Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and the Greatest Race Ever Run

By Matt Fitzgerald

The classic account of an unforgettable endurance test, now updated with a new introduction

The 1989 Ironman World Championship was the greatest race ever in endurance sports. In a spectacular duel that became known as the Iron War, the world's two strongest athletes raced side by side at world-record pace for a grueling 139 miles.

Driven by one of the fiercest rivalries in triathlon, Dave Scott and Mark Allen raced shoulder to shoulder through Ironman's 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race, and 26.2-mile marathon. After 8 punishing hours, both men would demolish the previous record--and cross the finish line a mere 58 seconds apart.

In Iron War, sports journalist Matt Fitzgerald writes a riveting epic about how Allen and Scott drove themselves and each other through the most awe-inspiring race in sports history. Iron War goes beyond the pulse-pounding race story to offer a fascinating exploration of the lives of the world's two toughest men and their unquenchable desire to succeed.

Weaving an examination of mental resolve into a gripping tale of athletic adventure, Iron War is a soaring narrative of two champions and the paths that led to their stunning final showdown.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
• Release date: Mar 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781637270226

Matt Fitzgerald

Matt Fitzgerald is an acclaimed endurance sports author, coach, and nutritionist. His many books include The Comeback Quotient, 80/20 Running, and Pain & Performance. Matt has also written for a number of leading sports and fitness publications, including Runner’s World and Triathlete, and for popular websites such as outsideonline.com and nbcnews.com. Matt is cofounder of 80/20 Endurance, the world's premier endurance sports training brand, and creator of Dream Run Camp, a pro-style residential training camp for runners of all abilities based in Flagstaff, Arizona. He also codirects the Coaches of Color Initiative, a nonprofit program that seeks to improve diversity in endurance coaching. A lifelong endurance athlete, Matt speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally.

Reviews for Iron War

[realbigcat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Probably the best book I have ever read about the sport of triathlon. The main subject of this book is the epic 1989 Hawaii ironman race between Dave Scott and Mark Allen. This was the greatest triathlon race ever and the author makes you feel like you were right there for every swim stroke, pedal crank and foot strike. While that race itself was amazing the author also brings in the history of the sport from its humble beginnings from a bet between some Military guys to see who was the most fit. The book also gives full biographies of Scott and Allen and really digs into their mental psyche and why they were so domineering in this sport. I also liked the part of the book that delved into the scientific aspects of mental performance and pain within endurance sports. I am an older endurance athlete myself and I remember back in 89 waiting for ABC to air the race and it lived up to every bit of the hype. Just like an Ali vs Fraiser heavyweight bout. This book brought back great memories and many insights I never knew. I believe anyone that is a fan of triathlon or endurance sports would live this book.

[fireandice_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two men run shoulder to shoulder in the sweltering heat during the marathon leg of the 1989 Ironman World Championships; each trying to wear the other down enough to win this race. How did they get here? Determination, training, and a willingness to suffer more than anyone else. This book is a fantastic account of the 1989 Iron War between Dave Scott and Mark Allen - and everything that lead up to that amazing day in Kona.