Running is one of the world's most widely practiced sports and recreations but until now it has intended to elude serious study outside of the natural sciences. John Bale brings the sport into the realm of the humanities by drawing on sources including literature, poetry, film, art and sculpture as well as statistics and training manuals to highlight the tensions, ambiguities and complexities that lie hidden beneath the commonplace notion of running. The text explores both local and personal, as well as communal and global aspects of running and its practitioners. It examines the streets, tracks and stadiums where athletes run, the races in which they compete, and the running relationships such as exist between the athlete and the coach, between runners and between the athlete and spectator. It discusses the importance of speed and records, how running has been used to symbolise resistance and transgression, and the extent to which it can be associated with a healthy lifestyle. Running Cultures provides new ways of seeing a familiar sporting phenomenon. it will appeal to both students and researchers with an interest in running in particular, and sport and leisure cultures more generally.

Approaching 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.

Coach, Run, Win creates a roadmap for coaches and runners to navigate an entire high school cross country season. The first half of Coach, Run, Win focuses on how to run fast and provides details of training methods and workout details that produced teams and individuals with nationwide success. Any runner (high school or not) can improve by following the workout and training techniques covered. The second part of Coach, Run, Win takes coaches through the details of organizing and implementing a championship program from working with parents and administrators through setting up a summer program, designing courses and managing races and conducting end of year awards banquets. Coach, Run, Win takes the guess work and experimentation out of designing individual and team programs to achieve running success. It is laid out in a clear and concise way that avoids overly scientific explanations and instead talks about what worked and works from the experience of Ken Sayles.

In 1986, the legendary fell runner Joss Naylor completed a continuous circuit of all 214 Wainwright fells in the Lake District, covering a staggering distance of over 300 miles - plus many thousands of metres of ascent - in only seven days and one hour. Those in the know thought that this record would never be beaten. It is the ultimate British ultramarathon. The person taking on this superhuman challenge would have to be willing to push harder and suffer more than ever before. There is no Map in Hell tells the story of a man willing to do just that. In 2014, Steve Birkinshaw made an attempt at setting a new record. With a background of nearly forty years of running elite orienteering races and extreme-distance fell running over the toughest terrain, if he couldn't do it, surely no one could. But the Wainwrights challenge is in a different league: aspirants need to complete two marathons and over 5,000 metres of ascent every day for a week. With a foreword by Joss Naylor, There is no Map in Hell recounts Birkinshaw's preparation, training and mile-by-mile experience of the extraordinary and sometimes hellish demands he made of his mind and body, and the physiological aftermath of such a feat. His deep love of the fells, phenomenal strength and tenacity are awe inspiring, and testimony to athletes and onlookers alike that 'in order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd'.

'A must read!' Kevin Portman, IRONMAN Champion 'This is a guide to staying in endurance sports for the long haul!' Kathryn Cumming, elite cyclist and coach 'The principles that RJ and Angelo explore in this book are critical to achieving your best performance and staying healthy' Matthew Back, IRONMAN Champion Maximise Results - Extend Your Career - Achieve a New Personal Best! Resistance training delivers results - and Finish Strong is the ultimate guide to using this training method to improve your athletic performance. Whether you are training for a 5K or an IRONMAN, you can experience the phenomenal benefits from incorporating targeting resistance and mobility exercises into your training calendar. Richard (RJ) Boergers and Angelo Gingerelli are two leading US health and fitness authorities who will introduce and break down the principles of resistance training in a clear, accessible way. Written by athletes for athletes, this expert guide will help you: - prevent injuries - build muscular strength - enhance athletic performance - find the confidence to achieve a new personal best. The book will help you Finish Strong!

For any runner considering training for a half marathon, author Jeff Galloway can help them prepare to train, enjoy training, and cross the finish line strong. In this book, the author outlines for each runner how to select a realistic goal and what workouts to use to best prepare for the race. He includes tips for staying motivated while at the same time eliminating aches, pains, and injuries. He also assures the runner that his training will not consume the runner's time so that they can train successfully while still enjoying other aspects of life. The author's successful and unique run-walk-run training method has helped thousands of average people train for half marathons, even if they have never run before. Using this program, even veteran runners can improve their personal bests. With this book, every runner will be given a step-by-step guide on setting up their training each week so that they will finish the half marathon strong.

The story of Ben Smith, who decided to run 401 marathons in 401 days. People thought he was mad, until they heard his story, then they began to understand. Having endured years of bullying as a child, Ben tried to take his own life. In adulthood, Ben struggled to feel content with the life that was mapped out for him. But having found his passion in running, Ben sold his possessions, escaped his old life and set off on what seemed like an impossible mission - The 401 Challenge.

During his 10,506.2-mile odyssey criss-crossing the UK, Ben ran in 309 different locations, accompanied by more than 13,500 people. He visited 101 schools, burned an estimated 2.4 million calories, wrecked his back and braved every extreme of the British weather, while raising £330,000 for charity, touching the lives of millions.

This is the inspiring journey of a previously lost and broken man who discovered that anything is possible, if only you choose to search for what makes you truly happy.

Cook, Eat, Run offers a no-nonsense approach to eating for runners and athletes of all levels. From filling breakfasts and high-protein snacks to post-run energy fixes and speedy suppers, it's an essential companion for anyone looking to seize control of their fitness regime. Featuring 70+ simple recipes suitable for eating solo or for dining with friends, Cook, Eat, Run provides meals that work with your lifestyle rather than against it, whether you're a `Couch-to-5K' newbie or a pro-runner. There's a section dedicated to on-the-go fuel including homemade energy gels, hydration drinks and energy bars, alongside recipes from elite runners including Sara Hall, Kara Goucher and Molly Huddle, making it a must-read for anyone totting up their miles. No fads. No calorie counting. Just real food for real runners.

Ever been tempted to try a marathon? Maybe you've just started running, perhaps you're gaining confidence, or are you already well on your way to conquering the iconic distance? Whatever stage you're at on your journey, join marathon man Vassos Alexander as he shows us why we shouldn't be afraid of the big 26.2. Every marathon runner's journey is different. You might have caught the bug after experiencing that adrenaline rush of completing your first 5k; it might be a desire to finally cross something off your bucket list; or, perhaps it was a bit of an absentminded afterthought while watching TV, crisps in hand, and a niggling voice saying 'maybe I could do that' - it was for Vassos, at least. However far along you are in your journey, How to Run A Marathon shows us that absolutely anyone can take those first steps to defeating the distance. In fact, you'll probably end up enjoying it a lot more than you think. Including inspiring interviews with runners from all walks of life, delightful tales of remarkable marathons all over the world, crucial training and nutrition tips and so much more, Vassos shares all the lessons he's learnt - from start line to finisher's medal. Funny, candid and motivating, this book will not only help you succeed in your marathon quest but empower you to complete the distance any way you want. Whether that's achieving a particular time or simply finishing in one piece, How to Run a Marathon will guide you through.

Welcome to Japan, the most running-obsessed nation on earth, where: a long-distance relay race is the country's biggest annual sporting event; companies sponsor their own running teams, paying the athletes like employees; and marathon monks run a thousand marathons in a thousand days to reach spiritual enlightenment. Adharanand Finn - award-winning author of Running with the Kenyans - moved to Japan to discover more about this unique running culture and what it might teach us about the sport and about Japan. As an amateur runner about to turn forty, he also hoped find out whether the Japanese approach to training might help him keep improving. What he learned - about competition, about team work, about beating your personal bests, about form and about himself - will fascinate anyone who is keen to explore why we run, and how we might do it better.

'Most of the serious thinking I have done over the past twenty years has been done while running.' Mark Rowlands has run for most of his life. He has also been a professional philosopher. And for him the two - running and philosophising - are inextricably connected. In Running with the Pack he tells us about the most significant runs of his life: from the entire day he spent running as a boy in Wales, to the runs along French beaches and up Irish mountains with his beloved wolf Brenin, and through Florida swamps more recently with his dog Nina. Woven throughout the book are profound meditations on mortality, middle age and the meaning of life. This is a highly original and moving book that will make the philosophically inclined want to run, and those who love running become intoxicated by philosophical ideas.

In this book for runners and walkers, Olympian Jeff Galloway offers an easy, time-efficient method for training for a 5K or 10K. Using Galloway's proven Run Walk Run (R) method, the reader will gain control over fatigue while reducing or eliminating aches and pains. Detailed training schedules help beginners finish each training session strong, and time goal programs help advanced runners shave time off their finishes. In addition to the training plans, Galloway provides easy-to-read advice on medical checkups, nutrition for runners, fat-burning workouts, choosing appropriate running shoes, and how to stay motivated. With the race day checklist, every runner will be prepared for the big day, reducing the stress that happens before a runner's first race. With this book, all runners, at any level, will reduce fatigue and finish each race strong!

Step after step for 26.2 miles, hundreds of thousands of people run marathons. But why--what compels people past pain, lost toenails, 5.30 am start times, The Wall? Sports writer Matt Fitzgerald set out to run eight marathons in eight weeks across the country to answer that question. At each race, he meets an array of runners, from first timers, to dad-daughter teams and spouses, to people who'd been running for decades, and asks them what keeps them running. But there is another deeply personal part to Matt's journey: his own relationship to the sport--and how it helped him overcome his own struggles and cope with his wife Nataki's severe bipolar disorder. A combination of Matt's own How Bad Do You Want It? and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Life Is a Marathon captures the magic of those 26.2 miles. At the end of the day--and at the end of the race--the pursuit of a marathon finish line is not unlike the pursuit of happiness. You will pick up the book for a powerful personal story about what running does for the people for whom it does the most. You will put it down with a greater understanding of what it means to be alive in this world.

'The Perfect Run is sure to increase your appreciation and enjoyment on the run, and that's a big payback' - Runner's World

The "perfect" run, when you are in a full flow and feeling totally unstoppable, can be elusive, but this practical expert guide, written by a celebrated Runner's World writer Mackenzie Havey, will ensure you find it time and time again and in the process transform your running performances.

At some point in every runner's career they experience the "perfect" run, when they are in full flow and feel totally unstoppable. Your worries about the day and physical aches and pains melt away. Your body and mind are in complete sync and the run feels effortless.

Even still, the path to achieving the perfect run remains mysterious. It often materializes in the unlikeliest of circumstances-in adverse weather or on a day when everything else seems to be going wrong. Conversely, when we try hard to create the right conditions for that perfect run, it often doesn't come about.

In The Perfect Run, Mackenzie L. Havey reveals everyone has the potential to enjoy more joyful and flow-driven running, no matter your experience, pace, or sporting ambitions.

This ground-breaking book features insights from elite athletes, neuroscientists, coaches, and everyday runners to provide a road map for how to cultivate the right conditions for the "perfect" run. These ideas will not only help facilitate the potential for more successful running but, more significantly, can also be translated into other areas of your life to help provide a sense of calmness, self-control, and fulfillment far beyond the running trails.

Extreme Lakeland by Nadir Khan and Tom McNally is a stunning photographic celebration of all that makes the Lake District a magnet for those with a heart for adventure and who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of the hills and mountains of this jewel in the English landscape. From the crags of the high fells to the lakes and tarns for which the Lakes is famous, Nadir and Tom showcase incredible adventure sports through the seasons, including rock climbing, mountain biking, fell running, wild swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, base jumping and ski touring. Alongside a foreword by renowned rock climber Leo Houlding, and original illustrations by Anna Sharpe, there are inspirational literary contributions from wild swimmer Gilly McArthur, fell runner Ellis Bland, climbers Anna Taylor and Peter Goulding, and adventurer Jon Sparks. Extreme Lakeland is a visual feast for those that treasure the Lake District.

Published as a quality jacketed hardback in 2013, Steve Chilton's illuminating and entertaining history of one of athletics' most demanding sports, as well as the most demandingly amateur, took the world of running by storm and quickly broke out of its niche. Sandstone Press is delighted to now present the book in a paperback form. It will find ever more admirers to inspire.

Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, "Born to Run "is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: "Why does my foot hurt? "In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world's greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.
Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.
With a sharp wit and wild exuberance, McDougall takes us from the high-tech science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultrarunners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to the climactic race in the Copper Canyons. "Born to Run" is that rare book that will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that the secret to happiness is right at your feet, and that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.

"From the Hardcover edition."

'Running with Karnazes is like setting up one's easel next to Monet or Picasso.' The New York Times In his follow-up to the bestselling Ultramarathon Man, Dean Karnazes is back with more mind-blowing tales of how he pushes his mind and body to limits which are inconceivable to most of us. In Run! Dean shares the pleasure - and considerable pain - of some of his most memorable adventures, including: - a gentle 350-mile canter through the surprisingly hilly Australian Outback; - his annual attempts at the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, California (typical temperature: 45 degrees); and - the notorious 4 Deserts races, a masochist's delight encompassing four separate 155-mile runs across the Atacama Crossing, the Gobi, the Sahara and Antarctica...with rationed water. Dean's entertaining and endearing stories are sure to inspire both dedicated and vicarious runners alike.

Dawn Dais hated running. And it didn't like her much, either. Her fitness routine consisted of avoiding the stairs in her own house, because who really has the energy to climb stairs? It was with this exercise philosophy firmly in place that she set off to complete a marathon. The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women is the ideal training manual for women who don't believe that running is their biological destiny but who dream of crossing the finish line nonetheless. Fully updated with today's best technology for runners and an exploration of running for different bodies, Dais provides readers with a doable training schedule alongside helpful how-tos and funny observations from the pavement. She also integrates entries from her own running journal, sharing everything would-be marathoners need to know about the gear, the blisters, the early morning workouts, the late-night carb binges and most important of all, the amazing rewards. Running may not seem like a friendly endeavour, but with Dawn Dais, you can tame the beast and hit the marathon trail.

In 1982, having sold his jazz bar to devote himself to writing, Murakami began running to keep fit. A year later, he'd completed a solo course from Athens to Marathon, and now, after dozens of such races, not to mention triathlons and a slew of critically acclaimed books, he reflects upon the influence the sport has had on his life and on his writing. Equal parts travelogue, training log, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and settings ranging from Tokyo's Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston among young women who outpace him. Through this marvellous lens of sport emerges a cornucopia of memories and insights: the eureka moment when he decided to become a writer, his greatest triumphs and disappointments, his passion for vintage LPs, and the experience, after fifty, of seeing his race times improve and then fall back. By turns funny and sobering, playful and philosophical, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is rich and revealing, both for fans of this masterful yet private writer and for the exploding population of athletes who find similar satisfaction in distance running.

The mountain marathon is possibly the ultimate test of the endurance runner's capabilities. Navigating your way across rugged open country whilst carrying everything required for your survival and still competing against the clock. From the more traditional two-day events of the OMM, Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon and Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon to the newer one-day events of the White and Dark Peak series, these events are gaining in popularity each year as entrants pit themselves against both the physical and mental challenges of these competitions. This is the first full instructional book written for those people seeking to face this challenge, the complexities and procedures that control and govern these events are laid open. Everything from the different types of courses and classes of event and how to enter them, through to the equipment required and on to the necessary training both to compete and improve performance in these gruelling events are included here. Written by two experienced mountain marathon competitors who are rapidly gaining the reputation for producing the most comprehensive instructional books, this book is set to become the bible of all those seeking to compete the mountain marathon.

Welcome to the Barkley Marathons, a fever dream of an ultra event, inspired by a prison break, heralded by a conch blast, paid for in cigarettes and socks, and completed only by a select few. A race in which competitors haul themselves up mountains, through extreme weather conditions, beyond pain and exhaustion, mile after mile, loop after loop, day after day. Completed 60 miles? Buddy, that's just the fun run. Journalist and ultrarunner Michiel Panhuysen is a multiple-time Barkley entrant, having fallen under the spell of this most enigmatic of races - and its presiding philosopher-genius-organizer Lazarus Lake - in the early 2010s. On each occasion, the Barkley won. The Barkley nearly always wins. In the Spell of the Barkley is a story of sporting obsession, exploring what drives individuals to challenge themselves at the limits of what is possible - and what it takes to succeed.

'a really, really, really good book' - Vassos Alexander 'A masterpiece' - Paul-Sinton Hewitt CBE, parkrun founder 'A lovely book... it is really simple about getting a nice relationship with your running where it helps your life and changes with your life... Very accessible.' - Paul Tonkinson, Running Commentary presenter and author A smart running book designed for the all-too-often overlooked middle-of-the-pack runner, written by Marathon Talk's Martin Yelling and Anji Andrews. Welcome to the midpack! Running pushes us, stretches us, asks us difficult questions, challenges us. It gives us space, calms us down, picks us up, boosts our energy, rewards, inspires and fulfils us. Midpack runners - those who fall between the beginners and the elite - are the heartbeat and footsteps of the running community. In this long-overdue book, Marathon Talk's Martin Yelling and Anji Andrews share their expert knowledge, first-person stories and coaching ideas to nourish the midpackers' running experience. Covering such diverse topics as 'Making Yourself Bullet-proof' and 'How to Nail Your Race', Running in the Midpack will cultivate your running progress, and help you to become a healthy, happy and successful runner. Marathon Talk is the UK's number one running podcast.

Lake 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.