Dare to Dream Scary Fast: The Road to Kona by Wade Wilson

 

DARE TO DREAM SCARY FAST: The Road to Kona

By Wade Wilson

Inspirational Memoir, Extreme Sports

Publisher: Dare to Dream Publishing

Publication Date: February 25, 2025

SYNOPSIS

Discover the power of perseverance and the extraordinary potential within yourself in Dare to Dream: The Road to Kona.

As an unlikely athlete born with pigeon-toes, Wade Wilson had a dream to become an elite athlete. With unwavering support from his wife and kids, he sets off to discover the world of triathlons at the age of 39. Over the next six years, Wade navigates the hurdles of any working father, parsing out his workouts in between job duties and family commitments. When faced with setbacks, he perseveres with a steadfast tenacity to succeed. He finally reached his goal to compete at the IRONMAN® Triathlon World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii when he was 46.

With candid insights and inspiring reflections, Wilson reveals that greatness doesn’t require extraordinary talent—just unwavering desire, a solid plan, and relentless willpower. From navigating setbacks to overcoming self-doubt, Wade shows how resilience and the support of a strong team can propel anyone toward success.

Dare to Dream is a testament to the triumphs that come from persistence and courage. Start small, think big, and let your dreams soar.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wade Wilson has a passion for pursuing his dreams and interests, some of which he has talents for and some not so much. He loves to challenge himself, and the bigger the dream the better. His goal is when God calls him home that he will have nothing left on his bucket list that he is healthy enough to pursue.

 

Wade’s other interests include studying and teaching God’s word, playing and performing classical guitar music, and traveling with his wife. He has provided motivational and inspirational speeches on his experiences in the sport of triathlon and of having the opportunity to compete on a world stage at the age of forty-six.

 

Authoring this book was a huge challenge and required all the skills and lessons previously learned about setting and pursuing lofty goals. 

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REVIEW

When I picked up Dare to Dream Scary Fast: The Road to Kona by Wade Wilson, I was already intrigued, partly because my brother is an IRONMAN finisher, so I’ve seen firsthand what that kind of training demands. Still, nothing prepared me for how deeply inspiring Wade’s journey would be. This isn’t just a sports memoir; it’s a manual on grit, humility, and what it means to fully commit to a dream, no matter your starting point.

Wade begins with an obstacle that would have sidelined most people: childhood surgeries to reshape the bones in his feet that left him having to relearn how to walk. That early experience shaped him in profound ways. He writes, “Daring to dream big has great benefits but can also lead to disappointment,” and yet he never stops daring. Even after losing his original dream of becoming an Air Force pilot because of those very surgeries disqualified him, he kept searching for what was next.

That “next” turned out to be triathlons. At thirty-nine, long after most elite athletes begin their training, Wade decided to chase a new goal: qualifying for the IRONMAN® World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Over the next six years, he trained like a man possessed: early mornings, late nights, squeezing in swims, rides, and runs between family life and a full-time job. He reminds us, “You can be the smartest, most talented person, but if you lack grit, perseverance, and persistence to the end goal, no matter how many setbacks are encountered, you may never see your dreams come true.”

That quote could sum up the book perfectly.

The pacing of Dare to Dream feels almost like listening to a TED Talk—motivational, informative, and full of rhythm. Wade doesn’t just recount events; he invites you into his headspace, sharing his logic, his self-doubt, and the “why” behind his choices. As someone who’s always wondered what it takes to train for an IRONMAN, I appreciated how clearly he explains the process. He walks us through everything: hiring a coach, selecting gear, fine-tuning each of the three disciplines, and maintaining the mental stamina to keep showing up, even when progress feels slow.

The part that stayed with me most was how he approached the journey itself. Wade writes, “I was on a journey of self-discovery and adamantly wanted to see where it could lead,” and that mindset radiates from every chapter. His story isn’t only about reaching Kona—it’s about the transformation that happened on the way there. He makes it clear that perseverance is built through the daily, often unglamorous grind of doing the next right thing, again and again.

I also loved the glimpses of his family’s perspective. His wife and kids chime in throughout, reminding us that endurance sports are a team effort, even if only one person crosses the finish line. Their pride and patience shine through and make the triumph at Kona feel like a shared victory.

When Wade finally earns his slot and crosses that iconic finish line, it’s deeply satisfying. Not just because he achieved something extraordinary, but because he showed us how ordinary people can do extraordinary things through commitment and courage. His takeaway sums it up best: “Even if you do not achieve your wildest dream, you will grow immensely through the process of trying.”

By the end, I felt like I’d been running alongside him, sweating, cheering, and learning that greatness isn’t about being born with perfect circumstances. It’s about believing, preparing, and persevering until you find yourself exactly where you dared to go.

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