“An insightful, informative, and inspiring book!”
“The journey the reader will encounter is an incredibly inspiring one that will show you how to overcome hardships and how to find purpose in the difficult moments. If you are a reader who is looking to read a personal memoir that is unlike anything you have read before and a book that is the perfect combination of inspiration, heart, and poignancy, then Every Mile Matters is the book for you and should not be missed.”
“Jeffrey L. Reynolds is a remarkable person for two reasons: the first is that he is honest and brave to write his story, and the second is that he is an exceptionally talented author! Jeffrey’s impeccable writing is a joy to read and flows beautifully throughout, so that the reader will feel compelled to read non-stop!”
October 24, 2025 Review by Red Headed Book Lover
First Place in Nonfiction Memoirs 2025
“Every Mile Matters: How Triathlon Trained Me For Triumph Over Cancer” is a powerful memoir that chronicles Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds’ extraordinary journey from “weekend warrior” to Ironman triathlete to two-time cancer survivor. Just months after completing the grueling 140.6-mile Ironman Florida race in 2021, Reynolds faced prostate cancer followed by Stage 3B colorectal cancer. Two cancers in two years. Drawing remarkable parallels between athletic discipline and cancer treatment, he reveals how the fundamental principles of swimming, biking, and running—endurance, pacing, mental toughness, and strategic preparation—became essential tools for navigating surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and recovery. More than a cancer memoir, this book is a testament to vulnerability, resilience, and the transformative power of reframing life’s greatest challenges as opportunities for triumph, offering hope and practical wisdom to anyone facing their own seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
“Every Mile Matters by Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D., is an inspiring memoir that intertwines the demands of triathlon training with the life-altering challenges of surviving cancer. Reynolds, an accomplished endurance athlete, recounts his journey from the exhilaration of crossing the Ironman Florida finish line to the shock of receiving not one, but two devastating cancer diagnoses in quick succession. This narrative chronicles not only his physical battles but also the mental and emotional evolution that followed. The book’s structure mirrors the discipline of a triathlon: methodical, focused, and unflinching in its honesty. Reynolds shares the grueling aspects of treatment in vivid detail, equating radiation sessions and chemotherapy cycles to the rigors of daily workouts and long training blocks. This metaphor transforms what could have been a purely medical account into an uplifting chronicle of mindset and endurance. His reflection on pain, fear, and doubt offers readers an intimate understanding of what it means to confront mortality while striving to remain in motion.Every Mile Matters: Turning Triathlon Training Into Cancer Triumph by Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds is a really well-written memoir. Reynolds makes smooth transitions that connect his medical journey, athletic training, and inspirational stories and quotes. He integrates detailed descriptions of cancer treatments alongside accounts of endurance events, and the symbolism here will not be lost on any reader. His writing style is conversational and feels a lot like a chat with an experienced friend. The explanation of medical terms and procedures mercifully foregoes jargon, instead threading them through in an accessible manner while sharing moments like ringing the treatment completion bell and managing the stress of follow-up tests. This book is going to be helpful for those who are looking beyond traditional ways to amplify their life in the face of cancer, and readers who enjoy a good blend of wisdom, inspiration, and sportsmanship.”
August 1, 2025 Review by Asher Syed for Readers’ Favorite
“Every Mile Matters: Turning Triathlon Training Into Cancer Triumph by Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D., is an uplifting memoir about endurance sports and battling cancer. While striving to reach a new and improved version of himself, Reynolds reached a life-changing moment at the age of 55, when he was compelled to put the many lessons learned during triathlon training to the ultimate test. He had to use his endurance training experience, athletic discipline, and mental toughness to survive cancer twice. In this book, Reynolds shares his cancer journey from the moment he learned he was diagnosed to how the news impacted him, his treatment plan, the side effects of the treatment, and being cancer-free. He reveals how cancer, and especially its treatment, can alter every aspect of one’s being physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.
Every Mile Matters is a wonderfully written, informative, thoughtful, and necessary book about one’s journey through a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. As a nonprofit executive, Ironman triathlete, social entrepreneur, marathoner, and two-time cancer survivor, Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D., helps the reader acknowledge the realities of a life-threatening disease and empowers them to believe they, too, can persevere through adversity. This story of resilience, endurance, hope, and transformation is both a guide and a testament to the human spirit’s embracing purpose, acknowledging vulnerability, and practicing gratitude in the darkest of times. It’s a must-have, as it also contains valuable information about cancer, treatments, cancer statistics, serious side effects of cancer and chemotherapy, and what we can do as a nation to stop people dying of cancers that are preventable, detectable, and treatable, among others.”
August 1, 2025 Review by Emma Megan for Readers’ Favorite
Every Mile Matters: Turning Triathlon Training Into Cancer Triumph, by Jeffrey L. Reynolds, Ph.D., is an unforgettable account of how the author turned his cancer into an inspiring and educational journey that others can benefit from.
Whether you’re struggling with a recent cancer diagnosis or have traveled the same path as the author, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll derive something positive and life-affirming in this book. The good part is that you don’t have to be a cancer patient or survivor in order to enjoy this book. Reynolds’ experiences can be uplifting and inspirational to anyone.
The IRONMAN finish line was his goal, and his indomitable spirit helped him reach it. He simply would not give up. Reynolds is a living life lesson. Did he have moments of weakness and doubt? Yes, because he tells the human, vulnerable side of life. But strength is sometimes born of trial-by-fire, and this is one of those stories.
I like how he describes his journey from the beginning, his motivations, his setbacks, and his willingness to keep moving forward in the face of adversity. A lot of people would give up, but one of the lessons you’ll glean from this book is the power of choice. What we choose can be life-changing. He shows how you can go from bystander to someone with control, and at age 55, no less.
And it wasn’t just a positive attitude that shaped his victories; it was how he combined mental stamina with physical training in order to handle his diagnoses and treatments. In other words, a triathlon race helped shape his fight and his endurance.
The advice he offers in this book isn’t just for a sudden crisis; it’s something you can use in the long term and for other challenging aspects that may arise in your life. I can see where this book would be helpful for caregivers of cancer patients or others living with serious health issues.
It may sound like a cliche, but life is a marathon, not a sprint, and what you do to train for it may determine the length and quality of your life. I think young people, especially students, can also benefit from this book, as it can serve as a guiding light for how to handle a family medical crisis, either in their own lives or the lives of their loved ones.
I love how helpful Dr. Reynolds sounds, how he takes time to explain things and terms we may not be familiar with, like the process of chemotherapy, the ways cancer changes you, and the world of Ironman.
The book is organized into easily accessible chapters, with headings that explain but also hint at their contents. You’ll learn some things about biking, swimming, running, but most of all, surviving. Think of this as a first aid book for fighting the psychological, physical, and emotional aspects of cancer. The author’s way of writing feels very personal yet practical, and he gives you a peek into his unique and profound life–so much so that you’ll find yourself getting emotional with a laugh or a tear.
Reynolds also branches out into broader subjects to address global health concerns, such as nutrition-deprived areas and the state of food in general. He’s supremely skilled at simplifying detailed information and statistics so that the average reader can apply them in everyday life.
When searching for an educational yet inspiring book on triumphing over cancer and adopting a new mindset for life, Every Mile Matters: Turning Triathlon Training Into Cancer Triumph, by Jeffrey L. Reynolds, should be your first choice.
August 18, 2025 Review by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views