Ultra Running for Normal People (A Book Review)
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I have a new favorite running book!
Ultrarunning for Normal People: Life Lessons Learned On and Off the Trail by Sid Garza-Hillman
Inspiring, humorous and down-to-earth, this book is a great resource for new and experienced runners alike, and tells wonderfully entertaining and informative stories about life on the trail and the journey to running an ultra.
Ultra Running for Normal People is written by Sid Garza-Hillman, the Wellness Programs Director at the Stanford Inn and the race director of the Mendocino 50K.
Part humorous memoir, part guide for those interested in attempting an ultramarathon for the first time, Ultrarunning for Normal People lays out the struggles, benefits, and life lessons that await anyone who’s ready to dive into the world of ultrarunning.
I love how simple and straightforward Sid’s advice is— he makes running advice approachable and enjoyable to learn, and the lessons he shares come from years of practical, real-life experience.
As he says, “Trail ultrarunning is truly its own animal. The nature of this singular experience is wonderful but also intimidating and fear-inducing. For most Normal People, it is a vast unknown. But, as I hope each reader who picks this book up believes, it is something that Normal People can attempt and even conquer.”
Some of the practical training tips that Sid details in the book include:
Paying close attention to and managing stress during training
When to take days off
How many miles to get in each week and when and how to taper before a race
Mixing up your running routine with trail and road, hill repeats, strength training, interval runs, hikes, and downhill runs
How and why to run on tired legs
Nutrition, eating well, fiber, micronutrients, and how to get quality calories in
The importance of sleep and breathing well and how they impact your training
Of course there are a lot of other great topics covered, too— and plenty of awesome trail stories shared. I highly recommend this book!
About Sid Garza-Hillman
Sid Garza-Hillman is the author of four books: Approaching the Natural: A Health Manifesto, Raising Healthy Parents: Small Steps, Less Stress, and a Thriving Family, Six Truths: Live by These Truths and Be Happy. Don’t and You Won’t, and the soon-to-be-released Ultrarunning for Normal People: Life Lessons Learned On and Off the Trail. He holds a BA in Philosophy from UCLA, is a public speaker, podcaster (What Sid Thinks Podcast), certified nutritionist & running coach, Oxygen Advantage breathing instructor, and founder of smallsteppers.com. He is the Stanford Inn & Resort’s Wellness Programs Director and Race Director of the Mendocino Coast 50K trail ultramarathon.
About Stanford Inn by the Sea
The Stanford Inn by the Sea, located on the Mendocino Coast of Northern California, boasts carefully designed interiors, luxurious spa experiences, outdoor adventure through their onsite Catch A Canoe and Bicycles Too, an onsite organic farm, breathtaking coastal views, comprehensive strategies for joyful living at their Mendocino Center for Living Well (helmed by Sid Garza-Hillman, Wellness Programs Director, Certified Nutritionist, and Events Director), and serves top-tier vegan food at Ravens, one of North America’s most acclaimed vegan restaurants. The Inn manifests the owners’ commitment to live mindfully so that all might live well, and offers exquisite opportunities to reconnect with one another, nature, one’s creativity and joyfulness.
