From the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty―and maybe the planet’s most determined underdog―an inspiring tale of resilience, redemption, and personal transformation.
_________________________________________________
‘A lesson in staying alive… Ken Rideout’s life story is extraordinary not just for what he’s achieved, but for how deeply it reflects the struggles we all face.’ – Andrew Huberman
“I came across one of your posts and you were saying ‘you gotta exercise like your life depends on it because it does.’ I’m right there with you, brother. I appreciate you, man, I appreciate all your hard work... I’m gonna hit the gym and do my best to run through a wall now.” – Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
‘Unputdownable…one of the most compelling, improbable, and motivating tales of metamorphosis I’ve ever read.’ – Rich Roll, host of the Rich Roll podcast and author of Finding Ultra
“Ken Rideout is the rare motivator whose message is backed by a life of extraordinary experience. Social media is a grossly oversaturated space, filled with hucksters and pseudo-inspiration. Ken Rideout is the thunderclap that drowns out that noise with essential lessons from his truly unbelievable life of hardship and achievement.” – Casey Neistat
‘Raw, riveting, and deeply human…will leave you inspired to face and outlast your life battles.’ Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Types of Wealth
________________________________________________
Born into a broken family just outside of Boston, Ken Rideout grew up in a household persistently scarred by drugs and crime. At just eighteen, he found himself working as a guard in a prison where his stepfather had been incarcerated, and his brother would later serve time. Despite the bleak expectations set by his family, Ken harboured dreams far beyond the confines of his upbringing.
Ken eventually broke free from the gritty streets of his youth to the high-stakes world of Wall Street, where he carved out a successful career. Yet, beneath the veneer of success, he battled a decade-long addiction to opioids, spending his hard-earned wealth on pills. The turning point came with the adoption of a daughter from overseas―a wake-up call to become the father and man he always dreamed of being.
Running became Ken’s salvation. With unwavering determination, he willed himself to run vast distances. In three years, Ken transformed from a ‘running nobody’ to the world’s fastest marathoner over fifty. His mantra: Win―or die trying. In the book, Ken shares his awe-inspiring achievements, including, at age fifty-two, winning the Masters (50+) Marathon World Championships in Chicago and conquering the Gobi March ultra-marathon, one of the world’s toughest races.
Through sheer resilience and grit, Ken rewrote his story. By publishing this book, he will now help readers to re-write their story too. Learn what actually matters and why the timing is never perfect to make a change. This book is for anyone standing at the edge of a decision – sobriety, career shift, health reset – wondering if it’s possible. The answer?: Everything you want is on the other side of hard. You'll be glad you started here.
Ken Rideout is the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty and a former prison guard, Wall Street trader, and opioid addict. His life story has been chronicled in such publications as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Outside. Since getting sober more than a decade ago, he has won some of the world’s toughest races, including, at age fifty-two, the Gobi March―a 155-mile, self-supported race across the sweltering Gobi Desert in Mongolia―and a few months later, the Masters (50+) Marathon World Championships. In addition to his many running victories, he has completed more than ten Ironman triathlons. In 2018, Ken founded capital solutions firm Camrock Advisors. More recently, he founded talent agency Rideout Sports and Entertainment. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Shelby, and their four children.
