The concept of fell-running is simple: it's a sport that involves running over mountains - sometimes one,sometimes many. It's also immensely demanding.
While running uphill is a stamina-sapping slog,running pell-mell down the other side requires the agility - and even recklessness - of a mountain goat. And there's the weather to contend with.
Richard Askwith explores the world of fell-running in the only legitimate way: by donning his Ron Hill vest and studded shoes to spend a season running as many of the great fell races as he can,from Borrowdale to Ben Nevis: an arduous schedule that tests the very limits of one's stamina and courage.
Ultimately Askwith's obsession drives him to attempt the ultimate challenge: the Bob Graham Round - a non-stop circuit of 42 of the Lake District's highest peaks to be completed within 24 hours.
This is a portrait of one of the few sports to have remained utterly true to its roots - in which the point is not fame or fortune but to run the ancient,wild landscape,and to be a hero,if at all,within one's own valley. Feet in the Clouds is a chronicle of a masochistic but admirable sporting obsession,an insight into one of the oldest extreme sports,and a lyrical tribute to Britain's mountains and the men and women who live among them.
Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLCISBN: 9781781310564Number of pages: 352Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A minor masterpiece.'- The Sunday Times
'A rousingly readable chronicle... The book wants for nothing in terms of rhythm and drama and tug.'- Christopher Bray,The Sunday Times
'Sports book of the season - a terrific story of fell-running and obsession.'- Blake Morrison,Guardian
'(An) excellent book.'- James Eve, The Times
Richard Askwith
Visit the Richard Askwith author pageRobert Macfarlane
A British author and academic,Robert Macfarlane is an author of prize-winning books on the themes of memory,landscape,nature,environmentalism and travel and regularly writes for publications including the Guardian and the Times. His first book,Mountains of the Mind won the Guardian First Book Award and the Somerset Maugham Award. His other works include,The Old Ways,Landmarks and The Lost Words,a children's book of nature spells created in partnership with artist Jackie Morris.
Robert Macfarlane is Reader in Literature and the Geohumanities in the Faculty of English at Emmanuel College,Cambridge. His forthcoming book about subterranean spaces and deep time,Underland,will be published in 2019.
Visit the Robert Macfarlane author page
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