Books on fell running and more....and hope for the route to normality

 Its been a bit quiet on the blog. Since we went in to lock down, I simply haven't been up on the hills as I have to get in the car to get to them. I certianly envy those that have, and anyone who has gone anyway, whatever their reasons, I completely respect your decisions. But instead I have made do with reading about adventures in the hills. 

I have picked a few books i have read recently to recommend to get you through the last of this crisis. Today Boris annouced that by June it might all be over, but in my mind, that is a long way away. Work has stolen my soul recently, both in terms of raw hours and the impact of the pandemic. I am sure somewhere in the hills I will eventually find it again. Soon. 

The first book I would like to recommend is Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith

This book is a bit older now. In fact, it ends with a section in which the author contemplates the death of fell running, as those upholding its traditions slowly die out. A decade and a half later, and the scene is fortunately thriving. The book tells the story of a year in fell running, interspersed with the stories of the heroes and the author's own personal battle with that great pinnacle, the Bob Graham round. I read it once when I was just getting in to fellrunning, and have re read it twice since. I may not exactly be completely part of the fell running community, but even from the fringes I love it, but I hope we still have the races Richard mentions, and all those he doesn't, to go back to at the end of this. 

The second book I recommend takes a similar set up but discusses the more Scottish sport of Mountain running. Mountain running is the Scottish version of fellrunning but perhaps with more snow, more elevation and fewer paths. 

Jonny describes his relationship with the mountains from the first foray, completely unprepared in a jumper, to his OMM after the birth of his child, to his Ramsey Round. It has made me want to visit Scotland again, as well as given me a host of new heroes. 

The next book I would recommend is by a woman who I think I probably wish I was; Emelie Forsberg. There is something about Emelie's ethos that is amazingly wholesome and hardworking. That attitiude shines through in the book 

The book is a bit of an everything book; the story of her running, recipes, training tips and wonderful photos. I haven't got hold of her latest book with the Moonvalley group (Moonvalley diaries) but I suspect this will be just as wonderful. 

The next book is also a bit of a guide book, and I include it simply because I have followed Claire on Youtube for a while and she represents a pillar of helping people access trailrunning to me. She is Wild Ginger Running on Youtube these days, and I enjoy the speaker events she puts on. 

The book is a complete how to guide for beginners including tips on kit, nutrition, and techniques. Check out her YouTube channel too, to help you fill the last of the lock down.

Once we are free, you may be interested in Jen and Sim Benson's book. Checkout their amazing roaming life in their interview on the Outdoor Fix podcast. 

This book covers everything from 5ks in National Trust parks to multiday trips. It comes with access to online resources and covers the whole country. I found some great ideas for adventures in it, and use it when away to get ideas for places to run when I don't know the area. 

The next few books are about the relationship with the countryside. The first is Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain which describes a lifetime relationship with the Cairngorm's. It is beautiful and timesless.

The next is Back to Nature by Chris Packham and his stepdaughter Megan McCubbin which is almost a call to arms about climate change. Written during and after the first lock down, when nature took a whole new place in out lives, it is a story for the modern, moderate climate activist. 

And finally, I recommend the books of Anna McNuff. Anna's enthusiasm for adventure is infectious. I started with her tailes of her adventures in New Zealand then promptly read her other two books about her cycling adventures. She also ran across the British Isles barefoot and is a massive advocate for getting women tohave adventures. If you have audible, she reads her own books and does fantastic voices. If not, her written work is still wonderful.

I hope that little lot wets your appetite. Boris has annouced the 'roadmap' out of lock down but given the number of U-turns until now, I don't rate his navigation skills. Still, there is hope. And its making other people more hopefully. So between reading, perhaps start planning your training for a busy autumn trail and fell season. I am quietly taking stock of my options as I quite fancy something fairly big, but its all pipe dreams for now.