In this engrossing personal account, writer and sport scientist Jen Benson looks at the science and hidden history of ultramarathon running, and details her own attempts to finish a 100-mile race.
Jen lays bare the intensity, unexpected humour, and profound personal sacrifices that define the world of ultra-running, and delves into the fascinating science of ultra-endurance performance. Interweaved with this are the untold stories of trailblazing women from the last four decades, including Jasmin Paris, the first female finisher of the Barkley Marathons; Eleanor Robinson, the first woman to complete the 153-mile Spartathlon race; and Courtney Dauwalter, widely regarded as the greatest female ultra-runner of all time.
A testament to the feats of women that challenge the very limits of human capability, this is the remarkable sporting history of extreme performance hitherto untold.


