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Home > Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, & the Greatest Race Ever Run
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Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, & the Greatest Race Ever Run
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By Matt Fitzgerald
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 (40 Reviews)
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Velo Press
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Date:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Hardcover
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Pages:
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336
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The 1989 IronmanŽ World Championship was the greatest race ever. In a spectacular duel that become known as the Iron War, the world's two strongest athletes raced side by side at world-record pace for a grueling 139 miles.
Driven by one of the fiercest rivalries in triathlon, Dave Scott and Mark Allen raced shoulder to shoulder through the Ironman 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race, and 26.2-mile marathon. After 8 punishing hours, both men would demolish the previous record?and cross the finish line just 58 seconds apart. The race would redefine the limits of human endurance and the role of mental toughness in sports.
In his new book Iron War, sports journalist Matt Fitzgerald writes a riveting epic about how Allen and Scott drove themselves and each other through the most awe-inspiring race in sports history. Iron War goes beyond the pulse-pounding race story to offer a fascinating exploration of the lives of the world's two toughest men and their unquenchable desire to succeed.
Weaving an examination of mental resolve into a gripping tale of athletic adventure, Iron War is a soaring narrative of two champions and the paths that led to their stunning final showdown.
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Customers' Reviews:
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 Read review copy pre-release: A Part of Triathlon History and Lore., October 3, 2011
By Tom Demerly (Tucson, Arizona)
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Matt Fitzgerald is a darn good writer, but even a good writer needs a great drama to produce something truly special, and Matt Fitzgerald has found an iconic duel to describe in "Iron War".
There has been some grumbling about Fitzgerald's characterizations of the protagonists in Iron War, Allen and Scott. Those two have had their say in letters to triathlon magazine editors bemoaning Fitzgerald's characterizations of them. While I am an unabashed fan of both Allen and Scott, I say no-foul with Fitzgerald's account. Drama IS good characters and good characters are quarky and unusual. It's the stuff of great drama but in the case of Iron Wars, its also part of who triathletes are; eccentric, self absorbed and usually pretty thin-skinned. Allen and Scott are no different, Fitzgerald's treatment isn't particularly rough-shod, it is more forensic than this sport is used to- and in that Fitzgerald breaks new, and needed, ground. Good.
For the majority of athletes who come into this sport in the last decade Fitzgerald gives us our "Perfect Storm", our "Into Thin Air" with an account of a pivotal moment in triathlon history between iconic characters. It's riveting stuff- if it doesn't speak to you then perhaps you should think about taking up golf.
Agree or disagree with Fitzgerald's perspective this book belongs in the sport and is long overdue. It is part of our lore, our history. For those who take exception, write another account... I'll read that one too. But if nothing else were written about the 1989 Ironman Triathlon World Championship duel between Allen and Scott then "Iron War" would be a darn good reference and a great dramatic account.
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
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 Mark and Dave come out against this book, September 30, 2011
By Darren Allen (Tallahassee, FL USA)
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I was really excited when I saw that this book was coming out. I'm much less excited, (and won't be buying the book), after the two subjects of the book, Dave Scott and Mark Allen have come out so strongly against the book.
In an open letter to the triathlon and endurance community, Dave Scott and Mark Allen wrote, "We're writing this because we believe that the soon-to-be-published book from VeloPress, entitled Iron War, inaccurately and inappropriately portrays us..."
<...>
16 of 51 people found this review helpful
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Pretty good, October 1, 2011
By Book buyer (Nowhere)
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I don't know how accurate the book is and neither do the people giving it one stars without reading it. Classy.
You might want to try actually reading the book before "reviewing" it based on Dave and Marks statement.
From their own statement Dave Scott and Mark Allen wanted money to participate in this book which wasn't forthcoming. Plus who knows how accurate their own books are or would be. I was involved in Triathlons during this time period, knew a few of the top pro's and the book rings true historically to me. I have no idea if the personal details are true or not.
I didn't know they were infallible gods who would never shade the truth about anything.
This book is also about Triathlon during the 70's and 80's and is a very good read if you want to know about triathlon in that time frame or were involved as I was.
Its well written and interesting, it would have gotten five stars from me with the cloud of suspicion over it's accuracy in some areas. My guess would be that the parts of the book Dave and Mark object to are some of the personal details.
Read the book and think for yourself.
12 of 16 people found this review helpful
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I won't be buying or reading this book, September 30, 2011
By Jay Branson
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I was excited to see the articles in various TRI magazines promoting this book. Being a big fan of Dave Scott and Mark Allen I was looking forward to hearing their view on the "Iron War". Dave has spoken to my team and done some clinics with us in the past and we all are great supporters. When I learned that they did not participate, or support, this book I was very disappointed. In fact they have written an open letter to the TRI community and filed a lawsuit. Those are quite strong measures. How can an author write this story without their support? I won't be buying or reading this book and will be encouraging Dave & Mark to work on one together. This is a story worthy of a book, that will be yet to be told in print.
12 of 43 people found this review helpful
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Gorgeous tale about two remarkable men, October 7, 2011
By Joshua Sandeman
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The short answer is that I found Iron War to be an eloquently written homage to two great athletes who really, truly put on one of the most extraordinary displays of gumption, grit, and competitive fire I have ever known. So meticulously wrought is the human dimension of this epic saga that I should think even non-athletes would find the story compelling and meaningful. The book offers depth along multiple dimensions, from rich background on the sport itself, to a controversial degree of detail about the lives and psychologies of the athletes, to some of the latest, greatest science about what makes a human being capable of such extraordinary effort. It is a feast of ideas as much as a gripping account of an extraordinary day.
I feel sad that the athletes themselves are so upset with this work; I myself simply cannot imagine how I could feel defamed by this beautiful tale, although I am sympathetic as to why public exposure of some very personal information would at least make someone uncomfortable-- after all, we human beings have a disturbing history of judging each other with little compassion for each others' foibles and flaws. The author certainly delves into the psychology and life history of these two men in lavish detail, but this for me serves to greatly enrich the story and leaves me with a deeper appreciation for Allen and Scott and what they accomplished. As much as they both may have strove for perfection and invulnerability, both men are nevertheless thoroughly human, warts and all. This only makes their achievements more inspiring, and I have come away from this book thinking more of them, not less.
This book is obviously just one person's perspective on that fateful day nearly 22 years ago, and of the chain of events that lead up to it, who is himself an imperfect human being. But the book appears to be meticulously researched, with plenty of end notes for the interested reader to follow up on. Facts are one thing, though, and impressions are quite another. Not even the athletes themselves are necessarily the final arbiters of the truth of what makes them tick, or what happened on that day. All of us are always interpreting our experience, weaving imperfect stories out of the information we have available to us. The notion that Fitzgerald intended to defame, embarrass, or misrepresent Allen and Scott stretches credulity; to me the book is clearly the work of a person who loves the sport, loves his craft, and greatly admires these two remarkable athletes. Please read this book and judge for yourself!
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
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It doesn't matter what Mark and Dave say...GREAT BOOK!!, October 6, 2011
By Jaime Gamboa
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As a former full-time triathlete and a person tied closely to many of the personalities in this great sport, I was totally excited to read the story behind Iron War. To say the least, it is great! It is human, sad, inspirational, and extremely enjoyable. I, like most, revere Mark and Dave for who they were (are) as competitors. What I found so intriguing in Iron War was their stories as humans and men. Yeah, I hear they are against it and I can see why, but it's not justified. I mean, how many times have we heard athletes say, "this is totally false and untrue!".?? If you have to say it.... In any event, this book accomplishes what many others in triathlon can't do - tell you a human story. Iron War is one of the most iconic moments in sport that, aside for those in the triathlon world, most have never heard of let alone seen! When triathlon first became an Olympic sport in 2000 I thought, "wow, 'our sport' is getting huge!" But really, it hasn't exactly become the mainstream sport we thought it'd become. Mostly because most triathletes are not relatable figures. And because those in the sport can not get out of their own way. This book explores many controversial topics and real life issues that I believe most people will identify with more as humans. I mean most folks can't fathom a triathlon let alone an Ironman! I hope many of you buy Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, & the Greatest Race Ever Run, it's fascinating. And I hope the "godfathers" of triathlon (Mark and Dave) realize that their stories (through this book) are both inspirational and human. It really made me respect them more as people...enjoy.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
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Not worth reading, September 30, 2011
By Rosalie E. Latham (Virginia Beach, Virginia United States)
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Why write a fictional tale about a race that would make an excellent factual story. The two main characters in this story are unrecognizable as portrayed by this author. Very disappointing.
9 of 33 people found this review helpful
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Great Read, October 5, 2011
By Harry
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Matt Fitzgerald has written a well crafted, well researched and incredibly exciting account of what is one of the great sports rivalries of all time. The book will not only appeal to TRI fans but should prove to be one of THE great sports books of the year.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Wonderful writing, October 11, 2011
By Dori Hale
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I loved this book. I brought to it only a passing acquaintance with triathlon but an abiding interest in human behavior. Fitzgerald has crafted a suspenseful page-turner that is as gripping as any mystery novel you might read. He has structured the book perfectly,giving psychological histories of the competitors that add to the suspense, mixed in with a thorough grounding in the underlying neuroscience and physiology of endurance. If you are interested in the "why" of great accomplishment (of all kinds), you will probably find this book fascinating.
I found nothing negative in the portrayals of Dave Scott and Mark Allen. We are to understand that they have, like the rest of us, emotional baggage to deal with and that, unlike the rest of us, they also have surpassing physical gifts. How these factors play out is masterfully presented in a respectful and compassionate way. I sense that Fitzgerald wrote this book as much with his heart as with his mind. Iron War is a book that will stay with me for a long time. It belongs with all the classic recountings of immense desire coming smack up against immense obstacles. That's timeless stuff.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Engaging and exciting even if you're not a triathlete (or even an athlete), October 5, 2011
By Michael D. Holmes
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I'm about half way through the book... staying up past my bed time because I'm enjoying it so much. Really gripping and compelling page-turner even for a non-triathlete like myself. These are some fascinating characters presented with depth and respect. I'm amazed at what they've accomplished. I only hope that other people who post reviews are doing so on the basis of their reading the book itself rather than just in reaction to the the book's subjects who seem to be upset at having a light shined on something other than their split times and training schedules.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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 So So, October 6, 2011
By CyclingGuy (Philadelphia, PA United States)
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I bought the book to see what all the excitement was about. I figure it must be about the money, since neither of the stars came across badly.
The book was very uneven. Parts of it were very good and kept me engaged... but then it would suddenly change gears to talk about sport psychology for a chapter or start talking about other non-contenders in the chapter about the actual Iron Man finale. If I wanted to read a book or article on sports psychology, I'd buy one. (kind of like i didn't buy any of the books about Lance Armstrong to pick up bike handling tips). And sorry, I just don't care about Bob Smith who happened to be there in 1989.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful
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No journalistic Integrity, October 1, 2011
By skycondition
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I was interested in reading about the history of the sport until I read the open letter from Dave Scott and Mark Allen to triathlon magazines around the country. [...]
6 of 36 people found this review helpful
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Great Read, October 16, 2011
By Ross P (Sydney Australia)
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This is a very hard book for me to review . I was there I saw it , I have read numerous articles about it and watched the DVD hundreds of times . I lived Ironwar , I knew it back to front . I'm an unabashed Dave Scott fan , so it was hard for me to get this book after reading Dave's response to it - however I had already pre-ordered it and went ahead with the purchase .
This book is great , whilst reading it I noted that I had read the content ,quote or line in some other article previously , Fitzgerald has extensively borrowed from numerous sources - he respectfully credits them all and is able to tie it all in together . At times I read things and went "Whoa , now I know Why Dave and Mark are upset" however I went to the reference notes and acknowledgements at the back and Fitzgerald was seemingly able to offer a source for just about every comment, if not all .
The book is not solely about Ironman 89 , there is a lot of background and historical notes of much interest about the sport and the two protagonists and the events leading up to the great day.
For anyone interested in Ironman and Triathlon this is a Must read , it's been 22 years since Ironwar that's plenty of time for the story to be told - Fitzgerald took the bull by its horns and ran with it and has delivered an exceptionally well written and researched book - to him I say well done and thank you . I'll watch with interest Dave's and Mark's action and hope that they will also find the time to pen their version . Buy it Read it enjoy it !
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Protagonists Pursue Legal Action, September 30, 2011
By vegpedlr
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I was initialy very excited to hear about this book when the author spoke to my triathlon club this summer. But when the main characters are going to sue the author for defamation? I don't know that I want any of my money going in that direction.
5 of 29 people found this review helpful
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Some Great, Some Serious Objections..., October 27, 2011
By Brad Kearns (Auburn, CA)
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Heads up: lengthy review coming....Brilliant writing talent, some disappointing elements - dubious conclusions and exaggerations, and some really wonderful elements that hard-core triathletes in particular will appreciate. Readers are likely aware of Dave Scott and Mark Allen's objections to the book. This is pretty disappointing considering how small the triathlon community is (too small to have unauthorized biographies I think!). The book would have been far superior had Mark and Dave been directly involved with the author. Instead they are suing the author and publisher. It makes for good drama and possibly additional sales and publicity for the book, but it also makes one question why the author--long a media insider in the sport--could not obtain sufficient cooperation from the protagonists. It seemed like more energy was spent filling 27 pages (seriously) with reference notes, perhaps to "prove" the authenticity of the story line in the absence of their cooperation.
Matt Fitzgerald is a very talented writer and worked very hard on this book. Hard core triathletes will be captivated by his blow by blow of the '89 Hawaii Ironman race, and numerous other ironmans detailed. His creative use of adjectives and descriptions of the surroundings makes the reading enjoyable. e.g. - when two young German cyclists pull away from Mark Allen, its: "...he was losing ground to the virile young meat machines chugging away ahead...".
**
Mark and Dave are rightfully sensitive about someone digging into the past and conducting armchair psychoanalysis about what makes them tick. Here's a passage from the book that indicates the folly of going where you shouldn't go:
"Behind how many great male athletes is a lousy father? Mark Allen. Lance Armstrong. Haile Gebrselassie. Michael Phelps [world's best triathlete, biker, runner, swimmer]....Coincidence? Not bloody likely." Coincidence that you cherry picked four athletes with some sort of father "story" to advance a theory? Not bloody likely.
Speaking of Lance, he has set us pretty straight on this issue. From his own mouth, he has informed the public that:
a) he had an irrelevant biological father followed by a succession of extremely poor father figures in his youth
b) - and this is the take-home point - that these characters had f-all to do with his success.
Interrupting a really interesting and deep philosophical thread in the conclusion, the author restates his oversimplified theory to account for the tremendous drive and will to suffer that these athletes exhibit as follows: Mark had father issues and Dave was born with the suffering gene. And consequently, "Dave and Mark might seem somewhat psychologically imbalanced"
This is tough one to swallow. Mentioning Dr. Allen's fatherly shortcomings as a driving factor in Mark's motivation can easily discredit Mark as well as his father. It just too difficult to succeed advancing psychological theories about subjects who did not contribute directly to the discussion. What about his positive contributions? After all, he watched Mark win in Kona, so on the Lance Armstrong scale things ain't that bad, eh? To say Dave was "born" with his work ethic and suffering-adept brain discredits his many practical efforts and life influences that helped shape him into a champion athlete. The author unwittingly undermines his theory when he relates Dave Scott's extreme fluctuations in motivation to train hard over the years, which doesn't make sense if he was endowed with a mysterious "born to work hard/suffer" gene. Also, if peak performance - whatever the complex motivations behind it - is psychologically imbalanced, then does "balanced" equate to mediocrity?
**
The book leans on a total of two scientists to delve into questionable objectionable threads about mental toughness being seemingly the sole reason for Mark and Dave's superiority over other athletes. One scientist proposes that, "chronic exertion of cognitive effort required to control your own emotions and deal with difficult family situations may induce neurocognitive adaptations that will translate into a competitive advantage during endurance competitions later in life." Yeah? So does hard training, the incentive of prize money and sponsor bonuses, relationships that are loving and nurturing, and cheering crowds.
This calls to mind another Lance quote, when I asked him how his having "been to hell and back" (with his cancer ordeal) made him a better cyclist. "Hey, everyone has been to hell and back, in one way or another." The race story and the back story is fantastic enough not to have to sprinkle it with childhood slights, relationship drama, or whatever. It analogous to the modern tri-geeks overthinking their training to the detriment of an intuitive approach. Props to the author for rightfully ripping on the tri geek overly-techie approach and calling attention to the value of Dave and Mark's old-school approaches; Dave raced sans heart watch or speedometer - everything was by feel.
**
The section about motivational intensity and exercise tolerance was well written, and it's a fascinating subject. Imagine, the brain is what limits our performance instead of muscles! This theory has been advanced before by Dr. Timothy Noakes (Lore of Running) and others. Unfortunately, license was taken here to distill some sound bites that could mislead the reader as to the source of superhuman athletic performance. E.g.:
"Fatigue in endurance exercise is always voluntary"
"The reason Mark and Dave were 3 miles ahead of the next competitor at the '89 Ironman is because they were mentally tougher"
"Mark and Dave thought of training differently than other athletes (as practice for improved tolerance to fatigue instead of just for strengthening the body to go faster)."
"Neither man has appreciably more physical talent that the competitors quarreling over third place far behind them [but they have] a clear advantage in mental stamina"
"Dave Scott's performance (in the final miles of Ironman '89, maintaining good pace after he was dropped and his form got loose) was a one in a billion exhibition of will in sports"
Really?
This is Baloney.
The reason Mark and Dave were 3 miles ahead of the next competitor was because they swam, cycled and ran faster than the others to that point. This resulted from a couple decades of endurance training, building to a period of exquisite preparation for that single day over the weeks and months leading up to it. Read Daniel Coyle's The Talent Code or Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers to get some insights about what "talent" is and how it's developed. The most talented athlete at the '89 Ironman was Mark Allen, because he won. The second most talented athlete in the field was Dave Scott. Period.
Mark and Dave may or may not have anything mentally on Mike Pigg, or Simon Whitfield, or Kobe Bryant, or Hicham El Gerrouj, or Blanka Vlasic, or many other athletes who reach elite ranking. Their superiority as triathletes - on the day in question and during other highlights in their careers - is far more broad and complex than that. It cannot be piece-mealed out of the complex whole for dramatic purposes. Doing so marginalizes the legacy of the athlete much in the same way we hail Michael Phelps size 14 feet and double jointed elbows, knees, and ankles, or Usain Bolt's 9'6" stride length as their primary success factors.
**
A triathlete who is simply mentally tough and impervious to pain and suffering will not even make it to the starting line, because he or she will lack the common sense to turn this faucet on and off with precision throughout the training process. Mark's career arc provides some insights here, as he had to learn to moderate his Grip of Death personality attribute after recurring injuries early in his career. He had to develop into a more complete athlete and human. Dave Scott has long been characterized as an athlete who "works the hardest" and "lacks natural ability or graceful technique". So to be the "Man" all you have to do is head out the door and pedal your brains out in the heat and wind for five hours every day, then get off and run a quick 12 at tempo? Then unlock the Davis community pool with your own key and do some solo stroking along the black line late at night? If it were this easy, we'd have pack sprints to the finish in 8 hours flat at Ironman each year. Fatigue is voluntary! You can pull an Red Bull and Top Ramen-fueled all-nighter to study for a final exam, ace the 3-hour final the next morning, then in the afternoon hammer 6 x 800m with the varsity team. Then party all night with the Kappa Kappa Gammas, and get a voluntary upper respiratory infection.
**
Consider this: Perhaps Mark and Dave became mentally tougher than everyone because they were physically stronger--particularly on the day of the big race? It sure helps to be in bad ass shape when you are ignoring screaming lungs and aching quads to surge at mile 24 and break the Man on the Kona coast. The true sage of multisport, Kenny Souza, was once asked the secret to his success at a public seminar: "long rides, man!". There was laughter all around, and then a brief pause while the audience waited for Kenny to elaborate...I think the profound significance of him NOT elaborating might have been lost on that audience.
I know that Kenny Souza didn't ponder whether his long rides were practicing "improved tolerance to fatigue" instead of "just for strengthening the body to go faster", because Twisted Sister was blaring too loud from his Walkman for him to ponder anything besides the Mrs. Field's cookies he was going to scarf at Boulder, CO's Pearl Street Mall upon conclusion of long ride.
This is not to discount the phenomenal mental toughness of Dave and Mark on that day, or throughout their careers. It's merely an attempt to put it into proper context instead of bringing up childhood slights like Dave getting benched on the varsity basketball team or Mark not getting due accolades from his dad for his age group swimming efforts.
The varied approaches that Dave and Mark took to the start line--Mark introducing the mystical element and Dave taking the blue-collar approach--have been so often discussed over the years that it gets a bit tiresome to revisit it decades later. This stuff is just window dressing and of less significance than the nuts and bolts of what made the "greatest endurance race ever": Two athletes who'd figured out how to experience a career peak at the same time and battle it out.
That's plenty of critique for one review, and I will repeat that serious triathletes will certainly enjoy the racing blow by blow and the background information conveyed about these legendary athletes. I again congratulate Fitzgerald for his extensive research and superior writing skills, which easily earns him 4 stars, or 3 stars, whatever, in comparison to the triathlon training crap that has flooded the marketplace in recent years. On that note, consider purchasing Mark Allen's Total Triathlon and Dave Scott's Triathlon Training - both a quarter-century old but some of the best books written about athlete mindset (predominating in Mark's book) and technical training (predominating in Dave's book).
If you a passionate triathlete, you will enjoy much of this book, but it may be useful to remember the concluding paragraph from Mark and Dave's open letter to the triathlon community about the book: "Our hope is that you, as intelligent and discerning athletes, will know and remember our battle in 1989 for its grit, and use that as inspiration to explore and break through your own limits to find greatness in both your racing and in your personal lives. And if you do decide to read Iron War be prepared to wade through fiction, fantasy and fabrication."
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Must Read for any Athlete, October 13, 2011
By Buck's Cycler
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Matt does an exceptional job of capturing the essence of what makes Triathletes both unique and different. He also pays great homage to two of the heroes of the sport. Some might disagree with his portrayal of Dave and Mark but my read was more of reverence to them.
The book also provides a great history to how the greatest Triathlon event was born. You also have to marvel at the performance of Dave and Mark. Dave posting a 4 hour 28 minute bike time with 1980 equipment and one foot ducked taped to the pedal! That would put Dave in top 10 bike finishes this year. Think what they would do today.
This book deserves its space in Triathlon and should be a must read for anyone in the sport. It will motivate you to sign up for your next event! Congrats Matt
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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A Compelling Page Turner About An Epic Race And Two Extraordinary men, January 4, 2012
By Student, teacher, music, and book lover (Los Angeles, Ca)
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Iron War, by Matt Fitzgerald, is the compelling account of the 1989 Ironman Triathlon and the two incredible athletes who battled side by side for all but ten minutes of the eight hour race. A distance runner who has never done a triathlon and unfamiliar with these two men, I didn't know what to expect when I picked up the book. In fact, I didn't even know who had won the race.
Before reading, I saw an article that the two athletes being depicted were unhappy with their characterization in the book. In an open letter, Dave Scott and Mark Allen spoke out against the book and seemed to take issue that the author calls them "psychologically unbalanced" (in the final copy merely states they may "appear so to the unfamiliar observer"). I'd argue that to train 6-8 hours a day and compete in a race that includes a 2.5 mile ocean swim, a 112 mile island bike ride, only to be followed by running 26.2 miles, you'd have to be a little different than the common man. In fact, the author contends, you may even have a natural desire to see how much you suffer, a fair statement.
As a result of this open letter, in an act I'd consider devotion to their heroes, there were a few negative ratings and reviews on Amazon from people who had not read the book but were supporting the athletes. I was expecting a very negative, biting account of the two but what I read was compelling, dramatic, and gave a very human dimension to two superhuman men. Upon finishing the book I emailed Dave Scott saying how inspirational and informative it was. I didn't see how the account was negative. To my surprise, he responded to my email, reiterating that he and Mark were upset by their depiction and inaccuracies, but mentioned that they had "settled" out of court with the author and hope to write a "true accounting" of the race and their characters. I'm not sure if those who boycotted it would like to read it now.
Some changes were made to the advanced copy and it seems, after some sort of financial compensation, they were ok to let the issue go. I'd like to point out that in the open letter, one of their gripes is that they provided "in depth background information about [their] personal lives", delivering "exhaustive detail necessary to understand what made [them] tick", a request made "without any offer to share the benefits". I'm sure there were disagreements about the contents of the book and the final release had been edited somewhat. There are over 10,000 biographies on Abraham Lincoln and it's the author's job to research and make sense of things and give their best account. There are bound to be disagreements and nevertheless, I think Fitzgerald has done this to a very compelling degree.
Dave Scott began his Ironman career just two years after the sport began, competing in the third event, which had grown from several to an event with televised notoriety. The sport seem perfect for the kid biked 5 miles to school every day, competing against the school bus (which he beat when it stopped at a lights). A good athlete, he was never able to achieve greatness in any particular sport. That is until the triathlon. Scott ate up training - he could push himself on a daily basis farther than most. He's the kind of guy with the mentality of do more work harder than everybody else and you'll be sure to be number one. While he'd find this didn't hold true in any one particular sport where more talented individuals could beat him, he began having success in multisport events. Scott was a workhorse punishing himself daily, competing against himself in training nearly every day.
Mark Allen was a former swimmer who was plagued by the mental aspects of the sport. He tended to get psyched out and not perform well in big swimming meets. Never having had any interest in triathlons, Mark Allen watched the 1982 event because of friend of his was competing. Most of the world was inspired by footage of Julie Moss (I've even seen it on commercials) collapsing and dragging herself to the finish line that year and for Mark Allen, it was an epiphany. He needed to push his limits the same way Julie had. However, while Scott approaches training with the more is better attitude, Allen found that his body needed more recovery and more calculated training efforts. In fact, for months at a time, Allen would not allow his heart rate above 155 bpm while training, hoping to save his efforts and peak for certain races. In essence, the two men were perfect foils.
Mark had a different approach to training. He tended to feel there was a very psychological aspect to it and it wasn't merely a matter of pushing his body to its limits. He also came to learn there was a certain flow to his competing and that by letting go and appreciating the moment, he could unlock a higher level of performance. In one race, panicked, in doubt, about to choke and give up, he gets a sense of peace. Letting go and everything gets easier. He goes with it and stays up in the lead, midway through the marathon in an Ironman competitions he goes on to win.
It's almost as Herb Eliot wrote, "Poetry, music, forests, oceans, solitude - they were what developed enormous spiritual strength. I came to realize that spirit, as much or more than physical conditioning, had to be stored up before a race."
Before writing my thoughts on this book as whole, I wrote a blog about a chapter in the book, "Breaking Point", which discusses the science behind final few miles as an endurance athlete ties up. Describing research done with an accelerometer to measure the way an athletes stride varies while running, how an elite athletes may differ with an amateur, and some cutting edge science behind the stride and mental toughness required to maintain it as you tie up.
These sections that Fitzgerald includes are fascinating and relevant to understanding the athletes and our own running. It is interesting and relevant to any runner who striving to get better and understand what their mind and body may be going through at the end of a race. You can find the article I wrote on the topic at www.runningismyhappyplace.blogspot.com
Reading the biography led me to an important question: When reading the account of someone's life and the motivation behind their actions, who is more trustworthy - a reporter gathering facts and accounts, giving his take on it, or the actual person being written about? On the one hand, the author is going on second and third hand accounts, but has a better overview of what was going on from multiple angles. On the other, you have, if you can trust them, the perspective of the athlete. If you're familiar with Roshomon, then you know that one even can be told in multiple (even contradictory) ways, based on the observer. While the athletes and biographer's accounts differ, I'm not by how much. I can admit there is analysis (often extrapolated from the author's experience, and subjective point of view) and creative license, It seems pretty evident when the author's perspective is in play.
I'd be interested in reading a first hand account by the athletes (and an article describing the accuracies in detail) and comparing the two. I can't help but think the permeates somewhere in between. I think the book made for a compelling page turner, leaving me more interested in these two extraordinary athletes and their sport.
Full disclosure: I was neither given advanced copy, nor compensated in any way for this. I'm just a curious reader who has too much time on his hands. I'm sure this isn't the last biography where people disagree. Hopefully it's not the last one written about the sport and these two men.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Been there, and he's nailed it!, December 16, 2011
By dhp elite training (California)
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In 1983 I directed the Maui Triathlon and The Kauai Classic in 1984. I spent time in the mix and had some first hand accounts with some of the players in Matt's book. He, in my opinion told a story that compares very true to life with what I experienced with the personalities in the book. The race was amazing, what it took for these pioneers to forge a path for the rest, the mindsets involved were shown in this book as near to reality as could have possibly been penned.
I understand that the principal characters in the book were a bit put out by the account portrayed by the author. My take is, they need to get over themselves. Revel in your glory, you performed at a level of athleticism that set the bar for others to follow. What got you there was sure to be characteristically off color. If you were like everyone else, odds are you would never had made history. Great book Matt, one of your best.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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A 'gripping' read!, October 22, 2011
By Sean T. Fitzgerald
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A superbly constructed, researched, and written book! I'm not the biggest reader but polished this one off in just a few days. I signed up to run the California International Marathon -- not an Ironman -- but it's a start. I've run a few marathons before, but after reading about how these two gifted men embraced 'suffering' in the greatest race ever run, I find myself inspired to "see what I can do" like never before!
Dave Scott and Mark Allen are two amazing athletes which is fully illustrated in Fitzgerald's riveting epic. Being a casual fan of endurance sports, I had forgotten all about both of them until reading Iron War and never had a clue how much success they enjoyed in the sport until reading this detailed account. Their achievements are remarkable as are their personal stories and the different paths they took to get to the top.
Often, we sports fans put athletes such as Allen, Scott, Tiger, Jordan, and Armstrong on a pedestal beyond reproach. But through Fitzgerald's thorough examination, we see the vulnerabilities of two of the toughest athletes the world has ever known giving readers a unique perspective into the fuel that makes the great ones great (and the different paths one can take to achieve greatness). I also enjoyed Fitzgerald's exploration of "suffering" in the context of endurance races. We tend to think of suffering in terms of the hungry and needy, but Fitzgerald exams the psychological components of suffering in a whole new way that makes us all wonder what we're made of... what we have inside of us... what we can do! Overall, Fitzgerald blends a gripping true story with modern sports physiology, sports psychology, family dynamics, and the human condition.
I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book to anyone. It reads like a page-turning, suspense novel.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Audio Edition, October 2, 2011
By Brennan N. Cassidy
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Sorry, I know this isn't a review. Although I'm giving it 5 stars because REAL journalism doesn't "pay" people for an interview like Allen and Scott want. Will there be an audio edition of this book? I can delete this once someone gets back to me.
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
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Audio Edition, October 2, 2011
By Mr Baseball 0
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Sorry, I know this isn't a review. Although I'm giving it 5 stars because REAL journalism doesn't "pay" people for an interview like Allen and Scott want. Will there be an audio edition of this book? I can delete this once someone gets back to me.
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
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The day that made Ironman in three dimensions, December 29, 2011
By Paul M (Maryland)
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There has been a fair amount of indigestion in the triathlon community of Dave Scott and Mark Allen's pledge to file suit against the author and publisher over falsehoods and defamatory characterizations in this book.
None of that should stop you from reading it. To this Ironman veteran, it shed new light on an athletic battle that is among the most important myths in our sport. The book does an excellent job showing how these two men came to occupy the space next to each other on the Queen K highway that afternoon, and what the moment meant to each of them and the sport.
To the extent the subjects are not satisfied they should add to the discussion with their own treatment of the day. It is entirely possible the author botched some facts; I can assure you there was nothing in there that diminished my respect or admiration for them one iota. More importantly, they can lend their own truth to the conversation, and if it differs from the book that is fine. As Niels Bohr would say, the opposite of a profound truth is another profound truth.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Great book, December 8, 2011
By DJ
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This book is very inspirational and a great read for a future Ironman. The author does a great job at telling both sides of the rivalry.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Awesome, November 27, 2011
By Inoza
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I would like to find the movie. This book makes me dreaming and I would like to see the video.
Well constructed, easy to read as a page-turner, very interesting, this a very good bargain.
Thank you Mister Fitzgerald.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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From Costa Rica, November 19, 2011
By Roberto Garcia
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what a GREAT book, back in 1989 as a age group , I was 34 years old , I raced in the USTS in Miami , as described in page 100, today I have 2 sons doing this sport and the oldest one hoping to qualify for Kona in 2012, now I have the handbook for the trip and the race !!!
Gracias
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Iron War - its was like you were there watching, November 8, 2011
By H. Hall
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This book was very well written. I felt as if I were in Kona watching Dave Scott and Mark Allen dueling it out at the Ironman. I recall watching the Scott-Allen competition when I was younger (actually, the two are about my age). The Ironman itself is a feat of human endurance but to have two elite athletes actually having to race to the finish made this race even more grueling.
The author made me feel like I was there at Kona on the highway watching them come back into town. And, since the race was so long ago, I am not sure I even saw it when it happened and if I did, I certainly did not recall the outcome. Whether you are "into" athleticism, or close compeition or just want to read a book that will make you not want to put it down until you get to the end, Iron War is the book to read. And you certainly don't want to flip ahead to the final pages to see how it turns out!! And the part were you have learned what each of their strategies would be in the race if they found themselves side by side at the end, and then seeing such a finish start to develop makes it an even difficult to stop reading until you know how it all ends.
I have run many marathons and tried a Tri at the sprint distance. As I crossed the finish line I told those there that I would rather train for a marathon then ever do a Tri again. And that was a sprint!! Dave Scott and Mark Allen made the Ironman what it is today. This book does an excellent job of describing that event, that time, those warriors. The book is a personal library keeper and one I expect I will read again and again, even though I know know how it iends.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Surprised--A Great Read, November 2, 2011
By A. R. Spitzer (Sunrise, FL)
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I had read the controversy about this book before purchasing it, but decided to buy it anyway. I found myself mystified by Dave Scott and Mark Allen's reaction to what I perceive as a completely wonderful tribute to these great athletes. Certainly, there is no way that Matt Fitzgerald could have known what was going through their minds as they prepared to race and did indeed run the "Iron War," but he tries to reference as much of that as possible, his story is dramatic and convincing, and from my perspective, it only adds further to their legendary status as the two greatest male iron man triathletes of all time. Other outstanding athletes have had far less complimentary stories written about them without any protest whatsoever. Why these two champions felt so put off by this book remains unclear to me. From an athlete's perspective, one could only wish for something like this being written to memorialize one's most heroic exploits. I can't help but feel that Mark and Dave did themselves a greater disservice by their actions than Matt Fitzgerald ever did. This is a terrific read and a wonderful history of these two incredible athletes.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Dave & Mark hate the book, so do I, November 12, 2011
By K. Ranabargar (Pasadena, CA United States)
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Any iron-distance triathlete was likely salivating over the release of this book - Dave and Mark are legends in the sport. How bad is the book? Well, the subjects of the book actually filed a legal suit over the book. While some revisions were made before it went to press, they still do not believe it is an accurate portrayal. On that basis alone this book is not worth reading. The author is more interested in money than demonstrating RESPECT for two legends, which is very unfortunate.
3 of 12 people found this review helpful
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Entertaining and motivational read about a piece of triathlon history, February 5, 2012
By T. Butter
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After reading the reviews I was not sure whether to buy the book, knowing that the 2 protagonists of the story did not endorse it. I finally bought it based on the many good reviews and I'm glad I did. The author recreates the excitement of the race, while providing insight into the philosophy and training approaches of Dave Scott and Mark Allen. His assumptions on the motivators of these two men, allegedly rooted in their childhood, may be right or not (as Dave & Mark assert), they certainly sound plausible based on the many footnotes and integrate well into the story.
So overall a gripping read that will provide motivation for many training sessions to come and that - having never seen Dave & Mark - left me with deep respect for their trailblazing achievements.
Great photos accompany the book, however in the Kindle version they are all at the back of the book, after the text. It would be nice to see the photos in the appropriate context in the text, however this is a minor complaint in an overall great book.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Great Story, January 17, 2012
By Cagy
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This is a well written and really thrilling book. Having done Ironman at Kona twice in first in '90, the year after this race (and then in '91). The Man-Grip poster was the poster used for '90 Ironman. Even knowing the outcome, Mr. Fitzgerald managed to create a page turner, as he weaves the stories of the paths Dave Scott and Mark Allen took to get to this ultimate showdown. And for others out there who have raced Kona, you will both re-live experiencing those locations described in the book during the race, and remember the same pains and hurdles you had to overcome- even if you are regular human racer and not one of the triathlon gods. For all triathletes, there are some wonderful insights into both the different training regimes Scott and Allen relied upon, as well as some great insight into racing physiology and human performance, that Mr. Fitzgerald uncovered in his research for the book- and probably make you want to go to Kona even more than you do now! These insights might help you in your next race, whether its an Ironman or not. My daughter bought this for me as reading material for our recent long flight back to Hawaii (vacation only). She was in bookstore and saw cover and knew my finisher poster for '90 Kona Ironman, had same picture, so she knew I'd like it- and she was correct. It's motivating, relatable to, and what you want in a sports story- even when you know the ending- like re-watching a classic movie or re-reading your favorite book. The story and drama of the event are undiminshed by the passage of time and the public knowledge of the event's outcome.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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A Great Read, Even if you're not a triathelete, November 12, 2011
By Lonna Wolf (ALAMO, CA, US)
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I loved Matt Fitzgerald's book Iron War. You don't need to be an endurance athlete to enjoy this book. I got totally caught up in the rivalry of these two great athletes. The information setting the stage for the showdown in 1989 really invested the reader in following that epic race. I felt I was there as Dave Scott and Mark Allen raced toward the finish line. The story of their lives before and after this race made them seem very human. The map of the race course, with all its details, was a great reference to keep flipping back and forth too. The time line of their lives and races took some work to figure out but was well worth it. And the photo collections were outstanding; giving you great images of these athletes then and now. This is a book I will recommend to my book group and to others for reading. Bravo Matt!
Bernie Wolf
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Iron War, March 20, 2012
By Jim
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Awesome book! I haven't enjoyed a book this much since "Born to Run". Interesting insights into what makes a world class endurance athlete. Didn't jive however with the brief personal interactions that I have had with Dave Scott - he always seems so modest and personable to me, but maybe in the heat of competition he morphs into a fire-breathing machine.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Great book, March 1, 2012
By Joghiu Andrei
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Great book for anyone interested in the triathlon sport no matter the distance.
I enjoyed getting to know the 2 athletes and more importantly to understand more about the mental aspect of the Ironman.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Serious endurance athletes will love it, January 26, 2012
By bryan jones
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If you like to push yourself in any endurance sport and know how hard it is to keep going full speed when you are suffering like a dog, you will love this book. You need this book. I am not a triathlete, as a cyclist the story and data was still very relevant to my world.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Out of respect for Dave and Mark, January 26, 2012
By M. S. Boldrick (Los Angeles, CA)
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I'm not buying this book out of respect for Dave and Mark, both of whom expressed disappointment (my word) with the book. They mentioned issues about getting paid, which raises the question of "sour grapes," but their complaints went beyond that. I've enjoyed hearing them both talk, including once together, about the race, and I expect this book would be more fuel for my Ironman obsession, but I'm going to pass.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
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The best ever motivational read for aspiring Ironman athletes, May 8, 2012
By Frank Smuts
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This book takes any reader beyond simply getting motivated for a physical race. It can set you up to start believing in "keeping the faith" for whatever you aspire to achieve. As far as doing or understanding the Ironman race itself, this book combines the two essential elements, the mental and the physical, better than any other book out there. Don't be misled by the fact that it happened in 1989. They ran the marathon in 2:44! Any modern day Ironman with all the carbon technology, deep section rims and aero helmets would have been whipped by these two guys. Read it and find out why! It surely revived my Ironman career!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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 Entertaining book, but not all is the real story., February 11, 2012
By SmartReader
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Entertaining book. Many are surprised that Mark Allen and Dave Scott didn't endorse this book. I believe they not only didn't endorse it, they also don't agree with many of the things in this book. The author made a lot of stuff up. Though Mark and Dave indented to take the author to court trying to stop this book from being sold they got the author at least to recognize that the two main characters do not endorse this book. Let's be patient and wait for Mark and Dave to tell us the real story and maybe see it in the big screen. But not because of a cheap shut book with no accurate information hoping to get some day a movie deal. Entertaining book but it should say "ONLY SOME OF IT" based on a true story.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Not putdownable, March 15, 2012
By Edew
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I loved this book. I am a runner, but I don't run marathons, let alone do iron man competitions. Doesn't matter. The story of these two rivals is riveting. There is a nice combination of the personal life stories mixed with the unbelievable heart-stopping races leading to the ultimate one. I highly recommend this to anyone that appreciates what the human body is capable of and the pure joy of competition.
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Falsehood, April 15, 2012
By K. Oldham (Kansas City, MO)
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This is a misrepresentation of facts. The subjects have filed a lawsuit as outlined in an open letter from them to the body of USA Triathlon.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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iron war, March 7, 2012
By johan
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Author gave interesting insight into the lives of the two athletes.
Also made you as reader wonder what the driving force in your Ironman endevours is.
You can to an extent experience Kona.
Good read
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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