Finding Ultra
Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the Worlds Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself

An incredible but true account of achieving one of the most awe-inspiring midlife physical transformations ever In October 2006, the night before he was to turn forty, Rich experienced a chilling glimpse of his future. Nearly fifty pounds overweight and unable to climb the stairs without stopping, he saw where his sedentary lifestyle was taking him. Most of us look the other way when granted such a moment of clarity, but not Rich. Plunging into a new way of eating that made processed foods off limits and prioritized plant nutrition and daily training, Rich morphedin mere monthsfrom out-of-shape midlifer to endurance machine. Ninety days into his physical overhaul, Rich left the house for a light jog and found himself running a near marathon. It was time to scale up his goals. How many of us take up a sport at age forty and compete for the title of the worlds best within two years?Finding Ultrarecounts Richs remarkable journey to the starting line of the elite Ultraman World Championship competition, which pits the worlds fittest humans against each other in a 320-mile ordeal of swimming, biking, and running. Following that test, Rich conquered an even greater one: the Epic5 Challengefive Ironman-distance triathlons, each on a different Hawaiian island, all completed in less than a week. Thisis more than an inside look at a series of jaw-dropping athletic feats or a practical training manual for those who would attempt a similar transformation. Yes, Richs account rivets and instructs, providing information that will be invaluable to anyone who wants to change their physique; but this book is most notable as a powerful testament to human resiliency, for as we learn early on, Richs life has posed numerous physical and social challenges, including a fierce battle with alcoholism. UltimatelyFinding Ultrais a beautifully written portrait of what willpower can accomplish. It challenges us to rethink what were capable of and urges us, implicitly and explicitly, to go for it.