One Track Mind: What Running 150 Miles in a Day Can Teach You About Life

by Michael Stocks

'A wonderful read...I highly recommend it' - Adharanand Finn, author of The Rise of the Ultra Runners

When Michael Stocks stands at the starting line of a 24-hour race on an athletics track in South London, it is noon and rain is beginning to fall. His aim is to run more than 150 miles by noon the following day, in order to fulfil his dream of being selected to run for Great Britain. He is 49 years old, and it will require the performance of a lifetime.

One Track Mind tells the story of these 24 life-changing hours. It reveals the mental tools that make it possible to run six marathons in a single day, and how they can be applied to other parts of life. And it shares the realisations about life that remain long after the race has ended.

A love letter to a race, to a community at the frontier of sport and to life itself, One Track Mind is an inspirational examination of the fascinating world of extreme endurance.

Genres: Nonfiction

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 18, 2021

Reviews

[MR K J SCOTT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice thoughtfully put together narrative out around the epic feat of running around a track for 24 hours…..thankfully occasionally changing direction.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical running book. Mildly thought provoking about the mindset it takes to run such a long distance. A really incredible feat, but the book less so

[Cian Aherne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does a great job of taking you through every step of a 24 hour race

[John Spiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Stocks is an accomplished ultrarunner who picked up running later in life. "One Track Mind" documents a 24-hour race where he attempts to qualify to represent Great Britain in the 24 Hour Championships. The conceit of the book is that Stocks is sharing his thoughts during different parts of the race. Though he does include things that happen in real time during the race, most of his writing concerns more philosophical matters, such as the motivation to run 24 hours, the support needed, the sacrifices made, etc. The most interesting observations concerned the interplay of the mental and the physical and how your mental approach to your undertaking affects your performance. For example, it is easier to run 26 miles if you set out to run 40 because your mind has steeled itself for exertion well beyond 26 miles.

If you are looking for a book on how to train for a 24 hour race, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a well-written book on the experience of running 24 hours on a 400 meter track, this will fit the bill.

[Corinne O'Connor]

So insightful

Whilst I'll never be an ultra marathon runner, I now have a very strong sense of what it is like. I'm not sure how he managed to recapture the thoughts of the race but I felt like I was there with him. I turn 50 this year and this book forms part of my inspiration to get back to running... 5km, 10km, half marathon and then maybe (just maybe) a marathon and hopefully under 4hours! It's a long way away but like this book, it has to start with a step.

[Christie Bane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a 3.5 star read (well… listen), but I’m bumping it up to 4 because it was well-written, because it’s by an ultra runner, and because it DID make me think slightly deeply about ultra running and wanting to do another ultra. The author is trying to make a national team for distance running by doing a 24-hour race around a track. I have never done this particular type of event and probably never well (doesn’t sound fun or interesting), so the book gave insight into the monotony and the challenge of this type of event. But like almost all running books, it’s mostly “I ran, I thought about important life stuff, I wanted to quit, I was tired, I was nauseous, I persevered.” Running books just don’t deviate that much from the norm. Still, worthwhile, entertaining, and (slightly) thought-provoking.

[Emma Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, easy to read book that covers an epic 24 hour ultra running experience. The author shares his thoughts and mental / physical state as he takes on the task of running round a track in south London, together with a support team who feed him every 30 mins and with the novelty of changing direction every 4 hours.
The author is 49 years old at the time of the run, and he reflects on the importance of mental strength and life experience to help him in undertaking such a task. Even more impressive is that, also taking part in the run are a 78 year old woman and an 85 year old man.
These are incredible people and while this type of endurance activity is not for everyone, it shows what is achievable given the right levels of training and motivation and I enjoyed and was inspired by this read.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wasn't expecting a book which focuses on a single 24 hour track race to be this good, but it surpassed all of my expectations. The writing is superb, and the author really manages to convey the way the brain works during a long ultra, the semi-random thoughts that occur, and the mind games and tricks you play with yourself when it gets tough.

Highly recommended to any runner, or especially to non-runner partners and friends of ultra runners!

[Michael Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an aspiring ultra-runner, I really enjoyed this account. It provided a ‘warts and all’ insight during one of the sports’ toughest races. Instead of putting me off, it has only inspired to push myself even further and explore where my mind and body can take me in terms of performance in the future.

[John Ghent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant insight to an unusual world!!

The author tells a superb story of human endeavour. The physical and mental strength required forensic an event is incredible. The short chapters make the book a very simple read and is a must for anybody considering endurance running as a potential hobby!

[Peter Jack and sharon jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can!I

Having just failed to finish an Utra 3 days ago,this wonderful book is just what I needed. Insightful,inspiring,illuminating and innovative, it shows us how to get from A to B,no matter where A starts and where B finishes. I l recommend this epistle to all runners ,he they wanna be Park Runners or experienced Ultra achievers.

[Meg Briers · Rating 3 out of 5]

this man is MENTAL, i can't even bring myself to do a 5k tt on the track yet ALONE running for 24 hours on a 400m oval. nice insight into ultrarunning, but even with this cool book, i am happy enough to keep to the shorter + faster stuff for the now

[Tony Hastie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insight!

I like to run the occasional ultra. On trails, in places of natural beauty. I thought the only thing more boring than running for 24 hours on a track would be reading a book about running around a track for 24 hours. I was wrong. Respect🙂

[Paul Lawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finely put together book. The way it’s put together in parts, with no chapters but distances and times, really sets the scene up perfectly. Excellently worded and descriptive. Quite emotional. Lovely ending.

[Trinity Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting format and very easy to read

[Stuart Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly engaging for a book about running in a circle for 24 hours. Short and well told, but it doesn't make me want to do it!

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, read it in one day! Really enjoyed the story throughout the race. Such an inspirational story

[Matthew Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. I somewhat question how he remembered all of this stuff while running.

[Clark Goble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a bad book, though perhaps it is a little odd. Author Michael Stocks is an ultra runner, however, the ultra run he writes about in this book took place a single track. Imagine, 150 miles around a track. The mental fortitude necessary to accomplish such a feat is nearly inconceivable! This book follows the thoughts Stocks had during this run … it’s a bit weird, and even almost disjointed at times, but it is fascinating to read of his accomplishment. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running and writing both have the capacity to transform everyday life into something extraordinary and wonderful. A running track is flat, more often than not the view is uninspiring and rarely changes, the track itself is ordinary, like any other, it’s purpose is to be the blank canvas, to be the definition of uninteresting. Some incredible achievements have happened on running tracks though, from the iconic Iffley Road cinder track of Bannister’s day to more recent memories, especially for those of us in Britain, of Super Saturday in 2012 when a packed stadium was thrilled by the events taking place on the track, joined by millions at home shouting at their screens.
The track might conjure the mundane; the grinding out of reps, occasionally fun, usually tough, but magic happens there in training too; out of the ordinary comes that split or session that says “I’m ready” or the rush of feeling fast that even some of us slower runners can experience when we’re leaving it all out there. Track racing can be thrilling too, the pure speed, tactical running, occasionally someone will stumble, pick themselves up, there might be a surge, suddenly things change, we watch on the edges of our seat, or out of our seat!
But could a book about a 24 hour race on the track provide any of that sense of magical excitement? As some people apparently asked about the race itself: “Won’t it be boring?”; the answer from me is an emphatic “No!”
Michael Stocks’ “One Track Mind” is told from hour to hour during the Self-Transcendence 24-Hour Track Race and his attempt to earn a place in the GB team at the 24-Hour World Championships. His target is simple - run as far as he can in 24 hours. He and his Coach know the distance he needs to be in the running for selection, and he will go as far as he can beyond that to improve his chances.
Anji Andrews recommended this to me and lent me a copy so it made its way up the TBR pile; of course she has excellent taste and judgment and I was drawn straight in. I think I broke a personal record by crying on page 15; I do cry a lot when reading but this was early even for me. I immediately warmed to Michael, I felt invested in his challenge and read bits out to Guy (“this is like you coming down the stairs!”)
The book is in six parts, and then into small chapters of a couple of pages each describing any number of laps of the race tied in beautifully to broader thoughts about the author’s preparations for the race, his life before running became his sport, his family and what he learned along the way. Although each chapter had its own theme it did not feel contrived, but allowed the broader narrative of what lead him to this point to unfold throughout.
I loved his reflections on his family, his wife, his crew, his club mates and his coach and the significance of the part they all play. He reminisces on his earlier running at school, watching races with his father and the influence of being brought up in South Africa where the Comrades ‘Marathon’ (c. 56 miles of hilly road running, within cut-off times) is a challenge achieved by many ordinary people and broadcast to an enthusiastic and supportive audience. His greatest respect is reserved for some of those runners who are running well into later life and his fellow competitors who have helped him along the way. Sportsmanship, community and the concept of competing ‘with’ others rather than ‘against’ them are themes that come through again, as they have in other books about ultra-running.
24 hours is often thought of as a small amount of time, except perhaps when it comes to a race of that duration, which many runners will perhaps never experience. How often does a day pass in our lives with nothing to separate it from the others? Running for 24 hours *is* extraordinary, and to be able to capture and articulate what makes it so as the author has achieved here is extraordinary too. How annoying that someone can be so determined and accomplished at both running *and* writing and still come across as a really nice person!
Highly recommended.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle claims “what running 150 miles in a day can teach you about life”. Sounds promising but I know this script and however routine it may be it’s nice to hear a new perspective every once in a while. That said, 90% of the book is memoir written by an author who is undoubtedly very proud of qualifying for Great Britain’s ultramarathon world team at the age of 49 after having gone through a cancer scare, lost identity after having peaked early in his professional career and going through what I’m learning are normal life circumstances (ailing parents, big decisions), aka stress. Big takeaways revolve around classic ideas of persistence, presence, how you observe and use pain, doubt and mindfulness.

My takeaway from this story, like many others, is that we often treat endurance events as “teachers” of these great realizations that we can apply to our lives toughest moments to help make us tougher, but I’d wager that they’re more reinforcing, showing us that we were those things all along, even if we didn’t fully realize it. We can do the “hard” flashy endurance event because life has beaten us to a pulp and quite frankly the events are by far the easiest thing in all of it.