THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF MEDIOCRITY

In his debut, Goodyear demonstrates through his own training and performance in triathlons how people with less-than-average athletic abilities can accomplish extraordinary things.

Goodyear lays out his vision of “mediocrity” in a crisp, enjoyable and self-deprecating style, citing ideas from evolution, cosmology and statistical bell curves to make his point that most people are nothing special, athletically or otherwise. Recreational athletes’ acceptance of that fact, he claims, is a prerequisite to great achievement. At age 37, Goodyear first decided to take on a five-mile race; by age 61, he had worked his way up to finishing the Ironman World Championship competition in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, comprising 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and 26.2 miles of running. In the book’s longest section, Goodyear gives a detailed description of this journey. While well-written and impressive in its demonstration of the author’s focus and determination, this portion’s comprehensive, personal nature may be of most interest to those who know Goodyear personally. The final section, however, is geared toward the would-be triathlete and deals with specifics on training, nutrition and motivational techniques. Goodyear’s easygoing style makes this segment enjoyable; though the section focuses on triathlon training, readers may glean good advice for simply staying fit. Throughout the book, Goodyear shows the same intense purpose and resolve that he has brought to his athletic life, focusing exclusively on training and participating in Ironman-like events. Only in the initial section does he ponder the larger life lessons of his sport.

An excellent choice for budding triathletes or readers who enjoy true stories of achievement.