Puddings To Podiums: From Fast Food Fat Man To Ultra Marathon Champion

by Nathan Flear

Puddings to From fast food fat man to ultramarathon champion.

Get ready for a remarkable journey of transformation and triumph that will have you cheering every step of the way. In "Puddings to Podiums," follow the captivating story of an ordinary man's extraordinary quest to rise from a life of indulgence to the pinnacle of ultra running and his dream of running for his country.

Nathan embarks on an awe-inspiring adventure that takes him from his sedentary lifestyle to the world of ultra running. From tackling his first 10k run to conquering gruelling 24-hour races, Nathan's journey is as much about conquering his own doubts and limitations as it is about crossing finish lines.

With determination, humour, and heart, Nathan navigates the challenges of training, pushing his boundaries, and discovering the profound connection between physical endurance and inner strength. As he shares the highs and lows of his running escapades, you'll be inspired to lace up your own shoes and embrace your potential.

Puddings to Podiums is a triumphant tale that reminds us all that transformation is possible, and that the journey from self-doubt to success is a rewarding one. Whether you're an avid runner or simply seeking motivation to chase your dreams, Nathan's story will leave you believing that anything is achievable with the right mindset and a whole lot of heart.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2023

Reviews

[Kirsty Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book after a bit of festive over indulgence, hoping to get inspired to get fit and lose some weight and possibly start running again. Unfortunately although the book details the authors journey from running a mile to running ultras it doesn’t really explore the psychology involved in that and it details his training and races without really delving into how he managed to juggle that with family life or work or how his lifestyle choices were financially viable. There’s not really anything in the book about injury prevention which seems a bit odd given the serious mileage the author was putting in. So whilst he achieved incredible things, it’s not really relatable for most people. I’d have loved the book to have included more about the author as a person, rather than be what felt like an account of various races he’d entered.

[Rory Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't spend any time detailing how he worked up to the long races, diet changes etc ...one minute, he's struggling to do a mile, the next he's doing a 5k....then 10k....the marathons, ultras etc.....no context or insight into HOW.

Languag used was as if the manuscript was passed through a thesaurus , to sound more intelligent. Some of the words used were so incongruous, it made it difficult to read.

Also, for a supposed 'inspiring' book...it was quite bragging and arrogant IMO.

[Claire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book title and summary implies a book about transitioning from being overweight to becoming runner. In reality there was a couple of pages about being large and running down a hill a couple times...but the author was then suddenly thin and astounding other runners with his speed and then very quickly further amazing and astounding people with wins etc. It is basically a brag book, or a very long blog post post about someone's success at events.

[michel hardie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly inspiring

I could hardly put this down, full of inspiring moments it is a great read and testimony to where hard work and dedication can take you.

[James Lincoln · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whilst the author did go from Fast Food Fat Man to an Ultra Marathon Champion, the book doesn't really go into any detail about the progression, just one day he started running and the next doing a marathon.
The book may be more of interest to those with a deep passion for ultra running (not me), otherwise it reads a lot like a boast book.
Honestly, I've no idea how he managed to do all those events in such a short time, without real injury, whilst raising kids and that's without thinking about finances, it is a very impressive achievement.
Sadly, I got quite bored with the repeated aimed for this distance, ran it, aimed further, ran it, etc but in the authors style I set myself the challenge of finishing the book and not giving up!
Whilst I enjoy running, it wasn't relatable enough to be inspiring for me, but that's not the authors fault.

[Claire Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring story but I’m not sure I can relate to it, I think I was hoping for more of a motivation story but I wouldn’t be able to train like he did so not sure it’s relatable for everyone - did enjoy his journey though

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting, insightful account of the ultra-running world! My only complaint is that it severely needs editing. There are so many typos, spelling and grammar mistakes! Clean it up!

[Sarah Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational read for runners

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Says he cares but also says what's the point of entering if you're not going to win and insulting slow runners. Only thing he inspired was to not read anymore of his books. Only finished this because I started it.

[Deborah Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the title as puddings to podium... I did not realize he had done so much #podiums👏
Highly recommend reading this book

[Clark Goble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is not world class literature. It is however exactly what it is promoted to be. Author Nathan Flear details his transformation from sedentary to world-class level ultra runner. The subtitle suggests he transitioned from "fat man" to a champion and as a former fat man myself, I sometimes think these authors over hype just how fat and sedentary they were in the beginning ... and I suspect that may be the case here. Even if that's the case, I appreciate when authors are willing share their journeys with honesty and transparency. Stories like these do offer hope for the rest of us. I may never be an ultra running champion, but I can take comfort in the knowledge that others have walked (or ran) similar journeys as I am attempting for myself.