North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail
Scott Jurek is one of the world's best known and most beloved ultrarunners. Renowned for his remarkable endurance and speed, accomplished on a vegan diet, he's finished first in nearly all of ultrarunning's elite events over the course of his career. But after two decades of racing, training, speaking, and touring, Jurek felt an urgent need to discover something new about himself. He embarked on a wholly unique challenge, one that would force him to grow as a person and as an athlete: breaking the speed record for the Appalachian Trail.
North is the story of the 2,189-mile journey that nearly shattered him. When he set out in the spring of 2015, Jurek anticipated punishing terrain, forbidding weather, and inevitable injuries. He would have to run nearly 50 miles a day, every day, for almost seven weeks. He knew he would be pushing himself to the limit, that comfort and rest would be in short supply -- but he couldn't have imagined the physical and emotional toll the trip would exact, nor the rewards it would offer.
With his wife, Jenny, friends, and the kindness of strangers supporting him, Jurek ran, hiked, and stumbled his way north, one white blaze at a time. A stunning narrative of perseverance and personal transformation, North is a portrait of a man stripped bare on the most demanding and transcendent effort of his life. It will inspire runners and non-runners alike to keep striving for their personal best.
Reviews (393)
North - Such an amazing book by Scott and Jenny Jurek
North - Such an amazing book by Scott and Jenny Jurek. Thank you for sharing your ups and downs, highs and lows, grit and tenacity to follow your dream! Thank you for not giving up and walking it in. Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us. I followed Scott and Jenny on social media in 2015, when he was tackling the AT. I caught up with him in Duncannon, PA, and snapped this selfie on the run. I couldn’t wait for the book to come out and it certainly didn’t disappoint. If you are looking for a dose of inspiration, this book is some serious medicine. Scott shows the importance of not giving up on yourself and also how critical it is to surround yourself with others who will tell it to you straight. So many great takeaways and lessons from this book!
Not bad/Not great
Easy read and pretty entertaining if you're a fan of Scott or the AT. The constant references to him being vegan and the last 25% of the book being anticlimactic gives it a 3.
I was gripped from the start...
I have read the majority of ultra-endurance books for sale on Amazon. I loved Mr. Jurek's first book, but felt that it left me wanting for the raw details of his struggles during specific races. He gave some awesome training advice, packed the book full of vegan recipes, and detailed some of his greatest achievements. Yet somehow, it seemed impersonal or maybe immature ((not Scott himself, but the book (Eat & Run) as a whole)). But this book is on a totally different wavelength. I was gripped from the start, and looked forward to every evening after work so I could keep reading. I was riveted by the rawness of the story, and intrigued by how different the writing style and content was from Mr. Jurek's first book. This book opened a window into his personal life and struggle, and I felt like I was with him through the incredible test of endurance posed by the AT record attempt. This is awesome, as well worth your time if you have any interest in such things. My hat is off to Scott, this easily deserves to be called his greatest achievement yet (both in literary and endurance realms).
Loved it!
But I don't think his wife's contributions added all that much to the story. Hence the deduction of 1 star. (In all honesty, I found her to be a little annoying.) Jurek's feat was truly amazing and his coverage of the journey in this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I finished it in just a couple of days. I love reading about runners and extreme journeys and this story more than fit the bill. I'm glad I read it.
An intimate look at an amazing achievement
Scott Jurek is an inspiration ad always, but his wife is the glue that holds this whole book (and trip) together. I have nothing but admiration for them both after reading the story of how. Scott had always seemed like a superman. This story shows how human he is.
Jurek Takes Us on His Journey to Break the Appalachian Trail Speed Record
In 2015, Scott Jurek broke the AT speed record in 46 days, 8 hours, 7 minutes. North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail is the story of his journey. Jurek takes us on his journey and enthralls us with his challenges. I didn't find this book one bit boring, in fact, I had trouble putting it down. I was both amazed and stunned at his perseverance. There were many points in the book that I felt frustrated with him--be it when he would stop to spend time with fans instead moving forward or when he was so ill he should have gone to the hospital instead of pushing ahead. Pretty sure his wife felt the same way. But that's what separates the champions from us mere mortals, right? Not only was Jurek's quest an attempt to reconnect with his old self, the ultramarathoner who needed to beat himself one more time, he sums up this challenge as "transformation". On his journey he says, he found himself again.
Great adventure on the Appalachian Trail
Scott Jurek is one of my personal heros. A scrawny kid from Minnesota does Big Things for ultra marathoning, veganism and the human spirit. I was delighted to find a new book by him, reflecting on and recounting his (crazy) journey North on the Applachian Trail, in search of the FKT (Fastest Known Time). He chooses the less-trodden direction, to follow Spring, exhibiting his whimsical ability to enjoy being. What transpires is a grueling march fueled as much by his friends and wife as by his own ability to hang on to a goal no matter the personal cost. Scott personifies Mind over Matter, as do all of his friends, many of whom I have also read about since apparently all crazy extreme athletes know each other. I enjoyed the book and recommend for anyone who likes running, hiking, the Appalachian trail or adventure.
Good story - weird commentary on the south
I liked the story but it seemed like the authors were afraid of southerners.. they were very judgmental of people they didn't know in the south.
You inspire!
Thanks for living and telling that epic adventure! Well written and compelling throughout. Loved Jenny's perspective. What will be next?
Best to read it
It is a wonderful book. Interesting and exciting. I knew he had set the record but I couldn't see how it was going to happen! Great detail, but not too much. I started out listening to the audio version and I'm glad I had a chance to get a read on the personalies that way. However it was just too slow going. JLu is hard to understand for an aging male who is missing higher frequencies :-)
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