Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story

by Alistair Brownlee, Jonathan Brownlee, Tom Fordyce

Swim, Bike, Run is the ultimate triathlon book, from Olympic heroes the Brownlee brothersThe Olympic Triathlon, Hyde Park, LondonAugust 7th 2012'We jogged to our positions on the two brothers, side by side, the world and everyone we ever cared about looking on. Eighteen years of training, culminating in this single race. Noise from the crowd impossible to imagine. Hearts thumping. Swim-hats pulled tight, goggles lowered. Into a crouch, poised for the hooter. Three. Two. One...'This is the story of how two skinny lads from west Yorkshire became the best triathletes in the world.Meet the Olympic Champion Alistair, World Champion Jonny. Brothers, training partners, rivals. They have obliterated the competition and set new standards for swimming, biking and running.But the Brownlee brothers have never forgotten their roots. They still do their schoolboy hill runs and Dales rides; still train harder and longer than anyone; still push each other to new heights.In this revealing, often very funny book they take us inside their world and inside their races. It's both a riveting story of brotherly rivalry and a rare insight into what it takes to be the best.Swim, Bike, Run is also packed with training secrets. Whether you are thinking about your first triathlon or are a seasoned competitor, here are unique sections on how to swim, bike and run, and advice on nutrition, injury, and mental approach. With the Brownlees in your corner, you will do more than you ever thought possible. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in swimming, cycling and running and will be loved by readers of Mark Cavendish's Boy Racer and Running with the Kenyans.Alistair Brownlee, 24, is a British triathlete from Yorkshire. He is the reigning Olympic champion, a back-to-back European champion and a two-time World champion. Jonathan Brownlee, 22, is also a British triathlete from Yorkshire. He is the reigning World Champion, a two-time World Sprint champion and an Olympic bronze medalist.'Sport has two new a couple of nice lads from Yorkshire 'The Times

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Memoir, Cycling

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2013

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book/training manual. I would not call this really an autobiography simply because apart from Alistair and Jonathan's early years and start in Triathlons there is very little on their personal lives. However with them both being so young and so much of their time is taken up by their training it does not really leave much time for a social life.

2/3 of the things of the book are done brilliantly. The tip and training secrets are great. The Brownlee brothers inside the race commentary is amazing. The only thing that was just ok is the book just did not grip me the way some other sports autobiographies did. This could be because simply because these boys train so hard, and love what they do, so the racing is almost a forgone conclusion. Don't get me wrong the races they do talk are described excellently. However they is not enough of their races in the book. This is just the choice made by the authors to concentrate on the training, as this is where races are really won and lost. As important as this is it is not the most exciting part. From a training point of view and if look at what it takes physically, mentally and drive you need to succeed at the elite level you could not find a better book, but I wish it was another 100 pages longer so they could talk more about the races as well.

[Jo Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lockdown Book #14

Really enjoyed their story. Published in 2013 so need to find out what happened next!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my kind of sporting biography. No extraneous details or irrelevancies here. Just two blokes from Yorkshire swimming, biking and running insanely hard (and insanely well), in all weathers and all corners of the world but never moving far away from their roots in Yorkshire. These guys did it their way - accepted the help of their federation but not their facilities or staff if they didn't suit them. They knew that their environment was what had made them such superb athletes and they sensibly stayed in that environment, continuing to follow pretty much the same schedule they had used as schoolboys.

I love how straight-talking they are in this book. Talk about calling a spade a shovel - there's no attempt to spare anyone's feelings here. The overall impression you get is that the British Triathlon setup was unfit for purpose, their Olympic podium experience was, frankly, a bit sh*t, and that, in the end, neither of them rely on anyone except each other.

It's a great read - honest and down-to-earth - and somehow makes you believe that if two completely normal chaps from Yorkshire can achieve what they have, so could anyone.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

not the most inspiring of sports biographies but good entertainment for someone who knows triathlon.. most interesting was learning how different alistair and jonny are and more about their relationship, though i don’t feel alistair comes across very well in this and i found myself wishing jonny had had some of the glory at some point. did almost cry at the london olympics part though 😅

[Meg Briers · Rating 3 out of 5]

can you believe they were 24 and 22 at the 2012 olympics (potentially from the writing + the content of the book, but an enjoyable read and some nice session ideas)

[Sean Sevitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun easy read. Well then again Reading about my two favorite triathletes road to Olympic success was always going to be joyful.

[Heather Belleguelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the last few years, my husband and I have become big fans of triathlon and so when I spotted a copy of this book in a second-hand bookshop, I thought that it would make an interesting read. It is a little dated in a way, as it gives us the Brownlee brothers’ story just to the end of 2012. However, it made fascinating and entertaining reading, seeing where Alistair and Johnny have come from, how they got into triathlon, and their journey to the huge successes they had in 2012 among others. The book gives great insight into the brothers’ relationship and the way that they support each other wholeheartedly but at the same time are great rivals. There are quite a lot of humorous anecdotes where each pokes fun at the other. However, you get the impression that if anyone else were to attempt such a thing, they would find the guys fiercely sticking up for each other. For those who are triathletes themselves, or indeed swim, bike, or run, there are also dedicated chapters of training tips, and useful information that can be gleaned along the way. This book was certainly an enjoyable read and is now making its way to my husband’s “to be read” pile.

[Micheal Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it's hard to get fully on board with any 'two boys from Leeds who rose to the top from nothing' undertones to the Brownlee story, this book gave many worthwhile insights that justify its rating. That's not to say that the role of environment is now appraised respectfully in the book, but 15+ years of consistent, high quality training will inevitably lead to results. So if it's quick fixes, rags to riches, or an innocent genetic specimen uncovered miraculously (a la Lopez Lamong) you're looking for, look on.

There's a naked honesty in the telling of the relationship between brothers once both are competing as rivals and comrades at the elite level, where a fierce competitiveness and deep understanding of the sport soothe the ripples of the surface-level ups and downs.

The training and coaching insights are valuable and motivating, and gave me a new found respect for the abilities of elite triathletes. Running a sub 30 minute 10k, as the final leg of an Olympic standard triathlon, will endure in my mind as a feat that more should know about.

Incredible athletes, incredible humility and work ethic and an enjoyable read.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read on a couple of incredible athletes! It’s an interesting set up where both brothers are writing about the same topic but it sometimes feels like they don’t realize what the other person has said on the SAME page! Seems clear they are very close but also intensely competitive. Also liked the tips on running and other training tips on health and mental approach to training.

[Tk · Rating 4 out of 5]

An olympic year and whilst training for an iron man, felt like a good time to read this old Christmas present. The training, triathlon racing, sports pieces were great but my favourite parts were sibling disses. The sibling rivalry was hilarious and familiar, enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

[irakurle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Fordyce's well-paced and pleasant account of the Brownlee brother's career is such a delight. Alistair and Jonny speak in their own voices, in their own terms, and it feels fantastic. I will peek at the training tips too in the future when I feel my training motivation go down.

[Joy Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly engaging. What a pleasure to feel as if a book is speaking to you, to slip into conversation and learn so much from it.
As someone new to Triathlon but loving the sport, this book brings much resolve and inspiration.

[Scott Addison-Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book having recently got into Triathlon myself. I remember vividly watching their journey leading upto and including the Olympics and the narrative of this book brought back those memories with the added insight of personal perspective from the brothers. Really good

[Paulisbored · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but a fairly average sports biography.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. An account of their early life and the build up to the Olympics.

[RachelSmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting

Love how open & honest they both are
A good read if you are a fan of the brothers or triathlon in general

[David Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired. Only done 2 triathlons. These guys do more training in a week than I do all year.

[Annabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insight into elite sport and elite athletes. Particularly so the relationship between the two brothers.

[Joshua Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH an inspiring story, down to earth, and massively humble. Read it in 2 sittings, couldn't put it down 😀👍
Best sports autobiography I've ever read .

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab book and insight into the minds and regimes of the Brownlee brothers. I found it hard to put down.

[Mark Hermes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved learning about the history of the sport and having unique perspectives from the two brothers during these events. Inspiring and pyschologically fascinating.

[Amber Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reading, humorous in places. Mostly about training and racing. Takes you through their racing journey, from kids to Lond.

[Alex Farquhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read, love the tips and stories within the book and really opened my eyes to a life of a triathlete. Will be definitely be re-reading this again.

[Jaiprakash · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good autobiography of how the brothers ended up being Olympic champions.

[Sean Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in one sitting.

[Piotr Manasterski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it tremendously and found it very inspiring. An amazing insight into the lives and training of two incredible athletes.

[Chris Tolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super read. Both brothers contribute with from their perspective and you get a great insight into not only their relationship at brothers but as each other's main competition in world tri.

[James Lindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old now so a bit behind the times at the time of reading but super easy read and really enjoyable. Some good knowledge and practical tips too. Hope they will write another together. Loved this.

[Henry Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts slow but gets better, good read

[Grace Wisbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

All about triathlon. The highs, the lows and how the brothers support each other. Focusing on each others strengths to become the best