Fetch Fell Runners

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Jul 2018
9:20pm, 12 Jul 2018
26,316 posts
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Derby Tup
He was a 2hr 30 min marathon runner in the past. iirc writing the book about the BGR he then blogged about supporting an attempt suggesting that he’d never been actively involved in the topic of his book
Jul 2018
9:22pm, 12 Jul 2018
26,317 posts
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Derby Tup
sandstonepress.com
zp
Jul 2018
9:29pm, 12 Jul 2018
381 posts
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zp
Thanks DT, some impressive running, even if his books aren’t to everyone’s liking ;) Did wonder if he’d done The Round before writing about it, seems not.
Jul 2018
9:38pm, 12 Jul 2018
26,318 posts
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Derby Tup
FITC was written by a professional writer who’d done the BG. For me (very much a back of the pack fell runner with BG aspirations) it was inspirational. The historic stuff was well researched. The Round is re-heated, re-hashed, neither inspiring nor even very interesting AND put together by someone with no real experience of the round
Jul 2018
9:45pm, 12 Jul 2018
4,713 posts
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Northern Exile
I know that several people are very annoyed about Chiltern misquoting them AND publicising "off the record" information, so no scruples AND a crap writer to boot. I must admit that his last one about John Wild v Kenny Stuart was the best of the bunch, but it was only my OCD that made me read it.

ZP - do you mean "Running Free" ? It's not that bad actually, it just goes on a bit on what is essentially the same subject - nowhere near as good as FITC :-) I've been told that his book on Emil Zatopek is really good, I'll get round to reading it one day. Right now I have the back catalogue of Harry Griffin to churn through, so I may be some time ...
Jul 2018
9:48pm, 12 Jul 2018
26,319 posts
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Derby Tup
Harry Griffin - now there’s a writer worth reading
zp
Jul 2018
12:49am, 13 Jul 2018
382 posts
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zp
NE - that’s the one, Running Free. I got the impression it was all about throwing away the idea of goals (races, times, rounds) for ‘purer’ running. I may have gotten it confused with Running Wild, but I like challenging myself - even (gasp!) on strava segments - and don’t feel too keenly on anyone telling me I’m doing running wrong.

Should maybe actually read it before judging though!
Jul 2018
8:42am, 13 Jul 2018
4,714 posts
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Northern Exile
It is exactly like that, but because it's Askwith and because he's a decent writer, he manages to make it a bit more readable than you would think. It's also a bit of a rant against the obstacle course phenomenon, you know, Tough Guy, Tough Mudder etc. Personally I think you should live and let live - if people want to do these things and pay the inflated price that comes with them, then they should go ahead and enjoy. I feel the same way about a lot of these very dull triathlon events that people pay massive amounts to enter.

I tried to like "Running Wild" because Boff is a local and a great fellrunner, but truth be told I made it about halfway through and gave up. That book is a bit of a rant too :-)
Jul 2018
8:54am, 13 Jul 2018
26,320 posts
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Derby Tup
Boff’s book is frankly rubbish

Askwith’s Running Free was preaching to the converted for me ;)
Jul 2018
5:27pm, 13 Jul 2018
17,673 posts
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flanker
Loved FITC but struggled to finish Running Free. It was a short story, with a bit of a chip on the shoulder about obstacle course racing and shoe manufacturers, strung out into a repetitive book. If he'd made it shorter it would have been an enjoyable read.

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Maintained by Northern Exile
A place to discuss all aspects of running on the fells, from footwear to the best line off Scafell Pike :-) Beginners welcome!

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