Extreme Running [Hardcover]

Kym McConnell (Author), Dave Horsley (Author), Ranulph Fiennes (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Running is an inexpensive, practical, and convenient sport, but some take it to the limit. From cold-weather running in Alaska to the intense heat of the Sahara Marathon, athletes attempt to overcome the elements. Extremes of environment, route, and geography are another challenge: trails through dense jungle and over soaring mountain ranges. The rewards are experiences of a lifetime, the sense of having been to largely unexplored places, and realizing unique ambitions. Never before has there been a manual to pull together all the elements of this new but fast-growing sport, touching on every aspect from lone desert running to ultramarathons. The follow-up to Extreme Golf and Extreme Sailing, this third volume is a must-have for all runners.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Don't you just hate those hearty types who jog past your sun lounger as you're ordering your first poolside pina colada at 9am? Extreme Running is not for you, then. The book lists details of challenges such as the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, the Badwater Ultramarathon in California and the Antartic Ice Marathon among others, if you ever change your mind." The Times

About the Author

Kym McConnell's previous book was Tibet Overland.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Pavilion (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862057567
• ISBN-13: 978-1862057562
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,403,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for all athletes, not just runners, November 12, 2007

By 

John Vonhof "The Foot Guy" (Manteca, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Extreme Running (Hardcover)

If you are a runner, adventure racer, ultrarunner, or interested in extreme events, Extreme Running is for you. I love this book. Extreme Running features sections on races on the seven continents. Twenty-four events are profiled in the chapters. Each event is shown with plenty of photos, race information, distance, time of year, field size, ascent and decent data, contact and Web information, and maps or an altitude profile. As you read the chapters, you get a feel for the event and its difficulty. The Marathon des Sables is featured in 16 pages, Badwater in 10, while others are covered in several pages. The photos are fantastic - making you feel in the race. While not inclusive of all extreme events on the seven continents, the book does a great job of showing you popular events and enough information to help you decide if you could do any one of them. This is a book that some might call a "coffee table" book - it is that beautiful. It appeals to me because I love the draw and challenge of these extreme events. As the author of Fixing Your Feet, I patch the feet of these athletes, and have been to several of them and can attest to the descriptions as accurate.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars extreme good, January 6, 2009

By 

Ilgaz Kuruyazici "ilgazk" (istanbul / turkey) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Extreme Running (Hardcover)

This is a great book to get motivated, if you have never run an ultra. The book is full of great pictures, where you can feel the whole environment of different races on amazing routes of different continents. I was always reading books about ultra and extra running, but this book showed me the real "living" face of the races, and let me think "why not?". It is a good motivation to see and "meet" the people in this book who have complete all this routes. At the same time it is a good resource for the scedules of races on different points of the world.
The page design, the photos and the print quality is very satisfying.
A warning for the readers who is looking for technical data and training tips; please not this is not a "trainer" book, but it is a "must have" item, since the psychological stamina is needed as much as the physical stamina for ultr running. And this is what this book can provide you. Ther will be always a "better" but this one is the best from my opinion now.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Around the World races, September 30, 2010

By 

Jamie P. Tierney "Jamie" (Maine) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Extreme Running (Hardcover)

This is a great book. It gives a diverse look at many races around the world. I realy enjoyed it. My only gripe (and why it didn't get 5 stars) is that it could have been bigger and more inclusive of more races. OVERALL I still feel the book it well worth the time and money of anyone with an intrest in Ultra Running.