Eat & Run by Scott Jurek: Guaranteed to make you think that you too can run 100 milers

Did you hear the story about the guy who won a 100 mile race through the mountains? On a sprained and swollen ankle? It's not a joke, it's a crazy, amazing story and it's just a small part of Scott Jurek's life as a superhuman runner, and he does all of these incredible things as a vegan. His book, Eat and Run, is a testament to Jurek's athletic prowess, and his his strength in overcoming the obstacles life set before him, as well as proof that eating a vegan diet doesn't doom a person to a life as a weakling. Though I know I'll most likely never run, let alone win, a 100 mile race, Eat and Run left me feeling inspired to push my boundaries, both in running and in life, every time I read it. An added bonus are the recipes sprinkled throughout the book, which definitely lean toward the healthy side, but all look delicious. If you're looking for a book that will provide you with a healthy dose of motivation every time you pick it up, or trying to show someone that eating a vegan diet will not detract from your athletic ability, this is a great, quick read to pick up. Not sure if you'll be into it? Check out an excerpt, thanks to Runner's World, here.

Full disclosure: I received a review copy of the book, but am receiving no other compensation and am under no obligation to review it one way or another. I really liked it!

Ben Davis Does Life

Who is Ben Davis? If you don't know the answer to this question, you are missing out. I've posted his video before, wherein he loses 120 pounds by running and, more importantly, finds himself and happiness while doing so. Ever since he announced on his tumblr that he was writing a book, I've been dying to get my hands on a copy. Lucky me, his publishers sent me a copy to review.

The book is every bit as inspiring as the video that launched Ben Davis into the hearts of a million runners and onto the cover of Runner's World. We see how dark things were for Ben before he took that first step running, how deep his depression was and how isolated he allowed himself to become. This means that we are even more elated when he decides to do life. His journey is stunningly fast, from his first 5K to completing an Iron Man. Ben doesn't pull any punches about the tough side of running- blisters, chaffing, pain, bonking, but he also shares in the glory of allowing yourself to embrace all that life has to offer.

Ben readily admits that sometimes your mind isn't up to doing the right thing, so you force your body to do it instead- run instead of reddit, eat kale instead of cookies. The book is also punctuated with training plans, each one placed strategically after Ben accomplishes that particular feat, from the 5K to the Ironman.

In short, this book isn't so much about Ben's journey, it is about finding what is holding you back, and forcing it out of your life, in turn allowing yourself to live the life each of us deserves. Ben's journey is admirable, but the beauty of it is that it could be anyone's story, provided they embrace all that life has to offer.

Finally, for those not in the know, here's Ben's video:

I'm not crying, my eyes are just really sweaty

We all have those days. Days when the only things that sound worthwhile are naps and Netflix. It's totally human. I usually call them Saturdays. Those are the days when I need a little extra inspiration to get my booty out the door. Thankfully, YouTube can both distract and inspire, and these two videos are crazy inspiring:






Seriously, look how happy these dudes look. Doesn't it just make you want to go do something worthwhile?