Scott Jurek grew up in Minnesota in a fairly strict household. His mother developed multiple sclerosis and Scott spend a lot of time caring for her. He was a tall, skinny kid, not particularly popular because he so busy helping his mother and father at home. In his late teens, he took up running, becoming a world champion ultra runner.
And he is a vegan. A vegan athlete? There are still people who, despite more and more vegan champion athletes (David Carter, Carl Lewis, Fiona Oakes, Laura Kline, Mike Tyson, Torre Washington, Steph Davis, there are plenty more to Google), think the term is an oxymoron. Well, those people are just morons!
I'm a vegan and I used to be a runner, but I'm not even close to his league. Ultra runners run distances equal to four or five marathons. 50 miles, 100 miles, 135 miles. They run up and down mountains, in snow and ice, in deserts. They push their bodies to the limit. Okay, I agree, they're nuts.
I was fascinated by Scott's life story. He's only 42, but he's set world records and done things no one else has done. He's a physical therapist, a philosopher, and a vegan chef. At the end of each chapter is a section about the philosophy or physiology of running and a recipe.
I bought a copy of this book to give to my doctor, who is a runner. Before I give it to her, though, I plan to copy some of his recipes for healthy, energizing food.
Has reading this book inspired you to take up running again?
ReplyDeleteIf I admit it in print, I'll have to stick to it, won't I? Yes, after reading this book and with the advent of some cooler weather, I've started walking, then running a bit, then walking, then running a bit, with the hope that the running gets longer and the walking shorter.
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ReplyDeleteI don't understand runners but then I am sure there are plenty of runners who don't understand cyclists. I do understand ultra distance though so I suspect I will find the book really interesting. Plus recipes! I am always on the lookout for tasty things to try!
I'm an ex-runner, but not of the marathon or 10K type. I just always liked running. But these ultra people are nuts! Jurek proves that vegans can be strong, athletic people - like you!
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