Mark Allen and Dave Scott have emerged as the greatest ironman champions in the history of triathlon. Iron War by Matt Fitzgerald provides a detailed, passionate, and honest version of their path to being the best in the world. Both men are characterized by humble athletic beginnings, each earning their positions on the world's greatest triathlon stage via an incredibly disciplined, hard working, and unyielding desire to battle the demons in their lives. Mental imagery, lessons on breaking down huge, ambitious goals into manageable pieces, and a strong desire to follow a relatively organized, disciplined plan are just some examples of tools used and presented in this extraordinary book. I am an age group triathlete and author of two novels that attempts to share my journey to the finish line of six Ironman races in Lake Placid Ironman: Journey to Lake Placid and the one and only U.S. Championship in NYC Ironman U.S. Championship Bring It On Home. I mention this because Mark and Dave, as World Champions share their intimate experiences that are reflective of the mental battle that age groupers as well as world champions can overcome. Clearly on an entirely higher and more intense level, but the similarities of the need to overcome suffering in such a grueling endurance event brings it home. The relationship to the "age grouper" triathlete," which makes up the largest portion of any field at a race, can help us all relate with similar emotions, training, and lifestyle. The human element of family struggles, establishing and maintaining relationships, searching for life's answers and finding solace in hard work, primarily manifested in brutal training hours and intensity is beautifully illustrated in this book. The very difficult challenge of retiring from and moving on from something both men loved more than life itself is the final great lesson in this emotionally charged story of champions - a true, dramatic, Hollywood scripted event that must be witnessed. The conclusion that puts both men in their new roles in life, helping others to accomplish and succeed at their very best level-pure poetry!