Scott Jurek’s Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness

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Scott Jurek is a combination of fierce competitor, Zen master racer and boy-next-door. Having dominated the renowned Western States 100 trail race for many years on a plant-based diet, his new book, Eat & Run tells the story of his success. I recall chatting with Scott several years ago concerning his desire to write a book about his diet. This story of his running life is the result of that need to share, and any reader with an interest in running and healthy eating will be glad he did.

Part deeply honest memoir and part vegan cookbook, Scott warms us up with the challenges of his childhood in the Midwest amidst the world of ski racing. He then embraces running and ultra running while delving into his complete diet metamorphosis. As Scott’s story matures so does his book—he lets us in slowly and deeply as his own self-discovery blossoms.

As Eat & Run reveals the inner workings of a champion while exploring the world of plant-based diets, Scott asks himself the same questions we all ponder, while inspiring runners at all levels. And in the end he remains in the challenge of continuing to expand as an athlete while seeking how he can most authentically play that out. “We all lose sometimes. We fail to get what we want. Friends and loved ones leave. We make a decision we regret. We try our hardest and come up short. It’s not the losing that defines us. It’s how we lose. It’s what we do afterward.”

And what we do after reading this gem is change up our diet and lace-up our running shoes. Eat & Run is a solid read by a really great guy.

— By Terri Schneider