Marshall Ulrich’s memoir goes on sale this spring from Avery/Penguin!

Running on Empty

An intimate, first-person chronicle of a prominent ultrarunner, mountaineer,
and adventure racer who, in the fall of 2008 and at age 57,
broke two transcontinental speed records.

This revealing personal story of running across the United States captures the raw and fascinating intensity of an extraordinary physical and mental effort. Ultimately, Marshall Ulrich completed the mind-bending and body-breaking equivalent of 117 back-to-back marathons in 52.5 days, running an average of more than 400 miles a week, gaining 84,430 feet in elevation, dealing with temperatures ranging from below freezing to the upper 90s, and crossing twelve states.

Yet it’s about more than a single sport, one contest, or an individual athlete. Running on Empty highlights the history of ultrarunning, reveals unexpected rewards and intense competition, and gives a surprising tribute to the power of friendship and love. 

The message of the book and the metaphor of the run are universal, whether you’re an athlete or not. It’s about facing forward and taking the next step. It’s about not flinching when the road gets rough or you miss a turn, and about finding another way when the bridge you planned to cross has collapsed. It’s about doing what you say you’ll do and not letting anything or anyone stop your progress. Ultimately, it is about facing the toughest challenges, enduring crushing setbacks, and finding fulfillment.

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Advance Praise for Running on Empty

Marshall is The Man. Definitively. His run across America at the age of 57 sealed that distinction forever. He’s living proof that endurance never sleeps, never gets old, never tires. Nothing can stop him, and that gives us all hope, gives us resolve to keep trying.

Dean Karnazes, acclaimed endurance athlete and bestselling author of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

Marshall and I go way back to the first Eco-Challenge in 1995. An athlete of astonishing grit both then and now, he never fails to push the limits of his sport, no matter what extreme endurance event he’s chosen. Running on Empty tells the story of Marshall’s greatest test: reading it, you get a sense of how tough this man is, but there’s also a bit of Everyman in Marsh. He’s an inspiration to all of us.

Mark Burnett, Emmy-award-winning producer of Survivor, Eco-Challenge, The Apprentice, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and others

Any book by Marshall Ulrich is bound to be riveting—the man has endured more, experienced more, accomplished more than you can imagine. You have to read it to believe it.

Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon and editor-at-large of Runner’s World

Some of the Other Places You Can Read Stories by Marshall Ulrich

Several articles in Marathon & Beyond, including:

Cover: September/October 2006 with feature “Transformation of an Adventure Runner: One runner’s journey from the farm to Mount Everest”

“When Out-and-Back Just Doesn’t Get It Done: The Desert Asserts an Allure That Can Make Runners Go to Extremes” about the Badwater Quad, January/February 2004

Cover: July/August 2000 with feature “My Most Unforgettable Ultramarathon (And What I Learned From It): Death Valley 1999” about the Badwater Self-Contained, Unaided Solo

Several “tips” articles in Trail Runner magazine.

A few “Getting Disciplined” pieces for Adventure Sports magazine: “Packing Your Backpack”(September 2004) and "Running/Trekking" (July 2003)

An essay for The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of My Feet: Tales From the World of Adventure Racing, ed. Neal Jamison, 2005, titled “I May Be a Stray Dog, But I'm Not Lost.”

More Praise for Marshall’s Writing

Marshall has contributed to dozens of magazines, and his adventures have also been featured in other people's articles, books, and films. Here are just some of the comments about his writing.

I much enjoyed your cover story [in the September/October 2006 issue of Marathon & Beyond]. It’s awfully hard to write about yourself and your accomplishments without coming off self-serving or maudlin; I thought you walked that tightrope nicely.

Willy Stern
Award-Winning Investigative Journalist
Former staff writer at Forbes and Business Week

I have been a subscriber to Marathon & Beyond since inception and have considered Marshall’s articles [Badwater Solo, Badwater Quad, and Transformation articles] to be among the best of that tremendous publication.

Steve Shepard
Former President
Houston Striders Running Club

Fantastic article in [the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of] Marathon & Beyond! Thanks very much for telling us about yourself. I have long been inspired by your exploits. One day soon, I will run Death Valley. I want to find what is out there, what you, Benyo, Provost, and others know already. One day ...

Bill Latter
Ultrarunner

WOW!! I kept thinking: not only can this guy survive incredible physical and mental demands, this guy can write! When Marshall retires from all this extreme physical endurance he should write for [a national magazine].

Michael Kane
Lawyer and Mountain Adventurer

Wanted you to know how much I enjoyed reading your latest story Transformation of an Adventure Runner [M&B Sept/Oct 06]. I ran in India with you back in 1993. We were there for the 100-mile stage race that Force 10 Expeditions put on that year. My, how much you have done since! I continue to try to get answers from inside. Not always an easy thing to do but always better than not trying.

Bill Fitzgerald
Ultrarunner

Marshall’s article in the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of M&B was excellent. What I like most about him is how genuine and open he is. I get the impression that what he shows the world is exactly who he is. If only more people were like that and realized what is really important in this life. His statement, “I realized that stepping outside of yourself and doing for others is the true essence of life” is a truth that many live their whole lives without discovering.  It is the relationships with others, the chance to do even the smallest thing to help someone, the positive impact you can have on others and they on you, that is important. Another good point was when Marshall answered the question about what you accomplish by summiting Mount Everest by saying, “Not much, unless you learn something along the way.” It is the journey that has meaning and there are so many journeys in this life that we have a chance to learn from and teach others, both positive and negative. Marshall’s article was very well-written and he has so much to teach others. He not only raises money for the Religious Teachers, but he follows their philosophy to “Go and Teach!”

Juli Aistars

RN, Ultrarunner