Where the Road Ends

Every year, countless runners, endurance athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts discover the sport of trail running. Whether they run for peace of mind, appreciation of nature, or competition, they find a sport unlike any other.

Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running captures the excitement, intensity, and appeal of the outdoors. From training and preparation to overcoming nature’s obstacles, it’s all here, accompanied by detailed instruction, expert insights, and stunning color photography.

Inside you’ll find these features:

• Techniques for running over dirt, sand, roots, and rock

• Equipment recommendations based on terrain, distance, and conditions

• Safety guidelines for navigation, injury, and water crossings

• Conditioning programs for all levels of runners

• Strategies for improving race-day performance

Whether you are an experienced road runner looking for new challenges or an extreme athlete pushing your physical limits, look no further than Where the Road Ends, the authoritative guide for conquering the trails, terrain, and conditions of the great outdoors.

In 2006 through a set of fortuitous encounters with trail runners, Meghan M. Hicks learned about the sport of trail running. In doing so, she realized that she could combine her formerly dueling loves of road running and exploring wild places on foot within one activity.

Meghan was the 2013 winner of the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, the world’s largest, oldest, and most competitive expedition-style trail running race. She has many other wins and podium finishes at trail races around the world.

Meghan loves the people, places, and races that compose the trail running community, and she’s passionate about telling the stories that define it. She is the senior editor of iRunFar.com, the world’s premier trail running website; a contributing editor for Trail Runner magazine; and a former columnist for Marathon & Beyond.

Hailing from Moab, Utah, Meghan is still most enthusiastic about using the sport as a means for fast-moving explorations of the earth’s wildest places.

Bryon Powell started running trails behind his parents’ house in central New Jersey more than 20 years ago, and he hasn’t stopped since. He’s twice finished in the top 10 at the Leadville Trail 100 Run, twice won the under-30 age group at the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, and finished the Hardrock 100. He still gets a thrill toeing the line at shorter trail races, too.

In 2009, his love for the trails and writing about them led Bryon to stray from the well-traveled path of a Washington DC attorney and begin working full-time on iRunFar.com. He’s previously written Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons in addition to many magazine articles on trail running. He’s a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine and an advisory board member at the American Trail Running Association.

He calls the trails above Moab, Utah, home. They make him feel like a kid again.

"Where the Road Ends links the search for performance, the knowledge about how our bodies and brains can run longer and faster, and the connection that trail running gives us to nature and the other runners of this wonderful community. Enjoy this journey!”

Kilian Jornet-- Six-Time Skyrunning World Series champion, Winner of the Western States Endurance Run and the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run

“Trail running is very individual. Everyone has a distinctive technique depending on background and experience. We all can learn and get inspired from Where the Road Ends.”

Emelie Forsberg-- Member of the Salomon International Team , World Cup Champion in Skyrunning Ultra Distance (2013, 2014, 2015), European Ultrarunning Champion (2015), World Champion in Skyrunning Ultra Distance (2014)

“Meghan Hicks and Bryon Powell provide a definitive guide to the when, where, and how of trail running. Where the Road Ends is a true trail runner’s guidebook. It will help you stay safe off the pavement and have the knowledge and confidence to maximize all that trail running has to offer.”

Rob Krar-- Two-Time Winner of the Western States 100-Mile Run

“Meghan and Bryon have tackled some of the toughest races on the planet and bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. Their book Where the Road Ends contains information gathered from years of living and breathing the sport. For anyone who wants to learn what trail running is all about, this is the essential resource.”

Stephanie Howe, PhD-- Exercise Physiology and Sports Nutrition, Coach, Sport Nutritionist, and Ultrarunner