Across the world seemingly ordinary people are undertaking extraordinary challenges that will push their limits to achieve the improbable - by sea, bike, foot or sled. From the Badwater Ultramarathon in the unforgiving heat of Death Valley in California to the freezing wilderness of Alaska, these once-in-a-lifetime experiences are increasingly popular, and strangely addictive. For a certain breed of competitor, there is an unbreakable drive to see exactly how much the body and will can endure.Ultra-endurance events in the hottest, coldest, highest, most remote locations - these are no Sunday morning excursions but gruelling fights for survival and victory. This book looks at 50 of the most extreme marathons, triathlons, bike rides and other iconic endurance events from around the globe.The World's Toughest Endurance Challenges is a truly inspiring and beautiful collection of what we can achieve when racing to the limits. With full-colour stunning photography, coverage of every detail of these cruel challenges and including accounts of competitors who have lived to tell the tale, this book is a wonderful testament to those who face Mother Nature and survive.

A health-positive series that showcases exciting competitions for thrill-seekers,

Each year, thousands of competitors pit themselves against the elements, extremes of geography and their own psyches to take part in the world's hardest physical challenges. From the cold of the highest peaks to the unforgiving heat of the desert, by sea, bike or foot seemingly ordinary people are undertaking extraordinary feats. Whether seeking to prove themselves as athletes, or attempting to escape the humdrum, one thing they all have in common is an unbreakable drive to test the very limits of their endurance. Mental! looks at over 60 of the most extreme marathons, triathlons, bike rides and other iconic endurance events from around the globe, taking in the hottest, coldest, highest, and most remote locations in the world. With a detailed description of each event, featuring personal stories from the competitors, this book offers massive highs and excruciating lows, and shows just what we can achieve in pushing the boundaries o human endeavour.

Some competitors are able to crawl under barbed wire for miles. Others stay awake for days at a time. Readers will learn about some of the world's most extreme endurance competitions and how athletes train for them.

What do fierljeppen, running 156 miles in the Sahara desert and coal-carrying all have in common? They're just some of the wackiest, toughest and most extreme manpower races and challenges dreamed up by the human race. This fact-packed miscellany is bursting with all the details, statistics and anecdotes of the world's most unusual competitions (ever heard of bog snorkelling?) and intense endurance contests. Whether you're an armchair thrill seeker or you're wild enough to have an adventure or two under your belt, this book will entertain and inspire.

Each year, thousands of competitors pit themselves against the elements, extremes of geography and their own psyches to take part in the world’s hardest physical challenges. From the cold of the highest peaks to the unforgiving heat of the desert, by water, bike or foot seemingly ordinary people are undertaking extraordinary feats. Whether seeking to prove themselves as athletes, or attempting to escape the humdrum, one thing they all have in common is an unbreakable drive to test the very limits of their endurance. Are You Tough Enough? looks at over 60 of the most extreme marathons, triathlons, bike rides and other iconic endurance events from around the globe, taking in the hottest, coldest, highest and most remote locations, and the toughest, cruellest and wackiest challenges. With a detailed description of each event, featuring personal stories from competitors, this book offers massive highs and excruciating lows, shows just what we can achieve in pushing the bounds of human endeavour. A licensed UK Athletics endurance coach, Helen Summer has been involved in running for many years, both as a club and county runner. She has written for various publications including running magazines, women’s publications and the Food & Drink Guide.

Contestants have died, been maimed, and spiraled down into the nightmarish realm of madness. Half of them don't finish--in fact, only 200 racers have ever made it to the end. "Outside" magazine calls it "the toughest test of endurance in the world." RAAM (the Race Across America) is a bicycle race like no other. This epic race is the most brutal organized sporting event you've never heard of and one of the best-kept secrets in the sports world. Author Amy Snyder follows a handful of athletes before, during, and after the 2009 event, the closest and most controversial in history. "Hell on Two Wheels" is a thrilling and remarkably detailed account of their ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies. By experiencing the race from the perspective of the racers themselves, "Hell on Two Wheels" breaks new ground in helping us appreciate how such a grueling effort can be so cleansing and self-revelatory. This is more than just a race; it's a monster, a crucible, an unforgettable allegory about the human experience of pain and joy and self-discovery.