Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession

When it was first published, in 2004, Feet in the Clouds was scarcely noticed outside the world of fell-running - an esoteric sport largely confined to the north of Britain - and was even sold out of the back of a van at fell races. But, as more and more people have discovered the joys of distance running and outdoor adventure, it has been recognised as a classic exploration of an extreme sport acclaimed by runners, mountaineers, hikers and adventure sports enthusiasts.

Richard Askwith's journey takes him into a world of forbidding rockscapes, horizontal rain, fear, exhaustion and stunning natural beauty, as well as his own attempt at one of the purest and toughest challanges imaginable: the Bob Graham Round, the sport's traditional test of 42 Lake District peaks in 24 hours.

Along the way, he encounters some of the most prodigious - and unsung - athletes Britain has ever produced, such as Joss Naylor, who covered the equivalent of four Everests in a single run. Gripping, funny and moving, this is a story that any aspiring runner, endurance athlete or mountain-lover will understand well: of extremity, heroism and the experience of a lifetime.

RICHARD ASKWITH is Associate Editor of the Independent and author of Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession.