Here is some background on Scott, from his web site, www.scottjurekcom:
"Scott Jurek's outstanding competitive resume includes
victories in nearly all of ultrarunning's elite trail and road events,
including the historic 153-mile Spartathlon, the Hardrock 100, the Badwater
135-mile Ultramarathon, the Miwok 100K, and—his signature race—the Western
States 100 Mile Endurance Run, which he won a record seven straight times. The
Washington Times named him one of the top runners of the decade, Runner's World
awarded him a Hero of Running and Ultrarunning Magazine named him Ultra-Runner
of the Year three times. In 2010, he set a new US all-surface record in the
24-Hour Run with 165.7 miles—6.5 marathons in one day—for which he was named
USA Today's Athlete of the Week.
More than just a champion, Scott is a true student and
ambassador of the sport, known to stay at finish lines cheering until the last
runner crosses. A passionate advocate for vegetarianism, he follows a 100%
plant-based diet, which he credits for his superior endurance, recovery and
overall health. He believes that everyone can run an ultra and everyone can
access their bodys innate capacity to heal. Through writing, public speaking,
and consulting, Scott takes joy in encouraging people of all fitness levels to
take the next step toward vibrant health."
Jurek's goal in writing the book was to show the reader how he transformed from the inside out, and how the reader can do likewise, and he has successfully achieved that goal.
The book follows a chronological path, starting with Jurek as a youngster in Minnesota. He notes the influence of his mom, who suffered from multiple sclerosis (which inspired his becoming a physical therapist), and his dad, a hard-working man who often told his son, "Sometimes you just do things!" That philosophy became central to Jurek's character. After a successful high school career as a cross country skier, Jurek goes o college o pursue his therapy degree. It was during this time period that Jurek began to take his running seriously, as well as his diet.
His first long distance race was the Minnesota Voyageur in 1994, a 50 mile race. His first major ultramarathon win was the Westren States 100 in 1995, which he went on to win six more years in a row. At this point, Jurek was also fully committed to a vegan diet. Here is an excerpt where he shares he benefits of a vegan diet:
"The better I ate, the better I felt. The better I felt, the
more I ate. Since going vegan, I had lost a layer of fat—the layer that came
with eating the cookies and cakes and Twinkies and cheese pizza that so many
omnivores and even vegetarians gulp down. I learned that I could eat more,
enjoy it more, and still get leaner than I had ever been in my life. When I
went vegan, I started eating more whole grains and legumes, fruits and
vegetables. My cheekbones seemed more pronounced, my face more chiseled.
Muscles I didn’t even know I had popped out. I was eating more, losing weight,
and gaining muscle—all on a vegan diet. My recovery times between workouts and
races got even shorter. I wasn’t even sore the day after 50-mile races. I woke
up with more energy every day. Fruit tasted sweeter, vegetables crunchier and
more flavorful. I was doing short runs in the morning, working 8- to 10-hour
days, then running 10 to 20 miles in the evening. I felt as if my concentration
was improving every day."
Jurek is impressive not only for his athletic ability, but for his mental toughness as well. Pain, physical and mental, is guaranteed in an ultramarathon, and the stories of what it is like to run an ultramarathon are eye-opening. Jurek even finished the last 45 miles of the Western States with torn ligaments!
Jurek also shares the emotional pain he went through after his divorce and the death of his mom as well as his financial difficulties. What kept him going were his running and positive attitude. He also talks about the falling out he had with his best friend Dusty.
However, by the end of the book, Jurek is happily re-married, is back on friendly terms with Dusty, and just set the American record for distance covered in a 24-hour run, an astonishing 165 miles.
In addition to the great stories about his races, each chapter concludes with tips on training as well as a plant-based recipe. It's a nice combination, since I have always felt that to be truly healthy, you need to focus on both diet and exercise, and that ultimately, diet is the key to long term success.
I highly recommend Scott's book, it is inspirational and full of practical tips to become a better athlete and a healthy individual.
