Scott Jurek is known for his ultra marathon running, which is defined as a race longer than a traditional marathon (26.2 miles). The distances are crazy; the mental and physical torture that ultra marathoners put on their bodies can be described as nothing less than torment (torture might be the best word).

So when Jurek decided, at 40 years old, to run the entirety of the Appalachian Trail (AT for short) in order to beat the speed record (of 46 days), some thought he was crazy. I thought, “this would make a good book.”

Apparently so did he.

But for Jurek, and wife Jenny, the AT speed record did not come without its challenges, which encapsulate the heart of the book. At its core, this is a book about pursuing excellence, defeating and defying expectations, and both mental and physical endurance.

In short, whether you’re a runner or someone who needs a little motivation, this might be the book for you. I enjoyed reading it. 4/5 just because the switching between authors is a little clunky for my taste.