Book Review: Endure by Alex Hutchinson

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

As a long distance runner, I've always been fascinated by the subject of endurance. Especially because running long distances has never come easily to me. While I was able to train for and run several marathons, I never understood the science behind the training. Why is the long run 20 miles? Why do some runners do more than one long run? Is carb loading really necessary?

I trained for my PR marathon using an unconventional combination of running and interval training in the CrossFit box. My coach pushed me hard, hoping to get in my head--in a good way. It worked. When naysayers dissed me, I always commented that "endurance is endurance".

As it turns out, I was right. There's also a mind/body connection. Endurance isn't as simple as it might seem.

I've been a long time fan of Alex Hutchinson, who has been writing his Sweat Science column first for Runner's World and now at Outside Magazine. Being a skeptic of bad science, I have always appreciated his very thorough analysis of the research on all things running. When I saw that he was releasing a book on endurance, I was really looking forward to reading it. I knew that Endure would be thoroughly researched and after reading it, I am not disappointed.

"The limits of endurance running, according to physiologists, could be quantified with three parameters: aerobic capacity, also known as VO2max, which is analogous to the size of a car's engine; running economy, which is an efficiency measure like gas mileage; and lactate threshold, which dictates how much of your engine's power you can sustain for long periods of time." ~ Alex Hutchinson, Endure

This quote from the book got me thinking: what kind of car would you compare yourself too? This sounds like a good Facebook quiz, right? I've been struggling with running and so let's see what kind of car I am right now: My engine size? Probably a 4 cylinder. My gas mileage? I'm not overweight and I run kind of slow, so I guess I'm pretty economical. My lactate threshold, aka my motor's endurance, is where I fall down. I'm like one of those cars that starts moving fine but eventually starts blowing smoke out from under the engine. Burning oil. I just got new shoes, but like tires, it's probably not going do much more than improve the ride. Since I use run/walk intervals, I guess my body is a 1972 Gremlin that starts and stops as it moves on down the road.

Putt putt putt
The Wendymobile

Anyways...it was great to be reading this book while learning about Eliud Kipchoge's decisive win and new marathon world record at Berlin last weekend. After watching Breaking 2 and Kipchoge's attempt to break the 2 hour finish time in the marathon, I was so intrigued. What makes Kipchoge so fast and so efficient? Hutchinson talks a lot about elite marathoners in the book. He was part of the Breaking 2 project and shares some of the findings and his thoughts about the outcome of that race. According to Hutchinson, Kipchoge's success isn't all physical. Tapping into the mind/body connection, Hutchinson describes Kipchoge as possessing "a serene and imperturbable confidence" and wonders which came first--Kipchoge's Olympic gold medal or the confidence.

Hutchinson shares anecdotes--about all levels of athletes as well as some of his own throughout the book, which is divided into 3 sections. In the first section, he reviews the history of endurance and gives background on different theories regarding endurance, the second section tells stories of athletes who have pushed their limits beyond what we mere mortals would think is normal, and in the third section, he shares research into pushing beyond the limits. Hutchinson is a big believer in the power of the mind and he shares his thoughts on that as well.

You might think that a book with all this science would be boring but with Hutchinson's engaging, narrative style, he makes it interesting. This isn't a training manual, but there is plenty of fuel for thought. Speaking of food, he does address fueling and hydration, which I found fascinating. Fans of the LCHF diet might want to read the science behind that diet. He's got a good sense of humor too, sharing a story about an explorer who got so dehydrated that his lips disappeared. But, Hutchinson comments with a bit of irony, the explorer "didn't get heat stroke". 

I completely enjoyed Endure and even if you're not a science nerd like me, there's something here for everyone who is interested in endurance. You might not find any answers, but then again, you might learn something that will help you run farther and longer. It's probably not a pair of shoes, though.

"Endurance is 'the struggle to continue against a mounting desire to stop.'" ~Alex Hutchinson, Endure.

Have you read Endure? What did you think? Have you read any of Alex Hutchinson's articles for Runner's World or Outside Magazine? What kind of car are you? Don't forget to share links to your reviews with me so I can post them here!

Next month, I'll be reading and reviewing What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen by Kate Fagan. This is the story of a young college athlete who struggled with depression and ended her own life. The book also explores the pressure and struggles that young athletes face, especially with the relentless onslaught of social media exposure. As a runner, a mom of a college athlete, and a pediatric nurse practitioner, I'm really interested in reading this book. I hope you are too. Bring tissues. I'll post my review on Friday, October 19.

I'm linking up with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five.