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The Extra Mile: One Woman's Personal Journey to Ultra-Running Greatness (Runner's World)
The story of the woman who shocked the running world in 2002 when she won the sport's most grueling race--135 miles from Death Valley to Mount Whitney--beating her closest competitor by 5 hours!
One year after her astonishing victory at the Badwater Ultramarathon, Pam Reed again made distance running history when she braved the hottest weather in years--135 degrees--t...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
July 11th 2006
by Rodale Books
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Trying not to be snarky. Trying. I couldn't even finish this. I tried. So many times. But it's so disjointed, and the writing is so poor.
I'm sure she's a very inspiring person (I picked up her book wanting to be inspired). But I just couldn't get through it, and I found her as a person so unlikeable for much of what I did read. I think I'll pick up Dean Karnazes book, because I'm terribly interested in ultrarunners, and this one just didn't do it for me.
I'm sure she's a very inspiring person (I picked up her book wanting to be inspired). But I just couldn't get through it, and I found her as a person so unlikeable for much of what I did read. I think I'll pick up Dean Karnazes book, because I'm terribly interested in ultrarunners, and this one just didn't do it for me.
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After enjoying Dean Karnazes' Ultra Marathon Man so much, I was really looking forward to reading this book by an ultra marathon woman. When she wrote about running and her races, the book was really interesting. Unfortunately, she spent a lot of time whining (in my opinion) about her anorexia and rather quite a bit discussing her disturbing, ego-filled, somewhat neglectful relationships with her husbands and children. Could've done without the girlie angle. If you are going to write about runni...more
I was really looking forward to reading this book after reading Bart Yasso's My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon, and both of Dean Karnazes books. I was looking for inspiration, dedication, and motivation.
Instead, I got a story about a woman who says one thing then describes another. She claims she has overcome her anorexia then says she doesn't want to know how many calories she consumes during a 100 mile, 24 hour, or 48 hour run because she won...more
Instead, I got a story about a woman who says one thing then describes another. She claims she has overcome her anorexia then says she doesn't want to know how many calories she consumes during a 100 mile, 24 hour, or 48 hour run because she won...more
I expected to read a book about this woman's training schedules, her absolute sheer dedication to the sport and what she feels emotionally and physically during her training and races. This book was definitely not that. Although she does write about her races (including the Badwater Ultramarathon), she wastes countless pages and endless arrogance justifying why she can run, be a mother and have it be okay. I felt like she was bragging throughout the entire book without really making me feel like...more
I didn't get the same sense of defensiveness that other readers picked up on, but I agree with the disjointedness and less-than-stellar writing. What came across to me more than anything is that Pam Reed herself doesn't understand a lot of why she does what she does, or is the way she is. Not that there's anything wrong with that - we all are pretty mysterious, and I'd rather have someone say, "I have no idea!" rather than come up with some pat answer.
What bothered me most ...more
What bothered me most ...more
Pam Reed is an amazing ultra runner, no doubt about it. She won Badwater (135 mile race through Death Valley in July) overall two times in a row and ran 301 miles straight (in 79 hours), among many other great accomplishments. However, she is no writer. I enjoyed the race details in her book. I guess that is what I was looking for when I picked it up at the library. However, she is all over the place in her story, talks about her anorexia, her affair, her personal issues too much. She talk...more
While I did strongly agree with a few other reviewers of this book (particularly one named Wendy), I still liked the book very much. I guess I just really enjoy hearing other people's perspectives of things. I enjoy memoirs and biographies. And I don't mind when people let it all hang out in books. Call it whining or being self-absorbed or whatever, it's human nature to think about these things to some degree sometimes, and I give credit to people who can fearlessly put it all out there. Yes, Pa...more
This book was a super quick read. If you are a runner, or interested in running this is a pretty amazing story. This woman has won tons of races and completed in over 100, 100 miles races. She has even done 300 miles in 79 hours. Yes, most people think she is nuts. I just think she is super human. I don't think I will be shooting for those kinds of distances in my running career, but she has some very inspirational words to give that make you want to believe that, as a woman, you have the abilit...more
I bought this book for my sister's birthday, March of 2009. My goal was to find her a book that would bring her inspiration during the off season. She read it, and motivation is what it brought her. She passed it on to her college roommate to read, and then it got back into my hands. I found this book extremely, motivating and inspiring.
Pam Reed is a very interesting woman, that I can relate too. I love how honest she is in this book. She grew up obsessing over her body, developing ...more
Pam Reed is a very interesting woman, that I can relate too. I love how honest she is in this book. She grew up obsessing over her body, developing ...more
I am pretty inspired by ultramarathoners. Born to Run made me really appreciate the sport. Pam Reed does a good job of writing about her running achievements while also writing about her personal shortcomings and family life. She is quick to point out that she has made a lot of mistakes, but tries to help the reader understand the psyche of someone able to run 300 miles straights! I like that she gives a lot of credit to her friends who crewed for her while competing in several races, too. ...more
Yikes. I really wanted to be excited about this book but I can't. At its best it is a portrait of who Pam Reed says she is. She also makes some good points about women in sports. At its worst, it is a completely disorganized book that is odd to read because Pam Reed continually says she is one way and then describes something that seems completely opposite. As an example, she says Dean Karnazes (other ultra-marathon runner of great fame)isn't the focus of much of her attention but then brings hi...more
This memoir was certainly one of the most poorly organized and unpolished books I've read. As other reviewers have said, Pam Reed is a runner, not a writer, but I'm still surprised that the editors of this book didn't insist on reorganizing her ideas, jazzing up her descriptions of what it's like to run and compete in ultramarathons, and giving more coherence to her musings on more personal subjects. I read the book to the end and appreciated learning about ultrarunning, but Reed ultimately do...more
I've been on a kick of reading running memoirs this year. I saw this book while searching around and really wanted to read it when I saw that it was a woman's story.
And Reed blew me away with her accomplishments, and she really lets the reader know about about them. And then reminds the reader again. And again. Her writing had voice, which so many memiors have a hard time with, but as I read, I found that I just didn't like her very much. At times, her tone was one of bragging. ...more
And Reed blew me away with her accomplishments, and she really lets the reader know about about them. And then reminds the reader again. And again. Her writing had voice, which so many memiors have a hard time with, but as I read, I found that I just didn't like her very much. At times, her tone was one of bragging. ...more
Although I was a little bit turned off by the overall defensive tone of the book, I really was inspired by this woman and her story. She is an absolutely incredible athlete, nearly superhuman in her successes, but also realistic and truthful about her life and her past mistakes. Reading this book before going out for a run, or even thinking about it on your run is enough to get you going a little longer or a little harder. It's also excellent for an athlete of any kind...I particularly think ...more
pam reed is bad ass!
the literary quality of this book might only warrant two stars and i think that's fine; pam spends a lot of time practicing to be a good runner, not to be a good writer. With her multiple badwater wins, 24-hour records, myriad other running accomplishments, plus being a mom and small business owner/operator (tuscon marathon), how could she find time for the thousands of hours it must take to hone one's writing skills? to me this ends up feeling more real than somet...more
the literary quality of this book might only warrant two stars and i think that's fine; pam spends a lot of time practicing to be a good runner, not to be a good writer. With her multiple badwater wins, 24-hour records, myriad other running accomplishments, plus being a mom and small business owner/operator (tuscon marathon), how could she find time for the thousands of hours it must take to hone one's writing skills? to me this ends up feeling more real than somet...more
I borrowed this book from a friend after I read Dean Kanrazes' book. Pam Reed is regarded as one of the top ultrarunning women in the world, and I was simply curious of her story. Most of the same sappy life story type content that seems to be a standard practice for athlete-authors takes up a good portion of the first half of the book. Once I got into the sections where she started talking about her accomplishments as a runner, I got more interested. Easy read, but get the cliff notes if you wa...more
Interesting on what makes her tick. She obviously has an eating disorder and problems with relationships. Interesting point that anorexia there are no physical signs for the initial cause. It is a disease of the mind/brain which ends up with deleterious physical manifestations.
This book only received 2 stars based on its topic: ultrarunning. If I didn't find this sport so entertaining, I would've given it zero stars. The author turned me off completely when she introduced her personal life into her book. I lost all respect for her after that.
I will read this book over and over again. Such an inspiration and she doesn't necessarily mean to. I love how she states that she knows she's inhuman and most people will never be able to so what she has accomplished--yet she encourages you to do only what you are capable of.
This was interesting, but I didn't really find myself relating to her as a person or a runner. I questioned her honesty at times. A memoir is the perfect opportunity to show nitty, gritty selves or to continue to show the world how we'd like them to see us. I'm not sure which one she did with this book.
All that aside, I can't believe all the things she's accomplished in running. It's pretty incredible.
All that aside, I can't believe all the things she's accomplished in running. It's pretty incredible.
It was interesting to read, but just the parts about running (not other parts of her life). I didn't think it was very well written, especially at the end. I actually turned the page back to double check that I hadn't missed something.
This book wasn't professionally written but it was very compelling. Pam Reed, a crazy ultra-runner and two time overall winner of the Badwater 135, gives an honest appraisal of her life as an ultra marathoner.
Shannon
added it
The book is interesting so far...at first she came off a little bit egotistical, and I'm not sure I agree with the spin she puts on her struggles with anorexia, but frankly, I think anyone who has accomplished what she has with ultrarunning is worth reading about.
As a middle-pack runner, I really admire what Pam Reed has archived. But it is hard to appreciate her writing style. Maybe just me, but there is just too much complaining in the book.
The writing is not excellent, but it's a mostly engaging book for the insight into Pam Reed's life and mind. As a runner and aspiring ultrarunner, I found it interesting.
Martin
added it
Not expertly written - she's a runner, not a writer - but nevertheless still quite fascinating to read about her experience at the top of her field. I've now read all two female-written ultrarunning books, and the perspective is fascinating. No more exist though, which is kinda sad. Back to the men...
It'd be great if it was a blog, not a book claiming to have a cohesive point. I think Mrs. Reed could add this to her very, very short list of DNFs.
a sport at which men and women are equal is intreguing. after pam's many runs through death valley, i feel more determined to run through the hot summer weather.
A true-to-life running memoir. I adored Pam's candid story of both her personal and running life as an elite Ultra-marathoner.
This woman is nuts -but you can't be anything but inspired by her. Run on, and on, and on....
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