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Fat Man to Green Man: From Unfit to Ultramarathon
Despite believing he was bionic as a child, Ira Rainey was far from an elite athlete with superhuman running abilities like the ones he read about in books. He was in fact an overweight and unfit slacker who felt a bit sorry for himself because he had sore feet. Sure he ran a bit, but he also sat around a lot and ate and drank too much. Why? Because he could, and because he was a delusional optimist who thought everything would always be just fine. That was until a friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given months to live. It was an event that would push Ira to tackle his apathy towards life and take on the challenge of becoming an ultramarathon runner, pushing himself to go further than he had ever gone before. Fat Man to Green Man is a warm and humorous account of one man’s quest to uncover his true super powers as he journeys from fat to fit and covering everything that came between the two. It is a story of fields and friendships; mud and maps; but more importantly learning how to push yourself to achieve what you would never believe you could – and how to deal with the consequences. It is a story of fields and friendships; mud and maps; but more importantly learning how to push yourself to achieve what you would never believe you could – and how to deal with the consequences. " An inspirational story of how the seemingly impossible can come true. A must-read for anyone looking to make a positive change" Dean Karnazes World-renowned endurance athlete and NY Times bestselling author
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2013
22 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 26, 2014
Not everyone's cup of tea but having been bitten by the running bug I couldn't put this book down and found it very inspirational and very funny!!! Motivated me to want to run even more!!!
June 8, 2014
Maybe it's because he resides in the UK that I can relate to him so well, but Ira Rainey really had me laughing throughout this book at his running exploits. While exorcising (or should that be exercising) his running demons Ira's personality shines through, he is an instantly likeable down to earth guy and he becomes someone I could see myself going on 40 mile yomps with; armed with jelly beans, energy gels and an overly optimistic outlook. I drew inspiration from his tales of hill training, I could relate to his incessant quest to run faster and his self depreciating attitude is a welcome change. The way Ira describes people at times has a twist of dark humour, and I liked that a lot. Also the picture of Phil running the Bath Half Marathon dressed as a Dalek is worth the price of the book itself.
Lastly I would say on a more sombre note, that his inspiration behind fundraising for his friend who battled cancer and sadly passed away is a wake up call to us all about how precious life is. Rest in peace Remo Del-Greco.
July 7, 2014
Enjoyed this story of Ira Rainey, unfit, overweight and drinking slightly too much who decided to change his lifestyle when one of his close friends was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He set himself small goals at first then decided to run the Green Man Ultra in Bristol. In the process he completely changed his eating and drinking habits. Not being content with the Ultra, he added Bath Half Marathon to the day following the Ultra. This is the story of what we can achieve if we set our minds to it. The book is set out in months and as a training diary so is an easy to follow guide to those hoping to achieve the same goals. It gave me an extra push to get out running more.
October 1, 2014
I can only guess that this book was self-published because it certainly reads as though it hasn't been touched by an editor. The writing is appalling, the grammar even worse, the jokes are pathetic, and the running stories are dull and repetitive. Its only saving grace is that it's really short, but even so I couldn't bring myself to finish it for book club. A waste of time and money.
Looking for a positive thing to say: the author made me aware of the National Trust Bath Skyline Walk, and even after spending many years in the West country when I was a teenager I didn't know about this walk. It sounds wonderful, and I'll definitely check it out next time I'm back.
Looking for a positive thing to say: the author made me aware of the National Trust Bath Skyline Walk, and even after spending many years in the West country when I was a teenager I didn't know about this walk. It sounds wonderful, and I'll definitely check it out next time I'm back.
May 19, 2014
Great read for any runner, especially those who have to work just a liiiiitle harder than most to achieve our goals. From 5ker to ultra marathoner this one is a good read for everyone, and is written in a light hearted and fun style that will have runners nodding their heads while they read about similar experiences. His own touch and go moments with his health and the health of a friend who got him into running rang really true with me; but don't let this push you away from it, 95% of the book is inspiration and humor.
January 1, 2017
Decent read
I liked the book immensely at first mainly cause I empathised with the author & respected the challenge he set before him. I would say his long running club career & his constant critiquing of his times take away from the amateur ethos the book. I'd expected more on paragraphs on the philosophy of running as it went on but this never came through. Still though its a good yarn & fair dues Ira put himself through the mill & it would put idea into any runners head to take on an ultra!
I liked the book immensely at first mainly cause I empathised with the author & respected the challenge he set before him. I would say his long running club career & his constant critiquing of his times take away from the amateur ethos the book. I'd expected more on paragraphs on the philosophy of running as it went on but this never came through. Still though its a good yarn & fair dues Ira put himself through the mill & it would put idea into any runners head to take on an ultra!
February 10, 2020
* * * *
4 / 5
I'm about to run the titular race of this book - The Green Man Ultramarathon - and I've already scoured the internet for race reports so that I can see what I'm up against. So I shelled out a few quid to read Fat Man to Green Man. I got a look at Rainey's training process and the actual experience of the race, alongside humorous insights into his life, an entertaining experience, and a cautionary tale about what can go wrong if we push ourselves too much.
4 / 5
I'm about to run the titular race of this book - The Green Man Ultramarathon - and I've already scoured the internet for race reports so that I can see what I'm up against. So I shelled out a few quid to read Fat Man to Green Man. I got a look at Rainey's training process and the actual experience of the race, alongside humorous insights into his life, an entertaining experience, and a cautionary tale about what can go wrong if we push ourselves too much.
October 6, 2017
Good read and humorous, he doesnt take himself too seriously. Read this while trying to get into running and recovering after an injury.
August 9, 2018
Inspiring
Inspiring and honest account of what it takes to run an ultra marathon with the tolls it places on your body and mind.
Inspiring and honest account of what it takes to run an ultra marathon with the tolls it places on your body and mind.
September 12, 2018
Great book but I think only because he lives a few mins away from me and I'm about to head on a similar journey.
October 14, 2019
I loved this book. Not just a running book, but a book full of heart without being soppy. Genuinely inspirational and I am very keen to give the Green Man a go.
July 28, 2020
Great story. Just proves that we can all achieve superhuman things if we put our mind to it and work hard.
January 28, 2023
A brilliant story of a man who loves ultra marathons - you can do anything you put your mind to
April 21, 2016
Check out my review video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjDwN...
See the full blog post here:
http://www.walkhikerun.com/what-exact...
As a runner, I did enjoy this book although I'm not sure that a non-runner would connect with it quite as much.
I happened to take the book in through its audio book version released in mid 2015. The narration is performed by Nick Rawlinson, who has a wonderfully accented, classically British delivery. He's also known for his narrations of books by the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alan Furst and John Connoly.
Synopsis
Ira endears himself to the reader through tales of childhood awkwardness in which he believes himself to be a bionic boy ......after seeing Steve Austin, the million dollar man (An old tv show.........I may be dating myself by admitting I know what this is). With SOMEWHAT humorous storytelling and a decided Everyman quality, He takes us on a lighthearted voyage of training, weight loss and beer abstinence while he rallies friends and coworkers around him to compete in a 46 mile race called the green man.
The story includes an emotional component in that a close friend's diagnosis with terminal cancer is the catalyst for this lifestyle change.
After a bout with some questionably running related health problems and an interesting view into the healthcare systems in the UK, the story leaves us on a high note as Ira signs up for his next challenge; a race even longer than the one highlighted in the book!
Pros...
1)Humor - mildly witty humor and self deprecating storytelling style
2)British language - I don't know what it is, but it lends a certain charm to any story (especially when performed by such a wonderful Narrator).
3)Motivation - the book contains a healthy dose of "If I can do it, you can too"
Cons...
1)Misleading title - leads the reader to believe it's a true fat to fit story, but in actuality it's a story of an already 1/2 marathoner who has grown a little thick around the middle. Already very fit for a fat guy, Ira just loses some weight and trains for the longer distance. But that's about it for dislikes.
Final Grade...
Story - 18/25 - while I don't expect a literary masterpiece from a running book, the story is average at best
Writing - 18/25 - Not bad, not great, again....average
Originality/presentation - 19/25 - Fun story, but probably uninteresting for the non-runner. Enjoyable, but no new information presented. As a runner, I rounded up :)
Inspiration - 18/25 - The story is mildly inspirational for running enthusiasts and those looking to improve or maintain general health and fitness.
GRADING
That brings the total to 73/100, a solid C. A nice quick read that I recommend; especially if you're into running.
GO OUTSIDE. MOVE YOUR FEET. | walkhikerun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjDwN...
See the full blog post here:
http://www.walkhikerun.com/what-exact...
As a runner, I did enjoy this book although I'm not sure that a non-runner would connect with it quite as much.
I happened to take the book in through its audio book version released in mid 2015. The narration is performed by Nick Rawlinson, who has a wonderfully accented, classically British delivery. He's also known for his narrations of books by the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alan Furst and John Connoly.
Synopsis
Ira endears himself to the reader through tales of childhood awkwardness in which he believes himself to be a bionic boy ......after seeing Steve Austin, the million dollar man (An old tv show.........I may be dating myself by admitting I know what this is). With SOMEWHAT humorous storytelling and a decided Everyman quality, He takes us on a lighthearted voyage of training, weight loss and beer abstinence while he rallies friends and coworkers around him to compete in a 46 mile race called the green man.
The story includes an emotional component in that a close friend's diagnosis with terminal cancer is the catalyst for this lifestyle change.
After a bout with some questionably running related health problems and an interesting view into the healthcare systems in the UK, the story leaves us on a high note as Ira signs up for his next challenge; a race even longer than the one highlighted in the book!
Pros...
1)Humor - mildly witty humor and self deprecating storytelling style
2)British language - I don't know what it is, but it lends a certain charm to any story (especially when performed by such a wonderful Narrator).
3)Motivation - the book contains a healthy dose of "If I can do it, you can too"
Cons...
1)Misleading title - leads the reader to believe it's a true fat to fit story, but in actuality it's a story of an already 1/2 marathoner who has grown a little thick around the middle. Already very fit for a fat guy, Ira just loses some weight and trains for the longer distance. But that's about it for dislikes.
Final Grade...
Story - 18/25 - while I don't expect a literary masterpiece from a running book, the story is average at best
Writing - 18/25 - Not bad, not great, again....average
Originality/presentation - 19/25 - Fun story, but probably uninteresting for the non-runner. Enjoyable, but no new information presented. As a runner, I rounded up :)
Inspiration - 18/25 - The story is mildly inspirational for running enthusiasts and those looking to improve or maintain general health and fitness.
GRADING
That brings the total to 73/100, a solid C. A nice quick read that I recommend; especially if you're into running.
GO OUTSIDE. MOVE YOUR FEET. | walkhikerun
March 11, 2016
Again, as with my review of "My year of running dangerously", I find this book follows a tried and tested recipe of "I am (fat, addicted, old, broke, angry, etc) and I discover (running, ultra, triathlon, cycling, etc) and, against monstrous odds and with a very hard period of work and training I prevail finish/win a race/event and everyone is happy.
To be clear, this is not a bad formula. It works and it is motivational and helps those of us who are still not ultra runners or Ironman finishers find a few glimpses of hope in the fact that people who are as (fat, tired, demotivated, etc) can do great feats. It just gets old after a few books.
Even with the same formula, books vary greatly and this one is neither one of the best written nor of the greatest feats achieved. After all the author was living a comfortable life and did not struggle with old age, disease, addiction or any other more dramatic factor beyond his weight which he conquered with appropriate diet and exercise. I don't here mean by any measure to undermine how much people struggle with obesity and weight control, I have been there myself. But I would say that compared to other accounts of ultra running being somewhat like Luke Skywalkers confronting the death star, this one sounds more like Luke's struggle to find a planetary system with a good coffee shop.
It might be the cheery and ever optimistic tone of the author, which he admits himself, that makes it hard to take the struggle seriously.
On the other hand, the fat man finished an ultra on a Saturday and then a half marathon on a Sunday... Who am I to judge.
To be clear, this is not a bad formula. It works and it is motivational and helps those of us who are still not ultra runners or Ironman finishers find a few glimpses of hope in the fact that people who are as (fat, tired, demotivated, etc) can do great feats. It just gets old after a few books.
Even with the same formula, books vary greatly and this one is neither one of the best written nor of the greatest feats achieved. After all the author was living a comfortable life and did not struggle with old age, disease, addiction or any other more dramatic factor beyond his weight which he conquered with appropriate diet and exercise. I don't here mean by any measure to undermine how much people struggle with obesity and weight control, I have been there myself. But I would say that compared to other accounts of ultra running being somewhat like Luke Skywalkers confronting the death star, this one sounds more like Luke's struggle to find a planetary system with a good coffee shop.
It might be the cheery and ever optimistic tone of the author, which he admits himself, that makes it hard to take the struggle seriously.
On the other hand, the fat man finished an ultra on a Saturday and then a half marathon on a Sunday... Who am I to judge.
July 5, 2015
I really enjoyed this book.
Effectively its the story of a normal guy training for and competing in a UK endurance race. Some running books are great, but you feel they are written by someone who is super human. That is not the case here, and as a result you may find you can relate to Ira and maybe follow in his footsteps. He had a great sense of humour.
Very readable I felt and a very inspiring story.
Effectively its the story of a normal guy training for and competing in a UK endurance race. Some running books are great, but you feel they are written by someone who is super human. That is not the case here, and as a result you may find you can relate to Ira and maybe follow in his footsteps. He had a great sense of humour.
Very readable I felt and a very inspiring story.
July 27, 2016
Ira Rainey takes us through his training for the 46 mile Green Man race around Bristol. It’s impressive that he has run the race, but Rainey constantly plays on the fact that he’s overweight. May be a bit picky, but at the start of the book, he has already run fifteen half marathons and three marathons. It is quite well written and Rainey can obviously tell a story, but somehow I didn't come away inspired.
December 18, 2015
This book was entertaining and funny but most importantly conveyed the message that literally anything is possible with enough hard work and determination. The only parts that I did not enjoy were the UK references that I didn't understand--he would say something like--it was great fun, almost like being on Bryce Kelsey! Wtf does that mean? Bollox! Wish it came with a British to English dictionary so I knew what the hell he was talking about half the time.
January 2, 2015
Enjoyed reading the challenges of an average guy training for and completing his first ultra-marathon. More than any other factor the key to success is a positive attitude and never giving in to the temptation to abandon them.
November 17, 2015
enjoyed this . though a light read (listen actually ) . I used it to listen to while doing a daily 3km . I did enjoy it but perhaps shouldn't have listened on the back of having read wild by Cheryl strayed . I liked the humour in it .
September 27, 2016
A right good read
Something special about reading a book written by a normal person just telling their story. No plan to be awesome, just an honest account of life, achieving a goal...respect!
Something special about reading a book written by a normal person just telling their story. No plan to be awesome, just an honest account of life, achieving a goal...respect!
Read
March 8, 2015another one about some bloke who focusses his obsessive personality on running. Not my cup of tea and not that well written.
August 19, 2020
Great Book! Very inspirational. So much so Mr Rainey inspired me to get my story on paper and write my own book about running.
November 7, 2016
I loved this. Right up my street and very inspiring & motivational
April 6, 2017
I quite enjoyed the author's account of his journey to his first ultramarathon. Whilst not "gripping", it was easy to relate with the author and provided an honest reflection on the mindset, training and obstacles involved with undertaking any type of endurance event as a novice. In particular, I was interested in the author's experience undertaking physical assessments at a sports science facility at one of his local Universities.
If you are fairly new to long distance running, or contemplating undertaking an ultramarathon event for the first time I would recommend this book as a quick, reassuring read. If nothing else, this story confirmed for me that you don't need to be an athletic prodigy or even a paragon of health to undertake an endurance challenge, you really just need support, planning and hard work to make the necessary adjustments to your fitness and lifestyle.
If you are fairly new to long distance running, or contemplating undertaking an ultramarathon event for the first time I would recommend this book as a quick, reassuring read. If nothing else, this story confirmed for me that you don't need to be an athletic prodigy or even a paragon of health to undertake an endurance challenge, you really just need support, planning and hard work to make the necessary adjustments to your fitness and lifestyle.
April 13, 2017
Story was fine but it never really got my attention.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews