Extreme athletes triumph over the impossible, pushing far beyond normal limits. In Lessons From The Edge, Maryann Karinch examines how athletes like Olympic Gold Medallist Picabo Street, K2-expedition leader Heidi Howkins, and many others develop the physical conditioning and mental sharpness to cope with the intense competition and the grueling demands of their sports.

Through firsthand accounts, the athletesoffer insights into why they choose to live on the edge and the physical, emotional, and spiritual rewards their accomplishments bring. They focus on the qualities that spell success in any high-risk activity, including stimulating mental toughness, trusting intuition, channeling emotional energy, and rebuilding one's ego after defeat.

Lessons From the Edge covers the practical aspects of extreme sports as well, with the expert advice on nutrition, training, gear and dealing with pain. The ability to start sharp, concentrate despite distractions, and finish strong is important to all risk takers, from weekend hikers to board room warriors. Lessons From The Edge shows how to do all that.