Anywhere But Home: Adventures in Endurance

I just finished reading this book 'Anywhere But Home: Adventures in Endurance' by Anu Vaidyanathan. This has been an easy, pleasant and a very casual read. It was really refreshing to know that an Indian woman can go to such great heights in an endurance sport. Being a very amatuer runner myself, I am a bit exposed to endurance sports. So, it really surprised me that Anu took so many international travels, just to run/swim/bike in another country, not to mention hassle of carrying her bike along. I have been wondering about the financial implications of this hobby as well. I would never take my hobby sports to such an extreme level, but then that's why I am reading the book and Anu is the one being celebrated in the book. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a motivation to go many steps further in your endurance sports journey. I am impressed, but I may not try ironman myself. I don't think I am such a strong-willed person.

Though I enjoyed reading the book, I was looking for some tips or tried/tested ways that help you survive or prepare for ultraraces. During the whole journey, I kept looking at information that I could use during my runs, but I don't remember any such take-aways. With such a grueling schedule, back-2-back races, I was also expecting a chapter about Anu nursing an injury and then overcoming that (which never came).Probably she was injured sometime, but it is not mentioned in the book. I am not sure how she prepared her body for such extreme ends and what diets helped her. She also didn't follow proper sleep schedule and still aced these marathons. Iron-lady in true sense.  So, don't read this book if you expect to learn some insights about how ultra-athletes champion the ultraraces.

I was inclined to leave this book mid-way, but somehow pushed through it, which I don't regret.

Starting this journey to write about the books I read. Thanks Anu Vaidyanathan for being the first.