Feet in the Clouds - 12.30pm Sunday 21st October

Click to buy Feet in the Clouds

PLEASE NOTE:  We'll be holding a collection in memory of local fell runner Darren Holloway (Pennine Fellrunners).  On Sunday October 7 2012, Darren was competing on leg 4 of the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay for Pennine Fellrunners, when he collapsed and died of a Left Ventricular hypertrophic obstructive Cardiomyopathy.  You can also contribute via this Just Giving page.  At the request of his family his friends have set up 2 pages to give donations in his memory. Woodhead Mountain Rescue, who he had supported for several years, and North West Air Ambulance, that attended the scene on the day.  (Read Nik Cook's article about Darren on Planet Fear).

Richard Askwith is a Northamptonshire-based journalist who 25 years ago fell in love with fell-running - which to him as a southerner seemed an obscure and reckless northern pastime involving racing up and down trackless mountains in all weathers.
 
His enthusiasm led him to immerse himself in the culture and history of the sport, and eventually to publish a book, Feet in the Clouds, which has become something of a cult among runners and outdoor enthusiasts.
 
It also led him into a series of increasingly severe fell-running challenges, from the classic races (Grasmere, Burnsall, Borrowdale, Ben Nevis) to, ultimately, what many consider to be the toughest challenge of all: the Bob Graham Round, a non-stop circuit of 42 of the Lake District's highest peaks, to be completed within 24 hours.

Richard will be interviewed by Peak District endurance athelete and adventure sports journalist Nikalas Cook who has completed the 150 mile Marathon des Sables and won the 120 mile non-stop Arctic 6633 Ultra.  (But has never done the Bob Graham round!)

NEWS UPDATE:  Our congratulations to Nik who has just won the Long Course Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen (35-40 age group) and has a new book out at the end of September on 'Marathon Training'.


Click to order Nik's new book

And you might also like to read Richard's other book The Lost Village - In Search of a Forgotten Rural England which is also available on audiobook.

And you can listen to Nik Cook interviewing Richard Askwith on our You Tube podcast:

Following Richard's talk we'll show...

Onwards (6 mins)
James Jarvis' engaging animation, directed in collaboration with Richard Kenworthy, captures the essence of running - the joy of engaging with your surroundings come rain or shine in city or country, the punishing ups and the pleasurable downs, those moments of blissful wonder and the relief and satisfaction of the finish.