Earlier this year, I ran my first marathon. I trained extensively for the event, and it proved to be one of the toughest mental and physical challenges I have endured. This was expected, sure, but at the same time, it was even more than expected. That said, it is impossible for me to wrap my mind around what James Lawrence has accomplished.

This was not Lawrence’s first rodeo. I mean, he is the Iron Cowboy after all. He previously had set a record by completing 50 full-distance triathlons across 50 states in 50 consecutive days. Yet, the Conquer 100, which this newest book details, would prove to be a new challenge altogether. The Iron Cowboy set out to do what no one has previously accomplished: 100 Ironman-distance triathlons in 100 consecutive days.

Iron Hope not only details the events which tested Lawrence’s limits in every way imaginable, but each chapter offers hopeful messages to inspire you to achieve—rather, to exceed—your own goals. If you enjoy reading through other inspiring stories of endurance athletes and those who push the boundaries of what we thought possible such as those by David Goggins or Cameron Hanes, then you will have a deep appreciation for Lawrence’s journey, as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. In addition to the mind-boggling storytelling, I appreciated the positive messaging throughout the pages. At the end of it, Lawrence is not challenging you to necessarily aspire to accomplish what he has; rather, he is inviting you to push a little further than you thought was possible for yourself.

I am grateful to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read through an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

“You are not finished. You are not spent. You are not out of the fight. You can keep going. You are far stronger than you think”

Iron Hope tells James Lawrence’s (aka the Iron Cowboy) story of resilience and mental toughness while completing his Conquer 100 challenge. If you’re into endurance sports and hearing stories of people completing hard things, this book is for you.

While this book is centered around Lawrence’s challenge and other accomplishments, there is lots of advice for building your mental toughness that applies to everyone, not just athletes.

I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

life-altering perspective related not to physical acumen but mental strength... how to get it, keep it, and improve your life as a result.

Physical ability aside, so much of physical endurance is "mental toughness" -- our nervous system stops before our physical capacity does in so many instances. Iron Hope is a fascinating exploration of one man's lived experience with this exact concept. Highly recommend not just for athletes but also for anyone looking to engage and develop their mental toughness. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.