A review by charliepritchard1996
Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness, by Steve Friedman, Scott Jurek
4.0
Having recently signed up to do a half marathon, I have been on the hunt for some brilliant reading material.
Scott Jurek is a phenomenon, an ultra-marathon runner and a fantastic mind. You need an elite mentality to combat the challenges that Jurek has faced since stepping out from the unknown to the ultra-marathon world of endurance and extreme limits.
Some of the tips that Jurek offers are considered and subtle. He is not seeking to offer sweeping assertions about how best to train and run. His insight is not only superb, but the way that he communicates is inspiring in itself. I have drawn determination and belief from his book, and I will be a better runner for it, without a doubt.
Jurek’s successes at the Western States 100 for seven consecutive years are mind-boggling. His achievements in California are unparalleled and his times each year improved, a tangible testament of his grit and dedication. Jurek seemed to have a deep-rooted desire to prove people wrong and uptake ‘challenges’ such as training with and maintaining a vegan and later raw foods diet.
I found Jurek’s storytelling of the Spartathlon in Greece alluring. He really succeeds in providing historical context and linking it to modern day ultra running, but this particular chapter on his plight in Greece is a great addition to the book. I liked how he competed across the world after conquering the American scene to a certain extent.
Jurek’s first Spartathlon was a profound and romantic journey through Greece. In his accounts of American ultramarathons, which were depicted as purely gruelling experiences, this sense of romanticism is absent, making for a great contrast.
Overall, a book of immense insight and a fascinating story. I am already looking forward to reading his latest work, running the Appalachian trail, published in 2018.
Scott Jurek is a phenomenon, an ultra-marathon runner and a fantastic mind. You need an elite mentality to combat the challenges that Jurek has faced since stepping out from the unknown to the ultra-marathon world of endurance and extreme limits.
Some of the tips that Jurek offers are considered and subtle. He is not seeking to offer sweeping assertions about how best to train and run. His insight is not only superb, but the way that he communicates is inspiring in itself. I have drawn determination and belief from his book, and I will be a better runner for it, without a doubt.
Jurek’s successes at the Western States 100 for seven consecutive years are mind-boggling. His achievements in California are unparalleled and his times each year improved, a tangible testament of his grit and dedication. Jurek seemed to have a deep-rooted desire to prove people wrong and uptake ‘challenges’ such as training with and maintaining a vegan and later raw foods diet.
I found Jurek’s storytelling of the Spartathlon in Greece alluring. He really succeeds in providing historical context and linking it to modern day ultra running, but this particular chapter on his plight in Greece is a great addition to the book. I liked how he competed across the world after conquering the American scene to a certain extent.
Jurek’s first Spartathlon was a profound and romantic journey through Greece. In his accounts of American ultramarathons, which were depicted as purely gruelling experiences, this sense of romanticism is absent, making for a great contrast.
Overall, a book of immense insight and a fascinating story. I am already looking forward to reading his latest work, running the Appalachian trail, published in 2018.