The Rise of the Ultra Runners

A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance

By: Adharanand Finn

Narrated by: Adharanand Finn

Marathons are no longer impressive.

Pain is to be relished, not avoided.

Hallucinations are perfectly normal.

Ultra running defies conventional logic. Yet this most brutal and challenging sport is now one of the fastest growing in the world. But is it an antidote to modern life or a symptom of a modern illness?

Adharanand Finn travelled to the heart of the sport to find out - and to see if could become an ultra runner himself. His journey took him from the deserts of Oman to the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies, and from a 24-hour track race in Tooting to his ultimate goal, the 105-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.

The Rise of the Ultra Runners is the electrifying, inspirational account of what he learned along the way. Through encounters with the sport's many colourful characters and his experiences of its soaring highs and crushing lows, Finn offers an unforgettable insight into what can be found at the boundaries of human endeavour.

©2019 Adharanand Finn (P)2019 Faber Audio

There are deeper books, but that's a very good summary of "all the feels" of an ultra runner

Sometimes it feels a bit like listening to the summary of the actual book, as what from a perspective of an ultra lasts for an eternity, here is described over 30mins. Yet all the key elements are there to show why ultra running is not just running over mountains. If you've ever run a ultra, you'll find all the moments here where you'll laugh out loud, cringe at recollection of your own memories, or shed a tiny tear remembering that one finish.

Well worth it to remind you why you've done all that ultra thing in the first place!

Fantastic book

The author takes you along a journey and brings insight into this unique sport. One of the best running books I've had the privilege to enjoy.

FFF - First From Finn

Absolutely compelling until the last chapter. Adharanand as he refers to himself lives the story and it feels like you get the opportunity to meet the author himself as he takes you through the struggles, defeats and triumphs in an epic listen for any person not only Ultramarathon fans.

Insightful and inspiring

I really loved this book. It read like a story but was hugely insightful. Some of the content around injury and injury prevention I had encountered in other books but this brought presented it in a different, more tangible way. So much so that I have enrolled in the Gary Ward online course!
The big take away from this and quite a few books/interviews/YouTube videos that I get is unless you are actually injured the battle is in the mind. Beside 'live in the moment' I have yet discovered how to build this mental fitness. My current limitations are far more modest at the half-marathon and a very slow plodding marathon but everybody has to find their own limit and we all need to start somewhere. That is the second thing I took from this highly enjoyable book.

Well worth the read.

Thanks for making me smile.

A book that will inspire you

I have listened to this book twice and I am sure I will listen to it again. On my long ultra trail races, I think of Finn and he motivates me to carry on. A great book, by a great writer.

Well-written story but didn't love narration

Reasonably well-written, for a professional journalist, but I couldn't past the author's meek, monotone voice. Added to the mispronunciation of Dan Ariely's name (not 'airily') and a couple of others I wasn't too sure of, all seemed to diminish the credibility of the storytelling. But one can't help but admire his effort in each race. Kudos 👍🏻

I am on the same path

As the author is gathering points for the UTMB and talking, learning from people I can’t help to follow him as I am following the same journey

Ultra runner account

As a person whom ran these races, I find it very very very very boring