«Everyone is a winner»
Susan Kane has done an amazing job collecting triathlon experiences from women of all backgrounds and athletic experience, telling their stories. This book is certainly capable of motivating you to do something you've never done before. If you are like many of the women in this book - on the fence about attempting your first triathlon, or over weight and realize you need to start exercising but are not sure how to get started - you will be inspired after reading this book. In fact, this book will teach you that many other women who never thought they could do a triathlon have successfully completed a triathlon, and are thinking about doing another one.
[Monday, December 15, 2008]
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«You don't have to be First Place to be a winner!»
How great to have the reminder that you can be a winner even if you do not come in "first place," that winning can be found in over-coming and achieving. In a culture that puts so much emphasis on fame and fortune, it is great to hear a voice proclaim that success can also be found in reaching personal goals.
[Friday, November 28, 2008]
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«For anyone who needs to believe, You Can Do It!»
This book sets out to inspire and motivate women to make goals and carry them out, using personal essays by a diverse group of women triathletes as an example. These women are from all walks of life; for the most part not athletically accomplished; some were getting active for the first time since childhood. Yes, this book does achieve what it sets out to; how can it not be inspiring with so many concrete examples of women taking on a challenge and carrying it through? That is what's good about this type of book as opposed to some abstract self-help ideological one. But less would have been more, in this case, as I found there to be only a handful of memorable essays. Some of the essays are short and seem to follow a formula: How did I decide to do a triathlon; what obstacles did I overcome; what was my triathlon experience like and what did I learn? No one wants to read formula, right? Thankfully there are a few essays that get more in-depth and stand out with unique voices. Especially memorable is the essay by Susan Denini, formerly obese, a self-proclaimed "queen of excuses," who has lost 125 lbs (so far). Her voice is joyful and her enthusiasm jumps off the page.
These essays are pulled together and arranged thematically by author Susan L. Kane. Her story also is an inspiring one, but she breaks it up throughout the book, for the sake of the chapter headings. She starts her story in the introduction; another part is under "She who has the most fun wins!" and another under "Obstacles." I would have liked to read her story all at once, because it was frustrating to read on the first page, "I decided to accept the challenge for reasons I will later describe." And "Later in the book, you'll hear about how I developed my swim skills." Kane also summarizes all the stories, and their lessons, at the end of every chapter.
This book heavily promotes the Danskin triathlon series, but this doesn't detract from the stories.
Women-only triathlons seem to be the rapidly gaining popularity. This book caught my eye because I had just participated in my first triathlon. Two years ago, my Mothers-of -Preschoolers-Group started a triathlon-training group, and since then I have been asked to join two other triathlon groups. It's the new thing, girls, and it is a great self-image booster, and worthwhile accomplishment, as is illustrated in this YOU CAN DO IT! book for women.
[Tuesday, October 07, 2008]
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