Eat and Run: by Scott Jurek

The international ultra-running community is somewhat different to that of the various “ultras” we have here in South Africa; namely Comrades, Two Oceans etc. Ultra-running in the USA retains a rather fringe or cult-like status, with events such as the Western States 100 and the Badwater Ultramarathon encountering rugged terrain and extreme temperatures at distances over 160km.

Enter a humble Minnesotan, Scott Jurek, who redefined the levels of performance required to win these races. Jurek has recently released his autobiography entitled Eat and Run, which he details his journey from a studious and poor teenager in search of direction, to worldwide ultra-running phenomenon.

Totally uplifting would best describe this book, giving the reader an understanding that top athletes are also just people, with the same day-to-day challenges as everyday folk.

One only has to consider the title to realize that author’s views on nutrition make up a large component of the book. Jurek’s plant-based diet and passion for cooking are a recurring theme, showing that extraordinary feats of endurance can be accomplished on a strictly vegan diet. Jurek’s views on training and the lifestyle of an elite ultra-runner are also fascinating, giving the reader a real insight to the often misunderstood mindset of these individuals.

“Individuals” may be an operative term here because, for me, the people are the most interesting aspect of the book. The multitude of off-beat characters and personalities evident in Jurek’s world, including his best friend and pacer Dusty Olson, makes fascinating reading. Olson’s extroverted nature and spontaneous wackiness are the antithesis of the reserved and deep-thinking Jurek. Olson is an accomplished athlete himself, the irony of which being that he may even be more talented than his friend. The pair first met as teenagers while pursuing the sport of Nordic skiing, providing a perfect base for long and ultra-distance running.

Add in individuals such as "Hippie Dan" as well as the Greek legend Yiannis Kouros and you have an eclectic mix of personalities lending a totally authentic touch to this story. 

It is perhaps interesting to note that some of the best athletes you have never heard of hail from small, often high-altitude towns across the world. Quite content with a simple lifestyle and often working menial, labor-intensive jobs, these athletes rarely venture out of their home regions. This is perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of all endurance sports. There is plethora of world-class athletes ensconced in various villages around the globe who could probably dominate the world stage of their respective sports, yet are totally unknown to the wider spectrum of elite athletes and fans alike.

Jurek’s rapid ascent to the top of the ultra-running tree is not without hardship and he describes his close relationship with his terminally-ill mother, who is his biggest fan. One may expect an athlete of his stature to be living the “life of milk and honey,” but Jurek’s existence is anything but that, spending many years in debt and even contemplating living “off the grid” for a while when problems in his personal life intervene. 

As I commented earlier, a totally uplifting story, which is destined to become a classic, in a similar vein as Born to Run.