Synopses & Reviews
For nearly two decades, Scott Jurek has been a dominant forceand#8212;and darlingand#8212;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 and#8220;jauntand#8221; through Death Valley. Recently he set an American record of 165.7 miles in 24 hoursand#8212;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 careerand#8212;as an elite athlete and a veganand#8212;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, Scottand#8217;s 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 adviceand#8212;including his own favorite plant-based recipesand#8212;Eat and Run will motivate everyone to and#8220;go the distance,and#8221; whether that means getting out for that first run, expandingand#160;your food horizons, or simply exploring the limits ofand#160;your own potential.
Review
"Joe DeSena is the real deal. His stories are believable, because his achievements and accomplishments are genuine. In
Spartan Up! Joe delivers his message with the insight and candor that only an individual who has lived through such experiences can. A must read for anyone looking to take his performance to the next level, be it in athletics or in life."
and#8211; Dean Karnazes, ultramarathoner and New York Times bestselling author of Ultra Marathon Man "Have you ever wanted to be more, been stuck in a funk or simply wanted make life poignant? Look no further because
Spartan Up! is your catalyst. Loaded with real life inspiration and lessons, Joe De Sena uses his supercharged success in life, business and sports to deliver the nuggets. This is an easy and juicy read; succinct, powerful and relevant."
and#8211; Ian Adamson, world champion adventure racer and author of The Runnerand#8217;s World Guide to Adventure Racing "If there's anyone out there who has taken extreme to a new level, its Joe De Sena and#8211; in adventure racing, in business, and ultimately in the business of adventure!and#12288;
Spartan Up! is must-read." and#12288;
and#8211;Robyn Benincasa, world champion adventure racer and New York Times bestselling author of How Winning Works "Joe De Sena is the real dealand#12288;in endurance sports and Obstacle Racing.
Spartan Up! will guide you to train your body and mind for the arduous Spartan Race - while also giving you very practical insights to perform at your peak in all areas of your life."
and#8211; Mark Divine, founder, SEALFIT and author of The Way of the SEAL and Unbeatable Mind "Two words describe Joe De Sena and
Spartan Up!.... Game Changer! Read this book and you will dramatically transform the way you think, lead, work, and live. This is the ultimate resource for personal and professional transformation.
Spartan Up gives you an actionable blueprint to go beyond just adapting and surviving to excelling and thriving. If success is your goal, whether you're a Navy SEAL, Wall Street Exec, homemaker, teacher or doctor, you need this book
."
-- John Brubaker, world renowned performance consultant and author of The Coach Approach: Success Strategies From The Locker Room To The Board Room and#160;
Review
"The surprise here isn't that Scott Jurek knows a lot about nutritionand#8212;I especially love his "Holy Moly Guacamole" recipe. Or that he ran prodigious mileage to prepare for his many ultramarathon victories. More impressively, we discover that Jurek studied many of the great philosophers, and used their lessons to focus his running.
In pursuing the mental side of endurance, Jurek uncovers the most important secrets any runner can learn." and#8212;Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon and author of
The Runnerand#8217;s Guide to the Meaning of Life"What a triumphand#8212;both Scott Jurek's life and this one-of-a-kind book. I've seen Scott in action as he defies unimaginable challenges, and thanks to this breathtakingly personal account, I finally understand how he does it. He rebuilt himself literally from the inside out, and the result is a manand#8212;and a storyand#8212;unlike any other." and#8212;Christopher McDougall, best-selling author of Born to Run "This is the inspiring story of an inspired man. Scott Jurek's phenomenal success as an ultramarathoner demonstrates that meat and other animal foods are not necessary for optimum health, strength, and endurance." and#8212;Andrew Weil, M.D. author of Spontaneous Happiness and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health
Synopsis
Twenty-six point two miles isnand#8217;t enough anymore. Obstacle course racing, which combines the endurance challenges of a marathon with the mind-bending rigors of overcoming obstacles along the way, is taking the world by storm. At the center of this phenomenon is Joe De Sena, the driving force behind the enormously popular Spartan Race. De Sena offers a simple philosophy: commit to a goal, put in the work, and get it done. From that philosophy, as played out first in his own life and now for millions across trails, through mud, and up mountainsides, Spartan Race was born.
Now in Spartan Up! De Sena gives you a life strategy guide that takes you out of your comfort zone and into a combat zone. As he breaks down obstacles from his many races, detailing how each parallels real life experiences, you will learn how to:
and#160;and#8226; conquer your greatest obstacleand#8212;your will
and#8226; embrace your greatest friendand#8212;discipline
and#8226; make limitations vanish and establish a new normal
and#8226; achieve the ultimate: obstacle immunity
and#160;
Other events breed sheep; Spartan Race breeds wolves. Filled with unforgettable stories of Spartan racers as well as hard-won truths learned along the course, Spartan Up! will help anyone reach their full potentialand#8212;in life, business, relationships, indeed anything one sets out to do. It is the blueprint that takes you right past Go to your finish line.
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
An introduction to Spartan Races (races meant to challenge, to push, to intimidate, to test) from one of the andquot;founding fewandquot; and creators, Joe De Sena.
Synopsis
andldquo;A must-read for anyone looking to take his performance to the next level, be it in athletics or in life.andrdquo; andmdash; Dean Karnazes, author of Ultramarathon Man and#160;
andldquo;Spartan Up! will guide you to train your body and mind for the arduous Spartan Race andmdash; while also giving you very practical insights to perform at your peak in all areas of your life.andrdquo; andmdash; Mark Divine, author of The Way of the SEAL
What do marathoners do when 26.2 miles just isnandrsquo;t enough anymore? They try obstacle racing, combining the endurance challenges of a marathon with the mind-and-body-bending rigors of overcoming obstacles along the way. At the heart of this phenomenon is Joe De Sena, driving force behind the Spartan Race. De Sena overcame his own obstacles andmdash; working his way from Queens to Wall Street to legendary extreme athlete andmdash; by adhering to a simple philosophy: commit to a goal, put in the work, and get it done. From that philosophy, as played out now for millions across trails, through mud, and up mountainsides, the Spartan Race was born.and#160;and#160;and#160;Filled with unforgettable stories of Spartan racers as well as hard-won truths learned along the course, Spartan Up! will help anyone reach their full potential in whatever they set out to do.
About the Author
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.
STEVE FRIEDMAN is the author of Lost on Treasure Island, Driving Lessons, and The Agony of Victory and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Loose Balls. His work has appeared numerous times in The Best American Sports Writing. His website is stevefriedman.net.
Table of Contents
Prologueand#8195;xi
1. Somebodyand#8195;1
Badwater Ultramarathon, Death Valley, California, 2005
2. Sometimes You Just Do Thingsand#8195;10
Proctor, Minnesota, 1983
3. For My Own Goodand#8195;18
Caribou Lake Invitational, 1986
4. Iand#8217;d Rather Skiand#8195;27
To Adolph Store And Back, 1986
5. The Pride of the Cake Eatersand#8195;37
Running Aroundand#160;with Dusty, 1991and#8211;92
6. The Wisdom of Hippie Danand#8195;45
Theand#160;Minnesota Voyageurand#160;50-Miler, 1994
7. and#8220;Let the Pain Go Out Your Earsand#8221;and#8195;54
Theand#160;Minnesota Voyageurand#160;50-Miler, 1995; 1996
8. Attack of the Big Birdsand#8195;62
The Angeles Crest 100, CALIFORNIA, 1998
9. Silent Snow, Secret Snowand#8195;72
Training for the Western States 100, Minnesota, 1999
10. Dangerous Tuneand#8195;81
(More) Training for the Western Statesand#160;100, Seattle, 1999
11. and#8220;Are You Peeing?and#8221;and#8195;91
The Western States 100, California, 1999
12. Bug Boy Goes Downand#8195;104
The Western States 100, 2000, 2001
13. Of Bears and Gazellesand#8195;123
The Western States 100, 2002 AND 2003
14. Hot Timesand#8195;130
The Badwater Ultramarathon, Death Valley, California, 2005
15. These Guys Again?and#8195;142
The Copper Canyon, Mexico, 2005
16. No Good Deed Goes Unpunishedand#8195;154
The Western States 100, California, 2006
17. Hunted by the Wasatch Speedgoatand#8195;164
The Hardrock100, Silverton, Colorado, July 2007
18. The Photographer Who Wasnand#8217;t Thereand#8195;175
Spartathlon, Athens, Greece, September 2007
19. Lostand#8195;192
Duluth, Minnesota, 2010
20. One Step at a Timeand#8195;207
Slacking in Yosemite Valley, 2010
21. Back to My Rootsand#8195;215
The Tongo Trail, 2010
Epilogueand#8195;221
IAU World 24-Hour Championships, 2010
Acknowledgmentsand#8195;229
Race Historyand#8195;230
Notesand#8195;235
Indexand#8195;241