Customer Reviews

Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up a copy of Bryon's book a few weeks back, with the intention of progressing into ultra distance running. I have been running on and off for 3 years and bought the book not really for the training plans, but looking for motivation and inspiration. The book succeeds wonderfully on all counts. The anecdotal articles from well known ultra runners, combined with Bryon's excellent writing style makes this a great buy for both the experienced runner and the beginner alike.

There is a great section on barefoot running technique, and also some excellent nutrition advice. The training schedules are really good, and this book can act well as a textbook to dip in and out of when you want. I've read it from cover to cover twice, and pick it up every day for tips and advice. Well worth buying!!!

Relentless Forward Progress is a must have book as it helps with every aspect of ultra marathon training, nutrition, race strategy, and time management. The book also outlines training plans for those of us who aren't running more than 60 miles a week. Bryon Powell has outlined the process of how to be successful at finishing ultra marathons on 40 miles per week! I'll be using this book to prepare for my first 50 miler.

Relentless Forward Progress could be a mantra for life but it also works for ultrarunning. And so does this book. Powell has done a great job of bringing together a lot of resources and giving the reader a great introduction to ultra running. Not only for beginners, this book is one that I've come back to again and again to look up information on everything from winter running to setting a training schedule for a new race coming up.

This is a great book for the first timer or the 50k guys/gals looking to move up in distance. The book itself is very well written and has great template for training logs. The best thing about the book is the author. His info is very positive and workable. More great info can be found on his website--- irunfar.com

More than a book but rather an excellent resource manual for anyone considering running an ultra marathon or currently participating in ultra's; there is something here for everyone. The information provided in Relentless Forward Progress will assist you in avoiding mistakes not only during an event but during training and preparation as well and keep you pointed in the right direction. An ultra event and the training for an ultra is more than just running as it includes learning when to run and when to walk/hike, how to hydrate and taking in proper nutrition on the move. Bryon Powell covers it all in this book that should be in the library of every competitive runner.

As the adage goes... "If I only knew then what I know now" my path into trail and ultra racing would have been so much easier.

Granted running isn't that mysterious, but having a point of reference for training, rest, nutrition and race day management is not gained overnight.
This book presents all this and more in a linear and useful way with the information backed up by author Bryon Powell's own experiences and those of other veteran runners.
Adding to that, the book includes multiple views on some topics (For example on speed training), as well as anecdotal material to support the various topics.

Having followed the I-RunFar blog for a couple of years I'd seen the book advertised, but never gotten around to buying it. So when I decided to try my first trail ultra I figured I needed all the help I could get and placed my order. Although I'd already been running shorter trails for five years, it really helped me to tweak many of things I'd learned (or thought I'd learned) through trial and error. And while I'd already laid the ground work of my ultra training I found the race day information indispensable in having things go smoothly. I continue to use the book as a reference for my own relentless forward progress and highly recommend to anyone interested in ultra distance running.

Are you the kind of person who likes never ending trial and error, making as many mistakes as possible, or how about learning the hard way? If so, please avoid this book at all costs. It's not for you. On the other hand, do you enjoy gleaning the wisdom of others, making a very difficult task manageable, or being as prepared as you can be for an event that is filled with the unexpected? In that case you've found what you're looking for.

I ran my first ultra about 4 years ago. I thought I had done my homework. I thought I was prepared. I thought wrong. My only complaint about "Relentless Forward Progress" is that it was published about 5 years too late. Had I had this information I might have avoided severe cramping, lightheadedness, and a resounding question that seemed to enter my head at the base of every hill... "What am I doing"?

Bryon has left no stone unturned. In a sport that is so complex, writing a "how to" could be about as perplexing as an ultra it's self. This book could be over-the-top, intimidating, and self-absorbent but it's none of the above. It's a no nonsense, straight forward, non PhD needing look at ultra running unlike I've ever read before.

I could go into all the details that the author covers but the list would be too long. All I'll say is if you want to learn...read it. If you want affirmation that you're on the right path..read it. Or if you're anywhere in between..you guessed it..read it. You'll learn something. I guarantee it.

If I had this book two years ago, it would have saved me a ton of pain and anxiety as I ran my first Ultras. Bryon really does a good job getting the information to the reader, in a easy to understand way. No tough to understand ramblings on the science behind VO2 max, etc. Just the information that is needed to get your first Ultras done, with the least amount of mistakes and pain.

Reading this book brought back many memories of the mistakes I made along the way. I have recommended it to many new Ultra Runners, who have thanked me for it.

As a marathon runner, I had been searching for a new challenge. While Ultras seemed to be a natural progression in the life of a runner, the same fears and doubts which plague those who contemplate a move up in "any" distance had been weighing down on me. I simply lacked the confidence that I'd be able handle the physical and mental toll of the extra distance. That was until I had picked up a copy of Relentless Forward Progress.
I realized very early in the book that I won't have to turn my life completely upside down in order to train for an Ultra. While different from traditional marathon programs I've seen, the training programs included in the book, even at first glance, show that preparing for an Ultra will not be about just adding on miles, but instead, getting the most out of the miles I am already running. What's more, Bryon appreciates that no two runners are alike and has empowered me to take the tips/suggestions throughout the book and modify them to suit my style and preferences. In short, after reading Relentless Forward Progress, I have the confidence that I can take on the challenge. I encourage anyone who is intrigued by Ultras, but is unsure like I was, to pick up a copy.

Bryon Powell's "Relentless Forward Progress" is THE only book I have seen that breaks down something as complex as ultra distance running and makes it seem like something anyone can do. Whether you are a 10k runner looking to step up, or already a seasoned ultrarunner, this book will teach you something and help you advance. I highly recommend this book.

Neal Jamison, Editor, Running Through the Wall: Personal Encounters with the Ultramarathon