The rise of the ultra runners : a journey to the edge of human endurance

The rise of the ultra runners A journey to the edge of human endurance

Adharanand Finn

Book - 2019

"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 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"--Provided by publisher.

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Subjects
Ultra running.
Long-distance running.
Long-distance runners.
Running > Social aspects.
Published
New York, NY : Pegasus Books 2019.
Language
English
Main Author
Adharanand Finn (author)
Edition
First Pegasus Books cloth edition
Physical Description
ix, 262 pages ; 24 cm
ISBN
9781643131351
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

For some runners, conquering 26.2 miles (a marathon) is not enough of a challenge. Hence, there has been a rapid increase in the popularity of, and participation in, ultra races worldwide (distances longer than a marathon). In a logical follow-up to his earlier Running with the Kenyans (2012), Finn sets out to discover firsthand the lure of ultrarunning. Sub-three-hour marathoners up their mileage, slow their pace, and gain confidence with each new frontier, competing in ultrarunning events in England, Italy, California, and South Africa, culminating with the crown jewel, the brutal Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a 106-mile race through the Alps. Finn explores what drives an endurance athlete to travel by foot across desolate miles day and night on steep terrain (both deserts and mountains), enduring extreme and even life-threatening conditions. He asks if suffering makes us more appreciative or stronger or more-fulfilled human beings. In the end, he concludes that such harrowing experiences may not be enjoyable, but they reveal vulnerabilities, strengths, and an acute awareness of one's existence. A vivid memoir sure to resonate with marathoners and all interested in ultrarunning.--Brenda Barrera Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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