A great read for ultra-marathon newbies.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, 100%. In fact, I've tweeted it (and had a chat with @IraRainey as well as a few other #ukrunchat runners), posted to social media and spoke to two friends who I feel would love this book. I will continue to promote this book to all my runner friends. It's well written, relatable to people who have been caught by the running bug and shows that you have to take charge, make things happen and live each day to the max.

What other book might you compare Fat Man to Green Man to, and why?

I'm new to audio-books, but I will certainly be looking at Dean Karnazes 'Ultra-marathon Man', Ulrich Marshall's 'Running on Empty' and other ultra-marathon/running books.

Have you listened to any of Nick Rawlinson’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No. It was my first. The quality of recording was acceptable. I enjoyed Nick's typical Englishman's performance. I prefer this to the american voice-over. Lets see, I will download a few more and hopefully will have more specific feedback. Nice that the writer/vo is native. That's important I guess.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, although it ended up in two sittings over two days. However, I made chapter 21 on day 1.

Any additional comments?

I was told about this book by my bro and running partner after a sports massage he had had recently. The lady suggested it was an inspirational read and that the guy who wrote it was also from Bristol, like us. My bro had mentioned the Green Man Ultra a few times, rather ambitiously, so it seemed a must read.

After the journey we have both been on, loosing 20 stone between us, going from fat to fit in 2 years, also undertaking running challenges including 2.5 marathons and now training for an ultra-marathon (currently week 9 of 16 - Race to the Stones in July 16/17 2016) reading (well, listening to) this book was just incredibly inspiring!

I was going to download from Amazon when I had the option to listen through Amazons 'Audible' service. Within a few minutes it was available yesterday afternoon and I started to listen on headphones. I was hooked. From the intro through the chapters, I couldn't switch it off. Loading the dishwasher, cooking dinner and even a run yesterday, I cracked through 20 chapters and finished off today in the garden, enjoying the sunshine. I've been tweeting the author @IraRainey as he is now my new running inspiration. The book, story and challenges this man has been through are so very similar to my own experiences. He has a great attitude to life and has pushed himself to the max, in a way that shows we can all achieve if we choose. Just like me, he changed his lifestyle and decided to set a few 'stretched' challenges and this book is all about his journey, the running bug and a very realistic account of one mans journey to success. Having a dream, believing you can achieve that dream, working hard against all odds and everything that life throws at you to achieve it.

This book will give you not only inspiration, but an insight into what it takes to undertake challenges, albeit running focused, but it does show that anything is possible if you want it bad enough, whilst showing you that balance required in life to sustain such a demanding program. It also shows you how do deal with anything that gets in your way, even things out of your control which was a very powerful ending to a fabulously inspiring read. Well done Ira, thank you for writing this book, confirming that we can push through whatever comes in our way and continue to live life to the max. You only get one change so make it count ;-)

All the best to you, your family and friends and keep up the fantastic work. My bro and I will keep you posted on how we get on with our first Ultra and let you know if we decide to sign up for the Bristol Green Man Ultra next year...we're temped. Let's see. Mark.

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8 people found this helpful

Great inspiring listen!

I really enjoyed listening to Ira's story which was not only inspiring and motivating but humerous and moving at the same time. I tend to buy a new pair of trainers each spring and do a couple of laps of my local woodland before giving up yet again and falling back into regular habits of bad food and too much wine so listening to this book has made me realise I need a bigger challenge....Green Man anyone?😄

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5 people found this helpful

Heartwarming Informative True Story

Funny, truthful, riveting, inspiring an feel good factor. One mans story of attempting a first ultra. Brilliantly done.

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3 people found this helpful

It's fine but you won't remember it in a month's time

Nothing wrong with the book per se but I've personally enjoyed other similar 'fat to fit' type books a lot more than I did this one. David Clark, Rich Roll, David Goggins etc. All have publications with significantly more depth and thought provoking ideas than this that I would recommend much more strongly than this.

I personally was not a fan of the narration so would recommend checking out a sample first before purchasing

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2 people found this helpful

By the end I was disengaged

Any additional comments?

To begin with, I really enjoyed the delivery of the book, and was drawn in from the start with Ira Rainey's self deprecating humour and seemingly relatable tale.

However, as the story progressed I found myself becoming disengaged from his story as I felt his self deprecation was unfounded and simply a ploy to enable him to blow his own trumpet. The extent to which I could relate to the "fat man" runner became very minor by the point at which he describes his 5K PB (I won't give a spoiler, but it ISN'T a fat man's time). This leaves the book in a weird position since the stories aren't as inspiring as those of superhuman ultra runners like Scott Jurek, nor are they as close to home as those of the likes of Eddie Izzard - hence the 3 stars.

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2 people found this helpful

Dull story of a typical everyday runner

A dull blow by blow account of uneventful training and running. I'm sure it all meant a lot to the author but it's not worthy of going into print.

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2 people found this helpful

Annoying performance

The performance of this book is really annoying. The story is interesting, but the sing-song delivery and repeated shocked over-emphasis of anything remotely surprising detracts from the experience.

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2 people found this helpful

fun listening

through the fun story you will understand that if you keep it fun, daily, competitive and do it with friends you can achieve even a ultra. thank you!

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2 people found this helpful

A very pleasant and enjoyable listen.

A very pleasant and enjoyable listen. I am inspired to plan and start my own adventure. The narration was good (relaxed, engaging and funny).

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2 people found this helpful

Ultra!

If you like running your like this! An ordinary man who had a not so ordinary year!

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2 people found this helpful