Push your limits! Ranking the best endurance books of all time – the most popular endurance training books a must read.
Born to Run
The wonder of being able to run through such conditions by the Tarahumara Indians – known as the tribe with the ability to run long distances across the globe – reveals their amazing tenacity. The book is about adventure, personal discovery and scientific investigation. It questions whether those highly sophisticated modern running shoes really have helped or hampered such achievements, and whether simplicity and nature could revolutionize the training of runners. The result is a captivating race that promises to redefine the barriers of human capacity, keeping both eyes on new insights into health, happiness, and the soulful human relationship with running.Finding Ultra
Chronicles personal accounts as they turned from an overweight individual to an ultra-endurance athlete. So, get the experience and find out how a real turnaround in one's life can be made through willpower and determination with respect to a change in diet and exercise.Never Finished
Recommended by: David GogginsRead about a journey from adversity to becoming one of the toughest endurance athletes, where she highlights the essence of self-discipline, mental toughness, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in her story. The story inspires overcoming obstacles on the will alone.Endure (Alex Hutchinson)
Recommended by: Chris WilliamsonHutchinson explores the science of human endurance, blending cutting-edge research with compelling narratives of extreme athletic feats. He investigates the complex interplay between mind and body in pushing physical limits. The book covers topics such as pain tolerance, fatigue, hydration, and the psychological factors that influence performance. Hutchinson challenges conventional wisdom about human capabilities and offers insights into how individuals can enhance their endurance.Endure
Recommended by: David GogginsA dedicated ultramarathon runner and bowhunter writes about pushing to exceed limits and shares personal stories and advice. It is an endurance of not just physical but mental endurance too, as the reader is urged to delve within him to explore his potentials and reach for greatness.A Life Without Limits
An autobiography by Chrissie Wellington, four-time Ironman World Champion and one of the greatest female triathletes. She details her transformation from one coming from a non-sporting background to an Ironman champion and speaks very openly about her triumphs, challenges, training, and racing experiences. These were interspersed with details of the eating disorders and injuries she has fought. This is a motivational book with good, practical advice on following your passions and living life to the full.50/50
50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days - and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! A memoir chronicling the author's ambitious goal of running 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days across all 50 U.S. states. Karnazes shares the physical, mental, and logistical challenges he faced during this extraordinary endurance feat, as well as the triumphs and insights gained along the way. An inspiring testament to the power of setting audacious goals, pushing beyond perceived limits, and embracing the joy of the journey. A must-read for runners and adventurers alike.The Pursuit of Endurance
It details the life and adventures of record-holding endurance hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis. It recounts the excursions on the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and other long-distance hiking trails in the world. It outlines what it really takes - both physically and mentally - to take on the challenges of endurance hiking and the myriad of lessons one can learn on the trail. An inspiration and insight on how one reaches one's limit, finally able to catch one's dream.You Are an Ironman
It follows a number of athletes preparing for and, in the end, racing in the excruciating 15-hour Ironman triathlon. It also traces the physical, emotional, and psychological adversity the race brings while, at the same time, its triumphs and changes for these athletes. It gives insight into the mindset and strategies that have to be applied in order to accomplish that which seems impossible.The Triathlete's Training Bible
This will be a book to bring together all aspects of training for a triathlon of any level whether sprint or Ironman distance. It will cover all major tenets of endurance training from the science to the art, with periodization, intensity, and recovery. Describes in detail each workout and training plan for swimming, biking, and running; the nutrition; the mental preparation; and the race strategy. Inside, the athlete will find invaluable insights and case studies from top coaches and athletes—an absolute essential for any triathlete looking to optimize their performance.From Zero to Ironman Triathlon
Beginner’s guide to preparing for one of the most grueling endurance races in the world—an Ironman triathlon. Including a step-by-step periodized training plan to prepare for increasing endurance, strength, and speed in swimming, cycling, and running, it provides further guidance on nutrition, recovery, and mental preparation including balancing training with work and family. Additionally, this is incorporated with motivational stories and advice from successful Ironman finishers.
