Nowhere Near First: Ultramarathon Adventures from the Back of the Pack

I read ultrarunning books for motivation as I go farther in my training. Generally it works well. There is some demotivation in this one. The author gives us details about race day issues to avoid, and some other practical knowledge. His bragging about how nerdy he is can get a little tedious, and his frequent remarks about how much pain he is in makes a case for avoidance of the whole thing. However, his determination is impressive and a common theme among back-of-the-packers and elites alike. I would recommend other books before this one, but I'm glad I read it.

I absolutely loved this book! It is probably the best running memoir I have read. As a trail runner, it's easy to get discouraged reading things about and by the elites, but Cory's experience as a back of the pack runner is super relatable. This book is hilarious and inspiring. I highly recommend picking it up.

Truly my favorite book ever. I have read Nowhere Near First countless times, and will download the audio book to listen to during long races. It makes me howl with laughter, sad at times, and always makes me want to get out and run. I made the leap from half-marathons to Ultra Marathons after reading this book, because Cory convinced me that I, too, could do it. I ran the Across The Years 48 hour race last year (and will again this year) solely because Cory made it sound so amazing. And it didn't disappoint. Cory is humble, self-deprecating, kind, insightful, and inspirational. I wish I lived closer so his awesomeness could rub off on me. Whether you run or not, Nowhere Near First is a worthy read.

Two years ago I began running with the goal of a completing 1 mile. Fast forward to this year, I purchased Cory’s book prior to running my first ultra (50 miles). Nowhere Near First is hands down one of the most helpful pieces of reading I did while preparing. By sharing his stories he answered so many questions I had about training, race day preparation and what to expect mentally. I had read a lot of other books written by elite athletes and I had a hard time relating. That is the best part of Cory’s story is that he is constantly challenging himself, even when it’s hard. He also doesn’t sugar coat what it feels like to go through really long events and suffering. Suffering is part of the process and he embraces it. Every chapter is like its own story and it flows extremely well. If you start small, even with 1 mile, running an ultra can be possible. Cory’s book continues to inspire me to challenge myself to see what my limits are. I will continue to go back to his book as a reference as I train for my first international trail race and a 100K in 2018.

Nowhere Near First is light and entertaining, but is this a serious, substantial ultra running book? No, it is not. IRON WAR, 80/20 RUNNING, Born to Run, Eat & Run, Reborn on the Run, RUN for Your Life, and NORTH are serious ultra running books. Nowhere Near First is not in the same more serious vein as the aforementioned books, but the author’s irreverent-he envisions a world where there is no Celine Dion supermarket music-and funny ultra-costumes-anecdotes, pictures like the one of Corey riding the trike in the grocery store, and race stories will probably make you laugh, feel Iike hitting the trails or my favorite, asking a patient of his -he is a medical social worker at a dialysis center- to buy some burgers and fries for him because he’s bonking after a race but only cars can go through the drive through. Run on sentences intended. LOL.

What sets Cory's book apart from similar running memoirs is his ability to tell a story in a way that doesn't feel forced - it's like heading out for a run on the trails with a friend, just talking about life, running, and everything in between. Cory is so...relateable. Oh sure it's amazing reading the adventures of runners like Jurek or Dean or Roll, but it's hard to read a story about what it's like to be suffering while leading Western States or Badwater 135 and know what that feeling is like. But reading about being stuck on a trail at night, or jumping into a van to escape thunderstorms - I know what that feeling is like.Though I think that Cory would probably bristle at the term "elite," the fact is that he is an elite runner. You do not complete the Badwater 135 without being an elite runner. Yet it's an approachable kind of elite, even though that's a bit of an oxymoron. Cory's not writing about fueling his runs with chia seeds or listing off the powders and tinctures in a smoothie that would make the witches of MacBeth say "Whoa, you're putting that in there?"I gave his book to a running friend of mine, a guy who runs but hasn't ventured longer than a half marathon. He handed the book back to me the next day - after staying up late reading it - asking what trail races were happening soon. That's the effect of Nowhere Near First - it's a book that makes you want to go out and punch through a wall and then race a cheetah. But in a way that it actually seems like it could happen.Cory's writing style makes for a quick read, a verbal runner's high if you will, pages flipping along. It's an impressive debut, walking readers through his life and touching on some of the adventures along the way.It's a great gift for the runner (or wanna be runner) in your life.

I just finished reading Nowhere Near First by Cory Reese and loved every page. I felt every emotion during his ultra adventures! He is funny and very relatable! I have laughed and snorted during lunch at work, I have gotten tears in my eyes during down time at work, and I have been inspired! As a runner, we all search for our limit and think we have found it only to have to go searching for it again! Running has brought me to highs/lows I have never thought possible and I have only began! I have only done one ultraMarathon but I know that there will be more!"Races take us to the deepest, darkest recesses of pain, loneliness, and despair. But as dark as those moments can become, there is an equal and opposite reaction of pride, satisfaction, and overwhelming happiness that comes after a race." Cory Reese

An excellent read, talking through the highs and lows of some pretty brutal ultra running. Cory’s writing style is engaging, funny and gives you hope that you could do what he could. Nowhere near first is a great story of one man’s strength and determination.

I loved this book. Cory Reese is an ordinary guy with a passion for running and an extraordinary amount of determination! He gives detailed accounts of some of the ultramarathons he's taken part in, talking honestly about how they felt and how hard they were. By the end of the book I felt inspired to run more ultras and disappointed the book wasn't longer!

Loved this book, funny and entertaining all the way through, with some tough stories about real life issues and how to deal with them.Great read.

Lovely, positive, uplifting and modest. A gentle and heartfelt glimpse into the world of ultra running. Slightly worried about Cory's diet though!

What stood out for me is the lovely supportive relationship Cory and his wife have. It's super important to have the ones you love be positive and allow the space for their partner to grow, fall, stand up and grow some more.The fact that it took Cory years, circulating between a yearn to run, failing, quitting, then yearning again before he developed his mojo around running & eventually ultra running, is an awesome feat of persistence. What stood out for me was his wife never put him down, nor did she discourage him to give up, tease him about his previous unsuccessful attempts.This book was an enjoyable read.