Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard - by Ken Rideout (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

Born into a broken family in Somerville, Massachusetts, 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 corrections officer 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 harbored dreams far beyond the confines of his upbringing.

Ken eventually broke free from the gritty streets of Somerville to the high-stakes world of Wall Street, where he carved out a successful career with top firms like Cantor Fitzgerald and Crédit Agricole. 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.

Review Quotes

"A LESSON IN STAYING ALIVE INSIDE AND GROWING--PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY...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 D. Huberman, Ph.D., Stanford School of Medicine, and host of Huberman Lab, one of the world's most listened-to podcasts

"A GRIPPING MEMOIR OF AWE-INSPIRING DETERMINATION. If I'm walking down a dark alley with my life on the line, I'm picking Ken Rideout as the dude I'm going to war with."
--Reggie Miller, member of the NBA Hall of Fame and five-time All Star

"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

"A POWEFUL, UNFLINCHING LOOK at how our hardest moments become our greatest source of strength. Rideout shows us that true toughness isn't about projecting toughness but about stepping directly into the discomfort."
--Steve Magness, bestselling author of Do Hard Things

"UNEXPECTEDLY TOUCHING... an invitation to turn hardship into direction and love into strength, but also, to remember that everything that matters--purpose, peace, connection--lies on the other side of hard."
--Gabby Reece, pro volleyball player, model, podcast host

"RAW, RIVETING, AND DEEPLY HUMAN. [This book] will leave you inspired to face and outlast your life battles."
--Sahil Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Types of Wealth

"A CROWD-PLEASING KNOCKOUT. Rideout is that opponent you never want to face, someone who can take immense pain and never, ever gives up....If you want a megadose of inspiration, start turning these pages."
--Dustin Poirier, former UFC interim lightweight champion

"PROOF THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE...Rideout reminds us that the only thing harder than facing your past is outrunning it--somehow, he does both."
--Turney Duff, New York Times bestselling author of The Buy Side

"WILL GET YOU THINKING ABOUT WHY YOU'RE NOT WORKING HARDER...Ken Rideout is that rare human who can be colossally determined one minute, and the next, reaching down to help a fallen competitor."
--Cameron Hanes, bowhunting icon and bestselling author of Endure and Undeniable

"ENGROSSING, MOVING, ENERGIZING. A book that will inspire you to try something hard."
--Trey Hardee, Two-Time World Decathlon Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist

About the Author

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.