To the Edge
A Man, Death Valley, and the Mystery of Endurance
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4.4 • 14 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
This extreme sports saga, part Plimptonesque narrative, part spiritual journey, explores the limits of personal endurance as a determined journalist takes on a 135-mile Death Valley marathon.
Journalist Kirk Johnson knows pain—mind-numbing, bodywracking pain. When his beloved older brother commits suicide, Kirk starts running— running to escape, running to understand, running straight into the hell of Badwater, the ultimate test of endurance equal to five consecutive marathons. From the inferno of Death Valley to the freezing summit of Mt. Whitney, alongside a group of dreamers, fanatics, and virtual running machines, Kirk will stare down his limitations and his fears on a journey inward—a journey that just might offer the redemption of his deepest and most personal loss.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist Johnson chronicles his participation in one of the world's toughest endurance races, the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, and his simultaneous emotional reckoning with family members and himself. Johnson, who had never run a regular marathon, entered the race after his brother, a highly respected athlete, committed suicide. He recruited his sister and nearly estranged living brother to help him. In the first section, Johnson describes learning about and preparing for the race. As a journalist and a participant, he met many interesting Badwater participants (the paraplegic runners especially stand out) and offers insight into the phenomenon of ultramarathons, exploring questions like "Why does Badwater exist... and persist? Why does it capture the imagination?" After a strong start, though, this part goes on too long. The fascinating second section details the actual race and affords an inside look at an endurance runner's thoughts. Johnson deftly blends excitement, tension, grief and humor. He describes his feelings on one evening of the race, blister crisis in check: "The world was surprising and filled with eye-opening wonder, and the simple act of moving through it had become a source of joy." Johnson occasionally relies on a clich or two, but they are offset by lovely passages that make his unusual experience familiar and immediate to the reader. Photos.
Customer Reviews
Great inspirational read!
As someone that's always looking for a challenge and often getting in my own way, reading Kirk Johnson's account of his Badwater experience, was simply inspirational. Breaking down not only the physical, but the mental challenges as well, really puts the reader into the story. I posted a couple quotes from the book because they resonated so deeply with me from my own past experiences running. While I doubt I'll ever do Badwater, this does inspire me to maybe want to try other ultra distance events. Never say never though right?
Not sure what the point is
The author, a journalist, states, he breaks a rule of journalism by losing his objectivity. Ultimately, this is detrimental to the book. It becomes a bout his unknown unclear motivations. A broader book which brought in the view points of the top tier ultra-marathon runners would have brought a broader and more interesting perspective to the book.