Jurek grew up in northern Minnesota in a family without much money. His mother had multiple sclerosis, and from a young age he helped care for the family, did chores and split firewood. His father often said, “Sometimes you just do things.” Those words later carried him through the most painful moments of his races.

He first ran as training for cross-country skiing, and with friends leading the way, he stepped little by little into the world of long-distance running and ultramarathons.

While studying physical therapy in college, Jurek began thinking about the link between diet and health. He gradually cut back on meat and eventually became vegan. He found he recovered faster, got injured less and had more energy.

Each chapter ends with one of his plant-based recipes, such as energy balls, bean dishes, grain meals and smoothies, and he explains how he takes in calories and protein during training and races. His approach: eat real food, eat a variety, and give the body enough energy.

The book strings his career together race by race:

• Western States 100: 100 miles through the mountains of California. He won seven years in a row and set a course record.
• Badwater: 135 miles in the heat of Death Valley, where he felt his body pushed to its limit.
• Spartathlon: retracing the route of an ancient Greek messenger from Athens to Sparta, about 246 km.
• Copper Canyon, Mexico: racing alongside Tarahumara runners, the race described in Born to Run.

He also writes honestly about his low points: injuries, the end of his marriage, losing his way, and how he found meaning in running again.

Jurek shares many practical tips in the book:

• Form: short, light, quick strides, landing under the body to avoid wasted effort.
• Breathing and rhythm: use your breath to gauge intensity and keep a pace you can sustain.
• Stay in the present: during a race, don't think about how far is left; focus on this step, this stretch.
• Pain is part of the process: learn to live with discomfort instead of being beaten by it.

For Jurek, an ultramarathon isn't just about who runs fastest. It's a way of getting to know yourself: in the moments when you're most exhausted and most want to quit, you see that you can still take one more step. He often stays at the finish line after his races to cheer on the last runners coming in.