Book info

• Title Keep on Running
• Author Phil Hewitt
• Year 2012
• Genre Sports

Marathons make you miserable, but they also give you the most unlikely and the most indescribable pleasures. It’s a world that I love – a world unlocked when you dress up in lycra, put plasters on your nipples and run 26.2 miles in the company of upwards of 30,000 complete strangers. Phil Hewitt, who has completed over 25 marathons in conditions ranging from blistering heat to snow and ice, distils his personal experiences into a light-hearted account of his adventures along the way from Berlin to New York, and explores our growing fascination with marathon running. This story of an ordinary guy’s addiction to running marathons – an addiction hundreds of thousands share – looks at the highs and lows, the motivation that keeps you going when your body is crying out to stop, and tries to answer the ultimate question, ‘Why do you do it?’

Thoughts

This is probably a book for die-hard running fans only. There’s no big coming-of-age story or over-riding point to make, it’s just the journey of one man through an amateur career of marathon running with details of the highlight races. Some are good, some are bad, each are instrumental in the journey from marathon first-timer, to a veteran at the 26 miles.

It’s nicely written, free from error and manages to keep each marathon interesting - despite the fact they all go very much the same. From the shoe-shuffling start, to hitting the wall at some point, to pushing on and crossing the line, to a rush of emotions (good or bad) afterwards.

At times Phil comes across as a snob, self-confessed as it may be. Anything less than a marathon is not worth the bother, apparently. But he balances it out with the respect shown to those making supreme efforts - his father-in-law who runs marathons at 70+ no matter how long it takes.

Overall, an interesting book for those who want the nitty-gritty of a few important races, but it feels quite a niche subject so it’s hard to recommend as a must-read.

Rating: 3 / 5