Undead Ultra

By: Camille Picott

Narrated by: Gwendolyn Druyor

Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

 It’s life or death…

…and two hundred miles to run.

Can she survive the zombies and save her son?

When the virus hits, nobody is prepared. Society collapses and Kate’s son doesn’t have a way out of his dorm. She has to go get him, but the roads aren’t safe, and the government has blockades.

Everything is at a standstill. It will be the race of her life.

Kate loves running. She’s gone from marathons to ultramarathons and knows what it takes to run a hundred miles at a time, but this is different.

This is twice as far as she’s ever run…

…and finding food is a problem.

Is it even possible?

You’ll love this unique take on the apocalypse because the struggle is unlike anything you’ve listened to before.

Get it now. 

©2016 Camille Picott (P)2016 Camille Picott

I remember when....

It feels like 80% of this story is told as "I remember when" stories that really only contribute to character development, so in that sense, I would say it's a bit overdone. Bonus point for having the characters run through the zombie apocalypse, literally on foot. But otherwise, I would say it's pretty average.

Undead ultra

The author did a great job combining the two concepts without getting down the story. I enjoyed the characters and thought it was a great idea to insert a typical suburban mom into a zombie apocalypse story . Very entertaining.

Endlessly Running

There is a lot of running in this book. Running seems to be a way of life for the author and the fusion of her hobby and zombies is the result. I'm not so sure it works well.
The book is well written, the story generally good except for the over the top constant barrage of running comments, flashbacks, references and challenges.
The premise that being in a vehicle is more dangerous than running is questionable as well. Yes, they will come to the noise, but you can leave them far behind unless you get trapped.
Oh well, it is entertaining and suspending disbelief is necessary for the genre anyway.
The book is well narrarted by Gwendolyn Druyor.
I was given this free audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Different Strategy

I liked Undead Ultra.The author took a different strategy in surviving the zombie outbreak. Instead of finding a crew, ammo, and a safe place to hunker down, the main character just goes for it and runs around the drama. The main character is reflective, self-aware, honest, and likable. This book doesn't follow the typical zombie narrative, but it didn't go so far outside of it that it wasn't believable.

Brilliant!

You go out for a short 20 odd mile jog and the Zombie apocalypse happens, go figure!! I reckon if I went for a "short" jog then I'd be the Zombie when I cam back ;) Anyway, a 20 to 30 mile jog is nothing to best friends Kate and Frederico yet they don't realise that this fun run today is going to change their lives forever! On the way home from their run they stop to get something to eat, to replenish lost calories when Kate sees some missed calls from her son, she listens to the voice mail where Carter tells her to get straight home and stop for nothing. She finds this odd and tries to call him but before she does, she sees someone being attacked, and what looks like, being eaten. Suitable freaked out, she rings Carter and what he tells her, and what she sees, makes her realise that her and Frederica need to get to their kids ASAP. Cars aren't a viable option since they seem to draw the Zombies, they decide to do the mother of all Ultra Marathons and run to their kids. What follows is their incredible journey!

OK, not being a runner, I found the idea of Ultra Marathons absolutely fascinating. The fact that people put themselves and their bodies through that was shocking!! The authors descriptions of what happens to them and what they go through was so real that I winced a lot!!

Being a mom, I know I would rip the world apart to get to my boys if they need me, so it's no stretch of the imagination to think that someone would run to their child if it was the only way. You can then just imagine what they have to get through on foot! Apart from the obvious Zombies, they have to deal with lack of food (which they need a lot of, what with the running and everything) lack of hydration, too many blisters etc due to the running, and worst of all, people!! All of this was exceptionally well developed and written, so many times I could feel the pain of the characters, both physically and emotionally, that it shows the author did her homework!!

In all, this was such an awesome read. I loved absolutely everything about it, from it's unique method of transport ;), to it's brilliantly written plot, this is a must read. I've read some of this authors previous work and this one just makes me love her writing style more. I highly recommend you check this book out!!!

I listened to the audio of this and am so glad I did as Gwendolyn Druyor did a great job with the narration. She was clear and concise, her inflections were spot on and she had enough different tones to make each character her own. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio and found it really brought the story to life.

UNDEAD ULTRA ROCKS!

Sheesh, can't even go out for a jog anymore without it being the end of the world! ;)

I applaud any ultra-runner. I'm not even an ultra-walker. Maybe ultra-crawling, but hey now that's just plain weird :-P
But they're going to need to haul A$$. Out for a run, jogging buddies Kate and Frederico find out the world has literally just gone to hell. And Kate's son needs her and is freaking 200 miles away!

As you might imagine, traffic is a total bitch and the only option is to RUN. Anyone can siphon some gas and hot-wire a Ford, but damn to run the whole way is just plain badazz!
But, when something like this happens, getting to your kid is all that matters. You'll do anything.

Great audiobook! Loved the writing/story, and narration was awesome :)

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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A Surprise

Very good zombie entry. Great start to the series. This book seems to be overlooked by dystopian aficionados. Give this one a try. It has well defined characters and a good plot. The ultra running component lends a nice, unique, twist to the story. Furthermore, each entry in the series can stand alone. There are no frustrating cliffhangers. The entries end with most of the issues resolved.

Running from the Zombie Horde

I requested a free review copy of 'Undead Ultra' and author Camille Picott graciously allowed me one. The following is my voluntary review of the audiobook.

In this post-apocalyptic book, Kate and Frederico, ultra running buddies, encounter a zombie outbreak in their northern California town. They soon find out it is widespread and resolve to rescue their children. It soon becomes apparent to them that vehicles are not the mode of transportation to get their kids rescued. They end up using the skills they have, namely running, to get to their kids. As ultra runners, people who routinely run longer-than-marathon races, they are well-suited to run the 200 miles to reach Kate's son.

Picott infuses suspense and a feeling of dread into the story from the start. There's a feeling of things being not quite right. Picott's zombies are quick moving, enhancing the sense of urgency. However, it is not a kill-all-the-zombies sort of story. Kate and Frederico's strategy is to avoid zombies, especially after an incident acquiring food nearly gets them killed. Not only is the danger from the undead, they also must contend with living humans taking advantage of the apocalypse.

For me, the best part of the story is the ultra running aspect. Picott goes into detail about the thought processes and psyche of being an ultra runner. Kate, early on, starts to doubt that she can make it to her son. She thinks she doesn't have the toughness necessary to get through the apocalypse. But, Frederico is there to point out to her that she is a finisher and this is what makes her suited to their situation. Kate and Frederico are shown to be quick-witted as well as quick-fotted. They are able to think their way out of difficult situations. Kate spends time in the book in self-analysis and it's a credit to Picott's writing skill that this doesn't bog down the other aspects of the story. There is a lot of great character development interspersed with the zombie killing.

Gwendolyn Druyor as narrator of this story is fantastic. She breathes life into Picott's story. The interpretations of the characters are spot-on. The exposition is full of emotion. She embodies Kate's POV. And, along with Picott's writing, makes this non-runner fascinated with ultra running.

I highly recommend it.

Very entertaining zombie story!

Very original post-apocalyptic story focusing on one woman’s journey to find her son. The character development was excellent as were the descriptions of the Ultra-marathoner’s experiences. Along with the excellent story, Gwendolyn Druyor’s narration really brought this story to life.

Strength and perseverance!

Kate, aka Jackalope, and Frederico are ultra-runners; they relish torturing their bodies in foot races over twenty miles, hence ultra-races. A virus sets California on its ear turning people into zombie-like creatures. Kate’s son is at college and in danger 200 miles away! Transportation is out of the question due to the chaos. Kate and Frederico decide to run the 200 miles. This is really a story of strength and perseverance. You learn much about the characters and what makes them tick. The author is a runner herself, which makes me wonder how much of the tale is from personal history. Will Kate and Frederico survive the journey? What of her son; will he be safe, still waiting for them? Undead Ultra is a good story and an easy recommendation. This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Unexpectedly loved this story

I love zombie books. I have read so many which involve special forces, groups of survivors etc. This was a bit different. Two runners running towards their children during a zombie outbreak. Loved the descriptions, the humanity the characters. Loved the facts about ultra running woven into the story. My advice would be to get by the first paragraph with the descriptions of someone suffering the effects on the bowels of eating very hot chilli and then enjoy this simple story about love and endurance with zombies thrown in

very enjoyable

l loved the characters and I love zombie books. the running was an added bonus that set this book apart. highly recommend

If I got eaten by a zombie in the next 30 seconds.

Kate is a runner, both physically - she has taken part in numerous ultras (races longer than a marathon) in the past but not since the death of her husband - and psychologically, blaming herself for being weak, especially for not being there to prevent Kyle's death and for falling apart afterwards.
Her only son, Carter, is 200 miles away at college and Kate is running with her best friend and racing partner when several texts and unanswered calls come from Carter asking her to call him urgently. An outbreak of some kind was causing riots, people were dying and the authorities had instituted what was, in effect marshal law in the areas and he and his fellow students were confined to their rooms. Kate and her friend Frederico have already seen why - the zombie apocalypse had begun!
She determines that she must be with her son so, denied the usual plane, train or automobile means of travel, she and Frederico decide simply to go by foot, to run.

Written in the first person, this was a fascinating story from Jane's perspective: her internal past life and emotions unfolding at the same time as the couple face the hardship of the journey as they sought to avoid both live and undead alike who would seem to prevent them reaching their destination. The privations endured both on this journey and in recollection of past ultra races is fascinating and painful, so much revealed about the stamina and fortitude required makes this a real gem. In so many ways shocking and well delivered, the one expectation seemed to fail was the zombie aspect itself - blind and too interested in feeding on their victims, for this reader at least, the threat they posed after the initial shock appearance seemed to make them less of a threat than most. Yet within hours they seemed to have been everywhere, even in unexpected locations.

The narration by Gwendolyn Druyor was good, emotionally charged and with seperate voicings for the individual protagonists, though that used for the 20 years old son made him sound far too young. As the voice of Kate, however, Ms.Druyor was superb. The overall reading pace also seemed a tad slow but this was easily resolved by increasing playback speed to 1.25.
I had requested Undead Ultra from the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom, and was very fortunate in being freely gifted a complimentary copy. Thank you. It was an unusual and informative book, immersive with excellent character construction, .making both Kate and her friend Frederico seem very real, increasingly so as the book moves towards the dramatic conclusion. Definitely worth reading by fans of dystopian and horror genres, zombie zealots, and anyone just interested in learning more about running an ultra.