Has anyone read, The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei by John Steve?

It's about an order of Buddhist monks in Japan whose practice is running. They're called the marathon monks of Mount Hiei. They start running at 1:30 A.M. and run up to 25 miles every day around Mount Hiei. Due to the mountain's high altitude they experience long cold winters, but the monks do not adjust their running schedule. They wear white robes when they run which is the color of death as a reminder that there is always a chance of dying on the way. When they run they carry both a knife and a rope with which to disembowel or hang themselves if they fail to complete their route. After running up to 25 miles a day for about 1000 days the monks starve themselves for nine days until they are at the edge of death. It is said that at the end they become extremely sensitive and "They can hear ashes fall from the incense sticks and smell food prepared miles away." Their sight is vivid and clear, and after the fast they come back into life radient with a vision of ultimate existence.

I havn't read it, but from what I read in another book that makes a reference to it, it sounds interesting enough to go find. Anyone here know anything about it?

I've not read it, but i saw a program on something very similar, Shingon Monks, and posted a bit about them:
Shingon Monks