Relentless Forward Progress, by Bryon Powell

My measure for what makes a great running book is whether after I read it, or, better, in the middle of reading it, I'm ready to head out for a run.  Byron Powell's Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons hits that mark.  Runners may know Powell from his web site, https://www.irunfar.com/.  He's been a fixture in the ultrarunning and trail running communities for years.

I have run 11 ultras myself, and have picked up bits and pieces of tips from Powell and others over the years.  Many experienced runners won't find much of anything new in Relentless Forward Progress, but it's useful to me to have this information all together in a handy resource.  Like any book, the information is static, but Powell frequently references his web site, where content is regularly updated.

One of the strengths of RFP is the logistical planning.  If you have only run road races, and/or have only run races of marathon distance or shorter, you have to be aware that trail ultras are a different animal.  What do you bring, what do you wear, how do you deal with the variety of weather and lighting conditions you might encounter, what kind of support do you need to have?  These and other questions are answered (some in more detail than others).  Obviously, learning from your own experience is invaluable, but Powell distills his experiences, as well as many others who contribute short selections, and puts it all together here.

While he offers guidance on eating before and during an ultra race, and presents a variety of training plans for ultras, these two areas are, in my opinion, the most questionable to put in a book like this.  Every runner is so different that no plan can adequately meet the needs of all.  Powell clearly agrees with this sentiment, and presents enough information that most any runner can take the raw material here and develop his or her own successful training plans and race strategies.

It's been a few years since I've completed an ultra, but reading Relentless Forward Progress put a little fire in me to up my weekly mileage and sign up for a run.  Let's hit the trails!