Experienced or aspiring ultra runners!
Our team has researched and compiled a list of the best ultra running books to help you train smarter. These books provide in-depth information on topics such as nutrition, training, and race strategy. They are written by experienced ultra runners who know what it takes to be successful. So if you are serious about ultra running, then be sure to check our blog below about ultra running books!
With these books, you will have all the information you need to take your ultra running career to the next level. You will learn how to properly fuel your body, how to create an effective training plan, the correct mindset, and what race strategies to use on race day. These books are essential for anyone who wants to improve their performance and stand out from the competition.
Check out our list of ultra running books today!
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What We Like Most About It
Introducing The Rise of the Ultra Runners, a captivating look inside the thrilling world of ultra-distance running. Award-winning author Adharanand Finn takes readers on a journey with the extreme and colorful characters that inhabit this space, capturing their experiences and inspirations of competing in incredible challenges around the world.
Discover why more people than ever before are testing the boundaries of physical endurance by pushing their limits in relentless forward progress to conquer ultra marathon races. From the scorching deserts of Oman to the snowy peaks of Colorado, readers will learn what it takes to conquer some of these most rigorous athletic events. Whether you have dreams of taking on an ultra-run yourself or just want to marvel at what’s possible, this book provides an informative and first-hand glimpse into this exciting and adventurous niche.
What We Like Most About It
The Ultra Mindset is the ultimate key to success in any endeavor. Developed by ultra-distance athlete Travis Macy, The Ultra Mindset has helped him reach the summit of glacial peaks, rappel into vast limestone caves, and become the winner of one of the country’s marquee ultra-distance events.
The Ultra Mindset provides powerful strategies to help you overcome massive obstacles and find success despite seemingly insurmountable odds. By applying its principles such as “It’s All Good Mental Training,” “When You Have No Choice, Anything is Possible," and “Never Quit... Except When You Should Quit," you will be able to unlock your true potential and never give up when faced with a challenge.
If you’re looking for an edge to help you reach all of your goals, no matter how difficult they may seem at first— then The Ultra Mindset is for you! Get the secrets that have pushed Travis Macy to some of his biggest achievements, and apply them in all aspects of life. Take a journey from impossible to remarkable!
What We Like Most About It
Are you looking to take your running to the next level and challenge yourself with the ultimate goal of completing an ultra marathon? Accomplishing this feat requires dedication and guidance, something you'll get from Krissy Moehl and her Running Your First Ultra book.
Krissy Moehl is not only a top female ultra marathon runner with almost two decades of running and competing worldwide, but she's also respected by her peers as a true inspiration to runners everywhere. With that experience leading the way, her training plans are designed to be effective yet easy to follow, broken down into phases to ensure success. Each phase contains write-in running logs where you can track your progress, along with in-depth information on milestones throughout every step of your ultra marathon adventure.
Whether it's conquering miles on foot or conquering your own doubts about yourself, this comprehensive program offers everything you need for extreme success―allowing you to secure the sense of accomplishment that comes from achieving one of the most strenuous goals available in running today.
What We Like Most About It
Looking for an inspirational story of success? Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultra Marathon Greatness is a perfect read! Scott Jurek is the ultramarathon man and has been a major force in the sport of ultrarunning for two decades. He takes readers through his incredible journey, from becoming an unknown runner to winning the Western States Endurance Run seven times and setting the course record.
It doesn't end there; he also won the Badwater Ultra Marathon twice and Spartathlon three times -all done with a plant-based diet! This amazing book lets you experience his incredible journey firsthand and come away feeling more knowledgeable about ultra running, vegan nutrition, and pushing yourself to reach new heights with your running goals. Get ready to take on even more endurance events after unlocking the secrets of Scott Jurek's success!
What We Like Most About It
Are you looking for a challenge with a deeper purpose beyond just running? Look no further than A Runner's High: Older, Wiser, Slower, Stronger by legendary athlete Dean Karnazes. As he chronicles his return to the infamous Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, you'll get an inside glimpse at what it's like to push your body and mind to the limits.
Dean has competed in some of the world's toughest races and has broken records- from running in the scorching heat of Death Valley to the bone-chilling cold of the South Pole. But none prepared him for his mid-fifties return to the Western States—a grueling course of extreme temperatures and rugged terrain.
With raw emotion and vulnerability, Dean reveals how personal battles turn this into more than just a physical contest. It becomes an emotionally charged reckoning that puts him face-to-face with his age, career path, and life choices.
Discover resilience through Dean Karnazes' inspiring own journey in A Runner’s High: Older, Wiser, Slower, Stronger. An informative read filled with wisdom suited for anyone looking for guidance along their life journey, rejecting middle age—or just an incredible tale about pushing your limits.
What We Like Most About It
Introducing Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, the amazing new book by Dean Karnazes. Ultra marathon Man is an unbelievable journey into a world you never imagined possible. From braving the scorching heat of Death Valley to toughing out the frigidity at the South Pole, and running through beautiful Sierra Nevada canyons, Karnazes captures every moment with precision and poignance in this incredible exploration of what it takes to be a hard-core runner.
The unique insight and candidness of this memoir will leave you astonished - revealing life lessons about his marriage, full-time job, children, and other struggles on his journey as an ultra marathoner. Learn from his wisdom as he combines being a highly motivated athlete with connecting deeply to family culture and learns how to balance one's life to achieve greatness both on the road and off it.
With Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, get ready for an extraordinary experience that will make you want to take on any challenge thrown your way!
What We Like Most About It
Introducing Finding Ultra, the essential guide for achieving peak optimal performance and extending your longevity. Written by Rich Roll, one of Men’s Fitness Magazine's “25 World's Fittest Men” and a plant-based lifestyle advocate, this newly revised and updated edition dives deep into the practices, tools, and techniques he used to reach optimal health and wellness.
The book covers everything from diet and nutrition protocols to mindset shifts that enable you to tap into deeper reserves of potential to achieve success beyond your wildest imagination! Unlike other guides that simply offer competitive sports training advice, this book goes above and beyond those boundaries to give readers insight into how to take control of their journey through self-discovery toward good health and sustainability.
If you're looking for an informative guide that reflects first-hand experience backed by research results about achieving peak physical performance as well as longevity, then look no further.
What We Like Most About It
If you're feeling stuck in a rut with your running and need to reignite your motivation, then 80/20 Running: Run Stronger and Race Faster By Training Slower is the perfect book for you. Written by respected running and fitness expert Matt Fitzgerald, this guide will teach you how to use the revolutionary 80/20 training method to make big strides in your endurance running performance.
The key behind the 80/20 approach is that you do 80 percent of runs at a lower intensity and just 20 percent of runs at a higher intensity. This program has been scientifically proven to improve overall performance over long periods while also making sure runners avoid burnout.
The chapters within the book provide athletes with actionable tips applicable to any distance whether it's a 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, or Marathon race. The information provided will help equip runners with helpful knowledge so they can achieve the goals they desire without risking an overload of stress or fatigue on their bodies.
What We Like Most About It
Are you an avid runner looking to take your efforts to the next level? Introducing Hal Koerner’s Field Guide to Ultra Running. Hal Koerner is among America's top ultrarunners and his time-tested advice and insight can help you reach new heights.
This comprehensive guide offers a range of essential knowledge, from trail running techniques to successful mental strategies for race day. You'll get earthy, practical advice from Koerner himself, alongside field-tested habits and guidelines that will provide the groundwork for your epic runs.
The guide also offers three detailed training plans tailored to prepare you for 50K, 50-mile to 100K, and 100-mile ultra marathon races - allowing you to pick and choose the specific plan best suited to tackle your goal.
What We Like Most About It
For those who thirst for greater heights of fitness, Run or Die: The Inspirational Memoir of the World's Greatest Ultra-Runner is a must-read. In this book, Kilian Jornet shares his unbelievable story as a professional athlete and tips on how to follow in his steps.
Kilian’s accomplishments are nothing short of astounding. With personal records that include multiple world records before the age of 25, he has shattered expectations set by athletes of his generation and defied what was thought possible by conquering some of the toughest physical tests on the planet - like running up and down Mt. Kilimanjaro faster than any other human being.
But what truly sets apart this book is Kilian’s passion for the sport and inviting readers into a fascinating world rich with beauty and excitement. Written from the heart, Run or Die will inspire even the most nonchalant runners to dig deep and discover their hidden endurance within.
Through his stories of intense love for the sport and breathtaking landscapes, readers can learn valuable tips about pushing one’s physical capabilities while still maintaining mental focus.
With insights that go beyond simply becoming an ultra-runner, Kilian offers us a unique glimpse into achieving our own dreams through effort rather than luck. For those looking to break boundaries with their fitness goals in life, Run or Die: The Inspirational Memoir of the World's Greatest Ultra-Runner is certainly an inspiring story!
Ultra Running FAQs
Below are some of the common questions regarding Ultra Running:
What is considered an ultra runner?
An ultra runner is someone who participates in ultra marathon races, which are distances that exceed the traditional marathon length of 26 miles. Ultra marathon (or Ultra-distance) runs can range from 50K (31 miles) up to a variety of longer distances including 24-hour and even multi-day events. These longer races require an enhanced level of physical and mental prowess due to the extreme distances and challenging terrain.
Are ultra runners healthy?
Although there is an ongoing debate about the long-term health implications of running ultra marathons, many studies have shown that ultra runners can be healthy. A study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine examined the physical and mental side of extreme endurance events such as 100-mile races and found that they did not cause any lasting harm to participants’ bodies or mental well-being.
Additionally, a 2013 study done at Stanford University concluded that ultra marathoners tend to possess higher physical fitness levels than non-ultra marathoners and are less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses like hypertension or type 2 diabetes.
What age do ultra runners peak?
The age at which ultra runners peak varies depending on the individual and can be impacted by a variety of factors including fitness level, prior running experience, and training intensity. Generally, research indicates that serious performance gains in ultra-distance running are seen up until about age 35 or 40. Elite athletes tend to reach their peak when they are aged between 35-40 years old.
Do ultra marathoners live longer?
Yes, ultra marathoners likely live longer than non-marathoners. This is because running not only improves your physical health but also boosts mental wellbeing, which can have positive impacts on longevity.
Do ultra marathoners take breaks?
Yes, ultra marathoners typically do take breaks during the race. In some cases, these rest periods may be scheduled ahead of time and in others, they can be spontaneous depending on the runner's energy levels or any other unexpected circumstances.
How hard is ultra running?
Ultra running, or any extreme endurance event is certainly not for the faint of heart. It requires a great deal of mental and physical toughness to be able to tackle longer distances and more challenging conditions than most other forms of running.
How many miles do ultra-runners run a day?
The number of miles an ultra-runner runs in a day can vary depending on the type of race and course terrain. For instance, for long trails like the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail, it is not uncommon for an ultra-runner to cover around 25 to 35 miles per day. Generally speaking, ultra-runners train anywhere between 15 and 40 miles per day in preparation for races they may enter.
Do runners age faster?
The short answer to this question is: it depends. It is generally accepted that regular, moderate exercise does more good than harm when it comes to aging. However, extreme endurance runners can accelerate the aging process if they do not exercise responsibly and adhere to proper recovery protocols.
What happens to your body after an ultra marathon?
An ultra marathon is an incredibly challenging and demanding sport, both mentally and physically. It puts your body through a lot of stress due to the extreme intensity and duration of running or covering ground for long distances in a short span of time. Your body undergoes many changes during this process that you may not be aware of.
Immediately after an ultra marathon, the first sensation you will likely experience is fatigue due to exhaustion from the effort expended during such a strenuous physical activity. This often includes feelings of dizziness, weakness in the legs, headaches, and difficulty speaking or concentrating on any task at hand due to mental strain.
You may also feel very thirsty as dehydration can set in rapidly even after drinking large quantities of fluids before and during the race.
How much rest is needed before an ultra marathon?
Rest is an important part of training for any long-distance running event, including an ultra marathon. The amount of rest before the race will depend on how well-prepared you are both mentally and physically.
While some runners may require more rest than others in order to perform at their best, generally speaking about a week should be enough if you followed a well-rounded training program that focused on rest periods throughout your preparatory period.
What is the Best Ultra Running Book for You?
There are a lot of different options out there when it comes to choosing an ultra running book. We hope that this blog has helped you narrow down your search and find the perfect book for you.
All you need to do now is just tap the red button to check the price of the most suitable book for you.
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