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 athlete famous for running ultramarathons, which are races much longer than a normal marathon. He is also an author and a public speaker. For many years, he was one of the best ultramarathon runners in the world.
Jurek has won some of the toughest races on Earth. These include the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run seven times in a row, the Spartathlon in Greece three times, and the difficult Badwater Ultramarathon twice. In 2010, he set a new American record by running 165.7 miles in just 24 hours. That's like running at a speed of one mile every 8 minutes and 42 seconds for a full day!
In 2015, he set another record by running the entire 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail in the fastest known time. Jurek has been a vegetarian since 1997 and a vegan, meaning he eats only plant-based foods, since 1999.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Scott Jurek grew up in Proctor, Minnesota. His family, who are partly of Polish heritage, spent a lot of time outdoors. Through hunting, fishing, and camping, Jurek learned to love nature from a young age.
He started running on trails as a kid. In high school, he began running more seriously to train for Nordic skiing. At first, he didn't enjoy it. But after spending summers running on trails, he discovered a new passion. In 1994, a friend challenged him to run the Minnesota Voyageur 50 Mile race. Even though he had never run a marathon before, he finished in second place.
Jurek was a top student and was the valedictorian of his high school class. He went to the College of St. Scholastica and earned a bachelor's degree in Health Science and a master's degree in physical therapy.
A Career in Ultrarunning
While in college, Jurek kept competing in the Minnesota Voyageur 50 Mile race, winning it three times from 1996 to 1998. After graduating, he moved to Seattle and started competing in races all over the country.
Winning the Western States
In 1999, Jurek entered the famous 100-mile Western States Endurance Run for the first time and won. He went on to win this race for a record seven years in a row (1999–2005). In 2004, he set a new course record of 15 hours and 36 minutes.
Conquering the Toughest Races
Jurek didn't just stick to one race. He traveled the world to compete in and win many other events.
- Badwater Ultramarathon: In 2005, just weeks after winning Western States, he won the Badwater Ultramarathon. This race is known as one of the world's hardest because it takes place in extreme heat. He won it again in 2006.
- Spartathlon: He won this 153-mile race in Greece three years in a row (2006, 2007, 2008).
- Hardrock Hundred: He won this challenging mountain race in 2007 and set a new course record.
Running with the Tarahumara
In 2006, Jurek traveled to Mexico's Copper Canyon to race against the native Tarahumara people, who are famous for their long-distance running ability. This trip was featured in the popular book Born to Run, which made Jurek even more famous. He returned in 2007 and won the race.
Setting a 24-Hour Record
On May 14, 2010, Jurek set a new U.S. record for the longest distance run in 24 hours. He ran 165.7 miles (266.6 km) at a world championship event in France, earning a silver medal for himself and helping the American team win a bronze medal.
The Appalachian Trail Challenge
In 2015, Jurek took on one of his biggest challenges: setting a speed record on the Appalachian Trail. The trail is about 2,200 miles long. He finished in 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes, breaking the previous record by just three hours. His celebration at the end caused some issues when he was given citations by park rangers for breaking park rules. He later paid a fine for one of the citations.
Running Philosophy
Jurek believes his plant-based diet is a major reason for his success. He says it helps him perform better and recover faster. He stopped eating meat in 1997 and became fully vegan in 1999. He was inspired to change his diet after seeing how poor nutrition affected the health of his family and patients.
His mother, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was young, has been a great source of inspiration and strength for him, especially during his long races.
Jurek has written two books about his experiences. His first book, Eat & Run, became a New York Times bestseller. His second book, North, is about his record-setting run on the Appalachian Trail.
Major Accomplishments
- Held the U.S. record for distance run in 24 hours (165.7 miles) from 2010 to 2012.
- Won the 153-mile Spartathlon race three times in a row (2006–2008).
- Won the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run (2007) and held the course record.
- Won the Western States Endurance Run seven times in a row (1999–2005).
- Won the Badwater Ultramarathon twice (2005, 2006) and held the course record.
- Named North American Male Ultrarunner of the Year four times by UltraRunning Magazine.
- Set the speed record for the Appalachian Trail in 2015 (46 days, 8 hours, 7 minutes).
Personal Life
Scott Jurek lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife, Jenny, and their two children, Raven and Evergreen. Besides running, he enjoys yoga, cycling, hiking, and Nordic skiing. He is also a skilled amateur chef and loves to cook plant-based meals.
See also
In Spanish: Scott Jurek para niños
