I loved this book - so inspiring for anyone who felt like they were being shelved too early. I have been going through my own midlife slump, like many older millennials. Really love the idea of finding a new skill to get better at. Loved that the author slept like a rock after doing all this training. And loved how learning something hard in midlife made her more resilient and able to take risks in other parts of her life

Pleasantly surprised with this memoir / self-help story! Among all the blustering and braggadocio of the books and names you’ve already heard (Tim Ferris, Dave Asbrey, Rich Roll), sneaks in this rewarding, honest and heartfelt story. The type A overachiever realizes her humanness, faces it independently with overzealousness and humor, and finally accepts and celebrates life and her community in all its messy glory.
If you are an endurance athlete, animal lover and nature appreciator, I think you’ll especially enjoy this read!

I did my first, and only, Spartan race about 6 years ago, but this book may have inspired me to get back into it! I enjoyed this book about Gwendolyn (Wendy) defying age limitations and pushing past mental blocks. There was also a good amount of science and nonfiction info added in to bolster the content. I recommend this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

📚 Gwendolyn Bounds’s “Not Too Late” is a powerful and inspiring exploration of what’s possible when we challenge our perceived limitations.

In this science-based memoir, Bounds takes us on her remarkable midlife journey—from an unathletic office executive to an age-group medalist and world championship competitor in obstacle course racing.

 Bounds’s story begins with a simple question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” She realizes that middle age doesn’t exempt us from redefining ourselves and pushing boundaries.

The heart of the book lies in her pursuit of obstacle course racing—a demanding sport that requires speed, endurance, mobility, and strength. Through playgrounds, gyms, and far-flung Spartan Race courses, Bounds relearns movements, faces fears, and conquers challenges.

Woven throughout are insights from scientists, longevity doctors, and performance experts. Bounds’s transformation becomes a testament to human resilience, intrinsic motivation, and the untapped potential within us, regardless of age.

Gwendolyn Bounds’s writing is relatable and exhilarating. Her journey resonates with anyone seeking more out of life. As she changes her body and mindset, we learn that age need not be a barrier—it can be our secret weapon.

For those craving more out of life, “Not Too Late” offers inspiration and a roadmap that is powerful and exciting.

Whether you’re contemplating a new challenge or reconciling regrets, Bounds’s story reminds us that pushing limits is timeless. Age is not a constraint; it’s an invitation to unleash our full potential.

Sometimes the most transformative journeys begin when we dare to redefine ourselves. 🌿🏃‍♀️

I’ve always been fascinated by the Spartan Races and Tough Mudder so I thought this would be an interesting story. Gwendolyn Bounds doesn’t do anything halfway and her story is truly inspirational and motivational; I will admit I got home and did extra burpees because she inspired me to try harder. While I will never compete in those races (I don’t like being timed), I completely understand her mindset and the need to achieve more while we have the time to do so (it’s why I travel as much as possible). Her drive to succeed really is inspiring although being tall and lanky (her words, not mine) might not make her the best judge of what is considered heavy for us shorter folks; 5’6”, 165 is not the behemoth she makes it out to be (and if it is, I am just shy of behemoth), but other than that, this was fantastic and gave me a new perspective on so many things she touches on. Bonus points for adding in descriptions of the obstacle course to give a better understanding of what the races entail.

Thanks, Ballantine, for offering me an advanced review copy of this memoir. I loved its message about “humans’ capacity to tap inner reserves, face fears, locate intrinsic motivation, and push boundaries at any life stage.”

In her mid-forties, the author outsmarts the “midlife assassin” by choosing an impossibly difficult thing to learn. This unathletic journalist landed on obstacle course racing, “a demanding military-style sport requiring speed, endurance, mobility, and strength.”

Whenever I tried to explain how good this book is, friends would immediately interrupt me and ask knowingly, “So, you’re going to try obstacle racing now?” Hard NO. But I loved Wendy’s approach to trying something scary, new, and challenging in her 40s and 50s. She observed, studied, researched, asked questions, and learned from her mistakes. After all, “If you want to try something new, sometimes the best way is to just dive right in and fumble your way around for a while.”

What worked for her that could work for you? She did her research. She did the work, not just in the gym, but doing the boring mobility and strength drills, too (a requirement for pushing your physical limits at our age). She put herself out there and pushed through the pain and fatigue to finish what she started. She also - and this is key - wasn’t afraid to look foolish. Even when she knew there was a strong chance she’d end up on her butt in the mud, she jumped on the obstacle and tried.

Her grit, determination, and enthusiasm made her an age-group medalist and world championship competitor, and I recommend her memoir. Whether you are athletic or not, her mindset and processes are instrumental in conquering challenging goals. And hey, if it makes you want to drop and do a couple of pushups, that’s good, too.

Very good book about Spartan Races and an amazing lady that races them. I found it very motivation and inspirational. Nicely written and very down to earth.

I know everyone says this, but seriously, I could not put this book down. Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age by Gwendolyn Bounds is so well written that you feel like you’re running along side her in the Spartan Races.
Even if you have no desire to run obstacles of any sort, this book is still for you because Gwendolyn’s words will motivate you to just take a good look at your life when you feel like you just want to give up, and just keep pushing through, do not stop.
I had just turned 50 and felt like I was at a stand still. But reading this book made me feel like I still have so much more I can be doing. Each chapter is broken up into sections like the obstacles of the Spartan Race much like the obstacles we face in life. I was given an advanced copy from Netgalley, but have bought a hardcover for myself to turn to when I need motivating again. And will also buy family and friends copies as gifts.
Thank you Gwendolyn (Wendy) from the bottom of my heart.

What an exceptional book! At 40something, Gwendolyn Bounds wonders if “this is all there is.” She decided to challenge herself by entering a local Spartan race — an obstacle course that requires running, climbing, carrying heavy objects, and other physical feats. The book is part memoir of her experiences as she trains and gets mentally ready for her event, and part well-researched writing on the effects of aging on mind and body. Bounds is an engaging writer, and even if you don’t think of yourself as athletic and are sure you’ll never actually enter a race, there’s something here for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is a fantastic book for older readers, such as Gen-Xers. Wanting to get out of her mid-life rut, Gwen gets into the Spartan obstacle course circuit after Googling 'what is the hardest thing to do?'

As a kid (and adult) who was only mildly athletic, Gwen started at Step 1 - Point A, to eventually becoming a podium placer.

The best thing about this whole mid-life athletic exploration is she wasn't trying to become a professional to get paid by the sport. She trained to become a better version of herself for herself, particularly after her beloved dog died and a skin cancer diagnosis.

She made it over many obstacles (literal and figurative) to realize that just because she's getting older, that doesn't mean she should give up on her goals, particularly her physical fitness goals.

This book was quite inspiring and I hope everyone over the age of 40 reads it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an e-copy of NOT TOO LATE to review.

I rate NOT TOO LATE by Gwendolyn Bonds four out of five stars.

Gotta be honest- I'm, ahem, older than Bounds and I'm never going to be an athlete, especially a Spartan athlete, but I really enjoyed reading her memoir. I understand her desire to learn, stretch and grow and admire the way she used fitness training to do that. I like that this is organized around each of the obstacles. I found myself rooting her on the same way I root for competitors on American Ninja Warrior. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's thought provoking and entertaining and I suspect will send some readers off to try to replicate what Bounds was able to do.

This was such a timely read for me. I’m in my mid forties, realizing I’m not getting any younger. I never considered athletic endeavors until really getting into hiking in the past five years or so, aside from yoga DVDs in the living room and stroller walks around the neighborhood. Every year I complain that I haven’t improved on my hiking game, going longer or stronger. This book opened my eyes to the fact that it isn’t too late, I just need to make some changes and really push myself. It doesn’t happen magically.

I’ve never highlighted as many passages and references as with this book. She did an excellent job of giving more information for further research and reading. My only complaint was that the recaps of each race became a little repetitive for a reader who doesn’t know a single thing about the obstacles. I may need to watch a video of a race so I can picture what she’s talking about. However, at the same time she really illustrated the mental obstacles and emotions she was also facing during the race.

Overall a great read, very motivational!

Thanks to Gwendolyn Bounds, Ballantine/Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy!

3.5 stars. This book came at the right time. I am almost exactly the same age as the author when she first discovered obstacle course competitions. It is humbling to be middle aged but to want more from yourself physically. I appreciated the author’s honesty and openness about her experiences competing. At times, the sections about the actual races was monotonous but it was interspersed with inspiring insights about aging and mortality. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Not Too Late is Gwendolyn Banks’s story of finding Spartan races during “mid-life.” As someone who took up running, and more specifically marathoning, in my late thirties (a little younger than the period Banks describes), I have a deep appreciation for trying new and hard physical activities. Banks aims to describe how she went from not at all athletic to very athletic, and how it changed everything in her life. It’s a powerful premise. Banks wants this for you too. The writing didn’t resonate strongly with me, but I like the topic. If you’re looking for something to motivate a change, this book could be helpful. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this book since the author and I are close to the same age and I am a late to life athlete as well. I loved reading about her journey to Spartan success. It was truly inspiring. It was nice to read about someone else struggling with time management, taking care of elderly parents and dealing with health issues of their own. This weekend I have definitely taken her advice about finding time for yourself throughout your week. I have unsubscribed to so many emails! The author gives great references throughout the book (some I have already read) relating to athletic performance and also life in general. I think anyone but especially older, women will love this book.

This book will be very inspiring to the right people. I loved the way it was organized around the various obstacles and what each represented, However it fell a bit flat for me. I'd hoped to get more from this memoir but unfortunately I couldn't get into the book.

Inspiring! This book does a great job breaking down the middle age "crisis" that affects so many and not only offers reasons behind it, but steps to combat its effects. Bounds brings a journalist's research expertise to the causes and solutions and does a good job breaking down the issues for laypeople. Highly recommended and very motivating.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this e-ARC!