Push Yourself to Go Farther, Longer.

"How long is an ultramarathon?

Technically an ultramarathon is any foot race longer than a marathon." So begins Chapter 1 of James Shapiro's Ultramarathon.

Practically it is about twice as long as a marathon, covering 50 miles, 62 miles, 100 miles, or more. Five hours on a track, or 6 or 8 or 24. Practically, it is a punishing undertaking, but exhilarating to experience.

Author and runner James Shapiro begins his classic Ultramarathon with his account of running with 16 other souls for 24 hours around a 400-meter oval track; he finishes fourth, completing 138 miles, 1228 yards.

This jewel of a runner's book also covers a lot of ground. In terms of the facts, it gives a history of how the ultras began, how ultra runners train, the notables, and the monumental races. Yet it also says much about the spirit of those who dare to push the human body past the last step, to another step, and another. It speaks of that fiery yearning to achieve more than what runners know they can do into the extraordinary, the perhaps impossible, the breakthrough.

Anyone seeking to excel in any endeavor will find the insights gathered in these pages a compelling testimony to the strength of the human spirit.