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HARD THINGS

A Powerful Memoir of Endurance, Identity, and the Trails That Change Us

In Hard Things, endurance athlete and coach Marc Hopkins invites readers into the punishing world of the Bigfoot 200 ultramarathon—where every mile strips away distraction and reveals something raw, honest, and deeply human.
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About The Book

Some Trails Test Your Body. Others Test Your Soul.

Mac Hopkins Hard Things

In Hard Things, Marc Hopkins chronicles his attempt to complete the legendary Bigfoot 200-mile ultramarathon through the unforgiving terrain of the Cascade Mountains. But the real challenge isn’t the race—it’s confronting the fears, anxieties, and emotional burdens he has spent a lifetime outrunning.

As Marc battles scorching heat, freezing river crossings, hallucinations, exhaustion, and isolation, the physical journey mirrors an internal one. Mile by mile, he unpacks the family dynamics, insecurities, relationship struggles, and relentless self-doubt that shaped him long before he ever stepped onto the trail.

Blending breathtaking descriptions of the Pacific Northwest wilderness with profound emotional honesty, Hard Things is both an adventure memoir and an intimate exploration of resilience, identity, and healing.

For readers everywhere who enjoy stories of endurance, transformation, and self-discovery, Hard Things offers a powerful reminder: The hardest distances are rarely measured in miles

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Mac Hopkins Hard Things

Praise for HARD THINGS

Relentless, immersive, and deeply human.

With a story that weaves seamlessly between the challenges of an epic trail run saga, flashbacks to the history that got him there, and ruminations on family, relationships, and himself, Marc Hopkins’s Hard Things sets a relentless pace that keeps you reading page after page.
Richard H. Moon
Author of To Conquer Death

Masterful storytelling filled with honesty and grit.

Master of metaphor, Hopkins captivates and enthralls us with the sights, sounds, scents, and bodily sensations of his perilous odyssey. We are right there.
Margaret Mandell
Kirkus acclaimed author of And Always One More Time: A Memoir

A moving exploration of what it means to endure.

Equal parts adventure narrative and emotional excavation, Hard Things explores why we push ourselves beyond perceived limits—and what happens when endurance is no longer about proving strength, but discovering truth.
Author Review
A memorable look at what motivates endurance athletes and the hazards of letting physical feats define your success.
Kirkus
Some of the most revealing and stirring moments occur in smaller admissions that many readers will recognize in themselves, not even in the dramatic medical emergencies or the brutal mountain climbs, as would’ve been expected.
Independent Book Review
Hard Things is a thoughtful, bruised, humane book about endurance, not as conquest, but as a way of listening to the life you’ve been trying to outrun. I’d recommend it to runners and endurance athletes, certainly, but also to anyone who has confused self-reliance with healing, or who needs a reminder that doing hard things doesn’t require becoming unbreakable.
Literary Titan

About The Author

Meet Marc Hopkins

Marc Hopkins is an endurance athlete, coach, and speaker.

Marc Hopkins is an endurance athlete, coach, and speaker who helps individuals and organizations move beyond perceived limits—both on the course and in life.

He has completed the Bigfoot 200, eight Ironman-distance triathlons, and more than 200 endurance events including marathons, ultramarathons, and long-distance triathlons. Drawing from decades of experience in leadership, coaching, and extreme endurance sports, Marc’s work explores resilience, accountability, identity, and honest self-examination.

Marc holds a BA in Philosophy from San José State University and an Executive MBA from Washington State University. Through his coaching and speaking, he has helped hundreds of people navigate challenges both athletic and personal.

He lives in the Portland area, where he trains year-round in the Pacific Northwest. When he’s not on the trails, he enjoys woodworking, reading, and creative projects.

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Marc Hopkins is an endurance athlete, coach, and speaker.

Begin the Journey

Hard Things is a powerful story For readers everywhere who enjoy stories of endurance, transformational journeys, and deeply human storytelling.

Whether you’re an athlete, adventurer, or someone simply trying to navigate life’s hardest moments, this book will stay with you long after the final page.

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Connect with Marc Hopkins

Interested in speaking engagements, coaching, podcast appearances, or media inquiries?

Marc Hopkins speaks on:

  • Six Steps to Completing Your 1,000 Mile Journey
  • Endurance vs. Enduring
  • Grit Gone Wrong
  • Mental toughness and self-examination
  • The lessons endurance sports teach about life
  • Uncovering your real "Why"
  • Avoidance of honest truths
  • And More...
Contact Marc for more topic ideas or to propose your own!