Running is an inexpensive, practical, and convenient sport, but some take it to the limit. From cold-weather running in Alaska to the intense heat of the Sahara Marathon, athletes attempt to overcome the elements. Extremes of environment, route, and geography are another challenge: trails through dense jungle and over soaring mountain ranges. The rewards are experiences of a lifetime, the sense of having been to largely unexplored places, and realizing unique ambitions. Never before has there been a manual to pull together all the elements of this new but fast-growing sport, touching on every aspect from lone desert running to ultramarathons. The follow-up to "Extreme Golf "and "Extreme Sailing," this third volume is a must-have for all runners.

A New York Times bestseller 'A sensation ... a rollicking tale well told' - The Times At the heart of Born to Run lies a mysterious tribe of Mexican Indians, the Tarahumara, who live quietly in canyons and are reputed to be the best distance runners in the world; in 1993, one of them, aged 57, came first in a prestigious 100-mile race wearing a toga and sandals. A small group of the world's top ultra-runners (and the awe-inspiring author) make the treacherous journey into the canyons to try to learn the tribe's secrets and then take them on over a course 50 miles long. With incredible energy and smart observation, McDougall tells this story while asking what the secrets are to being an incredible runner. Travelling to labs at Harvard, Nike, and elsewhere, he comes across an incredible cast of characters, including the woman who recently broke the world record for 100 miles and for her encore ran a 2:50 marathon in a bikini, pausing to down a beer at the 20 mile mark.

Who’s going to help you prepare for your next fitness challenge? Extreme Fitness explores different training methods to build strength, speed, agility and endurance, across running, swimming, weight and circuit training and triathlon events. It looks at how special forces maintain peak fitness through diet, rest, and mental fitness.

In one of his most ambitious physical efforts to date, Dean Karnazes attempted to run 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 days to raise awareness of youth obesity and urge Americans of all fitness levels to "take that next step." "UltraMarathon Man: 50 Marathons - 50 States - 50 Days", a Journeyfilm documentary, follows Dean’s incredible step-by-step journey across the country. Ultrarunning legend Dean Karnazes has run 262 miles-the equivalent of ten marathons-without rest. He has run over mountains, across Death Valley, and to the South Pole-and is probably the first person to eat an entire pizza while running. With an insight, candor, and humor rarely seen in sports memoirs (and written without the aid of a ghostwriter or cowriter), Ultramarathon Man has inspired tens of thousands of people-nonrunners and runners alike-to push themselves beyond their comfort zones and be reminded of "what it feels like to be truly alive," says Sam Fussell, author of Muscle. Ultramarathon Man answers the questions Karnazes is continually asked: - Why do you do it? - How do you do it? - Are you insane? And in the new paperback edition, Karnazes answers the two questions he was most asked on his book tour: - What, exactly, do you eat? - How do you train to stay in such good shape?

Two crucial components of a healthy life are nutrition and exercise. The importance of appropriate diet, food and nutrition are extremely important to be successful in sports, and, especially, in extreme sports. Extreme sport is an activity where a participant must demonstrate both mental and physical skills. This type of activity provides an adrenaline rush to individuals who are part of the "community of extreme sportsmen." Extreme sports provide opportunity for individuals to be active and fit with added enjoyment of partaking in a fun activity. Extreme sports in conjunction with proper nutrition helps to boost immunity and resistance against common infections. Studies have also exhibited that sports and exercise activities help in managing effective work-life balance as well. Extreme and Rare Sports: Performance Demands, Drivers, Functional Foods, and Nutrition provides a comprehensive treatise on extreme sports emphasizing the importance of nutrition and research-driven nutraceutical supplements in injury prevention and treatment. The book presents information on the nutritional requirements of sports activities on land, in water, or with high altitude-base. It covers a wide variety of definitions, philosophies, thoughts and practices involved with structurally diverse extreme sports. Features: Discusses specific food and nutritional requirements in extreme sports Provides information on the importance of functional foods, nutrition and structurally diverse phytonutrients for different sports Features information on Olympic and diverse extreme sports Details the importance of hydration and use of gelatin; skeletal muscle damage and recovery from eccentric contractions; and information on dietary supplements and antioxidants Presents analysis on growth, marketing, techniques, and future of extreme sports

The story of the world's number-one adventure runner.

Have you ever: Climbed Mount Everest? Been a skateboarding champion? Won a race at school sports day? If you answered NO to all of the above then this is the book for you! Scared of heights? Great! Feel green about extreme sports? Super! Inside you can read about lots of crazy stuff and how to survive - or avoid it. Love your inner wimp! Inside: Extreme Sports on Land - Bikes, Climbing, Speed Skiing (and Bobsleigh), Extreme Running and Triathlon Extreme Water Sports - Cliff Diving, Extreme Swimming, Extreme Boats, Surfing Extreme Sports in Mid-Air - Skydiving, Wingsuit Flying, BASE jumping, Bungee Jumping, Slacklining and Highlining This title is published by Franklin Watts EDGE, which produces a range of books to get children reading with confidence. We believe this title will be of interest to readers aged 7+ and to older readers who struggle with reading. EDGE - for books kids can't put down.

Adventure and extreme sports are increasing in popularity and it is not surprising that commercial adventure tourism and the accompanying life style and fashion, have become increasingly important to world economy. These unique sports involve not only major physical endurance and mental challenges but interaction and bonding with nature. They also tend to attract and excite audiences, both at the event and in the media. They are exciting to watch and redraw the boundaries of human achievement with the accompanying risks of injury and death. Adventure sports are usually performed in beautiful, exciting and remote locations or in extreme environments far away from medical assistance. Extreme sports usually involve an element of increased risk. These risks are highlighted by the media, usually after a reported accident or fatality but may vary according to the involvement of the participant; the weekend recreational adventure sports athlete or the experienced professional. A wide variety of sports fall into the category of adventure and extreme sports and with an increasing number of disciplines, this field is ever expanding. Sports are performed in contact with the “ground”; mountain running and biking, rock climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering. In the air: skydiving and base jumping. On water: surfing, white water kayaking and rafting, board sailing and diving. And also involve mechanical vehicles and animals! Some sports may be performed as a combination of few disciplines, such as water and air, e.g. kite surfing, and as so involve very unique mechanisms of injury. Sports events can also be merged to form a multi-sport race comprising many disciplines lastly from single to multi day races. Sports may involve competition with others, against the environment or with oneself, frequently the most ferocious adversary. Adventure sports are becoming increasingly popular in the general public and a few take these sports to an extreme level with the accompanying risks. Those that do, bring such time and dedication that they become professional in terms of training, preparation and finance. More and more people are enjoying adventure sports and unfortunately increased numbers are becoming injured as a result. Future research is progressing alongside the sport development, to allow the sport mechanisms, injury patterns and predisposing factors to be better understood. It is the hope of all researchers to make the sports safer without detracting from their adventurous nature. The aim and scope of our book would be to bring the sports medicine involved ineach of these sports into one volume. We would explain each sport including subtle similarities and differences, the common injury mechanisms, patterns of injury and treatment options. Additional chapters would include the mental characteristics of adventure racers and extreme sports athletes, together with the complexities of competing in hot and cold extreme environments. The book will present chapters focussing on the sports listed below, concentrating on published literature and newly formed studies by experts in the fields of injury epidemiology, prevention, management and rehabilitation.

No matter if you're running a 5k or a marathon, getting your training diet right is essential to maximise your performance. Renee McGregor, one of the UK's top sports nutritionists, explains the dietary plans needed to hit your goals as a runner. The science of what to eat, and why, is clearly and practically laid out for whatever kind of running you do. Meal plans are tailored to your running goals and cover what to eat on rest, easy, moderate and high-intensity training days. This includes how to get to grips with eating before, during and after running in the most efficient way for your body to fuel and restore itself, as well as marathon race meal plans and the top race day foods. Importantly, all of these meals and snacks are made for real people with real lives.

Introduces some of the world's most extreme athletes, including a brother duo of desert marathoners, a disability team of off-road automobile racers, and a world record-holding long-distance cyclist.