Irondad Life by Russell Newell

Readers of memoirs, comedy, and sports don't need to look further for their next book than Irondad Life: A Year of Bad Decisions and Questionable Motives―What I Learned on the Quest to Conquer Ironman Lake Placid. After doing only a few running races, Russell and his partner-in-crime Jim learned of a race called the Ironman. They would spend the better part of the next decade and thousands of dollars to train and compete in Ironman races. Being an athlete is not cheap. The grocery list includes equipment, trainers, nutritionists, travel, and race registration fees, all to endure one of the most grueling athletic races that has ever existed.

Considered one of the most challenging one-day races, an Ironman race comprises a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2 marathon run in that order. This crazy idea could only have been dreamed up during a drunken night with friends, and that's precisely how the Ironman race came about when a U.S. Navy Officer was debating who was the better athlete: Swimmers, Bikers, or Runners.

Russell crafts his story in an entertaining way, carefully interlacing the story of his worst race, his journey of training with three small children, and the history behind the Ironman and some of its most prominent racers. He also takes great care to explain the terms and other jargon of Ironman racing, and gives clear descriptions about the equipment he used.

What makes Irondad Life so enjoyable to read is Russell's sense of humor that leaks into every page. Readers will laugh at all the bad training, equipment, and race-day decisions Russell makes as he tries to figure out how to conquer Ironman Lake Placid. Parents will understand the humorous pain of never getting a good night's sleep when caring for multiple children under five. Russell's unyielding drive to accomplish a goal he becomes set on is a true lesson in perseverance. That anything is possible if you work hard enough and never give up until you cross that finish line.

Reviewed on Reedsy