In the past, I’ve done blog posts about books I’ve enjoyed.
Today, I’m switching it up a little bit with an audiobook review.
But whether you are listening or reading, I highly recommend Finding Ultra by Rich Roll.
I first stumbled across Rich Roll via his weekly podcast. Every week, he does an in-depth interview with an expert in the field of wellness, personal development, or athletics.
The podcasts are free and can be downloaded via iTunes or SoundCloud. They are generally over an hour in length, so they are perfect to listen to on a long run or car ride.
And while they are longer than many other podcasts I subscribe to, they don’t feel long. Rich is a great interviewer and his guests are always interesting.
Over the past few months, I’ve gone through countless podcasts and decided it was time check out his book, Finding Ultra.
I opted for the audio version over the book. And it was the perfect companion during my recent long runs.
The audio version is 9 hours and 47 minutes, but it’s the kind of book you can pause and easily jump back into whenever you are ready.
The memoir that takes you through Rich’s swimming career at Stanford, the depths of his alcoholism, and his recovery.
But it doesn’t end there.
Ten years after Rich got sober he found himself almost 40, overweight, and completely inactive. Although he had a happy marriage and successful law practice, he knew something was missing.
That is when he changed his life once again and got into triathlons and eventually ultra-triathlons. The book culminates in Rich completing 5 Ironman triathlons in under a week, each one on a different Hawaiian island.
To say his story is inspirational is an understatement.
What I love about this book is that it isn’t just for people who have battled alcoholism or other addictions. And it also isn’t just for people who are interested in endurance athletics.
It is the story of overcoming challenges. It is also a clear example of how you can reset the trajectory of your life at any point.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice dose of inspiration.
If you are in recovery, you will likely find yourself completing Rich’s sentences at times.
If you have thirst for endurance sports, you will relate to the drive to complete a task that seems impossible at times.
And if you need a little reboot (and who doesn’t from time to time!) you will most certainly find it in Finding Ultra!
