North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail

Scott Jurek, author of the bestseller Eat and Run, recounts his 46-day attempt to break the speed record on the Appalachian Trail. One of the world's most accomplished ultrarunners, Jurek has won numerous elite ultrarunning events while maintaining a vegan diet. After two decades of racing and training, he sought a new personal challenge: running the 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail at record pace. In spring 2015, Jurek set out to cover nearly 50 miles daily for almost seven weeks. He prepared for difficult terrain, harsh weather, and injuries, but the physical and emotional demands of the journey exceeded his expectations. Supported by his wife Jenny, friends, and strangers he met along the way, Jurek ran, hiked, and persevered northward, following the trail's white blazes. North documents Jurek's journey of endurance and personal transformation, depicting a man confronting his limits on one of his most demanding efforts. The memoir explores themes of perseverance and self-discovery through extreme athletic challenge.