Blueprint - Build a Bulletproof Body for Extreme Adventure in 365 Days
For anyone unfamiliar with Ross Edgley, bluntly put - he’s a beast. With several books now under his belt, all of which are worth a read, Blueprint is his latest and of those I’ve read one of the more structured guides to physical optimisation and resilience. Edgley is both a student of the body and a practitioner in testing its limits. From running a marathon with a tree strapped to his back to swimming around the entire UK coastline, he’s become a master of extreme endurance.
In Blueprint, he shifts his focus slightly from conquering challenges to preparation for them. The book explores what it takes to rebuild and condition the body for physical adventure, using a year-round approach to training and recovery. Edgley breaks the year into phases, showing how to align your training with the seasons or the specific timing of your next event.
He interweaves lessons from his past challenges throughout, including the infamous “tree marathon” and his training of a group of UK celebrities for a swim across the Channel. These stories are less there for spectacle and more to illustrate the underlying principles of adaptation, discipline, and physiological understanding.
A key theme is that the body is a complex system, and while the book provides frameworks, everyone should tailor them to their own physiology and goals. It’s packed with practical exercises and tips for improving performance and recovery, with particular emphasis on open-water swimming techniques and endurance conditioning.
I came to Blueprint at a time when I was shifting my own focus toward recovery and long-term optimisation. After years of high-volume training, I’m far from Ross’s level but deeply relate to his philosophy of sustainability over pure intensity. The book left me with a range of new ideas, from simple adjustments to detailed methods worth researching further. Whether you’re aiming to increase your physical output or simply recover more intelligently, there’s a wealth of value in this one.
If you’re interested in hearing more about Edgley’s past feats, his earlier books cover those in greater depth. But if your goal is to learn how to build endurance, strength, and resilience in a sustainable way, Blueprint is an excellent addition to your library.
Who’s it for?
If you’re already a high-volume or performance-focused athlete, this book will resonate deeply. But it’s equally valuable for those returning to training in mid-adulthood after a sedentary period. Anyone preparing for an endurance challenge, whether running, swimming, or multi-discipline will find practical, actionable advice here, both for building capacity and recovering effectively afterward.