In April, they took on the first such race in their lives in the heart of the American wilderness. After thousands of kilometres of preparations in all weather conditions and circumstances, they braved one hundred kilometres of mountains and deserts.

The book Ultrablues describes the journey from a daring idea to its realisation. This was not just about running, the body and physical strength. It was most of all a journey towards understanding of life and a maturing, which turned these determined individualists into comrades and a real team. The book depicts the journey and development of three personalities, three pretty obstinate individualists, towards the core of their being and moving. The aim of the three authors was to tell the public how a person has to prepare for such a trial, which allows for no half measures. The book takes its reader into the intimate world of three creative and quite extreme people following their life credo – to go beyond apparent limitations, to defy comfort and be a part of something that joins and connects.

Samo Rugelj: "Last year we got the idea to go on an ultra running adventure and write about things going through our heads and under our feet. We started to prepare, and all the time we kept writing. My two buddies and I gradually increased our running distances. We had run and trained through the months that followed, and in the spring we went to America to the start of a 100-kilometre mountain marathon. Somehow we managed to complete it. We came back to Slovenia in the middle of April and started to compile our writings into a book titled Ultrablues. Running and marathons have brought me new adventures throughout my life. Marathons are a sort of stage on which my life has been taking place in recent years. This year's Ljubljana Marathon is no exception. Everything is already in place for another drama. I hope it has a happy ending, a lot of things are still unclear."

Boštjan Videmšek /a passage from the book/: "We have come to the edge of the end of the road. So here we are, regardless of the team spirit. We remain dependent mostly on our own subconscious, the unmerciful tricks of the mind, which time and again present a person's maturity with new trials. Wherever and whenever. The first kilometres passed and I was still crying. In sheer joy of life. In complete respect of creation – one kind or another. In gratitude. Like when you catch a glimpse of a gigantic ray in the Indian Ocean or a snow leopard in the mountains of Pakistan. Like in every moment of eternity I have ever witnessed. I was embraced by beauty. I was gently falling into a running zen. This is not a race, it is a journey."

Žiga X Gombač /a passage from the book/: "An ultramarathon does not make us better, but brings out the person we really are. This is essential and summarises our feelings: an ultra bares you and forces you to face things whether you like it or not. This may be the reason why only a negligible percentage of people engage in this type of running. It is sometimes difficult to look ourselves in the eye and admit our weaknesses and deficiencies. But if we are aware of them, we are able to re-address them and try to limit them at least to the extent that we do not harm the people who really care about us."

Vesna Žarkovič, SINFO