I've never been a good runner. Although I've gone through fits and starts of doing it over the years it's always felt fairly torturous, even when I've got my fitness levels up. Despite this I really enjoy reading books on running, although I admit to feeling just a teeny bit envious when I read accounts of people putting in serious miles and somehow still managing to enjoy it.

Michael Crawley is a young British anthropologist who had the potential to be an elite runner but at the age of 18 was more interested in travelling and enjoying himself than taking the sport seriously. Later, as part of his pHd, he spent 15 months running with runners in Ethiopia in a bid to learn what exactly is it that drives so many Ethiopian runners to greatness on the world stage, particularly in marathon running.

Having started to gradually get back into running himself*, his own athletic capabilities make this an absorbing read as he has the physical ability to train directly with some of the world's best runners, learning first-hand the methods that propels so many Ethopian athletes to greatness. Getting up at 3am to do hill training in the dark and partaking in endless runs at altitude in the forests surrounding Addis Ababa, Crawley sees lives out punishing schedules on difficult terrains which numerous Ethopian athletes partake in, all with eyes on the life-changing prize money that can be won at international marathons for the chosen few.

* Following his time in Ethiopia Crawley himself goes on to run his second marathon in 2 hrs 20 minutes.

4 stars - well written and atmospheric, my legs are sore just from reading it. ( )