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Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America
A fascinating glimpse into the mind of an ultramarathon runner and the inspirational saga of his run across America.
The ultimate endurance athlete, Marshall Ulrich has run more than one hundred foot races averaging over one hundred miles each, completed twelve expedition-length adventure races, and ascended the seven summits— including Mount Everest. Yet his run from California to New York—the equivalent of running two marathons and a 10k every day for nearly two months straight—proved to be his most challenging effort yet. In Running on Empty he shares the gritty backstory of his run and the excruciating punishments he endured on the road. Ulrich also reaches back nearly thirty years to when the death of his first wife drove him to run from his pain.
Ulrich’s memoir imbues an incredible read with a universal message for athletes and nonathletes alike: face the toughest challenges, overcome debilitating setbacks, and find deep fulfillment in something greater than achievement.
The ultimate endurance athlete, Marshall Ulrich has run more than one hundred foot races averaging over one hundred miles each, completed twelve expedition-length adventure races, and ascended the seven summits— including Mount Everest. Yet his run from California to New York—the equivalent of running two marathons and a 10k every day for nearly two months straight—proved to be his most challenging effort yet. In Running on Empty he shares the gritty backstory of his run and the excruciating punishments he endured on the road. Ulrich also reaches back nearly thirty years to when the death of his first wife drove him to run from his pain.
Ulrich’s memoir imbues an incredible read with a universal message for athletes and nonathletes alike: face the toughest challenges, overcome debilitating setbacks, and find deep fulfillment in something greater than achievement.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
April 25, 2011
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.
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.
June 21, 2011
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.”
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.”
July 11, 2017
Imagine being on a long car trip with someone who accomplished something really fascinating, and then having to listen to him talk about himself nonstop. For hours. And hours. And then more hours. The author ran across the U.S., and like many extreme athletes he likes to do nothing but talk about himself.
August 26, 2020
Marshall Ulrich is a legend. He has an incredible drive, relentless work ethic, and superhuman endurance. Unfortunately that is paired with seemingly sub-human emotional intelligence. Honestly, he's not in the least likable in print. His accomplishments are myriad and amazing. He is legendary. But as we learned from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, "When legend becomes fact, print the legend." I liked the legend a lot better.
January 21, 2019
I didn't enjoy this book as much as other running books that I have read.
Marshall Ulrich is a talented ultra-marathon runner, but he’s pretty self-centered and the fact he bashes the transcontinental that dropped out because of injury was immature and unprofessional.
Marshall Ulrich is a talented ultra-marathon runner, but he’s pretty self-centered and the fact he bashes the transcontinental that dropped out because of injury was immature and unprofessional.
May 16, 2011
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!
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!
January 30, 2015
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 enjoyable to sit down for beer and a pizza with.
It is a quick read, as well. I finished it in a few "nighttime" reading sessions.
What I loved:
It's a motivating read. He is insistent on perseverance and gives some insight on his own methods for getting out of his own head when he runs. The day after I started reading this, I went out for a nice long run and enjoyed it. I doubt that was coincidence.
I loved his story, his devotion to his wife, his unabashed sharing of his emotional states positive and negative.
I had a hard time with the opening chapters describing the loss of his first wife. It is agonizing, and I appreciate that he was able to share this experience.
I was entertained by his diet. I love his input on diet, as well.
What I wish I saw more of:
He says he leaves out a lot of details of his trip as it'd be too much to read through. I protest - I wouldn't have minded!
What I disliked:
This is not yet out in audiobook format. Get on it, people! It'd make a great audiobook for a runner or someone seeking some motivation!
His stomach. This is pure jealousy. I wish, wish, wish I had the sort of stomach where I could sit down to a spaghetti dinner with sausage and garlic bread then go run a bunch of miles afterwards without falling into a ditch and hurling up a lung. I'm really bitterly envious!!
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 enjoyable to sit down for beer and a pizza with.
It is a quick read, as well. I finished it in a few "nighttime" reading sessions.
What I loved:
It's a motivating read. He is insistent on perseverance and gives some insight on his own methods for getting out of his own head when he runs. The day after I started reading this, I went out for a nice long run and enjoyed it. I doubt that was coincidence.
I loved his story, his devotion to his wife, his unabashed sharing of his emotional states positive and negative.
I had a hard time with the opening chapters describing the loss of his first wife. It is agonizing, and I appreciate that he was able to share this experience.
I was entertained by his diet. I love his input on diet, as well.
What I wish I saw more of:
He says he leaves out a lot of details of his trip as it'd be too much to read through. I protest - I wouldn't have minded!
What I disliked:
This is not yet out in audiobook format. Get on it, people! It'd make a great audiobook for a runner or someone seeking some motivation!
His stomach. This is pure jealousy. I wish, wish, wish I had the sort of stomach where I could sit down to a spaghetti dinner with sausage and garlic bread then go run a bunch of miles afterwards without falling into a ditch and hurling up a lung. I'm really bitterly envious!!
July 5, 2011
I didn't enjoy this book as much as other running books that I have read. It seemed like it was largely a vehicle for the author to bash the guy, Charlie, that was supposed to run the transcontinental run with him but dropped out because of injury early on.
The author tooted his horn about all of his amazing athletic accomplishments, but did admit that he was a lousy husband and father because he was so selfish about spending so much time in his athletic pursuits.
Rather than making me feel motivated to run, this book made me feel tired.
The author tooted his horn about all of his amazing athletic accomplishments, but did admit that he was a lousy husband and father because he was so selfish about spending so much time in his athletic pursuits.
Rather than making me feel motivated to run, this book made me feel tired.
July 18, 2020
A very enjoyable read! It's full of descriptions of the interesting places and people Ulrich passed in his journey, which made me want to take my own cross-country journey.
Only not by running! This book is one long litany of the sad things that happens to your body when you run 50+ miles EVERY SINGLE DAY for 52 days. (It's also a great warning about how lame a lot of gear can be--the gear appendix at the end of the book is probably a great resource.) I thought Scott Jurek's NORTH made long distance running sound miserable, but Jurek's trip was practically a picnic compared to Ulrich's. These books make you think "Yikes! I'll never go for a run again!"
And then you wake up and reach for your running shorts and find yourself thinking ... maybe I should up my mileage ...
Only not by running! This book is one long litany of the sad things that happens to your body when you run 50+ miles EVERY SINGLE DAY for 52 days. (It's also a great warning about how lame a lot of gear can be--the gear appendix at the end of the book is probably a great resource.) I thought Scott Jurek's NORTH made long distance running sound miserable, but Jurek's trip was practically a picnic compared to Ulrich's. These books make you think "Yikes! I'll never go for a run again!"
And then you wake up and reach for your running shorts and find yourself thinking ... maybe I should up my mileage ...
March 28, 2019
2.5 stars
It’s impossible not to be impressed by Marshall Ulrich’s account of his record breaking trans-American run, which he breaks down in gritty detail. Running 60+ miles a day for almost two months blows my mind. I admire Ulrich’s single minded dedication to his goal, as well as the unfailing support of his wife and crew. Seriously, his wife is a saint.
However, impressed and inspired are two very different things. Did Ulrich’s endeavors make me want to tackle the obstacles in my own life? Did they offer me, as a reader, moments of reflection and introspection? Not really. Ulrich has spent a lifetime chasing impossible goals and super human endeavors. But, I could never determine the “why” behind his adventures. They came across as a wealthy adrenaline junkie’s bucket list and nothing more.
I found Ulrich’s accomplishments, though amazing, kind of pathetic, when they came at the expense of marriage and family relationships. Ulrich honestly admits to his failings as a spouse and father, but seems to write them off as “that’s just the way I am.” The “big goal” remains the ultimate focus throughout the entire book, despite the emotional collateral damage.
Which brings me to the main event. The trans-American run. While Ulrich painstakingly accounts for every injury, every meal, every cornfield bathroom break, and every tedious and excruciating mile, he barely flirts with moments of human and emotional connection, or any sort of introspection. How did this journey help him find peace with his first wife’s death? I couldn’t tell you. How did it effect his relationship with his wife and kids? I don’t really know. Who did he meet along the way? How did they effect his outlook? Did he have one life changing or meaningful thought during those 3,000 plus miles? You get bare bones glimpses, but nothing substantial.
I don’t need every book to be a life changing read. But, when you are reading about what must have been a life changing accomplishment, you should at least feel inspired, and not merely impressed.
It’s impossible not to be impressed by Marshall Ulrich’s account of his record breaking trans-American run, which he breaks down in gritty detail. Running 60+ miles a day for almost two months blows my mind. I admire Ulrich’s single minded dedication to his goal, as well as the unfailing support of his wife and crew. Seriously, his wife is a saint.
However, impressed and inspired are two very different things. Did Ulrich’s endeavors make me want to tackle the obstacles in my own life? Did they offer me, as a reader, moments of reflection and introspection? Not really. Ulrich has spent a lifetime chasing impossible goals and super human endeavors. But, I could never determine the “why” behind his adventures. They came across as a wealthy adrenaline junkie’s bucket list and nothing more.
I found Ulrich’s accomplishments, though amazing, kind of pathetic, when they came at the expense of marriage and family relationships. Ulrich honestly admits to his failings as a spouse and father, but seems to write them off as “that’s just the way I am.” The “big goal” remains the ultimate focus throughout the entire book, despite the emotional collateral damage.
Which brings me to the main event. The trans-American run. While Ulrich painstakingly accounts for every injury, every meal, every cornfield bathroom break, and every tedious and excruciating mile, he barely flirts with moments of human and emotional connection, or any sort of introspection. How did this journey help him find peace with his first wife’s death? I couldn’t tell you. How did it effect his relationship with his wife and kids? I don’t really know. Who did he meet along the way? How did they effect his outlook? Did he have one life changing or meaningful thought during those 3,000 plus miles? You get bare bones glimpses, but nothing substantial.
I don’t need every book to be a life changing read. But, when you are reading about what must have been a life changing accomplishment, you should at least feel inspired, and not merely impressed.
September 8, 2011
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 his insatiable drive to run, his shortcomings as a husband and father, and the loss to cancer of his first wife - the catalyst which spurred his desire to run in the first place.
I liked how Ulrich gave kudos to so many of the people that he met along the way - the citizens of small town America that continuously cheered him on, offered him homemade goodies, consented to run a bit with him, and overall, simply inspired him and boosted his spirit.
For those who do not share this obsession of running indefinite lengths, despite chronic pain and potential lingering injury, extreme temperatures and bickering crew members, the mere idea of such an adventure seems unfathomable. I never cease to be awestruck at what the human body can accomplish, and this book is the epitome of just that.
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 his insatiable drive to run, his shortcomings as a husband and father, and the loss to cancer of his first wife - the catalyst which spurred his desire to run in the first place.
I liked how Ulrich gave kudos to so many of the people that he met along the way - the citizens of small town America that continuously cheered him on, offered him homemade goodies, consented to run a bit with him, and overall, simply inspired him and boosted his spirit.
For those who do not share this obsession of running indefinite lengths, despite chronic pain and potential lingering injury, extreme temperatures and bickering crew members, the mere idea of such an adventure seems unfathomable. I never cease to be awestruck at what the human body can accomplish, and this book is the epitome of just that.
January 17, 2017
I feel a little bit like I was misled by this book. The cover looks very similar to Christopher McDougall's wonderful Born to Run with the same colors and similar layout, McDougall's name is on the front because he wrote the forward, even the book title is from a song of the same era as McDougall's book's title, and both are about ultra running. But where McDougall gives us a wonderful exploration of running exceptionally long distances, in Ulrich's book we get an exploration of Ulrich -- who, (how can I put this nicely?) comes across equal parts narcissist and vindictive jerk. I'm not generally a person who seeks to judge people for their life choices, but Ulrich's book kind of forces the reader into that position. There are a lot of great books out there about running, this is not one of them.
May 14, 2011
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.
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.
February 4, 2013
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.
After reading about Marshall's regrets and mistakes in life, you can empathize with him, because he humanizes himself, unlike many other authors of tall tale running books.
I recommend this book, especially to those, like myself, who would prefer to read about a land based crossing of the continental U.S. (known as a Transcontinental Run, or "Transcon"), as opposed to actually attempting such a monumental task. While reading Marshall's description of the people and landscape that encompasses the vast region between San Francisco and New York City, you can envision being part of his crew, helping support his journey and rooting for him every step of the way.
It was really neat to realize that my friend Todd Jennings helped Marshall along the way.
I won't spoil if his efforts led to a new World Record or not, but here are some memorable quotes from the book that touched a chord with me.
Chapter 1: As Far As I Can, As Fast As I Can
p. 23
"I was in a state of overuse, but that's where ultrarunners live, in that place where you feel as if there's nothing left, no more energy, no more reason, no more sanity, no more will to go farther. Then you push forward anyway, step after step, even though every cell in your body tells you to stop. And you discover that you can go on."
Chapter 7: This Is Not My Foot (Days 25-26)
pp. 130-131
"When I had the chance to talk with Yannis (Kouros, the greatest ultrarunner) some time ago, I confessed that I'd once had a strange experience and wanted to know his thoughts about it. About 35 miles in the Badwater Ultramarathon one year, I saw the sun setting in front of me, and then had the oddest sensation, as if I was floating over my body and watching myself run. It was over in the blink of an eye, but when I regained normal consciousness, the sun was rising behind me and I was down the road 50 miles. It made me think of the Native Americans, the drifting spirits. I didn't want to make it sound too weird, but it was weird.
Yannis was matter-of-fact. "Oh, that happens all the time to me."... I wonder if this experience is the enlightenment Buddhists strive to achieve. Is it the place where suffering ends? Nirvana?"
Chapter 13: Rest
pp. 242
"I love to think about how Icarus was cautioned not to soar too high or his wings would melt--yet how else would he feel the warmth of the sun? Icarus flying close to the ground is like running Death Valley during the winter: Why do the easy, expected thing? It takes guts to follow your dreams. Courage. Many people, even those who love you, don't understand how compelling that can be, and will try to keep you in the "safety zone." But fuck that. Half the fun is venturing into the unknown, taking on the difficult task that yields new knowledge, doing more and testing your limits."
Chapter 13: Rest
pp. 242
"What I've done serves mostly to show that nearly all limits are self-imposed, a false construct of the mind. You can take on mind-boggling challenges. It may cause you grief, it may test your relationships and cause you to question your sanity, but you can do it! Yes, a fifty-seven year-old man can run across the United States and break a couple or records in the process. People of any age can accomplish what few others have done; we can endure the trials, overcome the obstacles, put up with the pain to realize our dreams. Why not try?"
After reading about Marshall's regrets and mistakes in life, you can empathize with him, because he humanizes himself, unlike many other authors of tall tale running books.
I recommend this book, especially to those, like myself, who would prefer to read about a land based crossing of the continental U.S. (known as a Transcontinental Run, or "Transcon"), as opposed to actually attempting such a monumental task. While reading Marshall's description of the people and landscape that encompasses the vast region between San Francisco and New York City, you can envision being part of his crew, helping support his journey and rooting for him every step of the way.
It was really neat to realize that my friend Todd Jennings helped Marshall along the way.
I won't spoil if his efforts led to a new World Record or not, but here are some memorable quotes from the book that touched a chord with me.
Chapter 1: As Far As I Can, As Fast As I Can
p. 23
"I was in a state of overuse, but that's where ultrarunners live, in that place where you feel as if there's nothing left, no more energy, no more reason, no more sanity, no more will to go farther. Then you push forward anyway, step after step, even though every cell in your body tells you to stop. And you discover that you can go on."
Chapter 7: This Is Not My Foot (Days 25-26)
pp. 130-131
"When I had the chance to talk with Yannis (Kouros, the greatest ultrarunner) some time ago, I confessed that I'd once had a strange experience and wanted to know his thoughts about it. About 35 miles in the Badwater Ultramarathon one year, I saw the sun setting in front of me, and then had the oddest sensation, as if I was floating over my body and watching myself run. It was over in the blink of an eye, but when I regained normal consciousness, the sun was rising behind me and I was down the road 50 miles. It made me think of the Native Americans, the drifting spirits. I didn't want to make it sound too weird, but it was weird.
Yannis was matter-of-fact. "Oh, that happens all the time to me."... I wonder if this experience is the enlightenment Buddhists strive to achieve. Is it the place where suffering ends? Nirvana?"
Chapter 13: Rest
pp. 242
"I love to think about how Icarus was cautioned not to soar too high or his wings would melt--yet how else would he feel the warmth of the sun? Icarus flying close to the ground is like running Death Valley during the winter: Why do the easy, expected thing? It takes guts to follow your dreams. Courage. Many people, even those who love you, don't understand how compelling that can be, and will try to keep you in the "safety zone." But fuck that. Half the fun is venturing into the unknown, taking on the difficult task that yields new knowledge, doing more and testing your limits."
Chapter 13: Rest
pp. 242
"What I've done serves mostly to show that nearly all limits are self-imposed, a false construct of the mind. You can take on mind-boggling challenges. It may cause you grief, it may test your relationships and cause you to question your sanity, but you can do it! Yes, a fifty-seven year-old man can run across the United States and break a couple or records in the process. People of any age can accomplish what few others have done; we can endure the trials, overcome the obstacles, put up with the pain to realize our dreams. Why not try?"
June 1, 2013
"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.”"
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."
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.”"
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."
January 31, 2018
As an ultra runner I can't read enough of these kinds of books. This one, did not disappoint.
Marshall has an incredible story and the humility that pours out in these pages is apparent in the fact that he doesn't claim it. There is honesty in the truth sharing of his flaws, his failures - as a husband, as a father, as a human. All along the journey the reader gets to know Marshall candidly and you can't help but cheer him on as the story unfolds.
Here's a couple of my favorites:
"...no matter how tough and impervious I may imagine myself to be, I am imperfect, fragile, scared, and vulnerable, just like every other person on this planet. No matter how unique any of us wants to believe we are, all of us hurt, suffer, and feel sadness. Some of us are just better at covering it up."
"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." -Jack London
Marshall has an incredible story and the humility that pours out in these pages is apparent in the fact that he doesn't claim it. There is honesty in the truth sharing of his flaws, his failures - as a husband, as a father, as a human. All along the journey the reader gets to know Marshall candidly and you can't help but cheer him on as the story unfolds.
Here's a couple of my favorites:
"...no matter how tough and impervious I may imagine myself to be, I am imperfect, fragile, scared, and vulnerable, just like every other person on this planet. No matter how unique any of us wants to believe we are, all of us hurt, suffer, and feel sadness. Some of us are just better at covering it up."
"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." -Jack London
May 30, 2011
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 fact, Running the Sahara is what I watched right before my first marathon. I always cry when they reach the end. I was hoping for something similar with Running America, but it never materialized. Running America felt just off. Too much focus on Charlie Engle and not enough on Ulrich--who actually finished the Transcon run. This book revealed some behind the scenes events that seemed to explain the poor direction that the documentary took.
The documentary could have been AMAZING had it focused on Marshall's narrative instead of Charlie's. Fortunately, we have Marshall's narrative in book form--it is probably the best love letter to a spouse that I have ever read.
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 fact, Running the Sahara is what I watched right before my first marathon. I always cry when they reach the end. I was hoping for something similar with Running America, but it never materialized. Running America felt just off. Too much focus on Charlie Engle and not enough on Ulrich--who actually finished the Transcon run. This book revealed some behind the scenes events that seemed to explain the poor direction that the documentary took.
The documentary could have been AMAZING had it focused on Marshall's narrative instead of Charlie's. Fortunately, we have Marshall's narrative in book form--it is probably the best love letter to a spouse that I have ever read.
February 21, 2021
Skimming through other reviews on this book, it's good to see that other readers also put the author into the basket of "egotistical guy who sacrifices his personal relationships for extreme athletic achievements." Journey books, at their best, bring the reader on both a physical and a mental / emotional / spiritual journey, but here I got a lot of the physical journey + a bunch of complaints about other people. Ulrich runs across the US "because it's who he is", and though he expects great self-reflection to happen on the journey, virtually none of this (if it happened) is communicated in the book.
Reminded me in some ways of Hillary's A View from the Summit - similar egotistical guy who does cool things and leaves broken relationships in his wake. I tend to think that great self-reflection is mutually exclusive from any experience where one tries to be "the first" or "the fastest" to do something - real self-reflection requires deliberation and meditation, not a sprint across major interstates in Colorado and Nebraska.
Reminded me in some ways of Hillary's A View from the Summit - similar egotistical guy who does cool things and leaves broken relationships in his wake. I tend to think that great self-reflection is mutually exclusive from any experience where one tries to be "the first" or "the fastest" to do something - real self-reflection requires deliberation and meditation, not a sprint across major interstates in Colorado and Nebraska.
December 29, 2011
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 almost as quickly as he ran across the country and enjoyed every page. There are three pages from this book I will keep bookmarked on my experiences training for my next long race.
Also being a fellow runner from Colorado I will keep some of Marshall's advice with me during the next big race of my own.
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 almost as quickly as he ran across the country and enjoyed every page. There are three pages from this book I will keep bookmarked on my experiences training for my next long race.
Also being a fellow runner from Colorado I will keep some of Marshall's advice with me during the next big race of my own.
January 10, 2020
Disjointed and full of self claim
No doubt what Marshall had done is impressive. But there is too much self adulation and the book read more of a journal entry of his run across America than what the title indicates.
No doubt what Marshall had done is impressive. But there is too much self adulation and the book read more of a journal entry of his run across America than what the title indicates.
April 13, 2012
I wasn't that impressed. The only thing that kept this book going was the struggles of his run across America. The author also seemed to determine at the end that there is more to life than running.
June 15, 2020
Three years ago my daughter and son-in-law gave me this book when I retired. During the pandemic my wife read it, and couldn't stop talking about it. I picked it up and couldn't put it down until I finished it, too. So the first thing I should say is thank you, Andy and Sarah for picking out this book and giving it to me for retirement. It's a real page turner.
I'm not sure what to make of Ulrich's story. He is certainly not a model father, and he has lots of problems as a human being. Yet there is no denying he has a most unusual story to tell. 3,063.2 miles of simply putting one foot in front of the other all the way from San Francisco, CA to New York, New York. It took him 53 days.
The book is well written, and the appendix is very interesting because he gives all sorts of information about his journey across America. In some ways it is a tragic story of love lost, but it is also a story of love found, too. If you have ever put on a pair of shoes and attempted to run anywhere, and then decided to do it again and again. You might enjoy reading this book. I think it is a real page turner, and even though I would never try what Ulrich did my feet hurt just reading about it.
Someone asked me if I thought the book was inspirational, and my response would be no. I am not inspired to run across America. I was inspired by the Peace Pilgrim's journey. She walked across America seven times. (I think this is correct.) What she did was inspirational. I do think it is interesting to read what happened on his trip, and I wish he would have expanded more about what he learned from his experience.
A few years ago I was diagnosed with bradycardia (slow heart). After I had surgery to have a heart assist device placed next to my heart I asked my cardiologist if it would be okay for me to try running a half marathon. He said, "Yes!" Since then I ran the Half Marathon on several occasions, so I can at least say I know what Marshall is talking about when he explains how you can't quit and make it to the finish line.
I'm not sure what to make of Ulrich's story. He is certainly not a model father, and he has lots of problems as a human being. Yet there is no denying he has a most unusual story to tell. 3,063.2 miles of simply putting one foot in front of the other all the way from San Francisco, CA to New York, New York. It took him 53 days.
The book is well written, and the appendix is very interesting because he gives all sorts of information about his journey across America. In some ways it is a tragic story of love lost, but it is also a story of love found, too. If you have ever put on a pair of shoes and attempted to run anywhere, and then decided to do it again and again. You might enjoy reading this book. I think it is a real page turner, and even though I would never try what Ulrich did my feet hurt just reading about it.
Someone asked me if I thought the book was inspirational, and my response would be no. I am not inspired to run across America. I was inspired by the Peace Pilgrim's journey. She walked across America seven times. (I think this is correct.) What she did was inspirational. I do think it is interesting to read what happened on his trip, and I wish he would have expanded more about what he learned from his experience.
A few years ago I was diagnosed with bradycardia (slow heart). After I had surgery to have a heart assist device placed next to my heart I asked my cardiologist if it would be okay for me to try running a half marathon. He said, "Yes!" Since then I ran the Half Marathon on several occasions, so I can at least say I know what Marshall is talking about when he explains how you can't quit and make it to the finish line.
December 10, 2024
Giving this 2 stars is a tough call, and I will confess the review is negatively skewed because of my thoughts about a transcontinental run. Marshall’s accomplishment is physically and mentally commendable; he achieved the unimaginable and maximized his ability in so many ways.
Here’s what I struggle with… Marshall correctly notes the selfishness and escapism of running; how his endeavors pushed other priorities aside, but he never actually comes to a place of re-focusing. He shared that his daughter begged him not to climb Mt Everest (which occurred before this run)—she knew the death rate was 10% and that her dad still had a teenage son at home. He still did it. He also did this run after his wife begged him for over a year not to do it.
I guess there’s a lot to be learned from this story, and I’m highly impressed by the connection and compassion Marshall fostered through this run. Still, it leaves an odd disappointment akin to when I learned about Alex Honnold (“Free Solo”). Sure, you broke through the idea of human limitation, but at what cost? Both athletes still put their sport/hobby/passion ahead of others, and I don’t think that’s commendable.
The book was good and I enjoyed the diary-like retelling of the story. If you can get behind the sour taste of self-centered living, you’ll enjoy it!
Ps. On a personal note, I realized how far society has come in our awareness of fat shaming when the author said that his run was to benefit the united waves campaign against childhood obesity. That’s wild to me…. as we can’t clearly define obesity in a growing child, nor is it anywhere near to the biggest risk for American children. 😤
Here’s what I struggle with… Marshall correctly notes the selfishness and escapism of running; how his endeavors pushed other priorities aside, but he never actually comes to a place of re-focusing. He shared that his daughter begged him not to climb Mt Everest (which occurred before this run)—she knew the death rate was 10% and that her dad still had a teenage son at home. He still did it. He also did this run after his wife begged him for over a year not to do it.
I guess there’s a lot to be learned from this story, and I’m highly impressed by the connection and compassion Marshall fostered through this run. Still, it leaves an odd disappointment akin to when I learned about Alex Honnold (“Free Solo”). Sure, you broke through the idea of human limitation, but at what cost? Both athletes still put their sport/hobby/passion ahead of others, and I don’t think that’s commendable.
The book was good and I enjoyed the diary-like retelling of the story. If you can get behind the sour taste of self-centered living, you’ll enjoy it!
Ps. On a personal note, I realized how far society has come in our awareness of fat shaming when the author said that his run was to benefit the united waves campaign against childhood obesity. That’s wild to me…. as we can’t clearly define obesity in a growing child, nor is it anywhere near to the biggest risk for American children. 😤
December 31, 2023
I liked this! It’s important to remember that this is a story about a man, written by a man. Marshall Ulrich is great at what he does at the expense of his family and relationships. It can make it hard to sympathize or relate to him if you’re thinking about things like “where are his kids?” or “ah, this is probably why he has been married three times”. But all in all I enjoyed the story as I often do running documentaries. I think this book doesn’t commit hard enough to being a historical display of the US, nor does it commit to being about running the US during a tumultuous financial and election year, nor does it commit to being about running. I think it’s just about hope, and that was pretty good.
Recommend to
Icaruses in your life
People who need to exclusively do “10 Fun Unit” activities
Your Old Man
Recommend to
Icaruses in your life
People who need to exclusively do “10 Fun Unit” activities
Your Old Man
June 17, 2019
Really mixed feelings about this book. Amazing endurance athlete. Relationship issues in life with wives and even his transcontinental runner partner.
I think of running as a sport with few barriers to entry. But this transcontinental run involved large financial support and a crew of people who took care of Marshall’s every need beyond taking steps forward.
His wife does so much for him despite her wanting him to quite. It’s always tricky for me to evaluate when someone continues despite injury. Is this being tough or stupid?
For me one reason not to read this book is that there are lengthy discussions about the bickering and fighting amongst the crew. People being sent home and his wife not wanted in the RV that helps him every mile.
I think of running as a sport with few barriers to entry. But this transcontinental run involved large financial support and a crew of people who took care of Marshall’s every need beyond taking steps forward.
His wife does so much for him despite her wanting him to quite. It’s always tricky for me to evaluate when someone continues despite injury. Is this being tough or stupid?
For me one reason not to read this book is that there are lengthy discussions about the bickering and fighting amongst the crew. People being sent home and his wife not wanted in the RV that helps him every mile.
June 1, 2022
Wildly interesting and inspiring story. It was nice to read about specific encounters that he had with people and how much his crew made this journey possible. My very first running coach always said “there is no I in team” almost daily and ultra running, I suppose especially at that level of mileage, is certainly no exception!
Where the book lost a star from me was that Ulrich seems … unrelateable. Stand off ish. In several encounters with strangers he was quick to paint them as idiots and I didn’t care for that.
Overall an interesting read for those who are interested in dabbling in the world of ultras, or reading about the craziness that ensues behind the scenes (like having toenails removed)!
Where the book lost a star from me was that Ulrich seems … unrelateable. Stand off ish. In several encounters with strangers he was quick to paint them as idiots and I didn’t care for that.
Overall an interesting read for those who are interested in dabbling in the world of ultras, or reading about the craziness that ensues behind the scenes (like having toenails removed)!
August 13, 2020
This book started off very interesting, but as it went on it became less and less captivating. I think in some ways it mirrored his run across the USA, giving a reader a sense of the monotony of the task. Whether that was intentional or not, it worked. I was worn out at the end. Ulrich was honest, but didn't demonstrate a commitment to family and always prioritized runner over things that should have been prioritized.
The best part of the book was being inspired by the plodding and grit of Ulrich. He definitely inspires others to finish large tasks and learn to push through when it seems impossible.
Overall, an average book but worth a read for those who enjoy running and ultra running.
The best part of the book was being inspired by the plodding and grit of Ulrich. He definitely inspires others to finish large tasks and learn to push through when it seems impossible.
Overall, an average book but worth a read for those who enjoy running and ultra running.
August 4, 2021
The story was interesting and the life lessons learned were valuable and I enjoyed reading those parts. This was a slow read for me, though, because I just didn't like the author. The more I read, the more I was annoyed by his self-obsession and utter disregard for his family. I think in the end he's finally in a better place there, but by then he's missed a LOT of opportunities with his kids because they're all grown up now.
If you're really into ultra running or extreme challenge adventures, definitely give this one a try. If you're more interested in how the human body is designed to move, try Born to Run by Christopher McDougall instead.
If you're really into ultra running or extreme challenge adventures, definitely give this one a try. If you're more interested in how the human body is designed to move, try Born to Run by Christopher McDougall instead.
July 30, 2024
This might just be me, as a person that loves running and has read many running books. As a person that has, at times in their life, very deeply admired great feats of endurance. There is no doubt that the author has accomplished great things but at what point are these stories just us congratulating self flagellation at the cost of others? To his credit he owns the harm he caused others, his children and previous wives. He seems to give a nod to the selfish parts of his personality in balance with his accomplishments. In a day when it’s always bigger, better, faster …… more, well maybe we need to steer toward balance. Then again, maybe I have no idea what I’m talking about.
July 20, 2020
I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, and I even went for a run and truly enjoyed it for more than just an attempt to lose weight and start training for my Ironman event. Life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies especially when you’re running nearly 70 miles a day for almost two months straight, and this story tells of that struggle, yet through reading it I’ve learned even when you are down and struggling, I can appreciate as the Buddhist prayers says that, “I’m thankful, because at least I didn’t die today”
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