The Rise of the Ultra Runners: A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance

Adharanand Finn Guardian Faber Publishing

Now an accomplished ultramarathoner, Finn, author of Running with the Kenyans and The Way of the Runner, was quite unprepared for his first ultra. He learned a lot, thanks to an ambitious two-year race schedule that included some of the most renowned ultras, like the 89-kilometre Comrades Marathon in South Africa, and some very low-key races, with the goal of qualifying for utmb (Ultra-Trail de Mont-Blanc), the most prestigious 100-miler in the world.

Finn’s recounting of key races keeps you turning the pages as you ride the rollercoaster of emotions with him. As someone who hasn’t run an ultra but is interested, I found this book to be the perfect introduction to the subject. At times running an ultra seems intimidating, but Finn dives deep by racing many events and interviewing many big names in the sport, like Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley. There are good takeaways about the technical aspects of the sport, as well as the mental and physical highs and lows that come with running really far.

The Rise of the Ultra Runners left me wanting to read more about the stars of the sport and to try an ultramarathon myself.— Reid Coolsaet: Two-time Olympian Reid Coolsaet owns the fourth-fastest marathon time in Canadian history. He lives in Hamilton with his family.