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What do you desperately want to achieve in running, in sport, in life? How do you identify the summit that your passion is driving you towards? How do you harness that passion's remarkable power? How do you plan your path towards that towering achievement? Why should motivation not be a problem? How do you overcome setbacks? How can YOU reach your mountaintop?
International ultrarunner and coach Steve Till analyses his own experiences, inspirations and beliefs - as well as those of sportspeople of all standards - to trace how they have shaped and empowered his remarkably long and wide-ranging career, in an exploration of goal-setting, motivation, resilience and achievement, to create a book that is a must-read for runners at any level, and indeed all of us who try and make the best of our abilities in any walk - or run - of life.
Steve has competed in 100km and 24-hour events for his country, won medals in national championships, run more than 100 marathons, over 500 parkruns, and is a Centurion, having race walked 100 miles in less than 24 hours. His hard-won insights and moving examples can help you to harness your passion, identify your mountaintop, plan your ascent, overcome any setbacks and finally reach your personal summit.
Primarily about running but directly applicable to any challenge, The Run of Life explores what it takes to identify the right goal - the one that excites your passion - to plan for its achievement, to overcome any setbacks and to prepare yourself for the ultimate test. It does this by examining Steve's own journey from coming last in university cross country races to running for Great Britain and Northern Ireland in ultrarunning events, and the experiences of dozens of other runners, sportspeople and those who strive in any arena. There are lessons here, but it's not preaching. It is more about ideas, interest and inspiration.
About the author
An international athlete, having worn the vest of his country in 100km and 24-hour events, Steve Till spent more than 50 years battling to be the best he could be at road running, cross country, trail running, track running, triathlon, race walking and ultrarunning.He has run more than 100 marathons, more than 500 parkruns, and qualified as a Centurion for race-walking 100 miles in less than 24 hours in a judged race. He has also completed two Ironman-plus triathlons - actually Quadrathons, consisting of a two-mile sea swim, 50km walk, 100-mile cycle and marathon run. In addition, he has coached dozens of runners of all standards, and spectated at numerous events - from local to international, from parkrun to Olympics. He has also thought ceaselessly and written extensively about this simple but endlessly fascinating sport for the last 50 years.And perhaps more importantly, despite having achieved all of the above, he would say that he is just an ordinary runner with little natural talent. He has achieved what he has achieved with no sponsorship, and whilst holding down a job and bringing up a family, so his story and his hard-won insights may resonate more strongly with you, the aspiring runner, the ambitious running, even the average runner, than lessons from the elites.
