Failure is an Option - Montane Dragon’s Back Race® book launch

Matt Whyman's Failure is an Option takes us on the journey of a mid-pack ultrarunner who sets out to discover how far he can go

Failure is an Option is the story of an average runner who leaves the morning parkrun behind to push towards 100-mile ultramarathons and beyond, ultimately setting his sights on the formidable Montane Dragon’s Back Race®.

The book is a celebration of a sport on the verge of becoming mainstream, a sport for runners of all abilities setting out to see how far they can go, and ordinary people united in chasing dreams and ambitions, no matter how tough things become. 

A car accident in 2018 threatened to put a stop to Whyman’s running all together but the book shows his journey to overcome this to pursue his goals. 

Whyman said: ‘We only have to look at the success of parkrun to recognise that running has become hugely popular in recent years. It's also served as a springboard for many runners to embrace their passion and extend their ambitions. I wrote Failure is an Option as a celebration of that journey. It's not a stream of success stories. While I often fall flat on my face in the process, I also forge friendships along the way with an increasing number of men and women from all walks of life striving to do something extraordinary.’

Sports presenter and ultrarunner Vassos Alexander said of the book: ‘What an absolute JOY! – perfectly captures the folly and ambition of this silly and wonderful sport.’

Failure is an Option is now available to pre-order from the Vertebrate Publishing website.