Jared Beasley
Nonfiction author and journalist. My 2019 book, "In Search of Al Howie," was awarded the Kirkus star for literary merit and was chosen by Kirkus as one of the best indie books of the year.
I've written for Runner's World, Ultrarunning, Canadian Running, Trail Runner, and Like the Wind magazines. My nonfiction subjects have ranged from enigmatic mega-distance runners and iron caskets to skyjackers and lost artists. I have a degree in theatre and literature from the University of Alabama.
Works

In Search of Al Howie
The story of Al Howie is a remarkable adventure into the heart of the longest races in the world with one of modern history’s most eccentric ultra-marathon runners.
If you ran 2225 kilometres from Winnipeg to Ottawa, you’d be crazy. If you then showed up to a 24-hour race and started knocking back beers, you'd be stupid. If you then ran the 195 kilometre, 24-hour race, won it, and ran all the way back to Winnipeg, you’d be Al Howie. At 46 years old, he ran 4,500 miles across Canada in the world-record time of 72 days, 10 hours, and then followed it up two weeks later by breaking another world record (which happened to be his own) in the longest certified race on Earth, the Sri-Chinmoy 1,300-miler. He was a mega-distance alien, and for the runner, promise was always beyond some finish line he could never reach. Forever broke, he eluded Interpol with fake names and aliases, accused of kidnapping his own son. His life teetered on the edge of sanity and his running feats pushed the bounds of reason.
Based on interviews with Howie himself during his final two years (he died in 2016), this book takes the reader into the incomprehensible distances of a legendary runner and the amazing and complex world of an astounding figure in modern sports history.
Runner's World - Navajo Rancher and Pup who saved Him
Treeline Journal - My Time with El Diablo
Hebron Herald - Emil Krauth - The Butterfly Man
Trail Runner Magazine - Rob Apple
Runner's World - 20 Years Ago He Was in Immigration Purgatory. Now He’s One of the Fastest 40-Somethings Alive.
Irish Echo - New York’s “Black Sheep” plans one last epic run.
Canadian Running - Canada's Mega-Ultraman
Canadian Running - The Mega-distance Aliens of Time Gone By
Ultrarunning Magazine - The Heart of the South
Runner's World - NYC Nurse Loses Her Leg After Being Hit by a Car During the Heart of the South Race.
Hebron Herald - Conrath Mystery Painting
Runner's World - Al Howie Excerpt
The Black Sheep
Awards and Recognition
- Kirkus "Best of 2019" for "In Search of Al Howie."
Press and Media Mentions
- Kirkus Review: "In Search of Al Howie"
- Treeline Journal Review: "In Search of Al Howie"
- Outer Edge Magazine Review: "In Search of Al Howie"
- Athletics Illustrated Review: "In Search of Al Howie"
- The Ormsby Review: "In Search of Al Howie"
- Adventure Journal Review: "In Search of Al Howie"
- Ultrarunner Podcast
- Author Stories Podcast
- Bad Boy Running Podcast
- Runner's World UK Podcast
- The Shakeout Podcast
- CBC Interview