World's Ultimate Running Races
500 races, 101 countries – this guide to the World’s Ultimate Running Races is big, comprehensive, and beautifully and thoughtfully put together by one of the UK’s top mountain and fell runners, Angela Mudge…
Guide books are big business these days. But however good the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide series are, they cannot really replace that feeling of first hand experience – though they are a good companion when on your travels.
So, when Jethro Lennox kindly sent me a copy of this Harper Collins publication last month I was hoping my previous trepidations would be upended and the WURR book would change my views for good!
First things first. A book that has been crafted by Mudge (one of the most travelled of all current UK mountain runners) would immediately command respect amongst the running fraternity. But what makes this book stand out is that it is compiled in a way that would appeal to those who may well have never heard of Mudge and her global running exploits. This is a coffee table book, and at over 500 pages your coffee table would need to be pretty hefty too.
Jono with his copy
With contributions from the likes of 6-time World Mountain Running Champ Jonathan Wyatt. Mara Yamauchi, Hugh Jones and Kilian Jornet, the book takes the reader on a journey through every Continent, and across all running disciplines from 10km road runs, to XC races, from ultra trail races to tower running races and from the Everest Marathon to the Marathon des Sables.
So comprehensive is this book that there are races in here that you may not heard of previously and many that you may have on your ‘wish list’. Easy to read, easy to use and most importantly engrossing. If you are a runner and want to broaden your competitive horizons you need this book on your shelf!
Out now via Amazon and all good book stockists.
ISBN 978-0-00-743190-8
SRP: £20
Reactions so far
Gwil Sep 28, 08:13 PM
The ‘World’s Ultimate Running Races’ is a big statement but what does it mean? Does it mean ‘ultimate’ running experience? That is ‘ultimate’ running in the sense of ‘cannot be bettered’? Then that is an individual opinion. There will be many arguments about Angela Mudge’s selection. And that is good.
I don’t propose to buy this heavyweight book because I am already organizer the world’s ultimate race. This is the Whalley Nab Run which is a 10 miles off-road hilly route (open to invited runners) and which starts at Langho Railway Station in the Ribble Valley calls in at 5 pubs on the way. Each runner had to consume at least one pint of draught beer in each pub and arrive at the finish within a stipulated time limit.
The first winner was, if I remember correctly, the indomitable Gary Wilkinson of Clayton-le-Moors (recently completed Everest North Col) who managed to down 9 pints on the way round and still beat the time limit.
There has been no second running of this event which premiered about 20 years ago. Sad but true.
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