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Description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2025 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR
'Lays bare the realities of a sporting career' -Lord Sebastian Coe
'Gripping, revealing and honest' -Steve Cram OBE
'A gripping read ... Iwan runs and runs and runs, and arrives at himself' -Jeremy Vine
Running has been Iwan Thomas's life. He put everything into becoming and remaining an elite athlete to such a point that his efforts left him scarred.
Iwan reveals the highs of his career, but also his battles with the dark side of running – the loneliness, the doubts, the hurt and, ultimately, the serious mental health issues.
After a youthful stint as a world-class BMX rider, Iwan dedicated himself to running. Between 1995 and 1998, he became one of the world's fastest men, taking silver in the 4x400m at the Olympics and gold at the European and World Championships. Yet, although his British 400m record of 44.36s would stand unbroken for 25 years, niggling injuries were already beginning to limit his ability to compete with the best.
His response to setbacks had always been to train even harder, but this was no longer an option. Without the structure of training, the motivation of competition and the buzz of race day, Iwan struggled. He suffered an extended period of anxiety and depression, before eventually coming to terms with his life as a former athlete.
In this deeply reflective, utterly engaging and sensationally open book, Iwan shares an absorbing, sometimes uncomfortable, but totally memorable story, and finally reveals the truth behind his life in sport.
Table of Contents
1. Energy to Burn
2. On Two Wheels
3. Learning Fast
4. New Worlds
5. The Real World
6. The Hard Yards
7. The Greatest Show on Earth
8. Final Stretch
9. Second is Nowhere
10. The Switch
11. Magic Post-its
12. Falling Apart
13. DVDs, Needles and Voltarol
14. Dog Days
15. Celebrity Anything
16. Everything Changes
17. 100 Miles
Epilogue
Product details
Published | Sep 03 2024 |
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Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 240 |
ISBN | 9781399413640 |
Imprint | Bloomsbury Sport |
Dimensions | 234 x 153 mm |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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Powerful, frank and inspiring … a superb insight into what athletes will go through to find their best both in and after sport … I couldn't put it down
Dame Sarah Storey
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Gripping, revealing and honest. An intimate portrayal of a top athlete and the challenges that come with it
Steve Cram CBE
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Such an enjoyable read… Brutal tells the tale of what it takes to get to the top, and how hard it can be there
Susie Chan
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A fascinating book … Iwan helps you visualize the races as if you were actually on the start line with him. An honest account of an incredible career from a truly talented athlete... Iwan is an inspiration
Jenni Falconer
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A gripping read ... Iwan runs and runs and runs, and arrives at himself
Jeremy Vine
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Don't let the fun, crazy personality fool you… Iwan's book gives you an insight into how hard it can be battling physical and mental challenges that only a few top sportspeople can overcome
Linford Christie OBE