Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness by Scott Jurek and Steve Friedman

Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness is written by Scott Jurek with Steve Friedman. It is a memoir focused on Jurek’s life and career as an elite athlete, including the vegan diet he describes as central to his success.

Key details

• Authors: Scott Jurek and Steve Friedman
• Centres on ultrarunning and elite endurance sport
• Includes Jurek’s account of the Western States Endurance Run
• Discusses his transition to ultrarunning and veganism
• Explores his approach to food as fuel

Synopsis

Scott Jurek reflects on his development as an ultrarunner, from a Midwestern childhood of hunting and fishing through to a gradual move into ultrarunning and veganism. He recounts key moments from his racing career, including taking the lead at the Western States Endurance Run in 1999 and later winning the event seven consecutive times.

The book also touches on his experience travelling to Mexico to run with the Tarahumara Indians, an episode referenced in Born to Run. Alongside these achievements, Jurek describes the role of willpower and the importance he places on viewing food as fuel.