Running Beyond: Epic Ultra, Trail and Skyrunning Races

by Ian Corless

Whether the adventure occurs on the twisting trails of the world’s mountain peaks, in the intense heat of desert sands or the gritty demands of rocky paths, running far and running hard is all about the journey. The sport of ultra pushes the legs, heart and lungs through some of the world’s most incredible locations, testing both body and mind to the limit. 

Ian Corless has travelled across the globe to document the stunning beauty and incredible routes of some of the world’s most iconic ultra trails. From a hard, technical route through the Grand Canyon to the snow-capped peaks of Italy’s Dolomites, the physicality and intensity of the sport are brought to life through this stunning collection of photographs. 

Exclusive interviews with the legends of the sport – including Kilian Jornet, Emelie Forsberg and Anton Krupicka – describe the technical challenges and emotional experiences of running to these extreme heights and endurance distances. 

With maps and profiles for each race, and filled with striking and evocative images capturing the action and drama of the races – and the men and women who run them – Running Beyond is a beautiful homage to the sport of ultra. It is an inspiration for anyone who has ever dreamed of running beyond on the world’s most beautiful and testing races. 

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2016

Reviews

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beautiful book. I'm an aspiring ultra runner, so I love to read about special trail races. This book does not disappoint! It gives a great overview of the most special races, spread over the world. The book inspired me a lot. Photography is stunning and it's easy to read. Must-read for runners!

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up to 1 year ago , I was running 6 miles daily . I ran a marathon to celebrate turning 50 , have ran countless 13.1 Miles , 10K , 5 K ; okay you get the picture ...but I got sick , and my desire to run and hit the trails and road deem.

Ian Corless, has inspire and motivated me to run again .

Reading and looking at the pictures of Running Beyond gave me back my love for running. I want to feel again the bliss and exhilaration to be out there in nature .

And who knows, even train for an Ultra . Well, one can always dream, right. I enjoyed Running Beyond .

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review.

[Joop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inmiddels zelf enige ervaring met ultra- en trailrunning maar de routes in dit boek gaan voor een groot deel een stapje verder. Prachtig boek wat uitnodigt tot deelname. Minpunt is het contrast tussen afbeelding en tekst, soms zwarte letters op donkere afbeelding. Daarom 4 ipv 5 sterren.

Boek over extreem lopen is tevens de afsluiting van een jaar extreem lezen met 30.000 blz.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looked a lovely book, but the e-arc was presented in just the wrong format, meaning I could barely see a half of every photograph included. It covers all kinds of "rather them than me" trail running, from the marathon-but-a-lot-hillier along the north coast of Menorca, to the Marathon des Sables, and hugely mountainous scrambles where the runners are severely dwarfed by their surroundings, or just inches away from losing grip on the rock-fastened safety wire and plunging to their death. Purely a coffee-table venture, it gives a brief indication of the route and changes in height of each established race, and a discussion with a winner of what makes each venue distinctive, before going into pure pictorial form, whether it be landscape or portraits of the runners mid- or post-run. I'd just have liked to have seen it fully – if the publishers think this format actually works with netgalley (and they fortunately are in a distinct minority) then they can jog on.

[Paul Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn’t matter if you like running or not this book is superb and I loved it!

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire the sky and ultra runners. I don't have the physical capabilities to do the same so a book like this or race reports from the participants is the closest I will ever get.

All high profile routes can be found here including the UTMB, the Marathon des Sables or Western States. There are gorgeous pictures and every course comes with a description, current records and impressions from the runners. The book is definitely an eye catcher and friends sometimes wonder if I am not secretly planning something they don't know about...

Some of the stories are a bit dull and don't have the magic that especially the first ones have. Still, it's the stuff that dreams are made of.

4 out of 5 stars