Not Too Late: Break the Cycle of Sameness and Reimagine Your Limits

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An award-winning journalist tells the inspiring story of her unlikely midlife journey to become a competitive athlete-a powerful, science-based account of the change possible for anyone when we reimagine our limits, now with a new worksheet and preface. "This story of personal transformation is thrilling." -Gretchen Rubin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Life in Five Senses 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.

Reviews

An inspiring guide on how to unearth a second wind, from someone whos 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 changesto do hard things you didnt 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 midlifeas 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 thats 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 Wouldnt 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 itJeff Bercovici, author of Play On: The New Science of Elite Performance at Any Age

For anyone who has ever wondered if theres more juice to squeeze out of life. Sobasically 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

Author Bio

Gwendolyn Bounds is an award-winning journalist, author and speaker, most recently working at The Wall Street Journal Leadership Institute where she is Senior Vice President & Head of Content. 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. Bounds' career spans influential media brands including ABC News, Consumer Reports, CNBC, SmartNews, and two decades as a reporter & editor at The Wall Street Journal. Raised in North Carolina, Bounds now lives in New York's Hudson River Valley.