Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-running and Obsession
But it ain't shucks to the feats these Brits get up to. They've been doing it a It appears that there are a bunch of old-timers in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland that call mountains 'fells' and run races on them. They've been doing it a long time, too--in the old days they called them Guide Races and the people undertook them unsupported, for the most part, and unknown to most of the world. The obsession in the book's title appears to be the author's own obsession--to finish the Bob Graham Round, 42 peaks in the Lake District, in under 24 hours.
His quest is not a big part of the narrative, but it drives the book's finish and I'm glad I stuck it out until the end. There is obsession in many of the fell runners' stories, but his is the one that grabbed me. Where did this guy come from, what made him want to do this thing, and what drives him to keep on trying? It's his story and it's all the stories, all as different as right from rain, and all, strangely, gripping. I did get tired of the book, about halfway through, but that's more my own personal failing rather than a jab at the book.
I'd still recommend it. Most interesting to me, personally, as an aging would-be runner, is the sheer durability of these guys. Askwith describes the Wasdale, a race over 25 miles of rugged mountain terrain, as having sixty-eight starters with only twenty-six under forty.
See a Problem?
Is the sport aging out? He isn't sure, but he does think the reason for such a large proportion of older runners may be that the old are fitter and healthier than ever and fell-running enthusiasts tend to stay fitter and healthier. Stamina tends to improve with age anyway. So, for many of us, does technique, as experience refines our feet's mastery of rough ground.
Mark Hartell says that, at thirty-nine, 'I feel my age in terms of having to stretch a bit more, but in terms of speed I seem to be getting faster. My biggest question was answered near the end--did the runners ever stop and enjoy the scenery? From this, I'd say the answer is 'no'. So what did they do it for? Why not just run up and down the same mountain all the time, if you're not going to look at the view? Well, they might respond, why do I think the only thing to do with a beautiful view is to look at it?
Oscar Wilde said, 'It seems to me that we all look at Nature too much, and live with her too little. The point is not the exertion involved: You need to feel it, to interact with it; to be in it, not just looking from the outside. You need to lose yourself -- for it is then that you are most human. I think he has a point.
In the same way that looking at a mountain isn't shucks to walking on it, running it may be "a step up" in man-mountain interaction.
Running Free review – 'It's the prod you need to make you step off the pavement and into the wild'
And while I think walking, sleeping, sitting, crawling on your hands and knees with a magnifying glass in front of your eyes, or even living on a mountain is a pretty fine thing, running it? I'll leave that to the magnificent fell-runners. I bow to you all. Richard Askwith introduces us to not only fell running, but also fell runners, fell races and long-distance challenges, and the remarkable story of fell-running history — all interwoven with details of the contemporary fell-running year as it passes month by month.
Also interwoven is Askwith's struggle, to complete the miles and peaks of the Bob Graham Round of Lakeland fells in under 24h, much of which is in his head. He tells us about Ernest Dalzell, whose 12m He tells us about Kenny Stuart, Bill Teasdale, Billy Bland, and Joss Naylor, and a whole host of other remarkable people who consider themselves anything but remarkable. This includes Helen Diamantides who, together with Martin Stone, won the 5-day mile Dragon's Back race in a running time of 38h 38m beating an elite field of other ultra long-distance teams many of which dropped out.
There are many more stories like this, astonishing and inspiring in equal measure. The book is full times and records and placings, both contemporary and historical, but Askwith draws in his readers so deeply — enveloping us in the lives of these runners — that these are details you come to care about.
But he also manages to impart fell runners' love of the mountains and their support of each other, as well as the sport's acknowledgement of danger he talks a lot about pain , and the individual need to accept personal responsibility. I loved this book — at times it brought goosebumps to my arms and tears to my eyes and not because of cramp. An easy 5 stars.
Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession
Jun 24, Beth is currently reading it. Inspired by the endorphins and sense of accomplishment of hiking solo in the mountains in Scotland, I picked up this book on fell-running racing up and down mountains at distances beyond "trail running" to read about the next level of adventurousness. Truth be told, though Scotland was inspiring and I want to do more hiking there, fell-running is probably far beyond my level of adventurousness!
The writing is great, spirited and quick, an easy fun read. Dec 28, Graham Smith rated it liked it Shelves: Obsessed with fell running? I am a fell runner but it just did not inspire me to get out and run.
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It didn't deliver on why most people run the fells or trails; the beauty of nature. Nov 12, Grim-Anal King rated it really liked it. As a runner and peak bagger I've always had an interest in fell running but have never been in the right place at the right time to stumble into competition. An engaging overview of the sport which might seem more inspiring if I weren't sitting here with tendonitis pondering how to eke out more than one run and a decent hike a week without my leg getting worse Sep 21, Emma Sommerville rated it liked it Shelves: I really enjoyed this book in a lot of ways, even though it wasn't the most exciting read at times.
There's plenty of books I haven't finished but something kept me going right to the end of this book. It was interesting to follow the author's own running journey and learn about the history of fell running, however unless already familiar with fell running, the various people and races mentioned start to become a bit of a blur pretty quickly.
The 'scenes from a fell running year' chapters become I really enjoyed this book in a lot of ways, even though it wasn't the most exciting read at times. The 'scenes from a fell running year' chapters become a bit of a drag towards the end and I started to skim over the words to get through it a bit more quickly. As I live in the UK I was familiar with some of the places mentioned, however I think it would be a less exciting read for people from other countries who have never visited the mountains here. Jul 04, Sam rated it really liked it.
This is a great and very original book about a niche past-time. It has that rare quality of being able to draw in someone only loosely interested and convey the enthusiasm that the author has. My one criticism is that there is too much hyperbole - it seems like practically every race is the toughest and every 'character' with their own chapter the best.
At the end of the day though it made me want to discover more about fell-running, which is surely the main point of the book. At first I thought This is a great and very original book about a niche past-time. At first I thought the conclusions and epilogue were a bit too sentimental but on reflection they are exceedingly well written and reflective.
Definitely worth a read to anyone with the slightest interest in running or the outdoors. Aug 22, Perttu rated it it was ok. While the book's subject of English fell-runners was interesting, the book couldn't hold my full attention till the very end. I enjoyed reading about author's own struggle or more accurately: Also learning of how old school fell-runners in the 60's and 70's trained, or rather didn't train was highly interesting.
Still the book seemed to fall apart when more and more names of current day runners and mountains and races were introdu While the book's subject of English fell-runners was interesting, the book couldn't hold my full attention till the very end. Still the book seemed to fall apart when more and more names of current day runners and mountains and races were introduced. Still, I would recommend the book to all runners with aforesaid reservations.
Oct 08, Todd Johnson rated it really liked it Shelves: You sort of either are or aren't in the target audience for this. If not, I don't think it's like an "Into Thin Air" or "The Perfect Storm," where it's so compelling that a subject you aren't otherwise interested is overcome. Jan 21, Laurie rated it really liked it Shelves: This book hides nothing. But it also celebrates the British countryside, the sport that is for joy and not for profit and super fit individual that head to the mountains to challenge their limits.
The Bob Graham round sounds amazing. Am I tempted to have a go? This books made me want to. Dec 31, Christine Shouldis rated it really liked it. Nov 03, Alisa rated it it was ok Shelves: I wanted to like it so bad but I kept drifting in and out and getting confused because of the contest list of obscure names or the just poor writing style. I was sad to give it up but I had to.
Aug 28, Meredith rated it really liked it. Read this while spending the summer in England and hiking many of the places mentioned in the book.
I'd read it again. Oct 27, Mark rated it really liked it. Outstanding Wonderful evocation of what it is to run. If you run or are thinking about running buy this book now. Jan 03, Ross Brown rated it it was amazing. Feet in the Clouds is almost fantastical in scope, introducing another world of characters, heroes and stunning landscapes hidden in the parallel universe of the, uh, Lake District.
Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession by Richard Askwith
His observation of the world and the community he surrounded himself in is very sensitive. In one section he wrote about Wasdale Head: I was sad to put it down, so I laced up my running shoes and went for a run. I bought this book for my husband who is an Ultra runner, but I've started reading it myself too.
Being a British publisher, I hadnt seen this title before but I'm glad it popped up as a reccommended read. We've enjoyed the book very much, especially the way the writer puts you into the experience with vivid details and a consistent pace. The writer is obviously a real fells runner since nobody who's faking it could possibly understand and write about the experiences this way.
An unexpected plus was that the chapters are fairly short. Since we a lot of our reading is done just before falling asleep at night, its nice to have more chapters that are shorter versus trying to stay awake to finish one. One person found this helpful. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. This is woven together in a clever way that makes for a very interesting read and really makes you want to pull on your runing shoes and head for a run. Good thinking about respect for nature and weather and that we need to take full responsibility when out among the fells.
The trigger for me to buy the book came from completing the 3peaks cyclocross race in Yorkshire Dales - couldn't help noticing that many of the strongest guys there came from a fell-running background. Next trip to England I may skip the bike and just bring my running shoes;. I'm a road runner not a trail runner, but I could not put this book down.
If you like running of any sort read this and Askwith's Zatopek bio. They'll make you love running more than you do now. Richard Askwith grabs us from the opening sentence The disclaimer is a first. Exhaustive research, but clearly a man's passion so can we really call it work? Great summary of UK fell running and a source of motivation to running in NZ hills too.
Askwith gives us a history of fell running in this interesting book. Anyone who runs, or more specifically, trail runs, will find a lot here to enjoy. The strength of this book really are the profiles of the fell runners themselves, a hardy lot who, although still with us, seem to speak to us from a bygone era. Kinda like I imagine my great-grandfathers would have been. From an American perspective, the historical minutia gets a bit tedious, however that's the only knock against this great read.
The reasons we fell or trail run, brilliantly articulated. If you don't already do it, then this book should provide the inspiration - or at the very least explain why some of us are mad enough to. See all 13 reviews. Customers who viewed this item also viewed. Let Your Mind Run: There's a problem loading this menu right now.
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