Author: Gwendolyn Bounds
An inspiring autobiographical account of an out-of-shape middle-aged woman stuck in the classic career rut of life who embarks on – and succeeds in – an ambitious personal adventure to be a world class Spartan obstacle racer. The author, Gwendolyn Bounds, was the kid always chosen last for grade school gym class games and had developed somewhat of a complex that limited her athletic endeavors. But one year in her 40’s, she dares to challenge herself by asking Google for examples of tough races. Out pops a listing for Spartan obstacle races. From that point on, Spartan racing becomes Gwendolyn’s focal point for breaking out of her sedentary lifestyle, opening new doors, making new friends, invigorating her spirit, and training her body to be stronger than at any time in her youth.
The book is beautifully written (Gwendolyn is a professional journalist with years spent writing for the Wall Street Journal), and it hits upon so many of the emotional and physical low points that surely everyone experiences in their mid-life. The heart of her message is that one need not give up on ambitious physical goals just because you are past your physical prime. The book lays out her roadmap for embarking on, and eventually becoming a world champion in, a new life adventure of competing in Spartan obstacle races. It is filled with Gwendolyn’s personal experiences, input from various experts she has consulted along the way, and lots of tips and tricks for staying motivated towards such a challenging goal. This is an inspiring story for anyone past their physical prime in life who doesn’t want to succumb to Father Time just yet.