be a runner, too, but I’m just so tall a big-boned that I’ve convinced myself I’m not meant to run, so I walk. I secretly harbor the desire to run…maybe.
Amy H.´s last blog ..Tuna Melts on Pitas
I’m not a triathlete, but I found this book really funny and inspiring too!
Crabby McSlacker´s last blog ..Vitalicious Giveaway and More!
LOL!! I love the title! and her accomplishments!!
Hi there,
It’s on my ‘most wanted’ list. Your review has definitely got me wanting it. Also a big THANK YOU for the laugh this afternoon. I loved your comment on my blog…it helped relieve some of the pressure. Hugs!!
Michelle
Michelle´s last blog ..Nerves, nerves, nerves….
I remember loving that book when I read it. I’ll have to pull it out and read it again. I am, after all, hoping to do a tri in the spring.
Almost EVERYONE can compete in a triathlon. Check out the Danskin Tri- women only. I completed a Danskin Tri at age 50 and it was absolutely the most awesome experience ever! Some women go in groups of three so only do one part. Some very obese women walked – some walker using walkers. Blind women biked on a tandem. At the time Sally Edwards (who has completed many Ironman Triathlons) voluntarily finished last in the swim, bike and run segments so no one else had to!
If you want to do a tri, give it a try. You can do it!
DownsizingDoc´s last blog ..One Month Down, 17 To Go
I jogged the other day for the first time, I would have never thought that I would be able to at 218 lbs (at last weight in
…) I think we are capable of alot more than we think we are. That looks like a great book. Hope all is well in your world, by the sounds of it, it is.
hugs,
chris
chris´s last blog ..Just when You thought you posted….
How awesome! So many sports related books don’t work for ‘more generously proportioned’ people. I’ve been tempted to read this for awhile and may have to check it out because of your review. Thanks!
Beth´s last blog ..eating on the go: potbelly’s
I haven’t read this book but need to. Being a slow, fat triathlete myself, I’m sure I can relate to much of it.
I agree with Downsizing Doc. Almost anyone can compete in a triathlon. I recently finished the Trek Women Triathlon in NY – at 50. One woman in the race (and she finished) did not know how to swim at all and learned so she could compete in this race.
I never ran in my life before I decided to do triathlons and I weighed more than 200 pounds when I started training.
Give yourself plenty of time to train and just go for it! It is awesome!
Sounds like a great book! I like that it’s a sort of “starter manual”.
And happy belated anniversary
Sagan´s last blog ..Strategies to solve sleeping issues
I agree with some of the above commenters – almost anyone can do a triathlon. You can do it as part of a team or as an individual and most triathletes are very supportive, they all started somewhere.
So what if you are last and they are packing up the finish line (yes, happened to me on more than one occasion). So what if you have an old borrowed bike with gears that don’t work too well. And so what if you walk most of the run. It just means that you spend more time out there and have longer to enjoy it.
I agree with the author on what the heck to wear. There is no way I would wear one of those full tri suits – yikes!!
Pamela´s last blog ..Antenatal Classes
I own this book and have been thinking about reading it again lately…but cannot find it…lost it in the move I think…perhaps it is time to re-buy it!