Feet in the Clouds

[Mrs Bobbit]

Maybe, but I dunno - I'm not interested in being an elite fell runner or dieting and training and taking it all so, well so bleedin' seriously. What I liked the most about FITC is that it felt as if it was written from something akin to my perspective on the sport. Yes I do run alot (maybe 40 miles pw and aim to up that to 50 once my house move goes through) and I am getting faster and stronger but no, I'm not interested in becoming an elite runner. I just want to really enjoy it.

You gain much cred with Graham then if you don't take it so bleedin' seriously!
I have thought that he had the way, the truth, and the light as far as what he has taken from the likes of SRORR. But I like your attitude enjoying your sport. Enjoy!

[daz h]

Askwith's book is OK: if you like that sort of thing.

However the most useful book ever written about fellrunning remains Sarah Rowell's "Off-Road Running" available from Amazon for £10.

Given that Sarah was a top marathon runner, a top International Mountain Runner, probably the second-best ever female fell runner, has a sports related PhD, is actively involved in International Selection, edits a sports-related magazine, has forgotten more about fell running than most Forum posters will ever know...

...well if you haven't got a copy you just aren't serious about fell running.

yes sarah's book is an excellent publication and was the first book about fell running i purchased.
has she written any others ???

[Graham Breeze]

yes sarah's book is an excellent publication and was the first book about fell running i purchased.
has she written any others ???

No. But then OFR was meant to cover her territory.

Of course OFR and FITC are apples and pears; my general point is that a practical book that actually helps runners improve has sold far fewer copies than a book of narcissistic, over-written journalism.

[XRunner]

No. But then OFR was meant to cover her territory.

Of course OFR and FITC are apples and pears; my general point is that a practical book that actually helps runners improve has sold far fewer copies than a book of narcissistic, over-written journalism.

Only 1800 copies of SMOTS were printed.

However even if the print run for SMOTS had been as large as Off-Road Running or FITC, it is unlikely that many more copies would have been sold.

The limited availability of SMOTS has given it a rarity value and it is now much more valuable than the other two books.

In general people will buy a well written book (FITC) rather than a well researched book (SMOTS) or even a very practical book (ORR).

[Eric Postlethwaite]

A practical book that actually helps runners improve has sold far fewer copies than a book of narcissistic, over-written journalism.

Narcissitic, over-written journalism, well that's your opinion Breezeblock, but what you state above is hardly surprising. You should reread Stolly's post, because his opinion is representative of that of a great deal of fellrunners.

Maybe, but I dunno - I'm not interested in being an elite fell runner or dieting and training and taking it all so, well so bleedin' seriously. What I liked the most about FITC is that it felt as if it was written from something akin to my perspective on the sport. Yes I do run alot (maybe 40 miles pw and aim to up that to 50 once my house move goes through) and I am getting faster and stronger but no, I'm not interested in becoming an elite runner. I just want to really enjoy it.

We aren't all obsessive about our running to the point of weighing ourselves every morning to see if we haven't put on a couple of ounces overnight, and we aren't all hopping up and down chomping at the bit on the front line at races.

[Graham Breeze]

Only 800 copies of SMOTS were printed.

Actually 1800 (page 9 The Fellrunner Spring 1987 Note from co-publisher refers)

[lilactime]

Actually 1800 (page 9 The Fellrunner Spring 1987 Note from co-publisher refers)

if its that good its time it was reprinted . stop me constantly looking on ebay

[Graham Breeze]

Narcissitic, over-written journalism, well that's your opinion...

Yep!

narcissistic: much of the book is about himself

overwritten: too many adjectives and too much purple prose

journalism: he is a journalist.

Whether I am "obsessive about running" can be debated but Askwith certainly is or why would he attempt the BGR so many times: and then write a book about it!

[lilactime]

Yep!

narcissistic: much of the book is about himself

overwritten: too many adjectives and too much purple prose

journalism: he is a journalist.

Whether I am "obsessive about running" can be debated but Askwith certainly is or why would he attempt the BGR so many times: and then write a book about it!

still a good read thou

[Graham Breeze]

still a good read thou

Never said it wasn't and, after all, in FITC Richard Askwith recommends Sarah Rowell's Off-Road Running.