Just as George Plimpton had his proverbial cup of coffee in the NFL as the unrecruited and certainly unwanted fourthstring quarterback for the Detroit Lions so too did Will McGough immerse himself in a sport he had no business trying. Like Plimpton whose football folly turned into the bestselling Paper Lion travel and outdoor writer McGough writes of his participation in around and over the course of one of the worldamp39s premier triathlons the annual 140.6mile Ironman in Tempe Arizona. McGough chronicles the Ironmanamprsquos history his unorthodox training the pageantry of the race weekend and his attempt to finish the epic event. The narrative follows not just his race but also explores the cult and habits of the triathlete community beginning with the first Ironman competition in Hawaii in 1978. This is a lighthearted selfdeprecating and at times hilarious look at one manamp39s attempt to conquer the ultimate endurance sport with a conclusion that will surprise and delight both dedicated triathletes as well as strangers to the sport.