Start Your Engines

My Unstoppable CrossFit Journey

By: Sam Briggs

Narrated by: Victoria Riley

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

You don’t get biceps like Briggs by giving up when the going gets tough....

CrossFit superstar Sam Briggs, a.k.a. ‘The Engine’, is a true hero in the sport, with a level of endurance unparalleled in the game. This is the story of how she got to the top and battled with everything she had to stay there.

Sam’s memoir takes in the whole story, from being kicked out of ballet lessons as a child but being accepted on the boys’ sports teams, to working as a firefighter in West Yorkshire for 10 years, tackling dangerous and adrenaline-fueled situations on a daily basis and to taking up CrossFit at the comparatively ancient age of 27. Sam tells of what it took to become champion a mere three years later and after a year out with a broken patella. Despite the numerous setbacks and debilitating injuries that have plagued her in the years that followed, when most other athletes would have thrown in the towel, Sam has fought and continues to fight, to be the very best that she can be.

Start Your Engines is the story of how, with a combination of grit, training and dogged motivation, it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

©2020 Sam Briggs (P)2020 Penguin Audio

recommend 100%

fun and witty! great book! couldn't stop listening. great story and lessons shared by author.

very inspiring.

I got a look at Sam I wouldn't have had otherwise. I very happy to have experienced this book and look forward to more stuff from her.

A Tale of CrossFit Roots and Mentality

Good luck putting this one down. This is a must read for fans of mental toughness, athletics, CrossFit history, and good ol' humor.
Sam Briggs is one of the sports all time greats for a multitude of reasons; and they're all captured in this autobiographical sketch of her life and time as a professional athlete (so far). True fans and followers of Sam will hear her personable prose as she opens up about the lesser known aspects of her early life before finding CrossFit, as well as her personal experience across a prestigious CrossFit career.

Great story, totally wrong choice of narrator

This was a really great listen for any keen CrossFitter and it was so interesting to hear the previously unknown parts of Sam Briggs’ amazing story.
Unfortunately, the narrator wasn’t really an appropriate choice. First, she sounded like a little old lady, which meant her first person narration of the incredible sporting feats that Sam Briggs has achieved sounded a bit comical. Secondly, I don’t think she’s a CrossFit buff because she didn’t really get the emphasis right in a few parts. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this audio book and would recommend it.

Thrilling

Reading up on Sam Briggs story was inspiring, exhilarating and fun definitely worth the read.

Insanely good!!

I usually only listen to audibles your and from work. This book was so good I found myself listening to it any chance I got! Thanks Sam for being such an inspiration!!

Great Listen

Great story and listen of the development of Ms. Briggs Crossfit career. I was hooked and finished in a few days. Recommend to any Crossfit attending athlete that can appreciate the work and effort shared in her story.

Nice story

I don't know much about crossfit, but this was a good listen. And I loved the narrator! The more you know about crossfit, the more I think you'll enjoy this book. Mostly because she talks about a lot of the workouts, which would be amazing if I understood more about them! But overall, I love books about highly motivated sports types, and this fit the bill!

Good book/ bad narration

I almost gave up listening, not because the book was lacking, but because the narrators voice was very hard to listen to. The accent wasn’t the main problem, but the nasal quality and cadence of speech.

I enjoyed the book itself, but if you have the option, just read it instead.

Fun review of a storied career

We’ll written, fun review of her career. Rooting for you in your last season, Sam!