Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run

By: Andy Holgate

Narrated by: Gregory St. John

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Shortlisted for Best New Writer of the Year - The British Sports Book Awards 2012

This book is both a lesson in true grit and determination, but its goal is one that is attainable. Andy isn't a sporting superstar, he holds down a nine-to-five job and all the pressures that go with it; he isn’t blessed with speed and talent; there are no multi-million pound sponsorship deals; yet this remarkable "common man" is inspiring in a way that some of today’s sporting superstars have forgotten how to be. You wouldn’t recognize Andy in the street, yet his story provides valuable lessons to us all: "Never give up" and "Anything is possible".

©2011 Andy Holgate (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

From a triathlete

Any additional comments?

I am an amateur and avid triathlete myself so I thought this book might be tailor made for myself. However, the author of the book was not a down-to-earth man. The book is full of unnecessary exaggerating and boring descriptions, and excuses when the author - an avid triathlete - failed.
The book contained only very few advices for an amateur triathlete.
Narration was no good either.
If you are a beginning or just amateur triathlete I'd suggest to listen or read Iron War or I'm here to Win by Chris McCormack.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

This book gave me anxiety

I see where it is trying to go, but the over exaggeration of the stories and the narration itself really gave me anxiety. It was too much. I stopped at a certain point because the narration was making my heart beat fast. It always seemed like something was terribly wrong, like the situation was more than anyone can handle...even when you’re reading it.

truly an incredible journey

this was a fabulous inspiration. just what I needed to get back OFF the couch.

Great tale of reaching for goals.

Any additional comments?

I am a fan of triathlon, and Ironman (long course) triathlon in particular, and I love reading how others find themselves pursuing the sport. This author and competitor regales us with tales of the sport, how he came to participate, and how and why he continues. He does so with engaging humor and humility. I know he has one other book about his continuation in the sport; hoping that one comes out in audio (it's not available on Audible at this point - Sept 2017) but I'll read it in print if I have to! Great stories!

Inspirational

This audiobook is truly inspirational for anyone getting started with triathlon. Very honest and motivating.

Fun book, very inspiring!!

Andy was a very unlikely Iron Man. England an inhospitable place to train! His tales are harrowing!!

great, fun, motivational !

this is a really great book. I ran my first full Marathon this year and the world's toughest Mudder. I listen to this book to give me continued motivation and encouragement. it certainly did that!

Brilliant story

If you could sum up Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run in three words, what would they be?

This book is filled with "Yes, I Can" spirit. This is great motivation for anyone who thinks that its to late to be an athlete.

Listen to the Sample before you buy PLEASE !!!!!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If Andy Holgate read it himself, or to be honest any other Brit.
Gregory St. John’s performance is absolutely appalling. In my opinion the Author should sue.

What did you like best about this story?

The Story it's self is a light hearted look at what the author went through to fulfill his goals, so as stories go its alright.

Would you be willing to try another one of Gregory St. John’s performances?

to be honest.........NO

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

good honest down to earth story, I would consider the sequel as long as the narrator is changed

Any additional comments?

Americans attempting British accents tend to do it badly BEWARE

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

READ the book! the narration will offend your ears

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The time was painfully spent, much as I wanted to know the story I couldn't cope with the truly awful narration. If Gregory St. John had stuck to his own accent the experience would have been immeasurably improved. Not since Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins has the English language been so cruelly mistreated. If it were possible to give minus 'stars' for the narration I would have done so.

How could the performance have been better?

Silence!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Awful Narration

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone that can zone out of the narration and listen to the story.
Someone who doesn't know the correct way to pronounce half the geography of England

What other book might you compare Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run to, and why?

Iron War, Life without Limits.

What didn’t you like about Gregory St. John’s performance?

Nothing its appalling and in need of an English lesson.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story its self was good and enjoyable

Any additional comments?

We need more English narrators

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

STOP... listen before you buy

What would have made Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run better?

A better narrator. I wish I had read reviews, it is unlistenable.

What could Andy Holgate have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Chosen a better narrator.

Would you be willing to try another one of Gregory St. John’s performances?

NO

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Annoyance.

Any additional comments?

This looked like it was going to be a really good book, but I couldn't get through 30 seconds with this narrator despite multiple tries.

I would like a refund for this, you literally can't listen to it.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A great story poorly told

Where does Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Honestly? Last.

What other book might you compare Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run to, and why?

From Fat Man to Green Man, because of the story. An out of shape ordinary man achieves a phenomenal feat.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Gregory St. John?

The narrator for Fat Man to Green Man. Gregory St. John is unlistenable

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I couldn't listen to it for more than 5 minutes.

Any additional comments?

Everyone was right. Listen to a sample before you buy! The story's great, I've read it. This narration may be ok for others, for me it was stilted, and just, well, awful.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

loved the story

narrator let itndown a small bit didnt know hownto pronounce a lot of thr olace names and cyclong terminology

Awful

I really struggled to get into it , had a really hard time trying to listen to the narrator, story was ok up to the point when he started insulting charity runners, lost me totally after that, can never understand why someone feels the need to insult people out to raise a few quid and have some fun , a little to far up his own arse I feel

Read the book instead

The story is a good one but the narration is awful and spoilt the story. Ended up going and buying the book instead.

Great content - terrible narrator!

I really enjoyed the journey of the author in his quest to compete and break is own pbs in iron man but the narration was appalling. It was so bad at times i nearly gave up on it. If i could have given the ‘performance’ a negative star scoring i would have.

In this instance i would recommend reading the book.

Great book. Awful narrator.

This narrator is truly awful. Terrible pronunciation of many words. Spoils your enjoyment of what is otherwise a great book.