A Long Path

An ultrarunner’s fast-paced narrative into the wilds of New York’s Hudson Valley, as he attempts to set a new record for completing the Long Path, a 350-mile hiking trail that links New York City and Albany. Have you ever considered running 350 miles in nine days? Kenneth A. Posner did just that when he completed a record-setting run along New York’s Long Path, a 350-mile hiking trail that stretches from New York City to Albany. Running the Long Path’s page-turning narrative combines the thrill and challenges of Posner’s extreme endurance feat with the stunning natural beauty and deep historical significance of New York’s Hudson Valley. A one-time casual runner, Posner shares his excitement of developing into a trail-runner and eventually an ultrarunner, as well as the pursuit of a “fastest known time”—a new dimension of extreme trail running, where some of the sport’s fastest and most experienced athletes vie to set new speed records for important trails. Hikers, walkers, and runners will appreciate his detailed descriptions of planning, pacing, gear selection, nutrition, hydration, and navigation, which will help them prepare for their own adventures on the trails. Interspersed with the running adventure, Posner relates the interesting stories of the Long Path and the places it passes through, which include some of New York’s most important parks and preserves and the distinctive mountains and forests they protect. Throughout the book, he channels the voices of famous New Yorkers associated with the Long Path—Walt Whitman, John Burroughs, Theodore Roosevelt, and Raymond Torrey—who express their appreciation of the natural beauty of the region. Running the Long Path is the story of what ordinary people can accomplish with a little determination and a lot of grit. Whether you walk or run, you will find inspiration in Posner’s tale. An experienced ultrarunner, Kenneth A. Posner is the author of Stalking the Black Swan: Research and Decision Making in a World of Extreme Volatility. He lives in New York City and works as chief of strategic planning and investor relations at Capital Bank Financial Corp.

From the author of the internationally bestselling The Art of Hearing Heartbeats comes this charming collection of folktales that offer a window into Burma’s fascinating history and culture. Since 1995 Jan-Philipp Sendker has visited Myanmar (Burma) dozens of times, and while doing research for his novels The Art of Hearing Heartbeats and A Well-Tempered Heart, he encountered numerous folktales and fables. These moving stories speak to the rich mythology of the diverse peoples of Burma, the spirituality of humankind, and the profound social impact of Buddhist thought. Some are so strange he couldn’t classify them or identify a familiar moral, while others reminded him of the fairy tales of his childhood, except that here monkeys, tigers, elephants, and crocodiles inhabited the fantastic lands instead of hedgehogs, donkeys, or geese. Their morals resemble those of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen, illustrating how all cultures draw on a universal wisdom to create their myths. The Long Path to Wisdom’s evocative stories run the gamut of human emotions, from the familiar to the shocking, and are sure to delight fans of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats as well as those newly discovering the magic of Sendker’s incandescent writing.

There are times when you get more than you expect. Chris Anderson is having one of those times. After receiving an intriguing email, the unassuming college professor jets off to Europe to inspect a French manuscript reported to reference the Knights Templar. Quickly drawn into the research, the obsessive Templar scholar realizes that the enigma before him is actually the start of a quest. Unwilling to let go, he heads out across Europe chasing one clue after another, and slowly puzzling out the path that leads to the hiding place of the lost Templar treasure. Shadowed at every step by a ruthless assassin; Anderson follows the twisting path that somehow bring him back to North America. With a small group of good friends in support, Professor Anderson follows the path to its end, and the most unlikely of hiding places. The assassin, seeing the group has located the treasure, confronts Anderson and his friends in a bid to seize it for himself. The small town treasure hunters must outwit their adversary or end up casualties of the chase. But, if they do survive, what will they do with the treasure. Starting in the restrained world of academia and moving out into the hurried locals of Europe and America, The Long Path follows a puzzle built by generations of loyal Guardians. Anderson stands and protects the past in a climax fitting of any Knights Templar battle.

An ultrarunner’s fast-paced narrative into the wilds of New York’s Hudson Valley, as he attempts to set a new record for completing the Long Path, a 350-mile hiking trail that links New York City and Albany. Have you ever considered running 350 miles in nine days? Kenneth A. Posner did just that when he completed a record-setting run along New York’s Long Path, a 350-mile hiking trail that stretches from New York City to Albany. Running the Long Path’s page-turning narrative combines the thrill and challenges of Posner’s extreme endurance feat with the stunning natural beauty and deep historical significance of New York’s Hudson Valley. A one-time casual runner, Posner shares his excitement of developing into a trail-runner and eventually an ultrarunner, as well as the pursuit of a “fastest known time”—a new dimension of extreme trail running, where some of the sport’s fastest and most experienced athletes vie to set new speed records for important trails. Hikers, walkers, and runners will appreciate his detailed descriptions of planning, pacing, gear selection, nutrition, hydration, and navigation, which will help them prepare for their own adventures on the trails. Interspersed with the running adventure, Posner relates the interesting stories of the Long Path and the places it passes through, which include some of New York’s most important parks and preserves and the distinctive mountains and forests they protect. Throughout the book, he channels the voices of famous New Yorkers associated with the Long Path—Walt Whitman, John Burroughs, Theodore Roosevelt, and Raymond Torrey—who express their appreciation of the natural beauty of the region. Running the Long Path is the story of what ordinary people can accomplish with a little determination and a lot of grit. Whether you walk or run, you will find inspiration in Posner’s tale. “Ken Posner not only takes us along as he achieves a great yet agonizingly difficult athletic accomplishment, but at the same time he displays brilliantly the beauty and history of the Hudson Valley, as well as the value of the strenuous life.” — Philip McCarthy, American 48-hour running record-setter (257 miles) “On his solitary run, Ken takes us into the woods to meet the remarkable characters who shaped the history of the landscape. While setting a Long Path record, he nonetheless pauses to appreciate and settle us into its subtle natural wonders and profound majesty. Ken gives us a magical private tour to reveal the soul of the Catskills.” — Joan Burroughs, President, John Burroughs Association “Here it is!—The Intelligent Man’s Guide to Insanity. Why would Ken Posner, an otherwise successful financial analyst, run 350 miles from New York City to Albany over some of the roughest trails in the Hudson Valley, sleep in the wild with bears, snakes, and poison ivy, just to do it and maybe do it faster than anyone else has? Read why in this journey of natural wonders, personal discovery, and the compelling curiosity of the running temperament. P.S. He lives to tell the tale!” — Kathrine Switzer, author of Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports and winner of the New York City Marathon “It’s hard to imagine an outdoor adventure that starts at the George Washington Bridge. But Ken’s 350-mile thru-run was exactly that, without the assistance of course markings, aid stations, a dedicated support crew, or even sometimes a navigable trail. This is an entertaining and informative read.” — Andrew Skurka, author of The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools and Techniques to Hit the Trail “Decades of conservation work have produced a remarkable long distance trail that links together some of New York’s wildest and most beautiful places. Whether you are an ‘ultrathoner’ or an armchair hiker (I have been both), you will find this book a captivating and lyrical journey.” — Robert Anderberg, Vice President and General Counsel, Open Space Institute “When you pursue your dreams, you may discover you have deep wells of strength that you never knew. And you may find yourself inspiring others to chase their dreams, too.” — Lisa Smith-Batchen, coach and motivational speaker “Ken Posner inspires the already inspired. We are both advocates of the fastest known time (FKT). Ken Posner’s FKT over the entire 350-mile Long Path highlights the importance of this historic and significant trail. His record accomplishment, despite extreme challenges, highlights the fact that Ken Posner is truly one of the most versatile, talented, and toughest distance runners of our generation!” — Frank Giannino, two-time Transcontinental Runner and Guinness World Records holder “Some of us seek out unique challenges. We’re looking not only to test our limits, but to forge connections with the earth and honor those who came before us. Ken follows in these footsteps, sharing his fast-paced and meaningful story in Running the Long Path.” — Marshall Ulrich, author of Running on Empty: An Ultramarathoner’s Story of Love, Loss, and a Record-Setting Run Across America

Life on the farm becomes much more interesting for David when he discovers a penguin nest nearby. The subsequent presence of an interesting old Maori man doubles the attraction of this special place that David has discovered. It soon becomes clear to the reader that Old Tama is a ghost. David begins to suspect as much as he discovers more about the old man's tribal history. Learning why Old Tama's ghost has returned to these lands leads David to some important self-discoveries. Winner of the Esther Glen Award for Fiction.

In a painful year of personal and national sadness, can walking bring about healing? The Long Path to Motherhood is a nature memoir that explores how engaging with nature through walking can help us recover from difficult times in our lives.