In It for the Long Run

We Can't Run Away From This, the new book by bestselling author Damian Hall, is now available for pre-order. In It for the Long Run is ultrarunner Damian Hall's story of his Pennine Way record attempt in July 2020. In July 1989, Mike Hartley set the Fastest Known Time (FKT) record for the Pennine Way, running Britain's oldest National Trail in a little over two days and seventeen hours. He didn't stop to sleep, but did break for fifteen minutes for fish and chips. 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 less than an hour, then Hall knocked another two hours off Kelly's time. Hall used his record attempt to highlight environmental issues: his attempt was carbon negative, he used no plastics, 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 'FFF', signifying the three things that matter most to him: Family, Friends, Future. Packed with dry wit and humour, In It for the Long Run tells of Hall's four-year preparation for his attempt, and of the run itself. He also gives us an autobiographical insight into the deranged world of midlife crisis ultramarathon running and record attempts.

Damian Hall is a parent, accidental activist and record-breaking ultrarunner who has represented Great Britain and competed in some of the world's toughest races. His attempt to break into the top ten at the 105-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc was made into an award-winning film, Underdog; and the documentary Totally FKT followed him and John Kelly as they raced to break the Pennine Way record in 2020. Damian has also set records on the Paddy Buckley Round, the South West Coast Path, the Cape Wrath Trail, and Wainwright's Coast to Coast. He is a UK Athletics running coach and a widely published journalist who has made regular contributions to Runner's World, Women's Running and Trail Running. His previous books include In It for the Long Run, A Year on the Run and the official National Trail guide to the Pennine Way. He is a big fan of midlife-crisis haircuts and tea.