MSI Press Blog

  An ultramarathon is what happens when the finish line stops being the point. It’s any race longer than the classic 26.2 miles — usually 50 kilometers, 100 miles, or, for the truly curious, several days across deserts, mountains, or city loops. The idea isn’t new. Ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides ran 246 kilometers from Athens to Sparta to summon help against the Persians — the original “ultra.” In the 19th century, endurance walking contests filled arenas. By the 1950s, runners began testing how far the human body could go before the mind took over. Today, ultramarathons span continents: South Africa’s Comrades Marathon , Japan’s Ultra‑Trail Mt. Fuji , America’s Western States 100 , and Morocco’s Marathon des Sables through the Sahara. Distances range from 50 km to 3,100 miles — yes, miles — around a single block in Queens, New York. Ultrarunners don’t chase speed; they chase continuance . They run through nightfall, weather, and doubt, discovering that endurance isn’t abou...

  Today's publisher's pride is  Racing against Time  by Jeffrey Weiss, which has reached #6 in triathlons and #87 and  running and jogging on Amazon. Book Description: In  Racing Against Time , Jeff Weiss shares the story of his late middle-age transformation.  Weiss went from running a first 10K race at age 48 to becoming an Ironman and ultramarathoner by his late 50s.  Along the way he discovers the extraordinary physical and emotional benefits that flow from chasing ever-increasing fitness goals.  Weiss’s journey shows us that we have the power to influence how we age, that goal-setting and adventure are not solely the province of the young.  At a time when so many of us are looking for ways to increase our health span – that portion of life that we spend in good health – Weiss’s story shows us one way to get there.   Keywords: midlife fitness transformation, running after 40, Ironman after 50. ultramarathon training in your 50s,...

  Today's publisher's pride is  Racing against Time  by Jeffrey Weiss, which has reached #6 in triathlons and #87 and  running and jogging on Amazon. Book Description: In  Racing Against Time , Jeff Weiss shares the story of his late middle-age transformation.  Weiss went from running a first 10K race at age 48 to becoming an Ironman and ultramarathoner by his late 50s.  Along the way he discovers the extraordinary physical and emotional benefits that flow from chasing ever-increasing fitness goals.  Weiss’s journey shows us that we have the power to influence how we age, that goal-setting and adventure are not solely the province of the young.  At a time when so many of us are looking for ways to increase our health span – that portion of life that we spend in good health – Weiss’s story shows us one way to get there.   Keywords: midlife fitness transformation, running after 40, Ironman after 50. ultramarathon training in your 50s,...

  Today's publisher's pride is  Racing against Time  by Jeffrey Weiss, which has reached #41 on Amazon in  hot new releases/running and jogging, #83 in midlife self-help, and #130 in travel biographies and memoirs. Book Description: In  Racing Against Time , Jeff Weiss shares the story of his late middle-age transformation.  Weiss went from running a first 10K race at age 48 to becoming an Ironman and ultramarathoner by his late 50s.  Along the way he discovers the extraordinary physical and emotional benefits that flow from chasing ever-increasing fitness goals.  Weiss’s journey shows us that we have the power to influence how we age, that goal-setting and adventure are not solely the province of the young.  At a time when so many of us are looking for ways to increase our health span – that portion of life that we spend in good health – Weiss’s story shows us one way to get there.   Keywords: midlife fitness transformation, runnin...