Jethro, who was the world long course mountain running world champion in 2008, has a “day job“ as publishing manager with Harper Collins, and for a few years had the idea of pulling together a book featuring classic “ultimate running races from around the world” in a simple easy to view edition. Jethro told how many of his fellow workers thought it was a 'pet project' of his as a runner and it is to his credit that the book was approved and succesfully published.
The idea of asking Angela Mudge to research the book was a master stroke. Angela is a former mountain running world champion and more recently took silver in the 2011 Commonwealth Ultra trail championships in Wales. She has built up many contacts all over the world from her years of international competition. She spoke with great enthusiasm of how she started to contact runners and team managers and of how the network grew as they all suggested unique and exciting races in their own countries.
The aim was to feature races from as many countries as possible with as much variation as possible. It includes British classics from the English National cross country and the London marathon to local Scottish favourites the Black Rock 5 , the Carnethy 5 and the West Highland Way Race. Worldwide races range from the Dream Mile at the Bislett games track meet in Oslo and the Boston Marathon through to the Everest Marathon and the Self Transendence 3100 Mile Race, the worlds longest certified race.
For the more adventurous spirits out there you could try:
- Atacama crossing in Chile; a multi-stage race across the driest place on earth.
- Lake Baikal International Ice Marathon; a marathon on a frozen Siberian lake
- Tre Rifugi in Italy; a three stage mountain race that requires participants to run with helmets and scale a near vertical rock face!
- Mount Everest Stair Marathon, Germany; competitors race up and down a 397 step flight of stairs 100 times, equivalent to climbing Mount Everest.
In short, the scope of races in the book proves that the only limit on the adventures to be had through running is our imagination! As the cover says: 500 Races,101 Countries, Choose your adventure! The book is available in each branch of Run and Become at a great price of £16, or you can buy online.