by Scott Jurek
First published 2018
Scott Jurek stands at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, facing nearly 2,200 miles stretching from Georgia to Maine. The ultramarathon legend has decided to chase the speed record on America's most famous long-distance path at a stage when most athletes consider retirement. For forty-six days, eleven hours and twenty minutes, Jurek battles crushing physical exhaustion, severe sleep loss, and relentless mental pressure. He covers almost fifty miles daily through punishing terrain, fighting both harsh weather and a devastating injury that threatens to end his quest. The trail pulls him northward as he struggles to reinvent his approach to running while uncertainty haunts every step. Jurek must push beyond his limits on a journey that tests everything he knows about endurance and determination.
Genres: nature, adventure, sports, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, record-breaking
Setting: Appalachian Trail, Georgia, Maine
Period: 21st Century
304 pages · Paperback · Random House Books