Ralph: Well, we all made it on the plane in time. It should touch down in Houston just in time for us to catch a rideshare back to the house where Mom is letting us stay with her parents.
I am glad that I have something to read on the flight home. Mom sent all her kittens this book to read when we came to work with her at The Kennel. She said that reading this book inspired her to become a better worker.
I will just read the synopsis for now. This book was nominated for “book of the month” by the Online Book Club. Mom’s friend, d.c. scot, is thinking about letting people download it and read it for free if he decides to put it on that website. It may be as soon as next month. Let me see what this book is about. I will decide then if I will read the rest of it.
BEYOND THE THIRTEENTH MILE; THE IRON MAN CHRONICLES
Synopsis: This novella length book is a true, first-person account of a former high school athlete’s attempt to complete his first Ironman distance triathlon. It is loosely based on the author’s journal that he kept while training for this physically and mentally demanding event. The chronicle of events is true, only the names were changed.
The author, who is dissatisfied with his physical condition after reaching his mid-thirties, consults one of his work friends about his training habits. This friend is training to attempt to complete an Ironman distance triathlon. In the beginning of the book, the author is unsure of his ability to complete the event. That is mainly due to his suffering from asthma, a chronic back condition, and a surgically rebuilt knee. The author views completing this event as impossible in the beginning of the book. He decides to train with his friend, anyway, to try to get back into shape. As he trains, he becomes more and more infatuated with competing in triathlons, regardless of the distances involved in the races.
To boost his confidence, the author decides to undertake running long distance races and 100- mile, single day bicycle rides. One long distance run that he trains for is a marathon. The author insists on doing this event even though he is suffering from a painful foot injury. He is later informed that the injury is known as plantar fasciitis. This painful injury is largely due to overtraining. The only cure for it is to take a cortisone injection into the affected area (along the bottom of his foot, a sensitive area) or to rest it until it heals. Resting seems to be the more difficult of the two cures, so he opts for the injection.
As he progresses with his training and competes in shorter distance events, the author is more and more convinced of his ability to finish the grueling event. He encounters many setbacks along the way, however. This seems to be inevitable since he is trying to train for this challenging event with a minimum of coaching. He also must work at a physically demanding job.
Throughout the book, the author juxtaposes his struggles and triumphs while training against those in his day-to-day life. The defeats and discouragements only seem to make the triumphs that much more satisfying. That is true in both training and day-to-day life.
This book emphasizes the author’s faith in God and the hope that it brings. His favorite inspirational verses, Isaiah 40: 29-31 are quoted as his inspiration for completing the endurance events in which he competes. He is made aware by other competitors that his T-shirt that bears these verses on it is an inspiration to others as well.
The gist of the book can be summed up in one statement made by the author to introduce the first chapter. The quote is as follows: “Every now and then, one must step out of his or her normal parameters and try something extremely unusual. In short, at least once in your life, you must try the impossible.”
The impossible, the author feels, is the event for which he is training. Please join author and new triathlete d.c. scot as he brings you the chronicle of events in his life leading up to his first attempt at the impossible: The ultimate test of endurance, physical fitness, mental toughness, and strategizing;, completing an Ironman distance triathlon.
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