Marathon and cross-country running Books

Book SynopsisThis book is about running for fun in beautiful places. Each route has been selected for its inspirational landscapes and runnable terrain. The range of routes is deliberately diverse - these runs follow rivers and coastlines, go up hills and along ridges, weave through leafy woodlands, cross barren moors and heathland. The selected routes include many of South West England's most enjoyable trails, but this is not a definitive collection! Hopefully these routes will encourage and inspire further personal exploration of South West England's trails. - In the same series (though in a larger improved format) as the successful Scottish Trail Running by Susie Allison. - Seventy routes and numerous variations are described. - Lavishly illustrated with maps and photos.

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Book SynopsisSixty-five off-road routes for beginner and experienced trail runners. These tried and tested paths and tracks cover the south-east of England. The routes range in length from 5km to 69km … and they are all great runs! Selected for their runnability, landscape and scenery, they include easily-accessible trails close to towns, cities and popular holiday destinations, as well as unforgettable runs in the more remote parts of the South East’s hills and coast. The selection is deliberately diverse including beaches, woodland, marshes, riverbanks, clifftops, heathland, parkland and ridgetops, and is chosen to highlight the incredible diversity of trail running adventures that the South East offers. Trail running is a great way to explore the South East and to immerse yourself in its magnificent landscapes. This guide is intended to inspire runners of all abilities to develop the skills and confidence to seek out new trails in their local areas as well as further afield. This is a companion book to South West Trail Running, also by Mark Rainsley.

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Book SynopsisDartmoor Trail and Fell Running, outlines some of the best trail and fell running routes the national park has to offer. Whether it be climbing over the rugged, northern 600m tors, or tearing along an 18th century leat from a Napoleonic prison, this off-road running guide has options to suit all tastes and abilities. Its aim is to highlight the best of what Dartmoor has to offer for the runner. Whether you are an experienced, weather-beaten trail warrior looking to explore a set of different trails, or a lean, mean road running machine keen to mix it up and add a bit of trail work to your training. The routes included in this guide are not by any means the limit. Indeed, there is an abundance of other routes available, but understanding where to run is often a barrier. This book is just your starting point.

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Book Synopsis'The last descent and I can't let myself think it's in the bag. Anything could happen, take it easy, take no risks. Just get to the finish and win.''The challenge and anticipation that pushes me to try harder. The obsessive urge to achieve. It's not all about winning. Why do I do it?'Growing up in Bristol, Heather Dawe was 17 when she started running. Having fallen in to the teenage trap of smoking and drinking she resolved to do something about it, not knowing then where it would take her.A climber since her youth, an obsession with wild places and the mountains was engrained in her DNA. Moving to Leeds to study, she began to compete in fell races and mountain marathons, joking in the pub one night that she could race at the highest level.Being hit by a car doing over 40mph while cycling would have ended many athletes' dreams, but Dawe's drive pushed her even harder. Hard enough to make her pub joke a reality, hard enough to win Elite Mountain Marathons, to win the Three Peaks Cyclo-cross race and to complete the Bob Graham Round. Pushing harder still, she entered the Tour Divide - racing the 2745-mile route of the Continental Divide in North America as she to sought to discover her physical - and emotional - limits.Dawe writes of what it takes to compete in adventure races; the training, the sacrifice, the mistakes that must be made in order to learn and develop. An intensely deep and personal book, Adventures in Mind explores what drives a woman - living with her partner and their child, working 9-5 - to push so hard and so far; into herself, and into the wild.Trade Review'Dawe’s prose is engaged, matter-of-fact and joyful, celebrating how a love of mountains can become a deep and engrained part of anyone’s everyday life.' Helen Mort, Climb Magazine'In this inspirational book, Heather Dawe describes how she went from being a rock climbing student at Leeds University to one of the UK’s leading endurance athletes, winning some of the toughest events in the country. Subtitled ‘a personal obsession with the mountains,’ the question Heather asks throughout the book is why – why does she need to constantly push herself to the edge, and what happens when you fail? It’s introspective and honest, going so far as to wonder if she forces herself to ride her bike.' – Rosie Fuller, Adventure Travel Magazine'Heather asks the eternal question "Why do we do it?" and, in search of the answer, takes us along a very personal journey from her beginnings in sport, through the highs and lows and ultimately to the place where she discovers where her limits might lie. A beautifully written and inspiring book that goes far beyond the physical aspects of endurance sports!' – Fell Runner (The magazine of the FRA)'Adventures in Mind is a very enjoyable book. It's inspiring, in a very immediate sense. Pick up a good book about epic feats of adventure in the Himalaya or at the Poles and no doubt you will feel inspired, but here we are reading about a normal woman living in a normal British town, with a job to hold down and the same day to day concerns and obligations as you or me. Her achievements, of course, are anything but normal; she demonstrates that anyone can achieve things they might consider well beyond their perceived abilities if they put the effort in.' – Tony O'Donnell, The Outdoor Times'Dawe's stubborn determination will make even the most casual athlete want to up their game, but it’s her passion for the outdoors that will resonate, reminding the soul within that nature can heal on many levels.' – Jennifer Olson, Women's Adventure Magazine'Heather’s debut book is a breath of fresh air. She doesn’t slot neatly into any pigeon holes – she’s as passionate about running as she is about cycling and climbing. She’s not a professional athlete - her day job is statistician and systems architect and she has recently become an artist as well as a mother. For me it stood out because – unlike so many of the high octane adventure sports books and films that I read and watch – it wasn’t another ego-driven account of ‘living the dream’. It’s more about dealing with everyday reality – confronting the doubts and fears that everyone has.' – Outdoorsmagic.comTable of ContentsForeword By Al Powell Prologue Finished Business Introduction The Start Point PART 1 Rise and Fall One Fitting In Two Mountain Marathon 1 Three Sea Cliffs Four Mountain Marathon 2 Five Car Crash PART 2 LEARNING Six Mountain Marathon 3 Seven Calderdale Eight Running Nine Mountain Marathon 4 Ten Morning Ride Eleven Mountain Marathon 5 Twelve Ventoux Thirteen Mountain Marathon 6 PART 3 Tour Divide Fourteen PerfectionFifteen Preparation Sixteen Tour Divide Seventeen Going Home Epilogue Chevin AcknowledgementsBibliography

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Book SynopsisRunning is a great way to keep fit, stay healthy, relieve stress and experience new places. The Good Run Guide is your companion to the great running to be found in some of the most scenic locations of England and Wales.Run through the stately grounds of Chatsworth in the Peak District; traverse Hadrian's Wall on the Scottish Border and visit the breath-taking castles of coastal Northumberland. Explore coastal coves in the north Cornwall; summit Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales or escape the hustle and bustle of the City along the banks of the Thames.Experienced runners Louise Piears and Andy Bickerstaff, two of the founders of the Good Run Guide, the UK's leading independent running website, have hand-picked 40 of their favourite runs.Ranging in length from 3.4 to 10.7 miles (5.4 to 17.2 kilometres), there are routes for runners of all ability and fitness levels, on a range of surfaces.Each run features details of the run distance, the flat equivalent distance, difficulty, hilliness, climb rate, terrain and other useful information so you know exactly what you're undertaking before you set off. There is also a bespoke map, annotated with route descriptions and key route features, to aid navigation.Table of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgementsHow we choose our routesGuide to following the routesDistance, difficulty, hilliness and terrainDirections and accuracySafetyFollow the Countryside CodeEssential kitPlanning your runSouthern England & Wales1 North Cornish Coves (Cornwall)2 The River Yealm Estuary (Devon)3 Golden Cap Challenge (Dorset)4 Osmington White Horse (Dorset)5 West Wight Views (Isle of Wight)6 The Long Snake Run (Sussex)7 Rollercoaster Run (East Sussex)8 Landmark Thames Trot (London)9 Classic Richmond (Surrey)10 Great Park Explorer (Berkshire)11 Gibbet Gallop (Berkshire)12 Rolling Ogbourne Downs (Wiltshire)13 Ebbor Gorge Lookout (Somerset)14 Bristol’s Avon Gorge (Avon)15 Rhossili Bay Ramble (West Glamorgan)16 Sweet Sugar Loaf (Monmouthshire)Northern England & Wales17 Hambleton Peninsula (Rutland)18 Holkham’s Endless Sands (Norfolk)19 Mawddach Trail Meander (Gwynedd)20 Aber Falls Amble (Conwy)21 Clumber Lake Loop (Nottinghamshire)22 Cromford Four (Derbyshire)23 Chatsworth Countryside (Derbyshire)24 Darcy Dash (Cheshire)25 Rivington Pike (Lancashire)26 Stoodley Pike Stagger (West Yorkshire)27 Otley Surprise (West Yorkshire)28 Leeds and Liverpool Canal Loop (North Yorkshire)29 Pen-y-ghent Ascent (North Yorkshire)30 Scar House Reservoir (North Yorkshire)31 Brideshead Visited (North Yorkshire)32 The Devil’s Hole (North Yorkshire)33 Robin Hood’s Bay (North Yorkshire)34 Wander Wordsworth’s Lakes (Cumbria)35 Dodd Hill (Cumbria)36 Bassenthwaite Lake (Cumbria)37 Hadrian’s Wall Humdinger (Northumberland)38 Simonside Summit (Northumberland)39 Dunstanburgh Castle Canter (Northumberland)40 Bamburgh Castle Bumble (Northumberland)

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Book SynopsisFor many years Jack Welch wrote for Running magazine and Track & Field News, chronicling the extraordinary developments of running during the 1970s, 80s and 90's. When Running Was Young and So Were We is based on his columns from this period and is a unique book - telling the story of how running became a way of life for millions. * It's a book about excellence, inspiration and greatness. Not just what it takes to cross the finish line first, but also the lessons learned along the way. * It's a sports book - offering an up-close and personal look at Olympic greats, big races and long runs. * It's a training book - outlining many of the techniques and strategies that make you a winner, on and off the field of competition. * It's a celebration of the human spirit - examining what happens when both great athletes and keen amateurs are driven to challenge their own personal limits. What do greats like Alberto Salazar, Joan Benoit, Dick Beardsley, Mary Decker and Steve Prefontaine all have in common? Read their stories and be inspired!Trade Review"A surprising book! Surprised to learn more about runners I competed against. Surprised to learn more about races I was in. No surprise - this is a book for runners by a runner who can really write." Alberto Salazar "['Remembering Pre'] is one of the best, most powerful pieces of writing I have ever read. Your short declarative sentences hit like hammers. You wrote as Pre ran. I can imagine no other writer who could have told his story as well. Runners everywhere probably wish you had written more. I certainly do." Jeff Johnson, Nikes first employee Reading When Running Was Young And So Were We brought back not just good memories of that Golden Age of road racing ,and the stunning excitement of what felt like a new sport beginning here in the USA, but also the friendship of so many of the runners highlighted here, and the great spirit of comraderie that existed then. Perhaps those days were the launchpad for the Running Boom. I still love to run, and always will, thanks in part to writers like Jack D. Welch who worked so hard to reveal all aspects of running! Bill Rodgers, Four-time winner of New York City Marathon, four-time winner Boston Marathon

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Book SynopsisIt’s a Hill, Get Over It tells the story of fell running from its nineteenth-century origins to the present day. Exponents of the sport through the ages have maintained not only an amateur ethos, but also a wariness of change and public attention. As a result, many of their greatest achievements have not always been given the credit they deserve. To complete this detailed history, Steve Chilton has included in-depth conversations with many of the greats including Tommy Sedgwick, Jeff Norman, Pauline and Kenny Stewart, Helene Whitaker and Rob Jebb.Trade Review'a really good read ... A worthy addition to any fell runners' bookshelf.' Mud, Sweat and Tears 'this exhaustive homage to fell running promises much, and delivers. Written with a real love for the sport' Scotland Outdoors 'Chilton clearly loves his subject ... I learned much from reading it and I think it's a book that many fell runners will really enjoy. Hopefully it will also inspire others who do not yet consider themselves a fell runner to venture out up a hill or two.' Outdoor Times 'a detailed history of the sport ... a very informative read that will inspire those that read it to get out there' Westmorland Gazette 'An all-encompassing history of fell running to thrill and inspire you' Trail Running Magazine 'If you are interested in the history of fell running - written by a seasoned fell runner - then look no further. There are some brilliant photos here, not to mention an entire chapter on Joss Naylor.' TGO (The Great Outdoors) 'This story of how the sport's foremost athletes developed is a fascinating one' Scottish Memories '(a) must-buy publication for fans of mountain and off-road running' Athletics Weekly '(Steve Chilton) covers the ground admirably, mixing the sport's development over the last century and a half, largely in the Lakes, north of England and Scotland, the big races, and interviews and profiles of the big names like Kenny and Pauline Stuart, Rob Jebb, Fred Reeves, Boff Whalley, Sarah Rowell and more. And, of course, the man that's "better than Zatopek, Kuts, Coe and Ovett" ... Joss Naylor.' Cumbria Magazine '... is sure to please anyone with an interest in the noble sport of fellrunning' Cumberland and Westmorland Herald 'I was particularly interested in the references to orienteers who I did not know had fell running pasts - The one to one interviews brought the book to life, and generally highlighted the relaxed approach these people have to Fell running. The sections on Women's running was interesting. We do take it for granted that life is much more equal now than in the past.' Compass Sport (Britain's national orienteering magazine)

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Book SynopsisRunning’s Strangest Tales is a fascinating collection of weird and wonderful stories from the world of running, from the earliest marathon to today’s high-tech, apped-up approach. Within these pages you’ll find the bizarre story of the Norwegian footballer forced to miss a crucial World Cup qualifier after colliding with a moose on his morning jog, the American ultra-marathoner who had all his toenails removed to improve his running, and why some runners at the 2015 Tokyo marathon were wearing GPS-enabled, edible bananas, complete with LEDs and incoming Twitter updates. Packed with tales that are so odd you’ll hardly believe them, this book makes the perfect gift for all running enthusiasts, from the seasoned marathoner to the park jogger, and those who only ever run a bath. Word count: 45,000

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Book SynopsisPeak District Trail Running is a comprehensive guide to off-road running in the Peak District National Park. With 22 runs, from 5km to 28km in length, this book is suitable for runners of all abilities. Runners are spoilt by the variety of terrain on offer in the Peak District. There are many runs that stay low, avoiding roads, following broad, well surfaced trails such as the Monsal Trail around Bakewell, or the trails around Ladybower Reservoir and Carsington Water. For the more experienced runner the area has some excellent challenges on the high, rugged moors of Kinder and Bleaklow in the Dark Peak. Researched and written by local runners Nik Cook and Jon Barton, each route features clear and easy to use Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and timings, refreshment stops and local knowledge, and a detailed appendix.Table of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgementsAbout the routesMapsDescriptions, distances & ascentTerrainRecommended equipmentFootwearClothingFuel & hydrationSafetyMountain RescueMountain Rescue by SMS textThe Countryside CodePeak District Trail Running area map1 Langsett2 The Monsal Trail3 Derwent4 Burbage Valley5 Gradbach6 Monsal Head7 Froggatt, Curbar & White Edge8 Ladybower Trail Run9 Shining Tor10 Chatsworth11 Windgather Rocks12 Macclesfield Forest & Wildboarclough13 Miller’s Dale14 Carsington Loop15 Black Hill & Laddow Rocks16 Stanage17 Hope Valley Train Runs: Edale To Chinley18 Chinley Skyline19 Kinder Downfall From Hayfield20 Tissington Trail & Dove Dale21 Bleaklow Bash22 Tour of KinderAppendix

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Book SynopsisLake District Trail Running is a comprehensive guide to off-road running in the Lake District National Park. With 20 runs, from 5.1km to 17km in length, this book is suitable for runners of all abilities.The fells and valleys of the Lakes are a playground for the adventurous runner – this is the home of many classic fell races, and of course the legendary Bob Graham Round. In this book, author Helen Mort has collected together many of her favourite Lakeland runs, from low-lying and scenic lakeside cruises, to steep mountain climbs and remote and wild enchainments. Discover Grasmere, pick your way along the Haystacks ridge, explore Grisedale or run around Lakeland icons, such as Buttermere and Ennerdale Water. More experienced runners can challenge themselves on bigger and longer excursions to Fairfield and above Troutbeck.Features clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and timings, refreshment stops and local knowledge, and a detailed appendix.Table of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgementsAbout the routesMapsDescriptions, distances & ascentTerrainRecommended equipmentFootwearClothingFuel & hydrationSafetyMountain rescueMountain rescue by SMS textCountryside CodeLake District Trail Running area map1 Alcock Tarn2 Barrow3 Torver Common & Coniston Shore4 Scout Scar5 Scales Tarn6 Langdale Loop7 Buttermere8 Easedale Tarn9 Haystacks10 Loweswater11 Coffin Path & Rydal Round12 Crummock Water13 Loughrigg14 Grisedale15 Askham Fell16 Ennerdale17 Place Fell & Ullswater18 Haweswater19 Fairfield Horseshoe20 Troutbeck RoundAppendix

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Book SynopsisNorth Wales Trail Running is a comprehensive guide to off-road running across North Wales, including Snowdonia, Anglesey and into the Llŷn Peninsula and the Clwyds. With 20 runs from 4km to 20.4km in length, this book is suitable for runners of all abilities.North Wales has some of the most diverse terrain in the UK, from rocky outcrops and large cwms to steep-sided valleys and magical llyns. It is a Mecca for the adventurous runner, and home to the 104km Paddy Buckley Round. In this book, author Steve Franklin has collected together many of his favourite runs, from low-lying loops around idyllic llyns and reservoirs, to serious hands-on-knees fell runs on some of Snowdonia’s biggest mountains. Summit Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Conwy Mountain, and discover quieter corners of the country around Cnicht, the Northern Carneddau and the Crafnant valley.Each route features clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and timings, and refreshment stops and local knowledge.Table of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgementsAbout The routesMapsDescriptions, distances & ascentTerrainRecommended equipmentFootwearClothingFuel & HydrationSafetyMountain RescueMountain Rescue by SMS textThe Countryside CodeNorth Wales Trail Running area map1 Llyn Idwal Loop2 Moel Famau3 Conwy Mountain4 Holyhead Mountain5 Llyn Padarn Loop6 Snowdon: Llyn Llydaw7 Beddgelert Forest, Moel Lefn & Moel Yr Ogof8 Tour of Yr Eifl9 Cadair Idris10 Moelwyn Bach & Moelwyn Mawr11 Eastern Carneddau: Llyn Dulyn12 Croesor & Cnicht13 Llyn Dinas14 Alwen Reservoir15 Moel Eilio16 Y Foel Goch & Cwm Tryfan17 Snowdon: Rhyd Ddu & The Ranger Path18 Newborough Forest & Beach19 Llyn Crafnant & Cowlyd Reservoir20 Northern CarneddauBonus Section Coed Y BreninAppendix

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Book SynopsisFollowing the success of original Wild Running this new, completely rewritten edition provides the ultimate guide to the best wild trails in Britain. 50 of the original list have been retained with 150 new routes, picked for their fantastic terrain, sensational views and ease of navigation. Stunning photography and engaging writing chart the history of each run, route and landscape, making this a must-have guide for runners and explorers alike. The ultimate guide for the runner looking to break free from the gym and city. Includes sections on training, getting started, staying safe & racing.Graded from easy to challenging, including directions, terrain data and safety advice, with Ordnance Survey 1:250,000 route maps and downloadable 1:50,000 maps and GPX routes.

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Book SynopsisThe Round: In Bob Graham's Footsteps by Steve Chilton is not only a history of the Bob Graham Round, but also an exploration of the what, why and how of this classic fell endurance challenge. After covering the genesis of the Bob Graham Round in detail, it documents its development from a more-or-less idle challenge to its present status as a rite of passage for endurance runners. Interspersed with this detail of the round are extensive profiles of many of the event’s most significant individuals: innovators, record setters, recorders and supporters. Some links to resources for potential Bob Graham Round completers are be included. The Round is emphatically not a ‘how to’ guide, but it is a terrific follow up to Steve Chilton’s hugely popular first book, It’s a Hill, Get Over It.Trade Review'The author has completed a very worthy edition to add to the published fell running category. I enjoyed the book as a historical reference, a source of wry amusement, a reminder of yesteryear while encapsulating the spirit of long distance fell running challenges in the Lake District.'-The Fellrunner Magazine; 'We found this book to be an informative and interesting read, and feel it will become a valuable historical addition to the small library of previously published books on fell running and endurance.'-Kenny and Pauline Stuart; 'One of the best reads ever of this exclusive club... very special.'-Joss Naylor; 'Unfailingly inspiring.'-Claire Maxted; 'There is something legendary about the Bob Graham Round. Steve Chilton has interviewed the men, and the women, people of rare determination and doggedness, as well as extraordinary fitness, who have completed the Round.'-Steve Matthews; 'Steve Chilton writes with authority, documenting the development of the Round from a more-or-less idle challenge to its present status. There are extensive profiles of many of the challenge's most significant individuals: innovators, record setters, recorders and supporters.'-The Westmorland Gazette; 'Steve Chilton's book, subtitled in Bob Graham's Footsteps, is a carefully researched and fact-packed examination of the run-up to the first and subsequent Bob Graham Round, further attempts at beating Graham's record and the extension by various runners of the number of Lakeland fells that can be summited in 24 hours.'-The Grough

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Book SynopsisApproaching his middle forties, Gavin Boyter wondered what his life was all about. A Scot living in London, single and with no kids, he was living for the job and the dwindling hope of a career in film. He had been a club runner all his life, pretty good but not at the front all that often. He was what he called an ordinary runner and he came to wonder just what an ordinary runner might be capable of. How about John O'Groats to Land's End, the longest linear run in Britain, and how about making a film of it? And how about writing a book? As usual, Gavin was neither the first nor the quickest but Downhill from Here is his real triumph, written in such an engaging and witty voice the reader accompanies him every step of the way.Trade Review‘We live on the best island in the world and what better way to explore it than on foot. Downhill from Here is an epic adventure on our epic island. Makes me want to run it all over again.’ * author of Cycling the Earth *‘An entertaining read on the de-stressing benefits of running a JOGLE, navigation mishaps and all.’ * author of It's A Hill, Get Over It *‘Real triumph, written with wit and personal depth.’ * Sunday Mail *

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Book SynopsisBrecon Beacons Trail Running is a comprehensive guide to off-road running across the national park, including the Black Mountains, the Brecon Beacons themselves and the Black Mountain. With 20 runs from 5.3km to 17.5km in length, this book is suitable for runners of all abilities. The hills and valleys of the Brecon Beacons offer a wide variety of running, all sharing the same mountainous scenery and stunning views in this beautiful part of South Wales. Local authors Lily Dyu and John Price have compiled many of their favourite runs, including accessible loops around Carreg Cennen Castle and Table Mountain, through to big days out around Fan y Big, Pen y Fan and Fan Brycheiniog. Summit the Sugar Loaf and The Blorenge on the outskirts of Abergavenny, explore the waterfalls by Ystradfellte, or trace the Cat's Back along the Welsh-English border; there's something for everyone. Each route features clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and timings, and refreshment stops and local knowledge.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Acknowledgements; About the routes; Maps; Descriptions, estimated times, distances & ascent; Terrain; Transport; Recommended equipment; Footwear; Clothing; Fuel & hydration; Safety; Mountain rescue; Mountain rescue by SMS text; Dogs; The Countryside Code; Brecon Beacons Trail Running Area Map; 01 Mynydd Illtud Common; 02 Carreg Cennen Castle; 03 Table Mountain - Crickhowell; 04 Fan Frynych; 05 Mynydd Llangorse; 06 Craig y Cilau Nature Reserve; 07 Usk Reservoir; 08 Llanthony; 09 Circuit of the Twmpa; 10 Sugar Loaf; 11 The Begwns; 12 Waun Fach & Castell Dinas; 13 The Blorenge; 14 Pen y Fan Horseshoe; 15 Tor y Foel; 16 Camarthen Fans & the Lakes; 17 The Waterfalls Roundabout; 18 Fan Brycheiniog; 19 Hay Bluff & The Cat's Back; 20 Fan y Big Horseshoe; Appendix.

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Book SynopsisArmed with a toilet trowel and a converted Mazda Bongo called Roxy, self-styled 'ordinary' ultrarunner, Gavin Boyter, embarks on his latest long-distance challenge: to run the 3400km from Paris to Istanbul along the route of the world's most illustrious railway journey, the Orient Express. And, despite work on Roxy having hampered his training programme, Gavin remains undeterred and plans to run through eight countries, to cross 180 rivers and to ascend 16,500 metres, through forests, mountains, plains and major cities - aided all the way by temperamental mapping technology and the ever encouraging support of his girlfriend, Aradhna. En route, Gavin will pass through urban edgelands and breathtaking scenery, battlefields and private estates, industrial plants and abandoned villages, and on through a drawn-back Iron Curtain where the East meets West. He will encounter packs of snarling, feral dogs, wild boar, menacing cows, and a herd of hundreds of deer. But he will also meet many fascinating characters, including a German, leg-slapping masseuse, music-loving Austrian farmers, middle-class Romanians, itinerant Romanies, stoic soldiers, and boisterous Turks. However, confined to the cramped conditions of Roxy, and each other's company, Gavin and Aradhna's journey is not only a test of the endurance and stamina required to put in the hard miles, but of their relationship, too. After all, if they can survive this challenge, they can survive anything. But will Gavin's legs make it all the way to Istanbul, where he has planned a special surprise for Aradhna?

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Book SynopsisThe Scratch Off UK and Ireland Marathons Print is a perfect gift for marathon runners. Whether you're lacing up yourself or know someone who does on a regular basis, this map is a great way to display your achievement. This vibrant scratch off running poster details 101 exciting and challenging marathons across the UK and Ireland as well. Whether you're on a trail course or pounding the pavement, each of these marathons will give you a unique experience, regardless of your skill levels. As you complete the marathons, scratch them off the map, and as your times improve, take note of them in the stop-watch area provided, along with where you achieved this. For a real photo finish, you can even personalise the map with a message at the bottom, making this a perfect runners' gift. Our Scratch off UK and Ireland Marathons Print will go the distance and last you for many years.

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Book SynopsisIn Bump, Bike and Baby, Moire O’Sullivan charts her journey from happy, carefree mountain runner to reluctant, stay-at-home mother of two. With her sights set on winning Ireland’s National Adventure Racing Series, she manages to maintain her post-natal sanity, and slowly learns to become a loving and occasionally functioning mum.Trade Review‘A fun, light-hearted and insightful account of the challenges competitive mums are faced with.’'Honest, humorous and insightful: a must-read for mums who run.’‘A winning journey through pregnancy, motherhood and mountains. You can't stop until you get to the end.’‘Bump, Bike and Baby is a hilarious account of her journey through pregnancy and as a new mother, all the while training for the Irish National Adventure Racing Series title. ’ * Outsider Magazine *‘I really enjoyed the book. The honest account of how Moire dealt with coming to terms with becoming a reluctant mum is extremely brave... Brutally honest...’‘Highly recommend this book, whether you are involved in sport or not, it’s a wonderful, honest, raw and eye opening read’ * Kayathlon.ie *‘A refreshing, honest memoir on becoming a mom and not losing one’s identity as acompetitive racer.’ * Booklist Online *‘An insightful, witty and honest account of her challenges in adventure racing and motherhood.’‘Moire’s determination to get back to fitness while learning (and becoming) a loving mum is an excellent read. This book is packed to the brim with inspiration, success, failures.’‘This is a book about how we can belong to different tribes: cyclist, mother, wife, sports champion; and the struggle to balance these identities.’ * Dublin Cycling Campaign *‘I thoroughly recommend this book. It made me laugh, it made me wince but it also addresses important issues and it made me think... Ultimately it’s a story of perseverance, strength and self development all wrapped up with bringing two new little boys in to the world.’ ‘Enjoyable and lighthearted, yet honest and up-front – dealing with some difficult topics with insight and a good dose of humour.’ * WildRunning.net *‘Moire gives us an insight usually lost in the fluffiness of Hallmark pregnancy.’‘Honest and revealing...’ * Run Deep *

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Book SynopsisAdd a little humor to your fitness routine with this delightful women''s running journal. Complete with beautiful illustrations and inspiring quotes to get you ready for a run, there''s also space to jot down notes giving the book a journal-like quality. A perfect gift for women who love to run, featuring beautiful cover finishes and a ribbon bookmark.

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Book SynopsisMark Atkinson is living proof that you don’t have to be ‘good’ at running to make it through a marathon or even further. Packed with insights and tips, pitfalls and joy, Ducking Long Way invites you to join him for a beer at mile thirty as he pushes himself as far as he can while still running for the sheer joy of it.

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Book SynopsisAll or Nothing At All by Steve Chilton is the life story of Billy Bland, fellrunner extraordinaire and holder of many records including that of the Bob Graham Round until it was broken by the foreword author of this book, Kilian Jornet. It is also the story of Borrowdale in the English Lake District, describing its people, their character and their lifestyle, into which fellrunning is unmistakably woven. Filled with stories of competition and rich in northern humour, All or Nothing At All is testimony to the life spent in the fells by one of their greatest champions, Billy Bland.Trade ReviewA pacy jaunt along those muddy trails where Billy Bland set records few people have approached since. Anyone with a love of running will find this an engrossing and enjoyable read.Born in the Lake District and moulded by its hills, Billy Bland is a truly fascinating characterA detailed insight into the life of legendary fell runner Billy Bland, a straight talking Cumbrian who thinks as deeply about the environment as he does about running.This tale of fortitude and formidable athleticism transports readers to the heart of the fell running scene. Billy Bland is undisputed king of the fells.An engaging look at the life of running legend Billy Bland of Borrowdale, encyclopaedic on his training, his character, and his wider contribution to life in the Dales.A truly inspirational book that highlights the importance of passion and hard work in achieving goals.Filled with stories of competition and rich in northern humour. * Cumbria Magazine *This book has inspired me to get my fell running shoes back on... A cracking read that I would recommend to anybody who is passionate about fell running and its history! * Compass Sport *‘An excellent book about an extraordinary fell runner.’ * Old Man in Tights blog *

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Book SynopsisThe free, weekly, 5k timed running and walking events known as parkrun are now a global phenomenon, operating in 23 countries worldwide. Within the community of participants are enthusiasts who have created a parkrun sub-culture of challenges, loved especially by those who can no longer improve on their personal best time week by week. One such is the Alphabet Challenge, to take part in parkruns which begin with every letter of the alphabet, just 25 letters in this instance, as there is yet no parkrun anywhere in the world beginning with X. Eileen Jones, the author of 'How parkrun changed our lives' (Gritstone 2021) was close to completing her own alphabet when parkrun was forced to stop because of the pandemic. Eventually, at long last, she made it to Zuiderpark parkrun in The Netherlands, only then to discover obsessives who were close to finishing their second, third, even seventh alphabets. This is her story, a personal memoir of a journey from Alexandra Palace in North London to The Hague, which often involved musical theatre, and sometimes a little drama along the way. It's the story of the people she met, the powerfully-cohesive force of the parkrun community, the dedicated, the eccentric, the enthusiastic runners, joggers, walkers and volunteers whom she calls her parkrun family. Each chapter leads with one featured parkrun, and then has details of the other events beginning with that letter that Eileen has completed, 135 different ones (out of a tally of more than 325 in all, many at her home parkrun, Fell Foot, in the Lake District). There are tales of record-breaking achievements beyond the confines of the stop-watch: the man who's done more parkruns than anyone else in the world, even taking part on crutches when injured; the popular and cheerful woman who's on her way to 100 different events, all of them by public transport; the writer whose children's stories are set at a parkrun beginning with D; and a friend who shared the author's Z celebrations after doing her own challenge in strict alphabetical order. If you've done a parkrun, you'll love this book. If you've not, this is a story that will surely inspire you to sign up and take part.

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Book SynopsisThis updated edition features a new introduction, and an exclusive interview with long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe. It is the world's most iconic road race. It is twenty-six-point-two miles of iconic landmarks, cheers, tears, sweat, pain, courage, determination and inspiration. It is triumph over adversity on a colossal scale. It is the London Marathon - and it's an event unlike any other. Running The Smoke tells the story of what it's like to take part in this race in the most enlightening and enriching way possible: from the perspectives of twenty-six different people who have participated in it since its inception in 1981. Candid and inspiring if you are preparing for your first marathon or your 100th, Running The Smoke will give you the encouragement, insight and belief you need to cross that line.Trade Review'Reveals inspirational stories of endurance and triumph . . . heart-breaking and heartwarming' * Athletics Weekly *'Remarkable stories of endurance and joy' * The Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisTraceless takes inspiration from the Lake District, the Gerry Charnley Round and Gerry Charnley himself. Charnley is little remembered, but was a prolific fell runner, orienteer and climber who founded the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (KIMM), now the OMM. In his early 50s he tragically died on Helvellyn, his namesake Round was established in his memory by his friends. The ethos of the Round is on self-sufficiency and leaving no trace - the runner is encouraged to plan their own route to visit all the checkpoints, then navigate that route, creating their own line from multiple route choices. Inspired by the concept of the Gerry Charnley Round and its journey over the Lakeland fells, runners Geoff Cox and Heather Dawe have each spent time exploring and running the route. They are poets, writers and artists as well as fell runners and Traceless is a collaboration between them that celebrates their love for the fells and how spending time in them inspires them creatively.Trade Review‘What makes Traceless so special is its collaborative nature, and the way it spans poetry and prose, fact and fiction, cartography and creativity. It is, as a result of these factors, a truly unique fell-running book.’ UKClimbing (December 2020); ‘Geoff and Heather’s tribute to the Gerry Charnley Round mimics the run’s unique nature – not a line on a map, nor a series of fell-tops but a collection of places. Through prose, poetry and artwork, Traceless presents a multi-layered ode to fell-running and “going to the hills”.’Cumbria Life (December 2020)Table of Contents1. Traceless 2. Introduction 3. Borrowdale 4. As Water Flows - Part 1 5. Gerry Charnley Round - Attempt 1 6. Nightfall at Charnley Cairn - A story 7. As Water Flows - Part 2 8. Map Reading 9. Gerry Charnley Round - Attempt 2 10. As Water Flows - Part 3 11. Why Traceless? 12. Traceless Days

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Book SynopsisIn 2017, world-class ultrarunner Hillary Allen was at the top of her sport--and it felt like she was running on top of the world as she competed in Norway's Tromso Skyrace. Allen was nearly halfway through the 50-kilometer race when she fell 150 feet off an exposed ridge, fracturing her back and breaking multiple ribs, both feet, and both of her lower arms. Beginning with the dramatic story of her accident and rescue, Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds recounts Allen's fight to return to the life she loves. With vulnerability that reveals remarkable strength and introspection that yields wisdom, Allen shares the story of her recovery both physically and mentally, and hard-earned knowledge that the path forward is not always linear, that healing takes time, and that the process of rediscovery is ongoing as she learns what it takes to survive--and thrive. Out and Back is an inspiration to anyone who knows what it means to reclaim and rebuild your life, one day and one step at a time.Trade Review"Hillary Allen is a model of resilience, grit, and strength who I look toward when I'm struggling to find those things in myself. The story she's lived and the message she shares are important reminders to control what you can control, keep calm in the face of chaos, and dig deep when the next step feels impossible." --Mario Fraioli, host of podcast The Morning Shakeout "It wasn't her innate passion and talent for running that brought out the best version of professional athlete Hillary Allen. Rather, it was the horrific accident she experienced whiledoing it that did. By so candidly chronicling her recovery in Out and Back, Allen teaches us all that the progress of life isn't measured by one's physical transit through time or space but instead by the inner journey that accompanies us." --Meghan M. Hicks, Managing Editor, iRunFar.com

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Book SynopsisJoey Kelly is one of the most outstanding amateur extreme athletes of our time. He has completed 8 Ironmans in just 12 months, 31 ultra-marathons, more than 10 desert ultra-runs, 4 Race Across America races and the 8 x 24-hour mountain bike race. He competed in the Tanzania Desert Challenge, the Gobi March, the Himalayan Ultra, the Badwater Run in Death Valles and the Race to the South Pole, the Idita Race in Alaska, the Atacama Crossing and the Marathon de Sables. And against this list, his 50 marathons and over 100 half-marathons and short-distance races look like a training run. In the process, the former pop star continues to demonstrate show talent, as his sporting achievements have made him the focus of individual TV productions time and again. In his coffee-table book No Limits, readers can also enjoy Joey as an entertainer at first hand. In exclusive additional content, to which only owners of the coffee-table book have access via the teNeues app, fans can listen to him personally sharing his adventures. Text in English and German.

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