How many #exp points do I give a rousing, inspiring read about fell-running? One that made me feel very humbled. And helped me get a PB in a the Bristol 10k. The following experiences were as a direct result of reading Feet In The Clouds by Richard Askwith.
exp 10 - learning that actually I’m a complete wuss, I’m not trying hard enough at all and when I’m running 70+ miles a week then I can start bitching.
exp 20 - a fucked back & knees didn’t stop joss naylor from becoming one of the great legends of fell-running. So I can push it a damn sight harder and stop fannying about like some delicate victim.
exp 5 - Proper humble pie! My very best hill run up through Leigh Woods is a mere trifling incline at best and I should get out of the city and run up a real hill.
exp 70 - learning about other runners trials and tribulations and learning what is possible given determination, mountains and gravity.
Like I said, quite a rousing read.
exp 80 - It’s quite OK to get proper obsessive. In fact it’s required if I want to step up and do things ‘properly’.
Learning the author’s conclusion that genes win races, but 80% of fell-running is in the head. Not your (non) athelic body. I’ve thought this, but great to read someone say so.
exp 65 - finishing a book! Haven’t done that in a while.
Many people who I’ve mentioned this book to have said it’s a classic running book. I agree. It’s instructive about fell running. But more importantly it describes at length why people run. And the kind of running that I like. The explorative kind. The what’s over this hill type.
A good read. I need to get out of the city and run up a proper hill.
