Running Free: A Runner's Journey Back to Nature

Running Free chronicles one man's transition from urban running culture to a more naturalistic approach to the sport. After years of participating in organized races and tracking his performance with technology, Richard Askwith begins questioning modern running's focus on metrics and gear. He documents his experiments with barefoot running and his explorations of Britain's rural paths and trails. The narrative follows his attempts to strip away the artificial elements of contemporary running while rediscovering direct contact with nature and terrain. Through encounters with mud, hills, weather, and wildlife, Askwith tests the boundaries between runner and environment. His experiences range from local footpaths to remote fell running routes in the British countryside. The book examines broader themes about humanity's relationship with the natural world and questions our culture's emphasis on quantification and consumption. At its core, it presents running as a potential path back to a more elemental way of moving through and connecting with our surroundings.

Readers appreciate Askwith's critique of the commercialization of running and his return to simple, natural running experiences. Many connect with his descriptions of mud-splattered countryside runs and encounters with wildlife. Positive comments focus on: - Personal storytelling style - Humor in describing running mishaps - Arguments against expensive gear and races - Cultural history of fell running Common criticisms: - Too much focus on anti-commercial messaging - Repetitive points about natural running - Some find the tone preachy - Limited appeal outside UK due to British-specific references Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.3/5 (100+ reviews) Amazon US: 4.1/5 (50+ reviews) "Like having a chat with a passionate running friend over a pint" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets bogged down in ranting against big running brands" - Amazon review "Made me want to kick off my shoes and hit the trails" - Running magazine reader review

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🏃‍♂️ Richard Askwith wrote this book after completing the notoriously challenging Spine Race, a 268-mile winter ultramarathon along Britain's Pennine Way. 🌿 The book explores how modern running has become increasingly commercialized, with expensive gear and gadgets, in contrast to the simple, natural approach of "free running" in nature. 👣 Askwith spent time with the Tarahumara people of Mexico's Copper Canyon, known for their ability to run vast distances in simple sandals made from old car tires. 📚 The author previously wrote the award-winning "Feet in the Clouds" (2004), which helped popularize the niche sport of fell running in Britain. 🗺️ Throughout the book, Askwith runs across various terrains in the British countryside, often deliberately getting lost as a way to reconnect with the primal nature of running.