Sports memoirs are not for everyone. I found this one appealing for several reasons: 1. the insight into Icelandic culture, especially with respect to athletic women; 2. the culture and community of CrossFit; and 3. the minutiae of the athlete's mind, and how minute by minute one must think to become a champion. Katrin is very candid about her mental and emotional struggles, and the reader benefits from the deeply honest examination of unproductive thought patterns during training and competition. It gave me much to think about with respect to staying motivated during the daily grind, and ways to think about setting and achieving goals in any endeavor, whether it be work, personal projects, diet, or fitness.

Impressive indeed that a small island nation can produce a relatively high percentage of notable CrossFit Games competitors. Katrin describes the Viking background of Icelanders, and how dogged determination was required to settle and prosper in such a barren land. The "sled dog" mentality of digging into hard work is a perfect match for CrossFit training and competition. The friendly competition and supportiveness of the CrossFit community is highly beneficial in the grind of training. In a sport where one may be tempted to train in isolation, the community atmosphere, that doesn't exist at many gyms, is emblematic in CrossFit gyms (at least in Katrin's view.) My experience in my local gym is more of an individual endeavor, with little to no interaction or even eye contact with others. Talking to others would feel like a strange and unwelcome imposition. Katrin describes a real fitness community of support.

I was very impressed by her candor regarding the mind set needed to go all out for winning, the way you need to laser focus attention, remain absolutely positive, while self-assessing health and technique, and urging one's body to be on the edge of reckless, but not going over that edge. It's a really difficult balance to strike, and it makes sense that, as with many things, over-preparation is key. That way, regardless of what happens, you feel equipped to make the best of it. It gives you a level of confidence you can't have any other way. Katrin needed to find the commitment to this goal, and as such a young person, she naturally was fumbling around trying to figure out what goal she should commit to. She took on too much at times, which only served to be depressing when she couldn't perform her best in any area, with mediocre results from too many goals. She was trying to "find herself", trying to figure out who she wanted to be, and where her talents should take her. Trying to please those she admired, her diplomat grandfather, her strong father, her supportive grandmother and mother-- none of them could supply the answer that had to come from within her, Katrin. It is a struggle we all must live through, and often many times through our lives.

I highly recommend this memoir, which sets the bar higher, meets and exceeds your expectations. Having watched several CrossFit Games documentaries, it is helpful to have an insider's understanding on the nature of the challenges athletes endure.