Training for Ultra

Ultra Running Stories from the Middle of the Pack

By: Rob Steger

Narrated by: Robert Steger

Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

This book has a single purpose - to inspire you to run!

Through sharing a detailed account of my first three years of pursuing running from the middle to back of the pack, it will hopefully show you you are capable of much more than you may think. After my dad's major health scare, it was time for me to change everything. Little did I know how much I would learn after taking on some physical exercise.

A radical diet change allowed me to lose a forth of my body weight and it gave me boundless energy to get outside and explore.

It’s not clear to me why I chose running ultra marathons of all forms of exercise, since I was unable to run beyond one mile just a few years prior.

But since that fateful day, I’ve never looked back.

I was finding that sometimes the experiences of training for ultra could be just as rich and fulfilling as the ultra event itself.

©2019 Robert Steger (P)2019 Robert Steger

Great book

Enjoyed the the running stories, it’s neat to hear how he went from running only one mile to an ultra marathoner.

Maybe it’s just me...

I kept wanting to like it. I kept waiting for the author to be relatable. He came off a little too pretentious for my liking. He’s very intense. He’s new to running, but speaks about himself like he’s a famous well-known ultra runner. I felt almost like the book was a commercial for his podcast. He talks a lot about “flow” and his paleo diet. I guess I was expecting something a bit more lighthearted and relatable? Kudos to him for being a BA runner! His accomplishments are amazing! Just wish he hadn’t taken himself so seriously.

Wow! What an Inspiration!!

Rob kept me engaged from beginning to end! The fact that it is narrated by the author make the story that much more impactful! Rob's story is one that a lot of people fave but few make the move necessary to avoid the outcome, but rob took it to a whole new level!

Bad beginning but all upward from there

I liked that the author read the book himself. The story was quite good but I almost did not make it past the prologue. That was a compilation of people who wrote the author telling him how amazing he is and otherwise stroking his ego. Ironically I just started listening as I set out on a long run so it was not at all convenient for me to stop and select a new book I am glad I kept listening because the story was encouraging and I felt like hugging him at the end for all he accomplished, and more motivated to carry on myself.

Audio quality is horrible

I’ve never listened to an audiobook with such horrible quality. Didn’t make it more then 18 mins and I can’t listen to another minute of it.

Not just another running book.

Wow! exceeded my expectations. Beautiful, descriptive writing that paints a vivid picture of several mind-blowing adventures.

Great story.

Like hearing a story from the ordinary perspective. I can relate to the story teller.

Truly Inspiring

Rob is a straight up legend and his story it's amazing and inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing it.

The non- elite ultra running book

Rob does a great job telling the story of his 3 years of going from couch to ultra runner. Encouraging and easy to listen to. Rob keeps your attention and makes you believe you can do it too.

Decent, but rough DIY-sounding audio and editing

I felt like there was a great audiobook wanting to be set free in this story which suffered from poor editing (both literary and especially audio), audio quality, and acting.

The long race descriptions would sometimes send me to the zone, and a long stretch would go by without me realizing it. Better editing and narration might have helped some of these tales have a sense of direction or crescendo instead of the aimless amble they often were. The audio quality seemed very self-produced with lots of volume changes, odd pauses, and a general fuzziness like it was on vinyl. As a fan of other DIY podcasts,I can imagine that someone who was way into his podcast might appreciate the crude, DIY presentation of this book more than I could...that it would have a familiar and authentic vibe, so perhaps it's less of a negative for many than it was for me. .

Speaking of the podcast...he references it a lot...like if we're listening to the book of course we know about the podcast...but I hadn't heard of him before Audible suggested this book. Since that seems to be the reason that most people know about him, I would have appreciated hearing more about how managing his media platforms fit into the rest of his personal life and training...which honestly, I couldn't really comprehend as it was.

The story is mostly very nitty gritty details of race after race, and not much about the process of getting there. I wish he would have reflected more or better on how it did or didn't fit into other parts of his life.

Could not get past the intro

For a book that is meant to be inspirational I couldn't get past the first few minutes. The intro is basically the author reading quotes from others about how great he is! Returned the book almost immediately as I found it nauseating. I guess he was trying to establish credentials but there is simply no need.

Inspirational

love it, inspirational! Made me want to go for it on the ultrarunning trials myself!

inspirational

I've listened to a few ultrarunning books and this one is up there with the best of them. really interesting listening to the highs and lows of the authors journey to MOAB240

So inspiring.

As a 47 year old who’s on the foothills of ultra, Rob’s story has perfumed my mind to reach my goals.

Brilliant!

inspirational

I loved this book, off to listen to Rob's podcast next. the audio quality couple have been better though audible!

Terrible narration

Quite interesting but gave up after 90 minutes. The narration is terrible, it’s like he’s reading something written by someone....else that’s he’s never seen.....before. I’d try the written book rather than audio, he really should have employed a professional

Ultra

Really inspiring. I can relate to a lot of your back story and have been running for about 4 years now and got the bug. I keep thinking an ultra is out of my reach but things are going to change. Thanks

A Real Story of Challenge

As he says at the beginning of this book, Robs story is one of real man and a real family and their journey over 3 years. Their trials, challenges and successes are those of normal people. Rob brings to life his developmwnt through races and as a runner going through similar development I found this book a real page Turner.

Fantastic book!

This is a FANTASTIC book! Okay, the narration could be a little better, but that didn’t detract from the story for me - the story is so much bigger than that! Inspirational!

Refreshing

Great to hear the adventures of an average running, inspiring me to do more.