The Rise of the Ultra Runners
Once the reserve of only the most hardcore enthusiasts, ultra running is now a thriving global industry, with hundreds of thousands of competitors each year. But is the rise of this most brutal and challenging sport – with races that extend into hundreds of miles, often in extreme environments – an antidote to modern life, or is it a symptom of a modern illness?
In The Rise of the Ultra Runners, award-winning author Adharanand Finn travels to the heart of the sport to investigate the reasons behind its rise and discover what it takes to join the ranks of these ultra athletes. Through encounters with the extreme and colorful characters of the ultramarathon world, and his own experiences of running ultras everywhere from the deserts of Oman to the Rocky Mountains, Finn offers a fascinating account of people testing the boundaries of human endeavor.
An absolute must read for any runner getting older and looking for inspiration. Adharanand offers a real insight into the world of Ultra running covering lots of topics like nutrition, shoes, injuries etc. Rather than trying to sell you his opinion he gives an objective view based on his discussions with experienced people.
Rather than just admire those that he interviews, he actually becomes an ultra runner and lives the experience about which he writes. His recollections of the races he runs supported by his family are inspiring and quite touching at times.
A well written, gripping read, I highly recommend it.
I would say that there’s not lots of practical advice for ‘how’ to run ultras. But there’s definitely some helpful advice as the author develops his running form and deals with injuries. However, practical tips aside, the mental inspiration you’ll get from this book is well worth the read if you’re looking to run an ultra or even a marathon.
Great weekend/holiday book. Would definitely recommend.
I read the "Running with the Kenyans" before, I highly recommend both if you're starting to for further than maybe just a "marathon"
For someone looking at new challenges, this book will provide all the motivation one needs to dive into the world of Ultra Running.
Filled with witty, honest, heartwarming and (often) painful anecdotes, it's the book equivalent of that cold morning shower, waking you from your routine slumber...
I feel as though I've been woken up and inspired to dive into my next great adventure!!
Finn ran that sandy ultra but instead of scarring him for life, it spurred him on to run more ultras, all in the name of journalism. He decided he may as well try qualifying for UTMB. Not only did he run in the desert, but he also ran in the mountains. He ran a 24 hour ultra on a track. He ran a 100 mile races in California and France. His recap of Comrades in South Africa was hilarious. In several of his races, there were blisters and hallucinations. At one race, he got lost. By the time he finished his quest and ran UTMB, he learned a lot of lessons and found the inner strength he didn't know he possessed.
Finn also wanted to learn more about the sport and the runners who participate. If you follow ultra running at all, you'll recognize a lot of names: Kilian Jornet, Jim Walmsley, Zack Miller, Hillary Allen, and Clare Gallagher, among others. Throughout his journey, he shares a great deal of wisdom and information about ultrarunning. Finn is a gifted writer and while reading the book, I found myself on the trail with him, mentally, at least!
Along his journey, Finn learns a lot about the sport. So did I. The Rise of the UltraRunners is such well-written book that at times I had difficulty putting it down. You don't have to be an ultra marathoner to enjoy it. I'm not and I absolutely loved this book. Since I'm not planning on running any ultras, I'll just live vicariously through Finn.
Great writing, which leaves you wanting to race to each new page!
Well worth reading
Highlights were the Comrades run in South Africa and UTMB.
I'm signed up to another ultra as a result...
In this foray, like his previous efforts, he has fused the emotions of his own journey with the exploits and stories of others to provide a colorful narrative that gives a brilliant insight into one of the crazier sporting worlds.
Thank you
The UTMB is not the be all and end all, but it makes for a bloody story of one mans journey.
Perhaps one day I will give it a try....
He explains so brilliantly his experience of being taken to the edge, thinking, or even knowing you've got no more and somehow carrying on. I think its relate-able for anyone who runs, not just ultra runners, you can feel like that in any race. He also gets to meet and talk to some of the world's best ultra runners and it's interesting hearing their take on long distances too - how they do it, why they do it etc. Great book!
This does give you a great idea of ultra running including the why and the what - not specifically the how (esp. if you follow this dude who seems perpetually unprepared for it in spite of being a writer and knowing how to do research). The different trail races were interesting - esp. as they go far and wide all over the world. Not a ton of USA based races in here but the focus on the sport as a whole and where it is worldwide was super interesting. Not a back of the pack book. I will likely have another listen around Christmas to inspire me to hit the training hard starting January.
Finn makes the journey from ultra-sceptic to fully-fledged ultra runner, meeting many ultra luminaries and tackling races from a multi-stage desert race to the UTMB, getting right to the heart of why people push themselves to such extremes. It is utterly compelling and very well written. I gobbled it up in only a few sittings.
If you've only ever vaguely considered ultra-running, this book may just make a convert of you too.
No desire to run this distance, through the desert, or on muddy, scree-covered climbs but I really enjoyed his descriptions. I also liked how he juxtaposed road ultras like Comrades with the trail runs in the Pyrenees. I also enjoyed the fuller descriptions of fell running which I read about in another book but didn't fully understand.
A solid and quick-paced read. Amazing to think he sometimes ran 50 or 100 miles in less time than it took me to read this book.
It is not just for Ultra Runners, or even Runners – it is for everyone who struggles with the challenges which face us all, in one way or another, on the journey through life.
Finn writes engagingly in a style that makes you want to turn rapidly to the next page to find out what happens during each challenge when the going gets so tough that your inner voice screams at you that its ok to give up.
At these lowest points he discovers in himself the hidden inner strength to continue to the finish.
Early on, he includes the quote from an unknown author which he saw tattooed on the leg of a Spanish ultra athlete.
The Devil whispered in my ear, “You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.”
I whispered back: “I am the storm.”
Perhaps this is something we can all relate to.
Finn's journey is captured well. The tone of the book is very palpable. Ultra running, the drive people have to do it fascinates me. This book helps to unveil the myriad of reasons why people are drawn to such an extreme endurance sport.
It had me googling running events in my local area. :-)
It was a complete joy to read, I didn't want it to end. As an outsider to the ultra world of
runnin he brings a fresh view and insight into this crazy sport.
His understated rye humour had me laughing out loud. Well done Mr Finn!