"RUNNING ON EMPTY: An Ultramarathoner's Story of Love, Loss, and Record-Setting," by Marshall Ulrich, Avery, $26, 304 pages (nf)
Marshall Ulrich began running marathons when he discovered that his wife, Jean, had breast cancer. At first, he was running to be able to handle the daily stress of her treatment and the fear of her impending death. After her death, he continued running in an effort to run from life and to cope with his grief. Since then, Ulrich has accomplished many feats originally thought impossible, including: running across Death Valley four times for a total of 586 miles, climbing to the top of the seven summits on the first attempt, as well as finishing the Leadville Trail and the Pikes Peak Marathon in the same weekend.
"Running on Empty" (Avery, $26) is his first memoir, and he explores his reasons for becoming an ultra-marathon runner as well as giving an insightful and in-depth perspective as he fulfills his dream to cross America from sea to shining sea. It begins with a short autobiography of his life that introduces the main idea of discovering what is really important. Although he acknowledges his many accomplishments within his running career, he also includes many of his regrets and failures in certain areas of his life that had been overlooked and neglected, including two marriages that ended in divorce and his distant and strained relationships with his family, including his current wife, Heather, his siblings and most importantly, his children.
The rest of the novel is devoted to his journey as he treks across America on foot. During this portion, the reader becomes exposed to all the elements that Ulrich faces, including the funny moments, the near-death experiences and the interactions between him and his crew along with those he meets along the way. The reader also gets a glimpse inside Ulrich's head as he begins to discover himself, learns to deal with his grief and the loss of his first wife, grows closer to his wife Heather and finally faces the reality of what is really important in life.
"Running on Empty" is an interesting read, and Ulrich includes an appendix at the end of the book containing his diet and training schedule for preparing for a marathon that is useful for runners of all levels and experiences. However, readers should also be aware that the book contains a heavy amount of profanity and foul language and has references to sex, as well as sexual innuendos, that may make it difficult for one to finish.
IF YOU GO ...
What: Marshall Ulrich book signing
When: Saturday, Aug. 6, 11 a.m.
Where: The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City
Web: kingsenglish.com
Lauren Zachary is a recent graduate of Southern Utah University with a degree in English.