Keep on Running: The Highs and Lows of a Marathon Addict

Keep on Running: The Highs and Lows of a Marathon Addict by Phil Hewitt
Published 2012
Print list price £8.99
Kindle £4.79

Author Phil Hewitt, Oxford University educated, art journalist gets you quite annoyed at how he simply gets a freebee entry into the London marathon, which he happily mentions 3 or 4 times throughout his book. The rest of us have to try and scrape in with good for age as it’s rather difficult to get in the ballot

However he manages to write the book in non-academic, vaguely humorous, inspirational style

“A healthy dose of discontent is simply the natural state for a runner who hasn’t run his final race”.

Starting from his first marathon in London this could be a good guide for the runner thinking about making their debut, especially abroad, who wants information on different races.

Detailing over 20 marathons, mainly of the flat city variety, however repeating the same ones quite a few times with the occasional venture into an XC/mountain (Isle of Wight) and a trail marathon (Clarendon Way, New Forest). Other marathons completed include: Chichester, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, La Rochelle, Berlin, Rome and Mallorca. So it’s really only 12 different marathons.

Helpful advice is provided for the beginner on what not to wear (any kind of jacket no matter how bad it rains, I have a story!) pacing strategies using Kilometres instead of Miles as they are shorter and many other humorous idioms to keep you motivated.

Useful  for the experienced marathoner when halfway through training, lacking inspiration                       

“Even when I’ve really, really not wanted to go for a run, I’ve forced myself, knowing the satisfaction of having gone will be worth its weight in gold compared to the self-flagellating grumpiness of not having gone”

You may question some of his philosophies though, he doesn’t run with a club, runs with music, it’s not worth getting out of bed for a 10K (probably humour) and mind games to play (some argue you should be in the moment). He isn’t a World class athlete so don’t expect hard training tips to get you through a sub 2:30 marathon,  but that could be just the approach you need to get you started.

Gebrselassie didn’t do marathons when he started but found the training improved all his other race times, so if you have never done one this could be the book to inspire you to be one of the mad 10% of the population who do marathons. Though look elsewhere for a training plan.

Recommended 4/5

Authors blog at www.marathonaddictuk.wordpress.com

Authors Twitter feed @marathon_addict

David Anderson