Damian Hall – författare

In It for the Long Run is ultrarunner Damian Hall’s story of running a first marathon aged thirty-six, dressed as a toilet, and representing Great Britain four years later. His midlife-crisis running problem escalated to 100-mile ultramarathons and record-breaking bimbles, culminating in his 261-mile Pennine Way run in July 2020.In 1989, Mike Hartley set a record/Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Pennine Way, running Britain’s oldest National Trail in two days and seventeen hours, without stopping for sleep. Hartley’s record stood for thirty-one years, until two attempts were made on it in two weeks in the summer of 2020. First, American John Kelly broke Hartley’s record by thirty-four minutes. Then Hall knocked another three hours off Kelly’s time.Hall used his record-bothering run to highlight concerns for our climate and ecological emergency: his attempt was carbon negative, he created no plastic waste, and he and his pacing runners collected litter as they went, while also raising money for Greenpeace. A vegan, Hall used no animal products on his attempt. Scrawled on his arm in permanent marker was ‘F F F’, standing for Family, Friends, Future.Packed with dry wit and humour, In It for the Long Run tells of Hall’s nine-year preparation for his attempt, and of the run itself. He also gives us an autobiographical insight into the deranged, custard-splattered, hedgehog-dodging world of ultramarathon running and record attempts.

This is the definitive guide to the best long distance trails in Britain, leading you through landscapes rich in history, wildlife and views. OS references are provided throughout, with invaluable tips on where to walk, timings, nutrition and equipment. There are walks for every level of fitness and contributions from experienced walkers, with practical advice and accompanying maps and explanatory illustrations. Whether walking along the coast or across the moors, following ancient pathways or seeking out less well-known routes, Long Distance Walking in Britain is the ideal companion.

To replace its previous two-volume guide to the Pennine Way, Aurum now publishes an entirely new one-volume guide for the 21st-century walker.The Pennine Way is Britain’ s toughest long-distance path, running 268 miles from Derbyshire’ s Peak District up through the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria and Northumberland into the Scottish Borders. Until now, Aurum’ s Trail Guide has covered it in two volumes, where our competitors publish one, and those volumes have been bulked out with circular day walks which no-one essaying the arduous task of walking even a stretch of the Path will realistically want to divert to do.Now, Damian Hall, one of Country Walking’ s senior contributors, has written a completely new guide, giving all the information the modern walker requires: GPS references, gradients of each section, public transport links, extensive details of the wildlife and flora to be seen along the way, and a guide for occasional walkers to the real highlight stretches of the path.

What if running in beautiful places was paradoxically contributing to the destruction of those precious environments and causing irreversible global harm to people and animals too?In We Can’t Run Away From This, ultrarunner Damian Hall examines the impact of running in our climate and ecological emergency. Packed with insights from experts, it is an enlightening read which will prompt us all to really think about our kit, food and travel, and to identify simple changes we can make to our running and wider lives. But Damian also asks if concentrating on our individual footprints (pun unintended) is really the answer.We can’t run away from this any more, and this book will give every runner ideas about how to live and exercise more sustainably.

‘We don’t stop running because we get old. We get old because we stop running.’Is it inevitable that our running performance slides as we get into our forties and beyond? Or are there things we can do to slow or even pause the decline, master our midlife and use experience as a superpower and become an ageless ace?In Run Forever, record-breaking GB ultrarunner Damian Hall, fifty, examines the reasons why our strength and speed might deteriorate, yet how it isn’t certain if we choose to do something about it. In running, like other sports, there have been phenomenal performances from masters athletes, and while ageing is unavoidable, how we age isn’t. Becoming an ageless ace has potentially extraordinary healthspan and longevity benefits away from running.Featuring chapters on speed, strength, mindset, sleep and nutrition, Hall draws on the knowledge of experts and shares the stories of other runners – including five-time Olympian and European 10,000 metres champion Jo Pavey, and record-breaking ultrarunner Nicky Spinks – to provide advice for how we can keep running strong and enjoying it for as long as possible. World-renowned sports dietitian, author and ultrarunner Renee McGregor explains how ageing affects female runners, especially around perimenopause and menopause, and leading strength and conditioning coach Pete Stables provides knowledge and exercises for the masters athlete.Ageing is inevitable. Slowing down is optional. Run Forever gives you the tools to keep moving – stronger, smarter, longer.

Explore the timeless beauty of the Cotswolds with 30 inspiring circular day walks across Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, revealing honey-hued villages, dramatic hillforts, and the rolling landscapes of one of England’s most celebrated National Landscapes. From gentle strolls to challenging climbs, these routes offer something for both new and seasoned walkers, with wide views, steep escarpments, and satisfying gradients to explore in every season. Ideal for walkers of all abilities, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook features 30 circular walks ranging from 9 to 19km (6–12 miles), each designed to be completed in 3–6 hours. Whether you’re seeking a safe, easy ramble or a thigh-burning workout on the high plateaus, these routes are easily accessible from Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bath, and classic Cotswold towns like Painswick, Nailsworth, and Winchcombe. Experience the best of the Cotswolds on foot, from the finest sections of the Cotswold Way National Trail to hidden valleys near Nailsworth, ancient stone circles at Minchinhampton, and bustling market towns such as Stroud and Moreton-in-Marsh.Enjoy year-round walking among the limestone hills and beech woods of the Cotswolds, from fresh spring meadows around Painswick and golden autumn slopes above Winchcombe, to the windswept escarpment known as The Edge, each season brings its own highlights and dramatic views.Choose from 30 circular walks, each with a 1:50,000 OS map extract, route summary, start and finish points, estimated walking time, and detailed information on local pubs, tea rooms, and public transport in classic Cotswold towns and villages.Discover local history and points of interest, with routes passing ancient hillforts like Belas Knap, Neolithic long barrows, enigmatic stone circles, and honey-hued villages such as Broadway and Castle Combe, all carefully marked and described.Walks range from gentle countryside rambles through valleys near Bradford-on-Avon to testing ascents with 200m+ climbs on the high escarpments above Cheltenham and Bath, offering safe, accessible options for newcomers and rewarding challenges for experienced hikers.Explore the celebrated Cotswolds National Landscape, with easy access from major transport hubs such as Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Bath, and walker-friendly towns like Winchcombe, Stroud, and Painswick providing excellent bases for your adventures. Plan your Cotswolds adventure with confidence and enjoy this classic walking country at your own pace, in every season. With the definitive Cicerone guidebook, discover the satisfying remoteness, authentic wildness, and real drama of the Cotswolds’ hills and valleys.