How Bad Do You Want It?

Drawing on cutting-edge scientific research, How Bad Do You Want It? suggests concrete habits and tactics we can use to cultivate our own mental strength, whilst providing thrilling accounts of some of the most inspiring and astonishing feats in sporting history.

In 2010, Sammy Wanjiru entered the Boston Marathon suffering from injuries to his knee and his lower back, a stomach virus that prevented him from training, and a lifestyle that meant he spent more time in nightclubs than on the track. He shouldn't have even been able to finish the race, and at times he seemed as if he literally had nothing left to give, yet in an epic battle, he crossed the finishing line first. How did he manage it? How Bad Do You Want It? describes a new 'psychobiological' model of endurance performance connecting the mind, body, and brain.

Compelling accounts from triathlon, cycling, running, rowing, and swimming are viewed through the lens of this model, shedding new light on what science has to say about mental fortitude in sports. Featured athletes include: Sammy Wanjiru, Jenny Barringer, Greg LeMond, Willie Stewart, Cadel Evans, Joseph Sullivan, Paula Newby-Fraser, Ryan Vail, Thomas Voeckler, Ned Overend, and Steve Prefontaine.