Extreme sports Books

Book SynopsisRunning marathons back-to-back, sleeping by the side of the road, giving presentations to remote schools that had never been visited by their own kinsfolk, this is the remarkable story of personal endurance that gives an engrossing insight into the people and wildlife of South America. It is the story of two everyday runners, Katharine and David, who decided to take on a continent and learn how to run again - barefoot, pushing their bodies and minds to levels they had never considered possible in a bid to become the first in the world to run the length of South America, to give a voice to the wildlife and wildernesses they adore.Running laid them bare, stripped them of the shell people journey within, so all they had to rely on was their own bare feet. Yet this very vulnerability provided the key to unlocking communities who would fling open their doors, tuck them under their wings and whisper their secrets. Amazing animals accompanied them: gigantic vaulting stick-insects; cackling macaws who wheeled and pirouetted in the sky, desperately trying to gain a better view of them; and a giant anteater whom they stalked through a snake-infested swamp, so they could stand within an arm's length as he devoured termites upon the end of his long sticky tongue. It was also an animal, if one of the most diminutive, that nearly succeeded in ending their dreams of conquering the continent - an ant! But when their joints and muscles were screaming, when they couldn't stand the sight of one another and when prickly heat, blisters and tropical ulcers infested their skin, it was the wildlife and wildernesses that pulled them through. Day after day, for months on end, running from freezer through desert and into the biggest rainforest on earth, they survived hurricane-force winds, near 100% humidity, swarms of biting insects and some of the most crime-ridden places on the planet. The expedition nearly cost them their marriage, health, sanity and lives. But somehow, they made it to the other end of the continent, 6,504 miles and 15 months later, when they splashed into the warm and much-dreamed of Caribbean Sea.Trade Review`...Katharine relates the story of the run in fascinating details and with frankness and humour. She is also...a quality artist, which is demonstrated in the beautiful sketches of wildlife throughout the book. Running South America is an enthralling book and without doubt one of the best I have read’. Wildlife Detective, The blog of Alan Stewart -------------------- `...Katharine and David Lowrie (both 39) have made a journey that makes many a marathon runner be envious of envy or awe. ... If you are travelling in nature for so long as Katharine and David experienced numerous funny and absurd, but also dangerous moments. In her book...Katharine describes the various adventurous moments’. TravelBook -------------------- `...reading Katharine’s powerful and exciting book about her remarkable adventure is certainly a white-knuckle experience. It takes you deep into the heart of a mysterious continent where you are invited to watch the landscape unfold on a human scale one step at a time. It is a thrilling account punctuated by bizarre encounters with incredible native wildlife...’ Daily Express -------------------- `This really is an inspiring book ...a lovely book which will have you flinging off your shoes and embracing life’. Burnley Express, Rebecca Hay -------------------- `If ever a feat of daring and endurance deserved a book it was the adventure on which Katharine and David Lowrie embarked’. Chronicle Live -------------------- 'I am awe-inspired and deeply impressed'.--Dean Karnazes, World Ultra Marathon Runner 'A gruelling and challenging run for a vitally important cause... an extraordinary marathon'.--HRH Prince of Wales

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Book SynopsisNo bicycle repair was ever made easier by turning your bike upside down. White shorts are for other people. A helmet perched on the back of your head is perfect if you ride your bike backwards - These and a host of other handy pointers jostle for attention within this A - Z guide to being a cyclist. It's an essential manual and source of wisdom for those who would be kings of the road. Many pitfalls await the unwary middle-aged-man-in-Lycra, but fear not, for the Guide is here to steer you through choppy waters. No more passing out halfway up a hill. No more ridicule in the work place. No more hurty knee. And no more sock crimes. Pearls of wisdom are scattered throughout this book like rose petals before a princess on her wedding day. For instance, who could deny that life is too short to drink bad coffee? That a noisy bike is marginally more annoying than a whiney toddler? Or that style should ever be sacrificed for speed? Written by experts who know everything there is to know about cycling, yet never forget that there is nothing funnier than a rabbit playing a trumpet, How to be a Cyclist is mandatory reading for all bike riders.Trade Review'A pleasant balance of wit and wisdom, served up with some high production values and gorgeous photography' * Podium Cafe *'a great present' * Scotland Outdoors *

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Book SynopsisIn Extreme Scotland, award-winning adventure-sports photographer Nadir Khan takes us on a jaw-dropping tour through Scotland's epic mountain landscape. Nadir showcases his work with some of the best adventure athletes in the world - including Ines Papert and James Pearson - in a portfolio that has placed him at the forefront of adventure-sports photography in the UK. From the icy walls of Ben Nevis's frozen north face to the raging seas of the north coast, Scotland plays host to world-class adventure sports of every discipline. Ice climbing, kayaking, ski-touring, trail running, surfing, mountain biking and rock climbing are all captured beautifully in this fitting testament to Scotland's outstanding landscapes and adrenaline sports. Alongside contributions from climber and author Nick Bullock, Tom Livingstone, Elana Bader, Mike Pescod, David Canning and Stuart B. Campbell, Nadir gives us an insight into his photographic inspirations, and shares insights and approaches to composition and other elements of his photography.Table of ContentsForeword by Hamish MacInnes; Introduction; Winter; The Hurting; The Rain by Nick Bullock; Ice Climbing by David Canning; Crème de Violette by Tom Livingstone; The Choice by Elana Bader; Making Decisions by Mike Pescod; One Day by Elana Bader; Spring; Composition; Summer; Feeling Connected; Are You? by Elana Bader; Gear; Autumn; Touching Rock by Elana Bader; Coire ’n Uaigneis by Stuart B. Campbell; Acknowledgements.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Combining lucid prose and informed by critical scholarship, Kidder elucidates the meanings and cultures of a twenty-first century sport from the streets of the megacity to the hand-held social media device. Timely and sound, Parkour and the City has much to offer to the community." -- Paul Gilchrist * coeditor of The Politics of Sport *"In this fascinating book, Kidder reveals the complex ways in which parkour participants engage with risk and perform hegemonic forms of sporting masculinity. Parkour and the City reveals many of the paradoxes of informal lifestyle sporting activities and the ways they resonate with postmodern culture." -- Belinda Wheaton * School of Human Development and Movement Studies, University of Waikato *"Kidder’s descriptive and engaging text touches deftly on a number of timely and relevant areas of interest for scholars in many fields and many places." * International Review for the Sociology of Sport *"Kidder walks the reader through his conclusions and makes compelling arguments, and overall, the book is well written and clearly organized. The most interesting chapter discusses traceurs’ hedgework, rituals of risk, and symbolic practices of safety. It is easily accessible for readers who want to learn more about the sport of parkour. In reading Kidder’s book, one is instantly inserted into a parkour jam but with a sociological lens." * Gender & Society *"The book is well written, and I recommend it to all scholars and students who are interested in lifestyle sport, urban sociology or to those who are looking for a good example of how sport (as well as all human activity) is significant beyond itself." * idrottsforum.org *"This is a well-researched, well-written, and ultimately intriguing study that will position Kidder at the forefront of scholarship on this cultural form for some time to come." * American Journal of Sociology *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Thinking Sociologically about Parkour1 Developing the Discipline and Creating a Sport2 New Prisms of the Possible3 Young Men in the City4 Hedging Their BetsConclusions: Appropriating the City Appendix A: Brief Note on Data and MethodAppendix B: On the Parkour Terminology Used in This BookNotesBibliographyIndex

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe World Marathon Challenge—seven marathons on seven continents in seven days—is the ultimate race for adventurous runners. It tests the athletes to their limits, going from biting cold Antarctic conditions one day to dry desert heat another. To survive the onslaught of sensations—fear, fatigue, depression, elation—takes a special sort of determination and strength of will. Few would take on such a challenge, and fewer still would finish it. Relentless: Seven Marathons, Seven Continents, Seven Days is David Gething’s amazing story of his journey from a middle-aged couch potato to a World Marathon champion. Gething gives a deeply personal and candid view of what it is like to compete in one of the most demanding amateur sporting events on the planet, including the sacrifices made just to get to the start of the race and what it takes to win. He describes in detail each individual contest—originating in Antarctica and ending in Australia—and the physical, emotional, and psychological sides of this grueling stage race. Far from just depicting the event itself, Gething also delves into the interpersonal relationships, rivalries, and bonds that form on this adventure that is like no other. Featuring photographs taken during the event from Gething’s personal collection, and including private emails to and from the author and his family and friends, Relentless gives a truly unique and intimate view into the inner workings of this punishing ultra-endurance battle. Marathon runners, sporting enthusiasts, and anyone with a dream and a determination to succeed despite the odds will find Gething’s journey a fascinating and inspiring story.Trade ReviewIn 2007, the author’s pregnant wife pointed out that he was getting a little soft: too much bad food, not enough exercise, perhaps not quite the right role model for their soon-to-be-born child. Gething took her observation to heart and vowed to get into shape. He started running, eventually graduating to marathons, and, in 2015, he entered and won the very first World Marathon Challenge, which is just as hard as it sounds: seven full marathons in the space of a week in Antarctica, South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It sounds like an incredible ordeal, the kind of thing you wonder why anyone would subject himself to, and indeed that’s a big part of this memoir: the author explaining how and why he went, in the space of less than a decade, from an ordinary, out-of-shape guy to a world-class marathon runner. Full of interesting and surprising stories—it really was quite a journey, and it’s populated by an engaging cast of real-life characters—the book should appeal to runners of all kinds, from newbies to veterans. * Booklist *This is the autobiographical story of a man who transforms himself from a ‘middle-aged couch potato’ into an athlete who attempts to complete ‘seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.’ The book is organized into separate chapters for each marathon. . . .It is difficult to imagine undertaking such a grueling challenge, but the author's recollection of details and his thoughts throughout the seven events provide readers with an insight into the experience. There is no bravado one might expect from a recounting of an adventure of this scale. Instead, readers are provided with a narrative that is self-deprecating and honest. The author writes of when his wife confronts him about his drinking, smoking, and weight issues, which propel him to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Eventually this leads to his competing in increasingly grueling races that culminate in the events detailed in this book. Though it obviously recounts the story of the marathons, it is also an interesting story of how a man transformed himself from a sedentary and unhealthy person into a world-class marathoner. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. * CHOICE *The ambition and dedication that David Gething demonstrates in his remarkable achievement shows that he has the true spirit of an IRONMAN: Anything is Possible with the right amount of dedication and commitment. -- Andrew Messick, CEO of IronmanA wonderfully told adventure about pushing your limits—for runners and non-runners alike. I couldn't put it down. -- John Ellis, Ultra RunnerDavid Gething has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of the event—the characters, courses, logistics, the internal dialogues and doubts, the issues and ethics and, in the end, the sheer magnitude of it all. Yet, like Ultraman, despite its length and relatively small number of competitors, Gething draws the reader into the art and heart of what it means to be a champion. Gething translates the nuances of such a multi-day challenge into an exciting finale both on and off the pages of the book. I was totally impressed and engrossed. An excellent read—I would totally recommend the book. -- Steve King, Ironman, Ultraman, and Ultramarathon legendWhen David first approached me about racing the 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents challenge, I first wondered how it was even possible. But then I also realized that David is one of those special athletes with the physical strength to handle the punishment that would need to be endured—and even more importantly, the mental strength to stay focused and keep pushing right to the end no matter how much suffering he would have to endure. -- Nigel Gray, elite professional triathlete and coach, NRG Performance TrainingTable of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION: The Story of the Beginning Chapter 1: THE STARTING LINE Chapter 2: MARATHON 1: ANTARCTICA: Union Glacier: A Trial byFire in the Coldest Place on Earth Chapter 3: MARATHON 2: SOUTH AMERICA: Punta Arenas, Chile: The Shakedown Chapter 4: MARATHON 3: NORTH AMERICA: Miami, United States of America: The Forging of the Alliance Chapter 5: MARATHON 4: EUROPE: Madrid, Spain: The Painful Test Chapter 6: MARATHON 5: AFRICA: Marrakech, Morocco: The Unraveling Chapter 7: MARATHON 6: ASIA: Dubai, United Arab Emirates: When to Win Alone Would Have Been a Loss Chapter 8: MARATHON 7: OCEANIA: Sydney, Australia: The Final Showdown EPILOGUE APPENDIX: The Final Standings INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Book SynopsisThe figure of the gladiator is as compelling to us as it was to the Romans. Why are we drawn to this ancient blood sport?The usual explanation of the savagery lurking beneath our veneer of civilisation is too simplistic. Gladiatorial combat has always been far more than just an excuse for the enjoyment of violence. From its origins in the funerary religious practices of Republican Rome to the extreme form of entertainment we recognise today, the bloody business of the arena evolved into a microcosm of the Roman Empire: a self-contained world reflecting the culture, attitudes and history of Rome itself.The World of the Gladiator brings the games and the gladiators into focus, placing them in their historical and cultural context. Using evidence from all over the Roman world, including fresh archaeological discoveries, the minutiae of the arena are set out and discussed. A picture of the gladiator's life is built up, from traini

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Book SynopsisOne of the most feared and useful weapons in mixed martial arts (MMA) competition is dissected and discussed in this fully-illustrated guide to both perfecting and defending against the low kick. Many competitors view this technique as a single tool in their arsenal, limiting themselves when they could be taking this low-line method of attack and modifying it to fit far more kicking situations than those commonly used. This volume demonstrates how to expand the low-kicking arsenal, showing how a simple alteration in leg targeting can strongly challenge an opponent's defense, and how to hone low-line kicking power and speed so that rapid-fire low-line kicking becomes a powerful advantage. These techniques are prime for MMA competitors and anyone who wants to improve both their self-defense and competition skills with the best empirical information available.

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