Trails and Tribulations: The Running Adventures of Susie Chan

by Susie Chan

An exhilarating read from one of the UK's leading and most recognised endurance runners.Susie Chan is an icon of endurance running. Sincetaking up running at the age of 35, Susie has completed the legendary Marathon des Sables more times than any other British woman, set the 12-hour treadmill world record and was one of the first women to finish all the World Marathon Majors. She regularly competes in endurance races, 100-milers and week-long stage races in the jungles of the Amazon Rainforest.Susie's story is a fight against the odds. Managing as a single mum, cataracts and cancer are among the obstacles she has overcome to become an inspiration for thousands. Through tales of her adventures, disappointments, traumas and triumphs, we learn what drives her passion for the sport. With Susie's down-to-earth personality, refreshing attitude and wicked sense of humour, we learn the countless reasons she finds to push herself further and the live-changing opportunities running has given her. Susie tells of the thrill of a PB, insists you're never too old to take up running and demonstrates just how much you can achieve with self-motivation and positive energy.Her passion for the sport is infectious, and her adventures are a shining example to all in the running community.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Biography, Fitness, Sports, Memoir, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

Published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read Susie’s book, having followed her adventures on social media for many years, and it did not disappoint. It’s easy to feel like those people we follow on social media are superhuman, because we only ever see their highlights, and exciting moments, but immediately from the first chapter, Susie comes across as a very humble, and normal, person who has faced numerous challenges, just like the rest of us.

The book begins by delving into what initially drew Susie to running at the age of 35, and how it profoundly transformed her life. As she reflects on her beginnings, readers are introduced to a woman who, despite starting later in life, found an unexpected passion that set her on a different trajectory, and redefined her identity and future. This transformation is vividly illustrated in her recount of the Marathon des Sables, a gruelling multi-day event in the Sahara Desert. Susie describes how she flew home from the Sahara a different person, a pivotal experience that propelled her to dramatically alter her life’s course.

The book follows a largely chronological timeline, focusing on the standout moments and races in Susie’s running career to date. Her passion for endurance really shines through: she describes various iterations of the iconic Marathon des Sables with a mix of reverence and enthusiasm.

The variety of terrains Susie has tackled is staggering—from deserts and jungles to 100-mile trail races, 24-hour track runs, and 12-hour treadmill challenges. Each type of terrain presents unique challenges, and the book offers insights into the diverse experiences of an ultra-runner.

Among her many achievements, Susie has also completed all six World Marathon Majors. This chapter offers insight into the unique experiences each race provides.

Reading about Susie’s many worries when joining a running club and heading into her first ultra marathons is both relatable and reassuring. These personal anecdotes remind readers that even seasoned runners like Susie experience doubt and fear. Her candid discussion of these worries, and how she overcame them, provides encouragement to those facing their own uncertainties.

Her detailed descriptions of camp life at the MdS and sleeping in the jungle bring to life the camaraderie and unique challenges of many different ultra races, as well as an insight into what is really going on inside an ultra-runner’s head. Susie describes in great detail, for example, her state of mind in the final section of the 100 Mile Thames Path Ultra, and paints a very honest picture of the mental fortitude required to push through the pain and exhaustion to the end, driven by the sheer desire to sit down sooner. Every chapter, I’d think “Wow, that sounded really tough” and then the next chapter would be about something even harder!

Susie’s sense of humour shines throughout the book, with anecdotes like the story of her car ending up in someone’s front garden, adding a light-hearted touch to more serious moments such as her account of discovering she had cancer after completing the Chicago Marathon and earning her Six Stars. She discusses her recovery journey and how she managed to return to running, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination. Susie also discusses the impact perimenopause has had on her running.

Friendship and community are recurring themes in Trails and Tribulations. Susie’s account of crossing the Badwater finish line, supported by her team, paints a vivid picture of how crucial the right team is on a long endurance event in a challenging environment such as this. There are many beautiful moments like this throughout the book, shining the spotlight on Susie’s friendships made through running.

I really enjoyed this book, and found I couldn’t put it down. The book is packed with insights into many great ultra events, yet I was still left wanting more, as Susie mentions plenty of other races which are not described in the book. Trails and Tribulations is not just a book about running; it’s a story of transformation, resilience, and the extraordinary power of pushing one’s limits (even when you have that niggling voice of self-doubt in your head). Susie Chan’s inspiring journey will resonate with runners and non-runners alike, offering a profound message about the enduring human spirit.

[Valerie Pirrotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book by a peloton Instructor so far !

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susie Chan, you’re my hero!!!
Read this book, and she’ll be your hero, too!

[Adria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been, by far, one of my favorite memoirs about ultrarunning. I have at one time or another felt the entire spectrum of the rollercoaster of emotions that Susie describes when she talks about running and racing. I have loved running and hated it, it has saved my life and infuriated me beyond belief, I have toed the line at races that have simultaneously been my greatest aspiration and the most absurd decision I’ve ever made. But that’s how running goes and Susie’s ability to put those feelings into words grabbed me from the first page and held on until the final words. I closed this book not wanting it to be over and feeling so inspired to continue to tackle really hard things.

Part of the reason we do really hard things like ultramarathons should be to give others permission to try hard things themselves. An expert architect at the granting of permission to others to challenge themselves, Susie will leave you wanting to climb a mountain, run 100 miles, go for the big job you’ve always wanted, go back to school, tackle a health issue head on or even try a new hobby. Whatever your big challenge is, if you’re struggling to take it on, read this book! And then go do the damn thing!

[Brigette Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having met Susie at a peloton event in 2023, I was so excited to read this! She is an incredible person! Susie’s book isn’t just a running story, it’s also full transformation, resilience, and the extraordinary power of pushing one's limits (even when you have that niggling voice of self-doubt in your head). Susie is absolutely so real and down to earth in this book and I absolutely loved her telling of her journeys. This will resonate with both runners and non-runners as it offers a profound message about the enduring human spirit.

[Devon Givens · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new hero. I love her and I can’t wait for my injury to finally heal so I can get back out there. I want to run down a brick wall in the desert because of her.

[Katie Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so authentic - I could hear her accent through these pages! Susie is simply an incredible runner and inspiration to sign for a run that scares the heck out of you.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5) Susie is a fucking badass and one of my favourite Peloton coaches to train with. I have no interest in doing any ultrarunning myself, but am totally blown away by Susie and all those who do it! This was a great peek into that world, and having it on audio was an excellent motivator during a couple of tedious steady state runs.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susie Chan is one of my favorite Peloton instructors, and I loved listening to her story. She is incredibly inspiring, as both a runner and a person. If you are fascinated by the concept of ultra running, I would check this book out, even if you have never heard of Susie Chan before. I feel like I learned a lot.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truely enjoyed this book. It made me laugh, it made me ache, it made me tear up as I thought of runs I have done that made me feel as she did. Story is well written and inspiring in so many levels. Thank you Susie for writing this book. I also say “I run because I can”when people ask me.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Susie's classes on Peloton and I enjoyed watching the documentary they put together about Badwater, so I picked up this audiobook as well. It was fun -- I don't know if I'm inspired to go run an ultra yet though...

Side note: I couldn't listen to this audiobook at higher speeds like I usually do, because apparently I listen to Susie too much on the Tread and it sounded weird.

[Verity Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Susie on the tread - and listening to her talk about her running journey was a gift!

[Meaghan Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently ran a half marathon (Detroit - wahoo!), and as part of the training took many of Susie’s Peloton classes. I loved her then, but after reading this book, I love her more. What a badass! Her running stories are incredible and inspiring - while I don’t think I’ll ever attempt any of her ultra-running routes…she makes you think, maybe you can! If you’re running, read this!

[Indira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Can't say I can relate to the things Susie Chan writes about but I'm happy to live vicariously through her 😅

[Beachcomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it - so incredible to read about the ultra running world and all of Susie’s accomplishments. Very inspirational!

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried. Brilliant written and so inspiring. I'm going on a run tomorrow!

[Nacole Tanguay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved going on this running journey with Susie! I was actually disappointed when I finished because it was over. I will definitely pick this up again when I need some laughs and motivation.

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trails and Tribulations is a memoir by Susie Chan, an endurance runner who didn’t actually start running til the grand age of 35, then boy did she make up for lost time.

After realising she was quite good at this running business (and finding it the perfect escape from her everyday life) she increased her training until she was smashing through half marathons, then marathons before entering the (only for the truly insane) world of the ultra runner. These are the recollections of many of her inspirational (and very often crazy) running tales, alongside dealing with her own personal battles.

I honestly could not put this one down. I’m a keen runner and I’m also fond of a memoir, so this was always going to appeal. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy Susie’s story this much. She’s just a normal woman like you or I - who occasionally finds herself running for five days in the middle of a jungle, or round a 400 metre running track for a solid 24 hours in torrential rain. Yes it could happen to the best of us!

I loved her storytelling. She has such a warm, genuine and honest writing style that it’s impossible not to like her. She plays down her achievements and her modesty is refreshing and endearing, which makes her all the more inspirational.

If you’ve ever enjoyed running, or if you like reading about strong, gutsy females then this one’s for you. And while I’m never ever going to reach those intensely high running goals, for a moment, thanks to Susie, I briefly wondered if I could. (Then I fell back down to earth and continued reading with a cup of tea and a kit-kat).

[Madi Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now contemplating which race I want to sign up for next lol. Susie was a lovely person to do a class with & it was even lovelier to learn about her journey to where she is now

[Devon King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susie Chan is an incredible person whose ultra marathon feats are something to behold. In this book, you feel like you are there with her and the power behind the efforts she puts forth. Her story shows the power of the mind over the physicality of the body as well as the internal strength to persevere. This book made me want to run (maybe not 135 miles through the desert, but still).

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In May 2021 I was introduced to the Marathon des Sables at the Morocco pavilion in Epcot. As a runner I was fascinated. I told my friends about it and one said oh I follow a woman on instagram who ran that 4 times. Her name is Susie Chan.

I began following her and to my excited surprise she turned up on my Peloton treadmill 3 months later! So of course when she announced her new book, I had to get it.

Trails and Tribulations follows Susie’s running career, from a half hearted attempt at her first half marathon to running some of the hardest races on the planet. A few months back I had watched her Badwater 135 documentary on Peloton. It was fun to read about it in the book, and I’m looking forward to taking it as a run again.

If you are a fan or ultra running or Peloton or both, you’ll enjoy following her running trajectory and identify with the aspects of this sport that make it so much more than “just” running.

[Elizabeth Nordquest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Susie is my favorite instructor for outdoor runs and I loved learning more about her. I've read a lot of running books and a few Peloton instructor stories and I liked that this was more about running, with barely a mention of her current job.

Susie kind of sandbags her stats like "I'm a mid-pack runner, not that fast" but that's not entirely true. She's not elite but she is able to hold her own in every race -- sometimes placing and usually running faster and farther than I could ever dream of. That was the only part that bugged me, but I completely understand. She has elite friends and I'm sure she doesn't want to come off as braggy when she gets a book deal and they don't.

Anyway! Loved this and honestly would read a second volume about whatever races she left out.

[Laura Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't like giving memoirs a star-based review because it doesn't seem fair to rate someone's personal narrative. But I'll go with 4 stars.

I've been a fan of Susie Chan since she joined Peloton and was excited to learn more about her journey to becoming a Peloton instructor at a later age than most of the instructors. But that's not really what this book is about. Trails and Tribulations is really a collection of essays about each major race she has finished. I'll admit, it got a bit repetitive for me, especially when she recounted races she'd run multiple times. I would've liked to hear more about her training, balancing ultrarunning with a full time job, and her path to Peloton. I also didn't love the organization of this book. It jumped around quite a bit as opposed to presenting the races in order.

I felt the book was best when we learned more about Susie's life.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran a marathon years ago. It was fun except for all the running. I don't like running, but I love to hear about it. Endurance athletes fascinate me. Ultra runners have the best stories and a fun sense of humor. Susie Chan is a Peloton instructor. I like her walking classes. She finished the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert multiple times and the Badwater 135-mile ultramarathon in Death Valley. Running can be boring and gross, but I enjoy learning about the training and overall journey. The logistics, organization, and crew needed to support a Guinness World Record and ultramarathons shows the importance of community and camaraderie. I highly recommend this book if you need inspiration and are thinking about signing up for any race. I listened to this on Audible and borrowed the book to look at the pictures.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished listening to this book today and all I want to do is run. I have taken Susie Chan's Peloton classes for years and knew that she was into ultra marathons, but knew almost nothing else about her. This book opened my eyes to an incredible woman who wholeheartedly has pursued her passion in life, even when faced with obstacles that would have stopped most other people. Hearing about her most memorable races over the years was great, but also getting a glimpse into her mind and how she chased after her dreams despite significant hurdles was fascinating. I am so motivated to try running longer distances again and to see what my body can do. Who knows? Maybe I will find joy this time around.

[Rachel Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this one (while running) and Susie is British so what’s not to enjoy with a good listen. She’s funny too! I first heard about Susie when I started using the Peloton app to do some running last couple of years and then I followed her when she was training and running Badwater. She got started running later in life, like me and she’s also an instructor that is my age, actually a little bit older, so I can relate more and also see that someone my age can do these running things (don’t worry, I’m not going to be running badwater - zero interest in that kind of heat). This books is her journey getting into running and then her journey through the different ultra runs she has competed in. Pretty different than the setup of the other running books I’ve read. Also, I had exactly 3:40 minutes left to listen to and that was the time I wanted to finish my race in. So thanks to Susie for chatting my ear off and entertaining me my entire run (which I finished in exactly 3:40:24)!

[Henning Tegner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rating gives me away as a runner. Simply put, if you are a runner you will like this book - even if you're not into ultras. It describes aspects of running life that will be familiar to many as well as describing what it's like to run some of the toughest races in the world.

The first few chapters read like a taut thriller and the pages fly by. In fact, the whole book is an enjoyable read and I finished it in three evenings, and I'm a slow reader.

She admits herself that she is not the greatest writer and the language does get a bit stale towards the end, but it never becomes bothersome. The only wish I have is that it would reveal a bit more about her personal life. The first few chapters were she talks about why she started running are the most interesting of the entire book.

[Laura Skladzinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew of Susie Chan through Peloton, and had no idea what a rich running background she had before becoming a coach! It was interesting to hear how she started running and then progressed to become an accomplished ultrarunner; I especially liked reading about her quest for a Guinness World Record, as I did something similar but never bothered to have it certified because of all the red tape. However, some parts of the book were really compelling while others were a bit dry, and I wished there had been more of a story arc - it felt like each chapter was its own short story because of the way it circled around.

[Tina Mac Bhloscaidh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, especially how running gave her life a structure and a reason to not down a bottle of vodka regularly. I've had to have a word withyself about not signing up to some of her crazy adventures as she makes them seem so achievable eg a mti day ultra in the Sahara. I feel I'd be good mates with her if I met her. We are the same age so I'll admit to finding her inspiring. I do my first ultra in just over a week eeek. I don't think you need to be a runner to enjoy her story but it probably helps. When I ran my first marathon a few weeks ago I did think of her and told myself I could do it and to be lore Susie, when I was struggling around km 30.