Ultrarunning for Normal People: Lessons Learned On and Off the Trail

When Sid Garza-Hillman stood at the starting line of his first 50-mile-long trail ultramarathon, one thought was at the front of his mind: this was the last place he wanted to be. After all, trail ultrarunning is a very different animal than marathons—in which Sid had barely taken part himself. The trails demand attention, and the long distances demand a shift in perception and mindset. Even in crowded races, runners often find themselves alone and with only their own thoughts. With trail running, a person can be stripped of almost everything—laid bare, vulnerable, and on the verge of quitting. Ultrarunning, at least to Sid, seemed to be a sport for Type-A people who love pain and suffering. But as he became more involved with the sport, he realised that ultrarunning wasn't just for elite athletes. Mums, dads, grandmas, grandpas, young people, old people, people with full-time jobs, and more successfully cross the finish lines of races around the world. Reflecting on his journey from dispassionately running a few miles here and there to running multiple ultramarathons, Sid divulges tips and tricks for how so-called "Normal People" can become successful ultrarunners. Part humorous memoir, part guide for those interested in attempting an ultramarathon for the first time, Ultrarunning is for Normal People lays out the struggles, benefits, and life lessons that await anyone who’s ready to dive into the world of ultrarunning.