Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness

For nearly two decades, Scott Jurek has been a dominant force—and darling—in the grueling and growing sport of ultrarunning. In 1999, as a complete unknown, he took the lead of the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile traverse over the old Gold Rush trails of the California Sierra Nevada. He won that race seven years in a row, setting a course record along the way. Twice he won the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile “jaunt” through Death Valley. Recently he set an American record of 165.7 miles in 24 hours—6 1/2 marathons in one day. And he was one of the elite runners who traveled to Mexico to run with the Tarahumara Indians, as profiled in the bestseller Born to Run. His accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary, but that he has achieved all of this on a plant-based diet makes his story all the more so.

In Eat and Run, Scott Jurek opens up about his life and career—as an elite athlete and a vegan—and inspires runners at every level. From his Midwestern childhood hunting, fishing, and cooking for his meat-and-potatoes family, to his early beginnings in running (he hated it), to his slow transition to ultrarunning and veganism, to his world-spanning, record-breaking races, Scotts story shows the power of an iron will and blows apart all the stereotypes of what athletes should eat to fuel optimal performance. Chock-full of incredible, on-the-brink stories of endurance and competition, fascinating science, and accessible practical advice—including his own favorite plant-based recipes—Eat and Run will motivate everyone to “go the distance,” whether that means getting out for that first run, expanding your food horizons, or simply exploring the limits of your own potential.

Ultrarunner and star of Born to Run, Scott Jurek's Eat and Run, an inspiring memoir of Jurek's remarkable running career, fueled, surprisingly, by an entirely plant-based diet.

SCOTT JUREK is a world-renowned ultramarathon champion who trains and races on a vegan diet. He has prominently appeared in two New York Times bestsellers, Born to Run and The 4-Hour Body, and has been featured on CNN and in the New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other media. Known and admired for his earth-conscious lifestyle, Scott is also a highly sought after motivational speaker, physical therapist, coach, and chef. He has delivered talks to numerous organizations, including Microsoft, Starbucks, and the esteemed Entertainment Gathering. He lives in Boulder.

Prologue xi

1. Somebody 1

Badwater Ultramarathon, Death Valley, California, 2005

2. Sometimes You Just Do Things 10

Proctor, Minnesota, 1983

3. For My Own Good 18

Caribou Lake Invitational, 1986

4. Id Rather Ski 27

To Adolph Store And Back, 1986

5. The Pride of the Cake Eaters 37

Running Around with Dusty, 1991-92

6. The Wisdom of Hippie Dan 45

The Minnesota Voyageur 50-Miler, 1994

7. “Let the Pain Go Out Your Ears” 54

The Minnesota Voyageur 50-Miler, 1995; 1996

8. Attack of the Big Birds 62

The Angeles Crest 100, CALIFORNIA, 1998

9. Silent Snow, Secret Snow 72

Training for the Western States 100, Minnesota, 1999

10. Dangerous Tune 81

(More) Training for the Western States 100, Seattle, 1999

11. “Are You Peeing?” 91

The Western States 100, California, 1999

12. Bug Boy Goes Down 104

The Western States 100, 2000, 2001

13. Of Bears and Gazelles 123

The Western States 100, 2002 AND 2003

14. Hot Times 130

The Badwater Ultramarathon, Death Valley, California, 2005

15. These Guys Again? 142

The Copper Canyon, Mexico, 2005

16. No Good Deed Goes Unpunished 154

The Western States 100, California, 2006

17. Hunted by the Wasatch Speedgoat 164

The Hardrock100, Silverton, Colorado, July 2007

18. The Photographer Who Wasnt There 175

Spartathlon, Athens, Greece, September 2007

19. Lost 192

Duluth, Minnesota, 2010

20. One Step at a Time 207

Slacking in Yosemite Valley, 2010

21. Back to My Roots 215

The Tongo Trail, 2010

Epilogue 221

IAU World 24-Hour Championships, 2010

Acknowledgments 229

Race History 230

Notes 235

Index 241