I just finished a 2189 mile run on the Appalachian trail. I am exhausted and elated at the same time. I covered that distance partly on foot and partly as a crew member in a van. I was with Scott and Jenny throughout that journey. Oh! Did I not mention that I was reading the book, “North : Finding My Way While Running The Appalachian Trail“. 🙂

For hikers and runners, Scott Jurek is an idol. Scott Jurek is a world renowned ultramarathon champion and the 24-hour American record holder of 165.7 miles–6 1/2 marathons in one day. His wins include the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run an unprecedented seven consecutive times, the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon twice, Hardrock Hundred and the 153 mile Spartathlon three times. He powers his body on a plant based diet and is a passionate cook, physical therapist and coach. Scott prominently appears in two New York Times Bestsellers “Born to Run” and “The 4-Hour Body.” He has been featured in the The New York Times, CNN, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, EPSN Magazine and numerous other media. He makes his home near the mountains of Boulder, CO.

I have never walked/hiked for more than 9 miles at a stretch, never been on the AT, do not follow a plant based diet and have not yet read “Born To Run”. In spite of all the above mentioned factors,  when I started reading this book, I was hooked on. I was with the two of them throughout the journey.

When Scott and Jenny started the long ordeal, both of them had their own reasons for doing it. The journey was extremely difficult. Scott on foot through the trail and Jenny driving the van as his crew member.

In 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes. That’s an average of 76 km (47 miles) per day.
North is about how (and why) Scott Jurek beat that record on July 12, 2015.
Scott Jurek finished 3 hours and 12 minutes faster than Davis.
A year after Jurek’s record, Karl Meltzer (aka Speedgoat) ran the Appalachian Trail southbound in 45 days, 22 hours, and 38 minutes—that’s 10 hours faster than Jurek. He was 48 years old when he pulled that off.

I have always wondered why some people do what they do. Why do some yogis sit in the Himalayan caves without food or water? Why do some people put themselves through extreme hardships when they could be sitting at home? Reading this book, I realized that, it is when the body is put through extreme conditions that one discovers the actual power of the mind. But in order to fuel that power in the mind, one has to tap deep within. Harnessing that energy from deep within in the ultimate calling of the human kind. When one sets out on that adventure, nothing else matters!

One step at a time, Scott ran 2189 miles. There is no other way than to take one step at a time.

There was no dearth of good samaritans and genuine friends who ran with him, fed him, planned for him and kept coming back to him. Everyone contributed towards his run in one way or the other.

The book keeps going back and forth giving us the narratives point of Scott and Jenny. Narration by  Jenny added a completely different angle to the whole story. If was equally her victory. It takes a very strong person to do what she did.

The raw details of the difficulties he faced during the run shows that each run is a new one and each step is a new step. No run is easy. The focus shifts from beating a record to proving to oneself.

I would put this book in the motivation category for a runner and a non runner. The run can be on the AT, to break a record or to just pull yourself through a day. Each step counts.

Being in the present, focusing on the breath and taking one step at a time is the mantra.

Scott Jurek

You can grab your copy on Amazon

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