North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail

(Paperback)

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May 2015. The world's greatest ultra-distance runner looks out from the top of Boulder Mountain, Georgia. Ahead of him, 2,200 miles of track and the most gruelling run of his life . . . 2,200 miles. 47 days. One remarkable journey. In July 2015, ultramarathon legend Scott Jurek smashed the world record for running the Appalachian Trail, the sprawling mountain path that runs nearly the entire length of the United States. For nearly seven weeks straight, Jurek battled the elements to run, hike and stumble 50 miles every single day. A tale of mind-boggling physical exertion, pressure and endurance, North reveals the extraordinary lengths to which we can push our bodies and our minds. Instant New York Times Bestseller _____________ 'Pure suspense, adventure, and inspiration . . . His story of plunging into the wilderness in pursuit of a dream is both heartwrenching and spellbinding.' Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run 'Probably America's greatest ever ultrarunner.' Guardian 'Scott Jurek's record-setting journey on the Appalachian Trail was the most punishing, most demanding, most gruelling feat I've ever personally witnessed . . . An immersive and engaging book.' Aron Ralston, author of 127 Hours 'I'm a huge fan . . . North is tremendous.' Vassos Alexander, BBC Radio 2 'Undoubtedly the greatest ultrarunner of his generation.' Independent

Reviews

Pure suspense, adventure, and inspiration. When Scott Jurek went into the woods to create his masterpiece, no one knew if he would make it back out again. He was Americas greatest ultra-athlete, a runner whose brains and singular intensity led him to years of extraordinary victories. But this time, Jurek was pushing himself into realms more dangerous than Death Valley, more treacherous than Mexican canyons, and only slightly less crazy than the time he chased after a wild bear. His story of plunging into the wilderness in pursuit of a dream is both heartwrenching and spellbinding. -- Christopher McDougall, author of BORN TO RUN and NATURAL BORN HEROES
Scott Jureks record-setting journey on the Appalachian Trail was the most punishing, most demanding, most gruelling feat Ive ever personally witnessed. By mile 2,000, he was a hollowed-out, broken-down carapace of a person. And unless he found something, some way not just to keep going but to speed up, he was going to miss the record. Over those final 200 miles, I watched him dig deeper than I thought humanly possible: he not only claimed the fastest known time, but most impressively never failed to greet a fellow blaze-hiker with a smile and a cheery, How far ya going Now, reading his immersive and engaging book, where he asks and pushes himself to find the answers to all of the whys, I almost dont want his suffering to end, just so I can enjoy another chapter. -- Aron Ralston, author of 127 HOURS
Im a huge fan . . . North is tremendous. -- Vassos Alexander, BBC Radio 2
Probably Americas greatest ever ultrarunner. * Guardian *
One of the greatest runners of all time. * Runner's World *

Author Bio

Scott Jurek is a world-renowned ultramarathon champion. He is the New York Times bestselling author of a memoir, Eat & Run, which was translated into twenty-five languages, and is one of the key characters in the global bestseller Born to Run. Jurek has claimed victories in nearly all of ultrarunning's elite trail and road events - including the historic 153-mile Spartathlon, the Hardrock 100, the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, and the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. He and his wife Jenny live near the mountains of Boulder, Colorado.