The Longest Race
A Lifelong Runner, an Iconic Ultramarathon, and the Case for Human Endurance
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Narrated by:
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Richard Waterhouse
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Written by:
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Ed Ayres
About this listen
First and foremost a book about running, The Longest Race takes listeners alongside ultramarathoner Ed Ayres as he prepares for, runs, and finishes the JFK 50-mile race at a then record-breaking time for his age division - 60 and older. But for Ayres, this race was about more than just running, and the book also encompasses his musings and epiphanies along the way about possibilities for human achievement and the creation of a sustainable civilization.
Looking back over a lifetime of more than 50 years of long-distance running, Ayres realizes that his running has taught him important lessons about endurance, patience, and foresight. These qualities, also hallmarks of being human, likely helped humans to survive and thrive in the evolutionary race - and, Ayres posits, they are qualities absolutely necessary to building a sustainable society.
Grounding each step of his argument are vivid details from this particular race and other moments across his long running career. These experiences take us far beyond the sport, into new perspectives on our origins as future - and what it means to be a part of the human race. In the end, Ayres suggests, if we can recapture the running prowess and overall physical fitness of our "wild" ancient distance-hunting ancestors, we will also be equipped to keep our bodies, our society, and the entire world running long into the future.
©2012 Ed Ayres (P)2012 AudioGOWhat listeners say about The Longest Race
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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- aero_costas
- 2022-06-14
running/environmental
at its moments was incredible book on running and its history. tips. it had a lot but also at least for me a bit to much on the climate change. i get the passion but maybe i came into this book expecting a running only book. I got a bit turned off by a lot of it but worth listening to
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Overall
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- Sarah Strehler
- 2023-01-15
So much more than “running tips!”
I loved the organization of this book. It was not a “how to” by any means (there are enough of those books). It was more about the “why,” the intention, the human condition, the earth, aging, the mind-body connection - and how running is so intricately entwined in all of them. I loved the way this book chronicled one run, taking time for anecdotes, advice, and thoughts. It was really well written and I think any runner (or aspiring runner) could feel inspired by this book.
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