Operation Ironman: One Man's Four Month Journey from Hospital Bed to Ironman Triathlon

I enjoyed reading this book. It was motivational and interesting. It also provides some helpful training and racing tips. It moved along and held my interest.

I've read my fair share of inspiring training stories. From Rich Roll to Dean Karnazes to Scott Jurek and so many more. George is not them and tho I adore them too and they have truly inspired me to be the endurance athlete I am today- they simply are not George. George is you and me. (Likely more bc I have never had back surgery or the drive to run a full Ironman on basically no training- it took me two years to garner the gumption to train for a full marathon!) But that makes George so fantastic. he's a middle of the pack. He doesn't devote everything he has to training for an event, he makes due with what he can. He makes you laugh at the ridiculousness of everyday normal life. But when it comes down to it, headings deep, he finds his why, his drive, and amidst adversity of weather, lack of training, he pulls it off. The end is my favorite. I laughed, I cried, I almost signed up for a full Ironman (spoiler: Thats a no from me.) Even if you're not an endurance athlete, have no desire to be home, Georges story is fantastic and truly inspirational- regardless of what you're training for in life. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read more of his adventures!

Operation Ironman is a fantastic read!!! I am not, and never will be, an Ironman (active 71 year old grandma) but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It takes you through the experience of the Ironman event with emphasis on the importance of having a goal and working hard to try to reach it. This life lesson is presented with great humour and allows us to relate to our own experiences of struggling with life’s highs and lows! Those who have actually completed any kind of endurance race would certainly relate and enjoy this book! ~Many thanks, George!!!

I found this book from a link at the end of one of Tony James Slater's books and I wasn't sure if I would like it, as its not any of the genre's or topics I usually read. Despite being a lover of distance running, the story of someone going from surgery to Ironman in 5 months just didn't sound that exciting to read about. But since I recently rediscovered distance running and decided I wanted to overcome my agoraphobia and back problems to attempt a marathon I decided to read it and I am glad I did. It was enjoyable and inspiring to read. I am still laughing about the bunny incident and think catching that rabbit 5 days after back surgery is far more impressive than completing the Iron man. I have a lot of experience catching loose critters and its no easy feat at the best of times.

Mr. Mahood has become one of my favorite authors in the past year or so. It all started with "Not Tonight, Josephine". I was so tickled with that one, I had my book club read it and they all loved it. This is another one of those spectacular books. I love the way he tells his story. As a reader, you feel like he's an old friend keeping you informed of his crazy adventures. I've also learned a lot about the geography of the UK through his adventures.With this particular book, the theme I noticed (I don't know if he purposely meant to relay this theme) was the attainment of a major goal from minor goals. He did this throughout his training and throughout the race itself. By taking baby steps: cycling each lap to see his family, running to each station for food, drink, and a hose spray, he was able to accomplish the outrageous goal he promised while still lying in a hospital bed.He has an unwavering optimism without being annoying and personally, I enjoy his positive energy. His books always brings a smile to my face. With the current environment in the US right now, I welcome his attitude. Keep writing George and I'll always be there to read it! Chasing Trails is the next book for me.

Recovering from a back injury, I de ided to take a chance on this book. I'm so glad I did! His writing is engaging, witty (there's plenty of true laugh-out-loud moments!), and well articulated. Not only was I learning about his struggles and how he overcame them, I was also gaining insight into the kind of mindset and self-deprecating humor it takes to be a real winner in life. I'm inspired to take my training to another level and become a better person simultaneously. This book has been a blessing and I have enjoyed this one so much, I've already gotten another title of his. This is that good!

The first one of George’s books I read was ‘Not Tonight, Josephine’, which was a superb book, Operation Ironman is the third. I travel for work a lot, and my kindle is my lifeline.These books are a rare treat, in that he’s self deprecating enough to be totally relatable, yet somehow does things that I don’t feel like an ordinary person could accomplish?An Ironman looks to me to be a completely impossible accomplishment, yet he does it in four months.Bravo, Dordy, bravo!I’ll keep downloading more books as long as he keeps writing them.

Let me say at the outset that I have no interest whatsoever in triathlons, or indeed any form of exercise, and books about training for such events would normally leave me cold.Having got that out of the way I can now go on to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I think it worked for me because I have read quite a lot of George Mahood's writing and in some curious way I have got to know and like him as a person. I am certain that we would get along like a house on fire if we were to meet in real life and he is just the kind of chap I would enjoy having as a friend. For those reasons, I easily got involved in this account of his struggle to overcome what was almost lights out for him.I enjoy the way George always writes with humour; that is a tricky task when you are recounting a story about tumour on the spine but he manages it. Over the course of reading George's books I have come to admire him for his strength of character and dedication, and this book only enhances those feelings.Don't buy this to find out how to train for an Ironman. If you want that sort of thing, you will be sorely disappointed. In fact, George's training regime is abysmal and I was astonished that he completed the event. You should buy this if you want to peep inside the head a man who writes well about how he dealt with what life threw at him.

First of all let me say I enjoyed this book. It takes you through George's post Op condition, recovery, training and then finally Ironman event itself. I have to admit though I was surprised at how little training George did for this event and if he DID do a helluva lot of training it certainly doesn't come across. As far as I can tell after reading the book George cycled alot, swam a bit and did virtually no running (unless I've missed something)That said the "in event" description was really good and I actually felt I was in there with him enduring the physical and mental pain.Will you learn anyhing about Ironman training from this book? No....not much, but I'm glad I read it and good for George for the undertaking. (Well done to Emily too !!)So worth a read from a story point of view, maybe not so much a training point of view

This is the fourth of George's books that I have read and it didn't disappoint. This book follows George on his mental and physical training through from major surgery to remove a tumour on his spine through to competing in the Ironman triathlon. I think it's important to add that I'm not someone who usually enjoys books about exercise and training but I knew from George's previous books that he writes with humour so the usual tedium of books about exercise was avoided here, it's a very accessible book.George has a really pleasant, conversational writing style and all his books are an easy, light read. Through his writing he comes across to the reader as a genuinely nice guy and I think that this helps the reader really root for him on his journey and creates an emotional connection with the story.The final section of the book where George is competing in the triathlon was especially good and I would rate this section 5/5 because it almost felt like you were experiencing the triathlon first hand. I found myself laughing (and crying) along with him. It's a book that is both amusing and inspiring.

Since first discovering Free Country a couple of years back I have read everything that George has written. To be honest I would probably read the telephone directory if he put his name to it. Operation Ironman did not disappoint; in fact George might be a bit embarrassed about this but I actually found it very inspirational too. Of course there was the witty writing that we have come to know and love however there was often a serious side to this book which isn't always part of George's writing. The sheer determination of what we can achieve if we are determined enough really strikes a chord throughout this book. In anyone else's hands this story could have come across more as a diary or journal entry of how you can build yourself up both mentally and physically to achieve your goals, George however always puts a very human slant to all his writing which makes it often funny and sometimes can bring a lump to your throat. All I can say is well done George, not just on the book but actually on what you have achieved. Your family must be very proud of you as of course you are of them. After a well earned rest I hope you are already embarking on the next book! Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would heartily recommend it!

I really loved this book maybe because my husband is thinking of doing an Ironman with similar (I.e none!) experience to the author!! Really made me chuckle and could relate to so many of the husband wife running related stories, the ride London story especially reminded me of my husbands attempts. Overall though it gave me hope that perhaps my husband isn’t as mad as I thought he was and maybe just maybe if George can do it so can he!!Thanks for sharingBut this book it’s fab!!