Author Jared Beasley and 80/20 Publishing Release the Story of Al Howie and the Wild Origins of Ultrarunning

May 6, 2026

Ultradistance Runner Al Howie Once Ran 221 Marathons in 3 Months, Then Disappeared

May 6, 2026 — New York, NY, USA /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – 80/20 Publishing announces the release of In Search of Al Howie: The Man Who Ran Forever by author and journalist Jared Beasley. In Beasley’s critically acclaimed book, the author tracks down Al Howie, a legendary ultrarunner of the 1980s-1990s who disappeared mysteriously after a career of epic transcontinental runs, beer-fueled world records, and an unprecedented 50 ultramarathon wins. Beasley is author of the publisher’s bestselling 2025 release, The Endurance Artist, which focuses on the infamous ultramarathon race creator, Lazarus Lake, the Barkley Marathons, and backyard ultrarunning.

Part sports narrative, part detective story, In Search of Al Howie unpacks a golden age of multi-day running while tracking the sport’s most enigmatic icon—the ultrarunner Al Howie. Al Howie covered stupefying distances to outrun addiction, an international manhunt, and his own crippling fears.

In 1991, Al Howie ran 5,800 miles in three months. He set a record running 4,500 miles across Canada and days later won a 1,300-mile backyard ultra in New York. In total, Al Howie ran the equivalent of 221 marathons in three months in 4-oz racing flats. He was a legend among the world’s first ultrarunners. No one covered more ground. Then he vanished.

Years later, journalist Jared Beasley set out to find him. In Search of Al Howie: The Man Who Ran Forever is the critically acclaimed story of what he uncovered: ultrarunning’s wild past, astounding multi-day races, bizarre aliases, beer-fueled world records, fake IDs, heroin, Interpol, a multinational kidnapping.

This jaw-dropping story about the original extreme athletes will fascinate runners of all levels, especially those familiar with the Barkley Marathons, backyard ultras, ultrarunning stars like Kilian Jornet, Christopher McDougall’s best-seller Born to Run, and races like UTMB, Leadville, or Western States. Interest in ultrarunning is booming; race finishes have grown 345% since the sport gained recognition a decade ago.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jared Beasley is an author and journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Runner’s World, Trail Runner, Canadian Running, and Ultrarunning. Beasley is a longtime columnist for Ultrarunning magazine and lives in New York City with his wife and dog, D.B. Cooper. Learn more at jaredbeasleyny.com.

MEDIA RESOURCES

Beasley is available for interviews in print, podcast, and video and for events in selected locations. Media review copies of In Search of Al Howie are available for a limited time. Excerpts from the book are available for republication in print and online with advance, written permission of the publisher. Also available are archival 1980s aesthetic photographs that are highly engaging on social media. Book covers and author headshots are available in this media resources folder. Contact the publisher for excerpt permissions, photographs, and social-friendly imagery. Renee Jardine, Publisher, 80/20 Publishing, renee@8020books.com

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

80/20 Publishing is a boutique publisher specializing in works that explore the world of endurance sports–from the science of training to inspiring stories. Built on the success of best-selling author and coach Matt Fitzgerald and his partnership with 80/20 Endurance, our catalog of guides taps world-leading experts, coaches, and writers to chart a course toward better performance, deeper passion, and a richer understanding of the human spirit. Learn more at 8020books.com.