On October 14, 1989, driven by one of the most intense and lasting two-man rivalries in any sport, a pair of generational talents at the height of their powers ran a race that redefined human limits.
In sweltering heat and against the extraordinary backdrop of the Hawaiian landscape, Dave Scott and Mark Allen swam 2.4 miles, cycled 112 miles and ran a marathon in a mere eight hours. So intense was the drama, the race came to be known as "Iron War"- the single most awe-inspiring sporting event ever witnessed. It was the culmination of an extraordinary rivalry between the two men who dominated triathlon in its early "wild west" days.
The brash, manic Dave Scott, who excelled at the psychological manipulation of his fellow competitors, had seemed unbeatable at the island's annual Iron Man event. The younger, more fragile Mark Allen, who had won every other race going, seemed destined, as a result of inexplicable mental collapses and tragic bad luck, to never achieve triumph in Hawaii. The eventual victor would finish a mere 58 seconds ahead of his rival.
More than a compelling story, Iron War is a fascinating exploration of how and why Scott and Allen pushed themselves and each other to not just withstand levels of pain most would regard as utterly unbearable, but to actively seek it out.
