Running Hot by Lisa Tamati – A Memoir of Grit, Ultra-Endurance & Triump

Running Hot by Lisa Tamati – The Book That Started It All

At 21, Lisa Tamati was told her running days were over.

A crippling back injury. Chronic asthma that had nearly killed her as a child. Doctors who said she should find a different dream. A small-town girl from New Plymouth who had no business being on a start line anywhere, let alone in the most brutal races on the planet.

She ignored all of it.

Running Hot is the story of how a stubborn, asthmatic kid from Taranaki became one of the world's most accomplished ultra-endurance athletes — not through talent or privilege, but through sheer bloody-mindedness and a refusal to be told what she couldn't do.

It starts with heartbreak. A volatile relationship with an Austrian boyfriend took Lisa across Europe, Scandinavia, and Africa — running, cycling, paddling, and surviving by the skin of her teeth. From dodging bears in Canada to cycling the Danube to almost dying of dysentery in the Sahara, these weren't luxury adventure holidays. They were raw, dangerous, and often terrifying.

Then came the Libyan Desert.

An unassisted crossing that changed everything. Something cracked open in that desert — a love of sand, heat, suffering, and the strange peace that comes when you strip life back to nothing but forward movement. That crossing set Lisa on a path that would take her to the start line of Badwater — the world's toughest foot race, 217km through Death Valley in 50-degree heat — where she became the first New Zealand woman to compete alongside legends like Dean Karnazes and David Goggins.

But this book isn't just a race report. It's the whole picture.

The small-town childhood. The family that held everything together. The relationships that fell apart. The injuries that should have ended her career. The moments of absolute despair and the stubborn voice that said get up, keep going, you're not done yet.

Lisa writes the way she runs — honest, direct, nothing held back. There's no false modesty here. No polished athlete narrative. Just a woman who found out what she was made of by pushing herself to places most people would never go.

What readers say:

"A strong, endearing and very personal account of one woman's growth into extreme sports athleticism."

"It felt like I was reading a story from a friend. She was honest and real. I couldn't put her book down."

"I was given this book during a challenging time in my life. Reading it gave me the much-needed kick in the bum."

"Inspiring! Makes you realise if you are determined enough and do the work required you really can achieve what maybe initially seems out of reach."

Who this book is for:

If you love real adventure stories — not sanitised, sponsored ones — this is for you. If you've ever been told you can't or you shouldn't — this book will make you want to prove them wrong. If you're a runner, an adventurer, or just someone who needs reminding that an ordinary person can do extraordinary things — pick this up.

This is the first book in Lisa's trilogy. Running to Extremes continues the journey through the Gobi Desert, the Sahara, and the Himalayas. Relentless tells the story of her greatest challenge — fighting to save her mother's life.

Signed copies available — contact support@lisatamati.com for personalisation requests.

Hear Lisa's stories on the Pushing the Limits podcast: https://www.lisatamati.com/ptl-podcast/