Not Too Late - by Gwendolyn Bounds (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An award-winning journalist tells the inspiring story of her unlikely midlife journey to master the daunting sport of obstacle course racing-a powerful, science-based account of the change possible at any age when we push limits In her mid-forties, Gwendolyn Bounds attended a dinner party where someone asked a little girl: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It struck Bounds: In middle age, no one asks you that anymore. So, she put the question to herself. The answer set her on an unexpected path of transformation from an unathletic office executive glued to her screens into a competitive age group medalist and world championship competitor in obstacle racing-a demanding military-style sport requiring speed, endurance, mobility and strength. What began as a simple goal to complete a single race grew into a profound five-year quest to reconcile the realities of growing older. In Not Too Late, Bounds explores how tackling something new and hard upended her expectations for middle age-while also helping the author reconcile regrets of her youth. Her story takes us from playgrounds and gyms where Bounds relearns childhood movements (swinging from monkey bars, climbing a rope) to far-flung Spartan Race courses where she masters running in difficult terrain and conquering challenges such as scaling tall walls, crawling under barbed wire, and carrying heavy loads of rocks up mountains. Through this equally beautiful and brutal sport, Bounds discovers potent tools to combat the mental and physical risks of aging as she makes her way from newbie to the podium. Bounds' journey offers inspiration and a roadmap for anyone craving more out of life. Woven through Not Too Late are insights from scientists, longevity doctors, philosophers, elite athletes, and performance experts on how to reimagine our limits and redefine who we think we are. Through Bounds' story, as she changes her body and mindset, we learn humans' potential to tap inner reserves, face deep-rooted fears, locate intrinsic motivation, and push the boundaries of what we ask of ourselves at any life stage. Ultimately, one message prevails: When unleashing our full potential, age can be a secret weapon"--

Book Synopsis

An award-winning journalist tells the inspiring story of her unlikely midlife journey to master the daunting sport of obstacle course racing--a powerful, science-based account of the change possible at any age when we push limits.

"This story of personal transformation is thrilling."--Gretchen Rubin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Life in Five Senses

In her midforties, Gwendolyn Bounds attended a dinner party where someone asked a little girl: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

It struck Bounds: In middle age, no one asks you that anymore. So she put the question to herself. The answer set her on an unexpected five-year path of transformation from an unathletic office executive glued to her screens to an age-group medalist and world championship competitor in obstacle course racing--a demanding military-style sport requiring speed, endurance, mobility, and strength.

In Not Too Late, Bounds explores how tackling something new and hard upended her expectations for middle age--while also helping her reconcile regrets of her youth. Her story takes us from playgrounds and gyms, where Bounds relearns childhood movements (swinging from monkey bars, climbing a rope); to far-flung Spartan Race courses, where she strives to master running in difficult terrain and to conquer challenges such as scaling tall walls, crawling under barbed wire, and carrying heavy loads of rocks up mountains.

Bounds's journey offers inspiration and a road map for anyone craving more out of life. Woven through Not Too Late are insights from scientists, longevity doctors, philosophers, elite athletes, and performance experts on how to reimagine our limits and who we think we are. Through Bounds's story, as she changes her body and mindset, we learn about humans' capacity to tap inner reserves, face fears, locate intrinsic motivation, and push boundaries at any life stage.

Ultimately, one message prevails: When unleashing our full potential, age can be a secret weapon.

Review Quotes

"An inspiring guide on how to unearth a "second wind," from someone who's been there."--Kirkus Reviews

"Thrilling."--Gretchen Rubin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Life in Five Senses and host of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast

"A must-read for anyone at a crossroads!"--Rich Diviney, retired Navy SEAL and bestselling author of The Attributes

"A fantastic page-turner of a story."--Alex Hutchinson, New York Times bestselling author of Endure

"Those of us tethered to our devices or trapped by our own perceived limits will find inspiration here."--Kai Ryssdal, host of Marketplace

"No matter your age, Not Too Late will inspire you to make big positive changes--to do hard things you didn't think you could."--Michael Easter, New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain

"A must-read for anyone seeking to break free from the constraints of age and redefine what is possible in their life."--Joe De Sena, Spartan founder and CEO and New York Times bestselling co-author of 10 Rules for Resilience and Spartan Up!

"Bounds captures the powerful lure of discovering 'flow' in midlife as she embraces something bold and once unimaginable."--Chip Conley, bestselling author of Learning to Love Midlife

"Not Too Late is so addicting that I was torn between reading another page and getting out the door to power through a run."--Deena Kastor, Olympic marathon medalist and New York Times bestselling author of Let Your Mind Run

"An ode to the value of sport: a sense of belonging, intimacy, and mastery that's good for not just the body and mind but also the soul."--Brad Stulberg, bestselling author of Master of Change and The Practice of Groundedness

"Bounds not only changed her own life; her irresistible story will change yours."--Joanne Lipman, bestselling author of Next!: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work

"Anyone who has ever felt the pull of the couch and midlife malaise will want to dive in."--Matthew Futterman, author of Running to the Edge

"Honest, humble, and very funny."--Jason Gay, New York Times bestselling author of I Wouldn't Do That If I Were Me and Little Victories

"Not Too Late will resonate with anyone who has hit midlife only to wonder: Is this it?"--Jeff Bercovici, author of Play On: The New Science of Elite Performance at Any Age

"For anyone who has ever wondered if there's more juice to squeeze out of life. So--basically everyone."--Scott Keneally, writer/director of Rise of the Sufferfests: A Film About Mud, Masochism and Modern Life

"An intimate first-person story of pivoting in midlife to embrace challenge, persevere, and triumph."--R. Douglas Fields, PhD, author of Electric Brain and Why We Snap

"Readers will be more than motivated to lace up their sneakers."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Gwendolyn ("Wendy") Bounds is an award-winning journalist and author whose career spans influential media brands including The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Consumer Reports, CNBC, SmartNews, and more. Her most recent book, Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age, is an inspiring account about Bounds' midlife transformation into a competitive athlete--and what the latest science shows about the benefits of embracing new challenges at any life stage. Her first book, Little Chapel on the River, earned wide acclaim for its poignant portrayal of life inside a small-town pub after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Raised in North Carolina, Bounds now lives in New York's Hudson River Valley.