Run, Ride, Sink or Swim: A Year in the Exhilarating and Addictive World of Women's Triathlon

by Lucy Fry

At the age of thirty-one, Lucy Fry was pretty certain she knew her limits. And here's how she felt about the component parts of swimming - fairly terrifying, especially in open water. Cycling - brilliant when done on a stationery bike, indoors. Running - sometimes fantastic, sometimes hideous. But as increasing numbers of her female friends continued to sign up to tri, Lucy couldn't help what was it about this exhausting pursuit that women seemed to find so magical, so transformative? The time had come to find out. Over one year, five triathlons and hundreds of training hours, Lucy uncovers the ins and outs of women's how to wear a sports bra under a wetsuit, the competition and camaraderie, whether getting over 'jelly legs' makes you a more resilient human being - and finds that maybe she doesn't know her limits after all... Funny, warm and engaging, Run, Ride, Sink or Swim is for both the tri-curious and the dedicated tri-hard, and for any woman looking for inspiration to make the transition from sofa to start line.

Genres: Sports, Memoir, Fitness, Nonfiction, Biography

259 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2015

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, but there's never a lot you can say about memoirs, is there? How can you judge a book about someone's actual life? You so can't.

One thing I will say is that I will never do a triathlon myself, boy I didn't know it was so competitive! The mind boggles at how much training goes in to completing a triathlon and I have a newfound respect for people who do it and I admire Lucy for just going for it, gung ho. It takes a lot of guts to do something like that, to say to yourself "I'm going to do 5 triathlons" and actually do it.

I couldn't do a triathlon if I wanted to, actually, because I'm not a very strong swimmer at all (I don't even swim correctly!!!!) and the only biking I do is on a stationary spin bike (which I love). After you've done spinning, regular cycling just isn't the same and I can only run for 30 seconds before dying (not literally). If I can run even just a little bit of what Lucy can in a few months, I'll be happy.

I'm so glad I read it though because it was super interesting, and I admire all those people who go out on a rainy, awful days to train for something that sounds like pure torture. Kudos.

[Stephanie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book for review purposes.

Lucy Fry doesn't do things by half-measures. Rather than sit on the sidelines wondering why her female friends had found so much to love in the sport of triathlon, she dove right in and signed up for five in a year.

Fry writes with a light and joyful touch, acknowledging that for the 21st Century's busy and driven women, fitness has become the best kind of madness - sweeping over us at unlikely times, carrying us to 5am spin classes or late night yoga marathons, often under the exasperated eyes of partners who wonder whether we'll ever stop talking about ketosis or macros.

Amongst a swathe of sports biographies about athletes of the highest level and their pursuit of excellence, this is a book with a warm heart, and it's refreshing to read a title that acknowledges the need to juggle training, normal life and relationships. As a fellow exercise enthusiast, I'm thoroughly enjoying it, and wondering if it's time for me to join the land of the "tri-hards."

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may finish this book someday, but just not now. I started this book a month and a half ago, and haven't even gotten 1/3 of the way through, so I'm calling it. The author decided to try out triathlon and do a bunch of races in one year. There wasn't enough that was novel or interesting to hook me, as it simply read much like a journal or blog of someone I don't know. I had just finished a book about first time Ironman triathletes, so maybe I set the bar too high.

I will say that I found the title annoying. Every triathlon is Swim, Bike, Run, in that order. To mix them up for effect just sounds like you don't know what you are talking about. And Sink? It sounds more self-defeating than cute, which is what I thought it was trying to be.

[Stephanie Loux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe I picked this book up for nonfiction November and may have seen it on a post for books about running? I don’t exactly recall but it was a honest look at the sport of triathlon and all that it entails to begin on such a journey and it was a helpful push and reminder for me to get excited about exercising again.

I have been running for the past decade after my first baby was born and I discovered @themotherrunner books. I have ran many 5ks, a handful of 10ks, two half marathons, ridden RAGBRAI, and ran a Ragnar race, and even did my own sprint duathlon a few years ago so I could relate to much of this and it did perk my interest a bit in giving triathlon a go but this book didn’t sugar coat the training involved either so we shall see. I need to work on my swimming to try a tri.

If you’re interested in the world, draw and training involved in triathlons then this is a great book for you. I finished today and did end up going for a run. 🏃‍♀️

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but the author went surface level on a few topics and I hoped she would go deeper. For example, she mentions her fear of biking but never discusses any strategies she used to overcome it. Maybe “just doing it” was her solution, but, if that’s how she conquered her fear, I would have liked to read more about that process. Instead, it seemed like she was suddenly confident in races at the end of the book and I don’t know how she got there.

[Mrs Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Analytical review of the pros and cons of triathlon for women.

Includes author’s own journey from scratch through the ups and downs of training with injury to completion of five races. Similar I’m this respect to many other books but author does make a real attempt to analyse why triathlon becomes so important to so many people.

[Ashley Nickels · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight to a first year triathlete's journey. Having an interest in the sport, and having completed a few marathons and duathlons of my own, this book gave me some prospective and pointers in to what to expect. Not sure everyone will find this book interesting, unless you are considering trying a triathlon!

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a motivating story, very impressed with her single minded focus as well as her determination to keep her life balanced. Really enjoyed her wry sense of humour & loved it that she kept the reader informed on what was happening with people she had introduced us to.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an honest report of a woman tri-ing. I can relate to her struggles, doubts and fears.
Whether you are already into triathlon or wondering if you should give this fascinating sport a shot, this can be an inspiring and motivating read for you.

[Anni de kaste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

I really ended reading about the ups and downs of tri life. There are some hints and tips throughout the book that novice triathletes can pick up but the story is what kept me reading recommended.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Dania Alnayar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's a very nice, funny and engaging book!
doesn't bore you with a lot of details, very interesting and enjoyable.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. I appreciated the exploration of how committing to train 'properly' for triathlon can affect not just the person training and racing but also the family & loved ones.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Motivator

Good easy book to read. Makes me want to do a half iron so clearly motivational but not in a pushy way.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this, found it really inspiring as I embark on my first triathlon.

[Sophie-Rose Holt Fanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for someone also interested in getting into triathlon

[Pauline Midwinter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm completely inspired!

[Sarah Munson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read if you’re thinking about triathlon or already doing them! Motivational whilst staying realistic and relatable.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do think need to be involved in sport to appreciate this book. But just 4*

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[TwoDrinks · Rating 3 out of 5]

You’d think this would be right up my street but I don’t know if I’m just over triathlon or if I’m actually jealous of someone who is able to fit her training in properly rather than scratching around for time to train when the kids are at school! Some nuggets about her own barriers or psychology that were insightful but I wasn’t really feeling it. Might just not be my book at this point in my life.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this book is more of a life story than anything else. Basically its about the author undertaking the sport of Triathlon for a year and the challenges that she face. It's an interesting read especially about the sport of Triathlon.

[Jrsygrl1980 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I felt like Fry could be a friend of mine, telling me about her race. I even learned a few tips along the way.

[Kelly Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

As someone who did their first triathlon last year, I found this book very interesting. It has also encouraged me to book my next one!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable. Couldn't put it down