Acquired via BookCrossing 30 Jan 2010 - KGC bookshelf

My initial comments:
Saw the release alert earlier in the week and ran into the KGC (not literally, I was walking home!) and grabbed this and another running book.

Like Kelly Holmes, I grew up in Hildenborough (although we're a similar age, I don't remember seeing her, which seems odd) - I advised her of this fact when I "met" her when she started the Birmingham Half Marathon in 2009. She whooped, which was nice. Anyway I have flicked through this in shops and was pleased to find it; I do like books about runners and glad to see this is inspiring.

And my review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this sporting autobiography. Holmes is indeed an inspiration. She has worked very hard and is honest about this hard work, the effect it has had on her home life and frienships, and the hardships as well as the rewards. The narratives of her races are clear and exciting, and all aspects of a runner's life are covered. I particularly like her concern, whether in the Army or now she has retired, for getting other people engaged in sports and activities, and it's good to see that she's working to that aim now.

One of the great things about running is that it's very similar, though on a different scale, whether you're a slow charity plodder like me or an elite athlete. So it was cheering to know that cross-training does help provide a good base for building up running speeds and distances and all of that stuff that I encounter in my own training.

I'm going to hang on to this till I can find a non-BC copy to keep, if that's OK. Available for loan though! ( )