Failure is an Option

'We're not at parkrun anymore,' I mutter to myself, quietly longing for the presence of nice marshals in high-visibility vests.
This is a story of an average runner who sets out to discover just how far he can go. With the support (and misgivings) of his family, and aware that his quickest years are behind him, Matt Whyman leaves the Saturday morning 5k to push towards 100-mile ultramarathons and beyond. By slowing things down to run a very long way, he joins a growing number of men and women from all walks of life striving to do something extraordinary.
A newcomer to a world that can often seem off-limits, Matt finds his feet as an ultrarunner by learning the hard way. He battles monster hallucinations on endurance races spanning day and night, loses himself on tantalising trails across landscapes far from home, and forges bonds with fellow competitors in which small, kind festures mean more than any medal. Determined to touch the boundaries of his running world before it starts to shrink, ultimately Matt sets his sights on a six day mountain ultra that even hardened veterans to be the most formifable on earth: The Dragon's Back Race.
Brimming with good humour, honesty and joy, 'Failure is an Option' pits ambition against ability to uncover human truths that resonate with us all. A midpack competitor who could win prizes for enthuisiasm - if nothing else - Matt takes us on a journey far beyond huis comfort zone and with no guaranteed outcome of success. The results are entertaining from start to finish, often very funny and at times deeply moving.