Dare to Tri

SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS HEALTH & FITNESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2019 RUNNING AWARDS 2019 - TOP BOOK Dare to Tri is the amazing story of TV presenter Louise Minchin's journey from the BBC Breakfast sofa to representing Great Britain at the World Triathlon Championships. This is a warmly written and wonderfully honest adventure-through-sport that will both entertain and inspire. 'I didn't even know what a triathlon was before 2012. When I took up the sport three years ago I didn't imagine for a second then, that, one day, I would be able to represent my country internationally.' Louise Minchin What started out as a fun television cycling stunt culminated in BBC Breakfast's Louise Minchin wearing the colours of Great Britain at the World Triathlon Championships in her age group. This is the story of how a newly discovered sport became a passion - and then an obsession. Dare to Tri is Louise's candid memoir of her incredible journey, recounting her rediscovery of competitive sport after nearly 30 years and her first tentative steps as a triathlete. In a story encompassing equal measures of determination and self-doubt, Louise has to overcome personal nerves, a brutal training regime, the odd bike crash and the occasional drama. Her adventure as she strives to represent Great Britain in triathlon is an inspiration for sporting late-starters everywhere.

Louise Minchin is one of the UK's best-known news presenters and broadcasters. For more than six years she has been the anchor of BBC Breakfast, the UK's most popular breakfast television programme, watched by over six million viewers a day. @louiseminchin

Foreword by Dame Darcey Bussell Introduction 1. The Start of the Adventure 2. Some of the Gear, No Idea 3. No Nudity 4. My First Triathalon 5. Kill or Cure 6. Portaloos and Tantrums 7. Demoralised and Destabilised 8. Represent Great Britain? Seriously? 9. Marginal Gains 10. Cold, Tired But Determined 11. Learning and Improving 12. The Thrill of the Race 13. Doubling the Distance 14. Conquering the Demons 15. A Triathlete's Kit 16. If You Fall, Get Back Up Again 17. Swimming like a Shark 18. Let the World Championships Begin 19. A Dream Fulfilled? 20. Food, Drink and Bonking 21. Don't Give Up. Keep Trying 22. Too Late to Back Out 23. How Not to Run a Marathon 24. Juggling 25. Relay: The Best Way 26. Being Competitive 27. Butterflies and Stage Fright 28. Team Minchin 29. The Perfect Training Partner 30. Pushing Yourself 31. The End of the Adventure 32. The End of the Adventure. Well, Not Quite... The Finish Line Useful Resources Records Acknowledgements