The book is a shockingly honest, revealing, and inspiring memoir of Scott Jurek's journey to ultramarathon greatness. It ties his life events and endurance feats back to a difficult childhood and his explorations with food, evolving from a McDonald's-chowing machine to a thoughtful plant-based eater. The book is engaging and thought-provoking, making it a page-turner.
Scott Jurek's memoir, _Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness_, is a deeply personal and inspiring account of his journey to becoming one of the greatest ultramarathon runners. The book begins with Jurek's difficult childhood, marked by a strict father and a mother suffering from early-onset MS, which shaped his early experiences with cooking and self-reliance. His journey into running started with cross-country skiing, where he met Dusty Olson, who would become a significant influence in his life. Jurek's honesty about his struggles, self-doubt, and continuous questioning of his diet, training, and motivations makes the book compelling. The inclusion of vegan recipes and training tips at the end of each chapter adds practical value, though the narrative is so engaging that readers might skip these sections initially. Overall, the book is a powerful blend of personal reflection and inspirational storytelling.
Quick quotes
Jurek describes bonking in the sweltering heat at the midway point of Death Valley’s grueling 135-mile Badwater ultramarathon in 2005.
Jurek’s “Unlikely Journey” began growing up on a dead-end road on the edge of the woods outside winter-frigid Duluth, Minnesota.
Throughout _Eat & Run_, Jurek questions, always questions, everything from his diet to training to motivations to relationships.