The year is 1976, and South Africa is gripped by a terrible lockdown – apartheid. Nelson Mandela is in prison on Robben Island; South Africa is isolated from the rest of the world, and revolution is in the air.

Against this background, a young student at Johannesburg’s Wits University decides to try and take control of his life, and his destiny, and give himself a sense of purpose. He challenges himself to run South Africa’s most famous long-distance race, the grueling 90-kilometre Comrades Marathon. Little does he know that five years later he will win this most iconic of races and he will go on to be considered one of the greatest Comrades runners in the history of the race.

In Winged Messenger, Bruce shares this 1976/77 training diary so that raw novices and experienced runners alike can follow the journey he took to his first Comrades. Novices particularly will enjoy reading about how he took his first stumbling, rudimentary steps and how, as an ordinary runner, he began to understand the demands of the race. He documents his mistakes, his successes and his progress towards his date with destiny in May 1977. Using his own experiences, he guides others, but particularly novices, on their quests to become winged messengers.

This is a unique blend of both a training guide and a fascinating glimpse of the life of a young man in his quest to conquer both himself and South Africa’s greatest race.

For over a century, the Comrades Marathon has captivated a nation. It’s an annual South African ritual, a day of inspiration and extraordinary achievement. Written in an accessible, anecdotal style, this book tells the absorbing story of a humble start in 1921, when only a handful of runners finished, to its current status as the world’s greatest ultra-marathon.

It bears witness to the complexity of South African society and over a hundred years of change in a fascinating story that begins with the early heroes, Arthur Newton in the 1920s, Hardy Ballington in the 1930s and Wally Hayward in the 1950s, to official permission for women and people of colour to run in the 1970s, to nine-times winner Bruce Fordyce in the 1980s, democratic South Africa in the 1990s, the domination of the Russians in the early 2000s, and the ascent of black runners in the 2010s. And then came a worldwide pandemic and for only the second time in its history, the Comrades Marathon was cancelled.

In 2022, participants once again lined up on the Old Main Road for the first time in two years to run the ultimate human race, this book tells the tale of the world’s largest ultra-marathon: its glories, its passions, its triumphs and tragedies.

Written by bestselling author Phil Hewitt, Outrunning The Demons is an exploration of the transformative power of running – and how it can be the key to unlocking resilience we never knew we had.

Running can take us to fantastic places. Just as importantly, it can also bring us back from terrible ones. For people in times of crisis, trauma and physical or mental illness – when normality collapses – running can put things back together again. After bestselling author Phil Hewitt was viciously mugged, stabbed and left for dead in 2016, he found himself suffering the acute symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Unable to make sense of the horrific experience that had happened to him, Phil found that dedicating himself to running was slowly but surely helping him heal.

Outrunning The Demons is an enriching and celebratory exploration of the transformative power of running – and how it can be the key to unlocking resilience we never knew we had.

Told through 34 deeply affecting real-life stories and covering such diverse themes as trauma, bereavement, addiction, depression and anxiety, this compelling book is an exposition of just why running can so often be the answer to everything when we find ourselves in extremis.

Ian: ‘You’re going to run how far?’
Ryan: ‘250 kilometres. But it’s over seven days, though.’
Ian: ‘And the furthest you’ve ever run is …?’
Ryan: ‘42.2 kilometres … on the road. And on trail … 35 kilometres.’
Ian: ‘Ryan, I think you need to reassess this …’

What does it take to run a six-day race through the world’s harshest deserts? Or 100 miles in a single day at altitudes that would leave you breathless just walking? More than that, though: what is it like to win these races? South Africa’s ultra-trail-running superstar Ryan Sandes has done just that.

Since bursting onto the international trail-running scene by winning the first multistage race he ever entered – the brutal Gobi March – Ryan has gone on to win various other multistage and single-day races around the globe. Written with bestselling author and journalist Steve Smith, Trail Blazer – My Life as an Ultra-distance Trail Runner recounts the life story of this intrepid sportsman, from his experiences as a rudderless party animal to becoming a world-class athlete, and includes details on his training regimes, race strategies and aspirations for future sporting endeavours. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the adrenaline-inducing trials and tribulations of one of South Africa’s most awe-inspiring athletes, while endurance-sport participants – from beginners to aspirant pros – will benefit from his insights and advice.

As Professor Tim Noakes says in the Foreword to this book: ‘However much we might think we know and understand, there are some phenomena which now, and perhaps forever, we will never fully comprehend. We call such happenings “enigmas”. Or even miracles. Ryan Sandes is one such.’

Pringle's autobiography offers a graphic and often painful account of his experiences with major marathons, including the Marathon des Sables and the Yukon Arctic Ultra. Journalists and scientists monitor his progress as he pushes his body to the very limits, as he competes in extreme sporting events which have already claimed lives. A growing sense of self-knowledge and a sense of unity with the natural world lead him to overcome his inner demons, and to find a distinctive and transformational spiritual path.

King of the Fells. Iron man. Lake District fell running legend. Joss Naylor is all of these things and more. His achievements are astounding, his records stand the test of time. In 1983 he completed the 105-mile Lakes, Meres and Waters (LMW) route in a staggering 19hr 14min and to this day, describes it as one of the best routes he ever ran. High praise indeed and yet, so few know of it. Part guidebook, part inspirational regaling, this book interweaves tales of past and present as Naylor reflects on his 1983 epic on a re-walk 37 years later. In the company of award-winning author, Vivienne Crow, Naylor recalls that magical day, sharing stories and anecdotes from, not just his run, but the 1980s fell running scene, his working life and growing up in the Wasdale Valley. Naylor's tales, together with breathtaking photography, are accompanied by basic guide notes for the LMW route, sticking as closely to his 1983 run as possible. These notes divide the route into ten stages (ranging from 9 to 14 miles), allowing runners and walkers to follow in the footsteps of the King of the Fells, albeit on a more relaxed schedule. From Loweswater to Over Water, visiting 27 of the Lake District's largest bodies of water, the LMW route guarantees vistas of unparalleled beauty and an unforgettable experience in true fell country.

Over fifty years ago, renowned British hillwalker and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright described 214 peaks in the English Lake District in his seven-volume illustrated Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. Like the Munros in Scotland, bagging all the Wainwrights has become a popular and significant challenge for walkers and runners, often taking many years in fits and starts because of the absence of a clear plan for how to link them together. With this problem in mind, Peak Bagging: Wainwrights by Karen and Dan Parker features forty-five routes designed to link up these iconic fells so you can enjoy the challenge of completing them at your own pace - over years, months or even just a few weeks. It presents not only the most efficient routes for completing the Wainwrights as quickly as possible, but does so in such a way that each route is a fantastic walk or run in its own right. The featured routes include a round of the Scafells, and the Glenridding Horseshoe, taking in Helvellyn and Catstycam. The routes are split into seven sections, reflecting Wainwright's seven Pictorial Guides, and to simplify logistics, all of the featured routes are circular with an emphasis on making practical links between the summits. In addition, the book is packed with useful information, including 1:40,000-scale maps, elevation profiles, public transport and parking details, refreshments, downloadable GPX files for each route and custom timings for walkers, trekkers, fastpackers and runners. Also included are overview details of Steve Birkinshaw's then-record-breaking sub-seven-day Wainwrights run in 2014 - current record holder Sabrina Verjee completed the round in under six days. Whatever your timescale for completing the 214 Wainwrights, Peak Bagging: Wainwrights is the indispensable guide to this British hill challenge.

The astonishing and hugely entertaining story that completely changed the way we run. An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?

Isolated by Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner Christopher McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America’s best ultra-runners against the tribe.

McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.

Guidebook to walking or running Britain's three most challenging long-distance mountain rounds: the Bob Graham Round (Lake District), the Paddy Buckley Round (Wales) and the Charlie Ramsay Round (Scotland). Includes practical information and advice, notes on access and environmental impact, plus insights and strategies from the likes of Jasmin Paris, Nicky Spinks, Charlie Ramsay, Jim Mann and Paddy Buckley. Designed to inform and inspire, this larger format book is aimed at both walkers and runners (against the clock, or otherwise) keen to discover these epic and extremely challenging routes. Showcasing spectacular photography, tales from the Rounds, and the history of each - as well as invaluable information to help with planning and preparing - this book is a must for anyone embarking on one (or all!) of these iconic Rounds. Known to mountain runners as three of the most difficult 24-hour challenges in the world, each Big Round is a long-distance classic in the history and culture of 'fell' or hill running. Collectively, the 'Big 3' take in 113 mountain summits (including the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland), over 25,000m (83,000ft) of ascent and nearly 300km (183 miles) across three of Britain's most distinct mountain ranges - the Snowdonia National Park in Wales, the Lake District National Park in England, and a vast area of Lochaber in the highlands of Scotland.

The 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.

FROM THE AUTHORS OF THE BESTSELLING "CHIRUNNING, "A GAME-CHANGING TRAINING GUIDE FOR INJURY-FREE LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING
In "Chi Marathon," Danny Dreyer, creator of the revolutionary ChiRunning program, highly respected running coach, and accomplished distance runner, takes a whole-body approach to long-distance running--much like T'ai Chi--making ease and efficiency of movement the prime goal of one's training. "Chi Marathon "is the first book to focus not on building stamina first (though that is covered here) but on how to run all those miles without harming your body. A staggering 80 to 90 percent of marathoners face injuries during their training. This book debunks the myth that marathoners need to push through and beyond pain, and presents a technique-based plan for pain- and injury-free, high-performance half and full marathons. "Chi Marathon "also shows how to improve your performance by developing your own race-specific training plan tailored to your event, and will help you cross the finish line feeling strong no matter your age, body type, or running ability.
- Run a marathon or half marathon free of pain and injury
- Transform your racing with the training triad: form, conditioning, and mastery
- Tap into your chi, an energy source more powerful and enduring than muscles
- Teach your mind and body to work together as a team and master your event
This is the book that distance runners have been waiting for. With "Chi Marathon "you can enjoy the run and feel confident no matter the distance.

An inspiring story of fatty to fitty and the power of the mind. Aged 30, Ben had a routine medical and was told he wouldn't see 40 unless he changed his lifestyle. An overweight, sedentary smoker, Ben had a young family and busy career with little time for anything else. 10 years later having completed many of the world's toughest ultra marathons including the Western States 100, the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc and the Marathon Des Sables, he was hit with life-changing news when one of his daughters was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Ben decided to undertake his toughest challenge yet: to prove to her that anything was possible. One evening, departing from the bright lights of Monte Carlo he headed towards the mountainous terrain behind the Cote d'Azur to run an unsupported 100km / 62.5 miles trail run. For most hardened ultra-marathon runners this would be a feat in itself, but for Ben he had something to prove: choosing to descend the rugged terrain he had already climbed and run the Cro Trail - a 130k / 81 mile mountain trail ultra race. A thrilling and yet down to earth account, detailing a young, working family man's journey to fitness - his love of nature and travel evolves - these stories can only inspire and motivate any reader.

The 138-kilometre Hadrian's Wall Path traces a grey line along Great Whin Sill, the dolerite ridge chosen by the Romans for their historic wall. The route, one of Britain's most popular National Trails, is dotted with milecastles and forts, and attracts trail runners and walkers all year round due to its sweeping views. Beginning in Newcastle, the trail passes through rolling grassy paths and grey-green crags to reach Bowness-on-Solway on the Cumbrian Coast. Hadrian's Wall Path appeals to people who have different levels of experience and travel at all speeds, and this Vertebrate Publishing Guidemap is unique in that it caters for four categories of user, providing custom itineraries for walkers, trekkers, fastpackers and trail runners. This lightweight, waterproof, durable and easy-to-use folding map features all the essential information for a successful Hadrian's Wall Path, including 1:40,000-scale mapping for the linear route starting in Wallsend and finishing in Bowness-on-Solway. It also includes a detailed elevation profile and route planner, safety advice, terrain information and an accommodation directory, and a link to a GPX file download.

Traceless 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.

Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits, from running in the shoe-melting heat of Death Valley to the lung-freezing cold of the South Pole. He's raced and competed across the globe and once ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days. In A Runner's High, Karnazes chronicles his return to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in his mid-fifties after first completing the race decades ago. The Western States, infamous for its rugged terrain and extreme temperatures, becomes the most demanding competition of his life, a physical and emotional reckoning and a battle to stay true to one's purpose. Confronting his age, wearying body, career path and life choices, we see Karnazes as we never have before, raw and exposed. A Runner's High is both an endorphin-fuelled page-turner and a love letter to the sport from one of its most celebrated ambassadors.

'The greater the challenge, the sweeter the reward, but also the greater the risk of failure. And fear of failure is the greatest barrier to success.' Sabrina Verjee is an ultrarunning phenomenon. In June 2021, on her fourth attempt, she became the first person to climb the Lake District's 214 Wainwright hills in under six days, running 325 miles with a colossal 36,000 metres of ascent. Where There's a Hill tells the story of an outsider who was never picked for a school sports team yet went on to become an accomplished modern pentathlete and adventure racer. After switching her focus to ultrarunning in her thirties, Sabrina moved to the Lake District, where she could hone her mountain-running skills on the local fells. High-profile success in endurance events followed, as she completed the Dragon's Back Race three times and was the outright winner of the 2019 Summer Spine Race, beating her nearest competitor by more than eight hours. However, it was the Wainwrights Round which really captured Sabrina's imagination. Having learnt about the challenge from fell-running legend Steve Birkinshaw, Sabrina began to plan an attempt of her own. Despite multiple obstacles - including lockdown regulations, bad weather, injury and controversy - Sabrina's grit and determination shone through. Where There's a Hill is a frank and inspirational account of how one woman ran her way into the record books.

'Every time I speak to someone and hear about their experiences, it leaves me with a sense of running's incredible power to help people overcome pretty much anything.' Each day, millions of people around the world put on their trainers and try to deal with their personal demons and life challenges by going for a run. And, increasingly, they do it knowing that they are not alone: a growing and often virtual community is right there running alongside them. We are all, in some sense, running for our lives. Rachel Ann Cullen's first book, Running for My Life, described her own marathon journey through depression, bipolar disorder and body dysmorphia, and her revelatory discovery that running could transform her physical and mental wellbeing. After hearing from people who had read about her experiences, Rachel wanted to tell some stories of other runners from all around the world - ordinary people living with mental health struggles, grief, cancer and other unavoidable life events who have relied on running to get them through their worst days and to keep going. Running for Our Lives shares moving accounts of hope and resilience; it demonstrates the power of running to help us all overcome adversity, and is a lesson for us all in learning not only how to survive life's challenges, but to thrive.

Big Trails: Great Britain and Ireland Volume 2 is the second volume of this inspirational guide to the most iconic long-distance trails in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Channel Islands. The twenty-five routes featured in this book comprise more of the best trails in Great Britain and Ireland. From some of Wales's best views on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and the magnificent moorlands of the Two Moors Way (Devon Coast to Coast) in South-West England, the routes go to Scotland's wild moors on the Southern Upland Way and over high cliffs on Ireland's Burren Way. In the shadows of Lakeland peaks on the Cumbria Way and around five islands on the Channel Island Way, the book incorporates the highlights of Great Britain and Ireland, from its centre to its outermost edges. Big Trails books are designed to inspire big adventures. Rather than being carried along the route, this guide provides everything you need to plan and explore further, including a general overview of the trails, specific technical information, overview mapping, key information and stunning photography. As well as this, each route specifies approximate timings devised using the Jones-Ross formula, which allows for custom itineraries to be generated depending upon the speed of the user. Whether you're walking, trekking, fastpacking or running, let Big Trails: Great Britain and Ireland Volume 2 be your guide.

Big Trails: Great Britain & Ireland is an inspirational guide to the most iconic, spectacular and popular long-distance trails in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. The twenty-five featured routes will take you across the best of the British Isles. From the South Downs Way in South-East England and across Wales's mountains in the Cambrian Way, the book delves into the heart of Scotland on the West Highland Way, along the Causeway Coast Way on Northern Ireland's coast, and into southern Ireland on the Beara Way. The book is designed to inspire big adventures. Rather than being carried along the route, this guide provides everything you need to plan and explore further, including a general overview of the trails, specific technical information, overview mapping, key information and stunning photography. As well as this, each route specifies approximate timings devised using the Jones-Ross formula, which allows for custom itineraries to be generated depending upon the speed of the user. Whether you're walking, trekking, fastpacking or running, let Big Trails: Great Britain & Ireland be your guide.

Guidebook to 40 great trail and fell runs in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Ranging from 5 to 24 miles, the graded runs start from bases such as Hawes, Settle, Ingleton, Dent, Sedbergh, Malham and Grassington and take in the region's diverse delights, from castles and waterfalls to iconic mountains such as Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-Y-Ghent. For those seeking a longer challenge, the Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra is also described. In addition to clear route description, mapping and gradient profiles, the guide also provides background information on local races and running clubs, the history of running in the region, as well as practical information on safety, equipment, navigation, maps, transport and accommodation. Sandwiched between the Lake District and the Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales showcases some of the finest running terrain in the British Isles. Offering a delightful mix of medium sized peaks and broad open moorland, it is a must-visit destination for those seeking off-road runs with enchanting views.

The 162-kilometre South Downs Way begins in Winchester and traces a ridgeline along the rolling, green South Downs to the coast at Eastbourne. It is rightly regarded as one of the finest long-distance trails in England. Predominantly bridleway, the trail is generally wide and hard-surfaced and can be walked at any time of year. The South Downs Way appeals to people who have different levels of experience and travel at all speeds, and this Vertebrate Publishing Guidemap is unique in that it caters for four categories of user, providing custom itineraries for walkers, trekkers, fastpackers and trail runners. This lightweight, waterproof, durable and easy-to-use folding map features all the essential information for a successful South Downs Way, including 1:40,000-scale mapping for the linear route starting in Winchester and finishing in Eastbourne. It also includes a detailed elevation profile and route planner, safety advice, terrain information and an accommodation directory, and a link to a GPX file download.

'The emotional pain of failing just felt like it was going to be a bit worse than the physical pain of carrying on ... ' Attempting to break long-distance running records used to be an underground endeavour, until the virus-stricken summer of 2020 came along. Only a few, such as the Bob Graham Round in the Lake District, had ever broken into mainstream consciousness. But an absence of running races thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented rise in the popularity of attempts at breaking these records. In Broken, Ally Beaven takes an entertaining look at just why 2020 was so unusual for long-distance running. With his interest in Fastest Known Times (FKTs) piqued, Beaven immerses himself in the scene. His summer becomes one of spending hours in the hills feeding, cajoling and generally trying to keep safe the runners he is supporting, as well as following the dots of live trackers in the middle of the night and endlessly refreshing his Twitter feed as records tumble around the country. Through the stories of John Kelly's epic Grand Round, Beth Pascall's record-shattering Bob Graham Round, Donnie Campbell's mind-bending new mark for bagging all 282 Munros, Jo Meek's new overall record for the Nigel Jenkins Dartmoor Round and many others, Beaven brings us an inside look at the incredible FKT machine. Broken is the story of the summer of 2020, a historic time for running in the UK.