Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America by Marshall Ulrich

Apr 25, 2011 Cassy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, event-met-author, non-fiction-improvement, non-fiction-biography, physical-own, region-america-canada

I carefully select the bookmark for each book I read. Think of me as a matchmaker trying to bring hardbacks and paperbacks together with their perfect companion bookmarks. Once I have read enough to get a good feel for a book, I visit a Mason jar crammed full of bookmarks collected from art museums, bookstores, and random places all over the world.

For this book, I picked a photobooth strip of Andy Warhol getting punched in the face by someone off-camera (picked up at museum in Colombia of all p...more I carefully select the bookmark for each book I read. Think of me as a matchmaker trying to bring hardbacks and paperbacks together with their perfect companion bookmarks. Once I have read enough to get a good feel for a book, I visit a Mason jar crammed full of bookmarks collected from art museums, bookstores, and random places all over the world.

For this book, I picked a photobooth strip of Andy Warhol getting punched in the face by someone off-camera (picked up at museum in Colombia of all places). When I look at that bookmark, I always wonder why Andy is allowing someone to beat the crap out of him - which roughly equates to the question I asked myself throughout this book. Why would anyone willingly torture themselves by running the equivalent of 117 consecutive marathons? (I later showed my bookmark selection to the self-masochist/author himself thinking he’d get a chuckle. He just seemed confused.) That was question #1. And it logically led me to question #2: why exactly am I reading a book about extreme running?

I can answer both questions. He answers question #1 easily enough: it’s just who he is. A boundary pusher. A runner. My answer to question #2 is the opposite: it’s just who I am NOT. And that is largely why I picked up this book. It is who I want to be. I have always wanted to be a runner. Runners seem so pulled together and are always showing off their toned legs. My husband is pushing me to sign up for half-marathon training group next month. I started the same program last year. Within three weeks, I was hobbling around on crutches. I went on a coastal vacation on crutches for goodness sake! So, I believe my hesitation to reenlist is understandable. I was hoping this book would motivate me to try again. Plus I am sucker for author events and this guy was coming to a nearby bookstore.

What’s the verdict? Will I lace up my running shoes again? I think so. Marsh’s story about running across America is inspirational. He put up with a lot to make it happen: drama with his running partner, injuries galore, self-doubt, sleep deprivation, constant pain, and even a trigger-happy landowner. (By comparison, Forrest Gump had it easy.) If Marsh can do that, I can sacrifice a couple hours of sleep on a Saturday morning to go run. And I can certainly endure the occasional blister.

I will admit that this book can cross the line from motivational into depressingly unattainable. Marsh is considered an ultrarunner. On an average day during the transcontinental, he ran two marathons and a 10K. That’s crazy! At one point, he promises his doctor to run just forty miles a day while he recovers from muscle strain. Forty miles is his concession? What?!? The whole book is like that. He throws around 100-mile races, 200-mile training weeks, and 70-mile daily goals like they are nothing. I just want to finish ONE mile without huffing and puffing. Whenever these extremes discouraged me, I would remember that Marsh started out running 5K races – just like the rest of us slow-pokes.

Considering Marsh is originally an athlete and not a writer, the book is well enough written. It has the straight-forwardness of many second-career writers. He proudly said it follows the canon of great literature – which went too far for me, but everything does flow. There is an honesty about it. He is open with his feelings and shortcomings. He discloses the nitty-gitty logistics ranging from where he did his business (cornfields!) and how many calories it took to keep going (8,000 a day!). I should mention it can be repetitive, especially during the numerous appendices. You can safely skip these unless you are a runner looking for recommendations for shoes and such.

Speaking of the appendices, the book overall had the feel of a textbook. There are educational side-stories in gray textboxes mixed into the story – which felt odd and unnecessary. There are pictures – which I enjoyed. There is the image of a man running on the bottom of each page. As you get farther into the book and Marsh is progressing across America, the little man moves across page. You can flip the pages really fast and see the figure “running” from the left corner to the right. I derived a very childish delight from this. In their totality, though, these aspects felt distant and commercialized.

I went to his event expecting a normal author event, including a discussion of his writing process and such. He was more akin to a motivational speaker, which makes sense in hindsight. He surprised me by forgoing running shorts for dress slacks and a sweater. He was very snazzy. He had placards set up, played two short videos, and went through a powerpoint presentation. He laid out the lessons we should take away from his story. Stuff like “you’ll only succeed if you believe in yourself first”. The book is, thankfully, less obvious. Most of what he said about the actual transcontinental run is in the book. So, I don’t have any juicy exclusives for you. Overall, he wasn’t the most polished motivational speaker I’ve heard, but he has done amazing things and was friendly-ish.

I was glad to see this running and adventure legend in the flesh. At the very least, it proved to me that it is possible to run for 52 days straight and not need a wheelchair afterwards. Or crutches.
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Feb 04, 2013 Hideki Kino rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Ultra Runners, Transcontinental Run folks

Recommended to Hideki by: Steven Lee

Shelves: running-books

Marshall Ulrich's "Running on Empty" is a good look at the personal toll and sacrifice that an undertaking such that of a two month long journey across America on foot requires. I appreciate Marshall's very candid assessment of his own character and the light he sheds on Charlie Engle's personal character. After reading this book and watching "Running The Sahara" movie, one cannot have too favorable of an impression on Charlie, not to be confused with another running legend named Chuck Engle.

Aft...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Melinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographies

Before picking up this book, I was amazed that I had never heard of Marshall Ulrich. As a fellow Coloradoan, he has broken records of so many ultra-marathon races, both locally and nationally, not to underscore his incomprehensible feat of running across the United States in 2008. How did I miss that story?
Not only does this book describe the day to day grind of running approximately 70 miles a day and the colossal effort of support staff to make this all happen, but Ulrich also opens up about...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Daniel Solera rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: athletics, biography-memoir

As a long-distance runner, it’s both intriguing and frustrating to read about the athletic achievements of famous ultrarunners. On the one hand, it gives you insight into the inner workings of the ultra athlete in his element, his thoughts, passions and fears. On the other hand, it makes the act of running a marathon seem puny by comparison. But that’s the toll you pay when you open the pages of books such as Dean Karnazes’ Ultramarathon Man or Chris McDougall’s Born to Run.

I must first admit my...more As a long-distance runner, it’s both intriguing and frustrating to read about the athletic achievements of famous ultrarunners. On the one hand, it gives you insight into the inner workings of the ultra athlete in his element, his thoughts, passions and fears. On the other hand, it makes the act of running a marathon seem puny by comparison. But that’s the toll you pay when you open the pages of books such as Dean Karnazes’ Ultramarathon Man or Chris McDougall’s Born to Run.

I must first admit my ignorance as I had never heard of Marshall Ulrich prior to seeing this book at Barnes & Noble. Like most core runners, I was familiar with Karnazes, Scott Jurek and Josh Cox because they’re the big names that most people know. However, after the foreword, written by McDougall, I felt like a running tyro for not having erected an altar to Ulrich’s impressive athletic resume. This guy ran the Pike’s Peak marathon and the Leadville 100 back to back, which is almost logistically impossible because they happen so close to each other. He won the Badwater 135-mile ultramarathon in Death Valley several times, ran it unassisted, and is famous for running it four times in a row. He’s scaled Mount Everest, participated in adventure races all over the world and holds numerous ultra running world records.

Also, he’s almost 60.

Running on Empty is a recollection of all of his most intense feats, from mountain climbing in the Himalayas to his personal struggles with romance and fatherhood. But the centerpiece of the book, around which his life’s story gravitates, is his last great accomplishment, the transcontinental Run Across America. My first thought was that the book was going to get tedious and repetitive. How much can you talk about running from coast to coast without getting bogged down by tales of running injuries and the frustration of monotony? However, Ulrich does a great job of balancing the narrative, using particular nuanced moments to reflect on previous events in his life, athletic or otherwise. He also intersperses local, idiosyncratic stories into the mix, talking about the history of local food establishments as he runs by them or reminiscing on charities close to his heart to forget about the pains in his feet.

Even though I can’t possibly comprehend how someone can average 50-70 miles a day for 52 days, I still found myself identifying with a lot of Ulrich’s stories. It seems like those who get into running passionately don’t only do it because of a drive to improve their health, but also as a means to unearth one’s hidden qualities. Ulrich shows that long-distance running can say a lot about one’s character, ambition, strength and resilience. The fact that he ran from San Francisco to New York in his late 50’s only reinforces that fact that age shouldn’t deter people from challenging themselves in extreme ways.

I’m not quite yet an ultrarunner – the marathon is still my biggest accomplishment. But if I keep reading books like these, it won’t be long until I break the 26.2-mile barrier into what all but the most dedicated runners call “insanity.”(less)

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May 30, 2011 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this book to quite illuminating, but it didn't illuminate anything about running. I run. I understand the importance of a support team and working through the pain. I think if you aren't a runner, it may help explain the long distance runners in your life (if you have them).

I found the politics of the documentary revealed in the book to be fascinating. I watched Running America before I read this book. What an unbelievably odd documentary! I had really enjoyed Running the Sahara. In fac...more

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May 16, 2011 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I find ultrarunners fascinating. I'm a runner but I'm not crazy like them (4-8 miles at a pop, with no desire to run a marathon or anything like that). Just imagining the sheer human endurance that is so far beyond what I can do is kind of staggering and I love reading about it (while I recline on my couch... although these types of books do tend to jazz me up and get me excited for my next run).

I admit I'm kind of chasing "Born to Run" by going out and looking for other running books like this...more I find ultrarunners fascinating. I'm a runner but I'm not crazy like them (4-8 miles at a pop, with no desire to run a marathon or anything like that). Just imagining the sheer human endurance that is so far beyond what I can do is kind of staggering and I love reading about it (while I recline on my couch... although these types of books do tend to jazz me up and get me excited for my next run).

I admit I'm kind of chasing "Born to Run" by going out and looking for other running books like this one, and it's probably not going to happen... that is one of my all-time favorite books. This was pale in comparison but still very interesting. It tells the story of an ultrarunner who runs across the country in like 52 days or something like that (60 or 70 miles a day). I was tickled when he kept saying things like "after my first marathon of the day, I'd usually take a nap". "My first marathon of the day"??? It's just so extreme.

I did not completely jibe with this guy's personality and that made it a little less interesting to me... he's kind of a dork, and I am too, believe me, but in a different way. He's the stupid-pun-telling kind of jokester dork which is not really up my alley. Plus, he complained a lot about what he was doing, yet mentioned how he doesn't like complainers. I just kept thinking "dude, no one is making you do this." It's hard to feel sorry for someone who is bitching about something he chose to do, no one is making him do, and in fact his wife tried to talk him out of it for a full YEAR beforehand. It was also a little weird how much is in the book about his relationship with his wife, their conversations and emotions, etc. It was so detailed it almost felt invasive.

But in general, it was an interesting read and you do kind of feel like you're along with him for the ride without having to actually do it yourself. It was nice of him to communicate the interesting parts of the trip to us, the readers, while sparing us the absolute mind-numbing boredom of running 18 hours a day for 52 days. I get bored after running for an hour!
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May 13, 2011 Jeff rated it 4 of 5 stars

In early May, Dean Karnazes finished his triumphant run across America live on national television. “Seventy-five days ago I dreamed of standing right here,” he said inside the television studio of the show that had sponsored his trek. By any account, his was an amazing run. He traveled more than 3000 miles on foot on the official route, not counting multiple fundraising 5Ks and a visit to the White House. His journey was well documented by the folks at the Regis and Kelly show, blogged and Face...more In early May, Dean Karnazes finished his triumphant run across America live on national television. “Seventy-five days ago I dreamed of standing right here,” he said inside the television studio of the show that had sponsored his trek. By any account, his was an amazing run. He traveled more than 3000 miles on foot on the official route, not counting multiple fundraising 5Ks and a visit to the White House. His journey was well documented by the folks at the Regis and Kelly show, blogged and Facebooked and tracked by millions of Americans. It also coincided with the release of Dean’s third book, “Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss.” The book delivers exactly what the title says: stories of running. Specifically, stories of Dean running. From his early days running with his friend Topher to the “Best Race of My Life”—running a 10K with his daughter, Dean recounts some of his biggest successes, and some of his most daunting failures. One of the most spectacular ones came when he ran the Leadville 100 "Race Across the Sky." Somewhere around mile 61, the altitude finally got the better of him and he collapsed on the course with potential high altitude edema. He was rushed to a lower altitude and was unable to finish the race. "Failure rocks!" he writes. "You cannot grow and expand your capabilities to their limits without running the risk of failure." Which is what Dean does. He tests the limits of his own power, of his own body, of his own will. He pushes himself beyond what most of us think is even possible, and then he pushes further. As an ultrarunner he's had tremendous success. As a person, he's at a place in his life many of us only dream of being. He does exactly what he loves to do, he gets paid to do it, and he's quite successful at it. Run! is not as good as Confessions, in my opinion. It's more disjointed, and he writes a lot about his friend and protege, Topher. While Topher's story is compelling, it's not enough to drive the book. For those of you who are or want to be ultrarunners, there's a great chapter written by Dean's wife, Julie. It's required reading for the non-running spouse of a runner. Still, there is something missing in this book that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it's the idea that the book just seems like more publicity for the man, which means publicity for the America run, which means publicity for the book. I'm a big fan of Dean, not only for his running but also for the message he seeks to share that has nothing to do with running. His message is simple: pursue your dream. Find what you love and do it, give it everything you've got. You can be successful at anything you do, as long as you work hard and train hard to do it.

Marshall Ulrich's book is not as uplifting as Dean's. Ulrich is a legend in the ultrarunning and adventure race community. He famously ran the Badwater Ultramarathon four times at once (he refers to it as his Badwater Quad). Ulrich has run across the Sahara and been capsized in a boat on the first day of an adventure race. Plagued all his running life by toenail problems (common for runners), he had them surgically removed. Problem solved. Sometimes referred to as "the tank," Marshall is a machine when it comes to running. And this book shows just how much of a determined machine he is. Ulrich's book is not so much about the run as it is about why Marshall Ulrich runs.

Contrasting these two books is easy. Within the first ten pages of Ulrich's book, I was in tears. This is not an uplifting tale of man overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness. This is a cautionary tale about a man running to escape his demons, running to escape himself. When tragedy strikes Marshall Ulrich, he does the only thing he's known how to do for years: he runs. It's an out that served him well, until he decided to run across America. Unlike Dean, who performed his run with the full support of a well financed crew of at least 15 people, Ulrich operated on a shoestring budget. He rented his RV himself, and though his run was sponsored by sports companies and therapeutic device manufacturers, the fact is that Ulrich ran across the country on a tight budget. He had a small and unpaid crew working for him, led by his wife, Heather, without whom Ulrich states throughout the book he would not have been able to finish the run. Early on, he intimates at the interpersonal difficulties that arise towards the end of the run. However, when that climactic scene finally takes place, when the two runners confront each other, the details are decidedly lacking. At that point, Ulrich had run nearly 3/4 of the way from San Francisco to New York and his brain probably wasn't functioning at a level that would have allowed him to remember word-for-word the conversation that transpired. (Ulrich states that since the run was being filmed for a documentary, the conversation can be seen there and there's no need to rehash it here. I disagree.) Once Ulrich makes the decision and starts planning the run, he talks about a lot of drama that takes place, but he doesn't show any of it.

What the book lacks in drama, though, it certainly makes up for in the compelling tale of Marshall Ulrich the man, his body and his record-breaking run across America. Where Dean ran 40-50 miles per day, Ulrich tackled upwards of 60 miles per day. Unlike Karnazes, Ulrich pays a hefty price. He suffers from plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, sore back, sore knees, sore quads, sore hamstrings. After stepping wrong off a curb, Ulrich's leg is manipulated by the doctor on his crew, Dr. Paul, who adjusts something and then much later informs him that he had dislocated his fibula and that Dr. Paul had "relocated" it. For Ulrich, running across America meant pain so bad that at one point he simply decided to disown his own foot, to ignore the pain. It was the only way to go on.

Ultimately, Ulrich learns that he can't run away forever, that running only prolongs the agony. His realization of all that he's been running from, and the amazing love and support he received from his wife, Heather, during the course of his journey, help him to stop running--at least emotionally.

If Karnazes's book is about chasing your dreams, Ulrich's book is the warning the government makes companies apply to those dreams. It's the tale of Icarus who flew too high. "Yet how else would he feel the warmth of the sun?" Ulrich writes. "Half the fun [of life] is venturing into the unknown, taking on the difficult task that yields new knowlede, doing more and testing your limits."

Therein lies the similarity in these books. Both men want their readers to push themselves and to see how far they can take their bodies and their spirits. That's what living is all about. (less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Julie Bernstein rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fitness, running

I've been reading a lot of books by and about ultrarunners over the last year or so. Ultramarathon Man and 50/50 by Dean Karnazes, Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Finding Ultra by Rich Roll, Eat and Run by Scott Jurek, and now Running on Empty by Marshall Ulrich. I've noticed some similarities in the backstories and motivations of these ultrarunners.

Personal tragedy is one common theme. Scott lost his mother and Marshall lost his first wife to crippling, horrible diseases. Rich battled al...more I've been reading a lot of books by and about ultrarunners over the last year or so. Ultramarathon Man and 50/50 by Dean Karnazes, Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Finding Ultra by Rich Roll, Eat and Run by Scott Jurek, and now Running on Empty by Marshall Ulrich. I've noticed some similarities in the backstories and motivations of these ultrarunners.

Personal tragedy is one common theme. Scott lost his mother and Marshall lost his first wife to crippling, horrible diseases. Rich battled alcoholism and had his first wife leave him during their honeymoon. Marshall had two failed marriages following the death of his first wife. All turned to running partly to cope with, and partly to literally run away from tragedy. (Dean's life, from what I remember, was not as marked by tragedy, though he did lose a sister to an accident at a young age.)

Another common theme is an almost superhuman ability to disown pain. Dean, Scott, and Marshall have all not only completed, but won, the Badwater Ultramarathon, 135 miles from Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level to over 8000 feet at the portals of Mount Whitney - in July. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, blisters, black toenails... all common problems, causing many who enter to drop out. For Marshall? Wasn't good enough to run and win the race, he followed that up running it twice, then four times consecutively. He also ran it once entirely self-supported; no crew. He dealt with toenail problems by actually having his toenails surgically removed.

And yet, all of his record-setting Badwater efforts - not to mention climbing Mount Everest, the rest of the Seven Summits, and numerous other achievements - are merely in the introduction and periphery of this book, Running on Empty, which details his attempt to break the world record for running across America, from San Francisco to New York. Here he battled an increasingly troubling series of injuries, including plantar fasciitis and a torn tendon. His response? He, reluctantly, decreased his daily mileage from 70 to 60 miles, and mentally disowned his foot.

Marshall's personality when it comes to athletic events is almost disturbing in its single-mindedness. He does admit that his devotion caused him to be a poor husband and father. He is fortunate that he found a sympathetic and infinitely patient partner in his fourth wife. (His third wife barely gets a mention in the book.)

Overall, a good read, and a great reminder of the unlimited potential of the human body, yet also a somewhat troubling look into the soul of a truly obsessed man. (less)

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Feb 07, 2012 C rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-recommend

Recommended for runners of all stages/levels.

Great book and an enjoyable read if you enjoy travel writing/adventure novels. It is impossible for me to approach the idea of what he did every day for 50+ days. Heck, I can't wrap my mind around 26 miles, nevermind 60...100...200...1000....3000! Incredible. Very inspiring.

I'll also consider picking up the documentary. The youtube clips I've seen of Marshall seem to show a friendly, warm, engaging personality. He seems the kind of guy it'd be enjoyab...more

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May 17, 2011 Christian Watson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this book. It lulled in some areas, but that is to be expected. It is very revealing about the man himself. He is very open and honest about his past and present. The loss of his wife and how he dealt with it, the neglect that comes with being an ultra distance athlete, his kids and personal life. I had read somewhere before a Lance Armstrong quote to the effect that "endurance athletes are all running from something". There is a few pages in here that discuss just that..I love reading/...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Mark Poons rated it 3 of 5 stars

Just a crazy premise, running across the country in about 50 days. That is insane. Now what makes this book so different then all the other books I have read in where people try to to do crazy physical feats, this guy tells the truth. He doesn't ramble on about the pretty scenery, all the lovely people he meets along the way, and how wonderful it is just being alive. Yes, he certainly mentions all of this, but what he mostly talks about is how physically, and more importantly emotionally hard it...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Sybil rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Overall, I was not a fan of this book. Sure, Marshall Ulrich accomplished an amazing feat, one I could (and would) never dream of, but he came off as a fairly unlikable guy. The back story about how he all but abandoned his family to seek out athletic endeavors was actually pretty sad. This particular run he managed to drag his poor wife in to, despite how much she didn't want him to do it. And it ended up being super crappy for her. Then he just kept going despite a ton of injuries and crew iss...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Terry Koressel rated it 3 of 5 stars

I only rated the book a 3 out of 5, but the lower rating is due to the writing style rather than the subject matter. I was totally engrossed by Mr. Ulrich's incredible physical endurance...my brain still has trouble comprehending the endurance limits he established. The book talks about his previous endurance efforts in a few short chapters to get to the grand finale and subject of the book...his run from San Francisco to New York in 60 or so days. Phenomenal accomplishment...the equivalent of 2...more

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May 13, 2011 Kevin Sullivan rated it 4 of 5 stars

An incredible athletic feat really ... to run across America, from SF to NYC ... in around 55 days or so. It just boggles my mind! Being a runner myself, I enjoyed the book very much ... although, I have to admit it did make me feel a little bit wimpy at times ... I mean c'mon, this guy is running about 60 miles everyday ... yes, everyday ... for 50+ days!!! And then I go out for a 5km or a 10km run ... and I'm like feeling tired, and sore, and cranky ... wow! But, these feelings dissipated ......more

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Aug 01, 2012 Corvid rated it 2 of 5 stars

Somewhat tedious reading. The actual act of running across the US is not very interesting, imagine the boredom of driving across the country multiplied by a factor 12. Obviously there are some high points with a lot of attendant tedium and crapping in corn fields.

The interesting parts for a runner are the descriptions of how his body adapted to the load he was enduring on a daily basis with very little intervening rest. It's amazing how the body adjusts to this new work cycle and I wish he desc...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

So this was my Hurricane Irene book, something to do while stuck inside all day. I really liked Born to Run so I thought this might help me capture some of the greatness of that book. Well, no, it doesn't do that but it's still an interesting story. Ulrich is definitely not a writer by trade and the story lacks flow at times but it's interesting, especially after having seen the documentary Running Across America.

Overall, I would say this is an interesting running book but if you're looking to...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Michel B. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

5 stars if you're a long distance runner. Probably only 2 stars if you're not. An interesting story about his quest. Not too sure how I felt about him personally but you can't help but admire and give him credit for his feats. As some reviewers have said, the style is... is ... well non-existent - but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's poorly written. For runners, it's quite interesting to review the details about his Transcon run in the appendix (e.g. nutrition, ailments, equipment, etc).

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Oct 29, 2012 Berry Simpson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

I love epic adventure stories like this one. I especially enjoyed Ulrich's discussion and description of injuries and how he ran through them. It is easy to imagine someone like him to have superhuman legs, a creature far from anyone I could ever be. But reading about his struggle to run through and past injuries has given me new courage and determination to run through and past my arthritic knees. I am excited, once again, about my own running future, after reading this book. Thanks.

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May 01, 2013 Brendan Oldham rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this as inspiration for marathon training. Definitely an interesting story. He is a runner more so than a writer, but I'd recommend it for those either into running or into endurance sports. Despite my lukewarm review, I read it every night until finished. One annoyance is that the back is filled with appendixes of training and dietary information for those insane enough to attempt running across the country. I see this being useful to < .01% of readers!

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Oct 08, 2012 Tammy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'd highly recommend this to any ultrarunner or ultrawalker friends, as it's a glimpse into a little bit of insanity! I very much enjoyed learning about what goes into a feat like this, and appreciated the insights into what goes through someone's mind during an effort of this magnitude.

All that being said, it's not a book everyone will appreciate, and as you'd expect from the genre, it's not really well-written (though it's not bad either), hence the 3 stars.

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Jun 12, 2011 Teri rated it 4 of 5 stars

This guy's story about running across the US is crazy and also inspiring - I can't imagine the kind of pain he can endure and the level of mental fortitude he has. While I enjoyed the stories of his run, I enjoyed more reading about his relationships in life: with his wife, with friends who impacted and influenced him, regrets and successes in dealing with loved ones. It definitely made me think about the relationships in my life and what I want out of them.

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Jan 09, 2012 E rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an excellent book. Very well-written, honest, thoughtful, and entertaining. This is what I was hoping to get from "The Lure of the Long Distance"...or whatever. Where that author failed, this one did a great job at. He gives compelling background on his life and you become interested in his exploits and you want him to succeed. The challenges are not all that unexpected, but hearing how they happened and who caused them was interesting. I recommend this one as well.

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Sep 25, 2011 heather van de mark rated it 3 of 5 stars

The good:

What an amazing feat. Ulrich has achieved so much in his life time, suffered great lost, endured and inspired etc. And after my own cross country trip (in a car) it was exciting to see all the "Welcome to State Name" signs/

The bad:
Did this book have an editor? Lots of typos and repetitive lines and explanations. It was kind of annoying. Nevertheless, I plowed through the book in two days.

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Feb 10, 2013 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars

It sort of seemed like Ulrich was only half excited to tell his story. What he did is amazing, but the feeling of emptiness he expresses as the reason for beginning ultra running is still very much there after he runs across the country. By the end, I sort of just thought he was selfish for putting so much strain on his wife and other relationships to achieve something so. . . pointless.

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Jan 06, 2013 Steven Vandekeere rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great book. Borrowed on inter library loan but I still may purchase it. The book is very slow at parts and has some sub stories that seem kinda tedious, but it shows how much a person can accomplish with a determined mindset and a loving network of people to surround one's self. Solid read if you like any type of distance running. Lots of good perspective, which we ALL need.

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Aug 15, 2011 Carrie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Interesting journey but his writing style leaves much to be desired. While I was anxious to see him to the end of his journey and curious about his experience, his book felt a bit droaning,list like and more of a dedication to his loved ones and sponsors.

It did succeed in at least making me think twice before complaining about a little discomfort on one of my runs.

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Dec 28, 2011 Will rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: exercise-writing, travel

A very powerful and moving book. I've often wondered about ultra marathoners, what drives them, what motivates them, why do they do it? This book sheds light on why Marshall Ulrich took his first run and what pushed him to run across the country in less than 2 months.

The strains of life, family pressures, and mental fortitude are laid out very well in this book. Just enough background to help you understand and just enough notes from the road to make it a fast read. I blew through this book alm...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Leslie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Marshall is a very impressive athlete with many titles that are unimaginable. This book focuses on his run from SF to NYC. I liked the book but I think I would have enjoyed it with more detail. I wanted to know more about the crew, what a day in the life of this runner looked like and more of what fueled Marshall mentally.

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Apr 15, 2012 Jilanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I was wowed by the geographical, physical and emotional journeys Marshall Ulrich makes in this book. He provides a lot of context and depth to a story that would have been amazing with only a perfunctory report (57 year old guy runs across the country in 52 days).

Purchased in Philadelphia.

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Dec 27, 2011 Wendypenner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Incredibly inspiring read about renowned ultra runner Marshal Ulrich's crowning achievement a transcontinental run at age 57 completed in record time with many days averaging 60 miles of running (think 2 marathons plus a 10K). A must read for anyone inspired by endurance running.

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title link	preview: Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America
avg rating	preview: Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America Goodreads rating: 3.64 (492 ratings)
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Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America

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