Scott Jurek facts for kids
Jurek in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado (2014)
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 October 1973 Duluth, Minnesota |
| Residence | Boulder, Colorado |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 170 pounds (77 kg) |
| Website | http://www.scottjurek.com |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Event(s) | Ultramarathon |
| College team | College of St. Scholastica |
Scott Gordon Jurek (born October 26, 1973) is an American ultramarathon runner, author, and speaker. An ultramarathon is any race longer than a traditional marathon (26.2 miles).
Throughout his career, Jurek was one of the best ultramarathon runners in the world. He won many famous races, including the Hardrock Hundred (2007) and the Badwater Ultramarathon (2005, 2006). He also won the Spartathlon three times (2006, 2007, 2008). He holds a record seven wins at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (1999–2005).
In 2010, Jurek set a new US record for the longest distance run in 24 hours. He ran 165.7 miles (about 266.6 kilometers) in France. This earned him a silver medal. In 2015, Jurek set a new record for running the entire 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail.
Jurek has followed a vegetarian diet since 1997. He became a vegan in 1999, meaning he eats only plant-based foods.
Contents
Early Life and Running Start
Scott Jurek grew up in Proctor, Minnesota. He spent a lot of time outdoors, hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. This helped him feel connected to nature from a young age.
He started trail running as a child. However, he didn't run long distances until high school. He began running to train for Nordic skiing. At first, he didn't like running. But after spending summers running on trails, he found a new passion for it.
In 1994, a training partner dared Jurek to run the Minnesota Voyageur 50 Mile race. He had never even run a marathon before. He finished second in his first ultramarathon attempt!
Education and Early Career
Jurek was the top student in his high school class. He went to the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. He earned a bachelor's degree in Health Science in 1996. Then he got a master's degree in physical therapy in 1998.
During college, Jurek kept running the Minnesota Voyageur 50 Mile. He won the race three times in a row from 1996 to 1998. He even set a course record that still stands today.
After college, he moved to Seattle. There, he started competing in bigger races across the country. In 1998, he won two 50-mile races. He also placed second in his first 100-mile race, the Angeles Crest.
Amazing Ultramarathon Achievements
Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
In 1999, Jurek won the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run on his very first try. This was a huge achievement. He beat a five-time champion and became only the second person from outside California to win the race.
He went on to win Western States seven times in a row! This is a record. In 2004, he set a new course record, finishing in 15 hours and 36 minutes.
Other Major Wins
Over the next few years, Jurek won many other races. These included the Leona Divide 50 Mile (four times) and the Diez Vista 50K (twice). He also won the Miwok 100K three times.
In 2004, he completed the "Ultra Running Grand Slam." This means he finished four of the toughest 100-mile races in the United States in one year. These races were Western States, the Leadville 100, the Vermont 100, and the Wasatch Front 100.
Jurek also traveled to Hong Kong. He helped his team win the Oxfam Trailwalker 100K team trophies in 2001 and 2002. They set new course records both years.
Badwater and Spartathlon Victories
In 2005, just weeks after winning Western States, Jurek set a new course record in the Badwater Ultramarathon. This race is known as one of the world's hardest. It takes place in extreme heat, sometimes over 120°F (49°C). Jurek won by staying cool, even stopping to sit in a cooler of ice!
He won Badwater again in 2006. That same year, he also won the Spartathlon for the first time. This is a 153-mile (246-kilometer) race from Athens to Sparta in Greece. He won the Spartathlon three years in a row. In 2007, he also won the Hardrock Hundred, setting a new course record.
Running in Copper Canyon
In 2006, Jurek went to Mexico's Copper Canyon. He joined a group of runners, including author Christopher McDougall, for a race against the Tarahumara people. The Tarahumara are known for their incredible running abilities. Jurek narrowly lost to the fastest Tarahumara runner, Arnulfo Quimare. But Jurek returned in 2007 and won the race.
McDougall wrote a book about this trip called Born to Run. The book made Scott Jurek very famous.
Breaking Records and New Challenges
On May 14, 2010, Jurek broke the US record for distance run by an American in 24 hours. He ran 165.7 miles (266.6 kilometers) in France. This earned him a silver medal.
In 2014, Jurek and Rickey Gates became the first North Americans to complete the Bob Graham Round. This is a tough running challenge in the UK's Lake District, which must be done in under 24 hours.
In May 2015, Jurek tried to break the speed record for hiking the Appalachian Trail. This trail is about 2,189 miles long. On July 13, 2015, he finished the trail, breaking the old record by three hours! His celebration at the finish line led to some citations from park rangers about the group size and park rules. Most of these charges were later dropped, but he paid a fine for one.
Scott Jurek's Philosophy
Jurek strongly believes in eating a plant-based diet. He thinks it's good for health, ethics, and the environment. He says his diet is key to his amazing athletic performance and how quickly he recovers.
He stopped eating meat in 1997 and became fully plant-based in 1999. He was motivated by seeing how poor nutrition affected his family and his physical therapy patients.
Jurek's mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was young. He says she is his main source of strength, especially during tough races like the 24-hour run.
Jurek has also written books. He co-authored a memoir called Eat & Run in 2012. It became a New York Times bestseller. In 2018, he wrote North with his wife Jenny Jurek. This book is about his record-breaking run on the Appalachian Trail.
Major Accomplishments
- Held the United States record for 24-hour distance (165.7 miles) from 2010 to 2012.
- Won the Spartathlon 153-mile race three times in a row (2006–2008).
- Won the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run (2007).
- Won the Western States Endurance Run seven times in a row (1999–2005). He held the record time (15:36:27 in 2004) until 2010.
- Won the Badwater Ultramarathon twice (2005, 2006). He held the course record for two years (2005).
- Finished first three times (2002–2004) and second three times (2001, 2005, 2006) in the Miwok 100K Trail Race.
- Won the Leona Divide 50 Mile Run four times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004).
- Won the Diez Vista 50K Trail Run twice (2000, 2003).
- Was named UltraRunning Magazine's North American Male Ultrarunner of the Year four times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007).
- Set the speed record for completing the Appalachian Trail (about 2,200 miles) in 46 days, 8 hours, and 7 minutes in 2015.
Personal Records
- 24 hours: 165.7 miles
- 100 Mile Trail: 15h36m, Western States Endurance Run 2004
- 100 K Road: 7h28m, GNC 100K 2001
- 50 Mile Trail: 6h21m, Ice Age 50 Mile 1999
- 50 Mile Road: 5h50m, GNC 2001
- 50 K Trail: 3h04m, Bendistillery 50K 1999
- 26.2 Mile Road Marathon: 2h38m, Austin Marathon 2006
Personal Life
Jurek lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife Jenny. They have two children, Raven and Evergreen.
He enjoys running, yoga, cycling, hiking, Nordic skiing, and trail maintenance. Jurek is also a talented amateur chef. He loves cooking plant-based meals inspired by his travels around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Scott Jurek para niños
