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Outrunning the Demons: Lives Transformed through Running
THE RUNNING AWARDS – BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK'an inspiring collection of stories about runners who have run through unimaginable adversity to find perspective, resolution and ultimately peace, within themselves and with the universe.' - Dean Karnazes'a really good book ... with fascinating stories' – BBC Radio Four, Today Programme
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Hope through running...Written by bestselling author Phil Hewitt, Outrunning the Demons is an exploration of the transformative power of running – and how it can be the key to unlocking resilience we never knew we had.Running can take us to fantastic places. Just as importantly, it can also bring us back from terrible ones. For people in times of crisis, trauma and physical or mental illness – when normality collapses – running can put things back together again. After bestselling author Phil Hewitt was viciously mugged, stabbed and left for dead in 2016, he found himself suffering the acute symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Unable to make sense of the horrific experience that had happened to him, Phil found that dedicating himself to running was slowly but surely helping him heal. Outrunning the Demons is an enriching and celebratory exploration of the transformative power of running – and how it can be the key to unlocking resilience we never knew we had.Told through 34 deeply affecting real-life stories and covering such diverse themes as trauma, bereavement, addiction, depression and anxiety, this compelling book is an exposition of just why running can so often be the answer to everything when we find ourselves in extremis.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2019
44 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 11, 2019
I don’t give books 5-star ratings too often, but this one was a no-brainer for me. Outrunning the Demons: Lives Transformed through Running was inspiring, motivating, and serves as a great reminder of what’s important in life.
Outrunning the Demons is a compilation of various runners’ stories, including author Phil Hewitt’s own story - Why they run and how they got there. Many of the stories include tragic, heartbreaking elements, but they also remind us that in a world often filled with dark days, people are strong and resilient, and genuine people do still exist and care. These reminders are often displayed in the form of fellow runners.
People run for many reasons beyond the obvious ones like exercise and a free workout. Some runners run to escape pain, some run to embrace it; others run to clear their heads in solitude yet some seek a sense of community while running. Whatever the reason(s), it’s hard to deny the transformative power and impact of running.
I have casually (keyword, cannot be emphasized enough) dabbled in running over the last year, among my other workout routines. I have to admit it’s not my favorite, but I will say it always makes me feel better and leaves me with a sense of accomplishment once complete.
Outrunning the Demons touches on a lot of tough topics through the runners’ experiences. Despite the deep tone, or maybe in part because of it, this is a book I know I’ll be able to turn back to again and again for more motivation.
“Running gives us space. It gives us strength. It gives us connection and it gives us peace. It will never give us all the answers, but it can so often be a large part of the solution.”
Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA and Bloomsbury Sport for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Outrunning the Demons is a compilation of various runners’ stories, including author Phil Hewitt’s own story - Why they run and how they got there. Many of the stories include tragic, heartbreaking elements, but they also remind us that in a world often filled with dark days, people are strong and resilient, and genuine people do still exist and care. These reminders are often displayed in the form of fellow runners.
People run for many reasons beyond the obvious ones like exercise and a free workout. Some runners run to escape pain, some run to embrace it; others run to clear their heads in solitude yet some seek a sense of community while running. Whatever the reason(s), it’s hard to deny the transformative power and impact of running.
I have casually (keyword, cannot be emphasized enough) dabbled in running over the last year, among my other workout routines. I have to admit it’s not my favorite, but I will say it always makes me feel better and leaves me with a sense of accomplishment once complete.
Outrunning the Demons touches on a lot of tough topics through the runners’ experiences. Despite the deep tone, or maybe in part because of it, this is a book I know I’ll be able to turn back to again and again for more motivation.
“Running gives us space. It gives us strength. It gives us connection and it gives us peace. It will never give us all the answers, but it can so often be a large part of the solution.”
Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA and Bloomsbury Sport for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2019
After a brutal attack where he was left for dead, accomplished marathoner Phil Hewitt found a new meaning of the importance of running as he sought to get himself back on track. In his new book, Outrunning the Demons, Hewitt shares his story as well as the stories of 30 other runners who have used running to overcome PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and depression. If you are looking for inspiration, this book will provide plenty.
I started running in my late twenties after anxiety and panic attacks threatened to take over my life. The physical release of pushing myself provided me with mental clarity and calm. Gradually I was able to say goodbye to those mental demons. Throughout the years, I've continued running to keep those demons away. Life throws all kinds of things at us and it's nice to have road therapy at the ready.
Because running was such a positive force in my life, I was really interested in reading the stories of others who have found running to be helpful as well. Hewitt starts off the book by sharing the story of his brutal attack and his journey back to and through running
Readers who run might recognize some of the names in the book: ultramarathoner Charlie Engle, who has written his own memoir, Running Man, about his life with addiction and his salvation through running; Sandra Laflamme, who blogs at Organic Running Mom and shares her story of depression and PTSD: Linda Quirk, who started running to help deal with addiction in her own family and who has run 7 marathons on 7 continents among her other major accomplishments; and Lisa Hallett, who started the "wear blue: run to remember" movement after losing her husband, an army Captain, to the war in Afghanistan. If you've run any of the Rock'N'Roll Races, then you are familiar with the Blue Mile, which has evolved from Lisa's original gesture.
There are stories of lesser known runners in the book but they are no less impactful. While the runners in Outrunning the Demons all come from different walks of life, they have one thing in common: running saved them.
I won't lie to you--Outrunning the Demons-- while so profound and moving, is heavy reading. Although every story in the book has a positive outcome, each person experienced some tragedy in their lives that moved them to start running. I found myself having to take a break from reading after a couple of stories. Gosh, life is hard, isn't it? Thank goodness for running. The stories Hewitt shares in Outrunning the Demons all demonstrate the transformative power of running, but also the resilience of the human spirit. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more people started running?
If you're having trouble lacing up your shoes, pick up this book and read one or two of the stories. Tell me you're not feeling inspired after that.
I started running in my late twenties after anxiety and panic attacks threatened to take over my life. The physical release of pushing myself provided me with mental clarity and calm. Gradually I was able to say goodbye to those mental demons. Throughout the years, I've continued running to keep those demons away. Life throws all kinds of things at us and it's nice to have road therapy at the ready.
Because running was such a positive force in my life, I was really interested in reading the stories of others who have found running to be helpful as well. Hewitt starts off the book by sharing the story of his brutal attack and his journey back to and through running
Readers who run might recognize some of the names in the book: ultramarathoner Charlie Engle, who has written his own memoir, Running Man, about his life with addiction and his salvation through running; Sandra Laflamme, who blogs at Organic Running Mom and shares her story of depression and PTSD: Linda Quirk, who started running to help deal with addiction in her own family and who has run 7 marathons on 7 continents among her other major accomplishments; and Lisa Hallett, who started the "wear blue: run to remember" movement after losing her husband, an army Captain, to the war in Afghanistan. If you've run any of the Rock'N'Roll Races, then you are familiar with the Blue Mile, which has evolved from Lisa's original gesture.
There are stories of lesser known runners in the book but they are no less impactful. While the runners in Outrunning the Demons all come from different walks of life, they have one thing in common: running saved them.
I won't lie to you--Outrunning the Demons-- while so profound and moving, is heavy reading. Although every story in the book has a positive outcome, each person experienced some tragedy in their lives that moved them to start running. I found myself having to take a break from reading after a couple of stories. Gosh, life is hard, isn't it? Thank goodness for running. The stories Hewitt shares in Outrunning the Demons all demonstrate the transformative power of running, but also the resilience of the human spirit. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more people started running?
If you're having trouble lacing up your shoes, pick up this book and read one or two of the stories. Tell me you're not feeling inspired after that.
February 26, 2019
“An exploration of the transformative power of running - and it can be the key to unlocking resilience we never knew we had."
Outrunning the Demons is a collection of true stories of how running changed, and saved, lives, including an on-going story from author Phil Hewitt himself, the victim of a vicious mugging in 2016. It is the type of book that was right up my alley, and I was hooked from the very first story. Despite the stories coming from a variety of life paths, and the extensive differences across socioeconomic classes of the storytellers, I found each of them relatable in some way. From the addictive personality of Charlie who traded drugs and alcohol for running to the heartbreaking losses experienced by Jessica, Theresa, and Eleanor (among many, many others) to the life changing non-verbal autism diagnosis for the Schneider family. Running is a language we can all speak and relate to. It is a way to lose ourselves, and find ourselves again.
My heart went out to the storytellers in this book and I cried along with several of them. My heart was in my throat and it was hard to breathe as some of the traumas unfolded. But reading how all of these brave people ran their way to redemption gave me hope. It reminded me of why I used to love running, and of how beautiful it can truly be.
The pain these survivors went through can be an inspiration to anyone who picks up Outrunning the Demons, even if you aren't a runner. So many lives are touched by tragedy every single day and having an outlet is so so important. Many of these stories force you to confront your own difficulties with every day life. Dealing with death and loss, and sometimes addiction, and trauma is something we all go through, and that's the true beauty of this book. The rawness, the reality that these events aren't exclusive to one region or one race or one socioeconomic class. Tragedy spans every demographic all around the globe and none of us escape unscathed. Running though, running is a universal freedom (financially and emotionally). A pair of shoes and a road or trail. Regardless of where or who or when or what, running is always an option.
Outrunning the Demons is not a light read, if you're looking for a fluffy, happy ending, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking for raw emotion, heavy subject matter, and the bareness of the human soul, Outrunning the Demons will spark a fire in you. It will get under your skin and it will force you to reface every demon you've encountered in your lifetime. Touching on trauma, grief, depression and anxiety, addiction, terrorism, violence including sexual abuse, long-term health conditions, and eating disorders, these stories come from the deepest, darkest places of the human soul.
Whether you walk, jog a few miles a week, or run the marathons many of these everyday-heroes have run, you have probably felt the healing power of moving, of being able to just be, without the expectations, the pressure, the reminders of everything difficult. It is a common theme throughout this book, and many a-runner have attested to the magic in the simplicity of putting one foot in front of the other.
We run to escape, we run to be free, we run to lose ourselves, and we run to find ourselves.
Outrunning the Demons is a collection of true stories of how running changed, and saved, lives, including an on-going story from author Phil Hewitt himself, the victim of a vicious mugging in 2016. It is the type of book that was right up my alley, and I was hooked from the very first story. Despite the stories coming from a variety of life paths, and the extensive differences across socioeconomic classes of the storytellers, I found each of them relatable in some way. From the addictive personality of Charlie who traded drugs and alcohol for running to the heartbreaking losses experienced by Jessica, Theresa, and Eleanor (among many, many others) to the life changing non-verbal autism diagnosis for the Schneider family. Running is a language we can all speak and relate to. It is a way to lose ourselves, and find ourselves again.
My heart went out to the storytellers in this book and I cried along with several of them. My heart was in my throat and it was hard to breathe as some of the traumas unfolded. But reading how all of these brave people ran their way to redemption gave me hope. It reminded me of why I used to love running, and of how beautiful it can truly be.
The pain these survivors went through can be an inspiration to anyone who picks up Outrunning the Demons, even if you aren't a runner. So many lives are touched by tragedy every single day and having an outlet is so so important. Many of these stories force you to confront your own difficulties with every day life. Dealing with death and loss, and sometimes addiction, and trauma is something we all go through, and that's the true beauty of this book. The rawness, the reality that these events aren't exclusive to one region or one race or one socioeconomic class. Tragedy spans every demographic all around the globe and none of us escape unscathed. Running though, running is a universal freedom (financially and emotionally). A pair of shoes and a road or trail. Regardless of where or who or when or what, running is always an option.
Outrunning the Demons is not a light read, if you're looking for a fluffy, happy ending, this is not the book for you. But if you're looking for raw emotion, heavy subject matter, and the bareness of the human soul, Outrunning the Demons will spark a fire in you. It will get under your skin and it will force you to reface every demon you've encountered in your lifetime. Touching on trauma, grief, depression and anxiety, addiction, terrorism, violence including sexual abuse, long-term health conditions, and eating disorders, these stories come from the deepest, darkest places of the human soul.
Whether you walk, jog a few miles a week, or run the marathons many of these everyday-heroes have run, you have probably felt the healing power of moving, of being able to just be, without the expectations, the pressure, the reminders of everything difficult. It is a common theme throughout this book, and many a-runner have attested to the magic in the simplicity of putting one foot in front of the other.
We run to escape, we run to be free, we run to lose ourselves, and we run to find ourselves.
April 2, 2019
I am a regular runner having run to deal with depression and anxiety. This books tells peoples stories from a mental health perspective. I used to run events and be concerned about times but now just enjoy the runs from parkruns to longer ones. The book discusses running in regards to trauma from the authors own perspective and others in the book. Very inspiring and motivating and you do not have to be an elite athlete to run.
December 29, 2019
This was quite a difficult book to read in places, because of the subject matter which was how people had used running to overcome traumatic events/mental health problems, but it was so inspiring. The closing appendix ‘the science behind the transformative power of running’ was fascinating.
As I read the last chapter about how a runner ran his 31st marathon after having come back from being stabbed just over a year previously I had tears in my eyes as he described the feelings of how running the last 0.2 miles of a marathon feels and how it feels to cross the finish line - a feeling like no other which only a marathon runner can describe. As the author quoted ‘If you don’t shed a tear at the end of a marathon, you haven’t fully reaped the benefits of its long and warm embrace’. What a beautiful description of how it feels to cross that finish line.
As quoted in the book ‘as the great American runner Katherine Switzer so famously and so beautifully said ‘if you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.’’
Awe inspiring stuff.
As I read the last chapter about how a runner ran his 31st marathon after having come back from being stabbed just over a year previously I had tears in my eyes as he described the feelings of how running the last 0.2 miles of a marathon feels and how it feels to cross the finish line - a feeling like no other which only a marathon runner can describe. As the author quoted ‘If you don’t shed a tear at the end of a marathon, you haven’t fully reaped the benefits of its long and warm embrace’. What a beautiful description of how it feels to cross that finish line.
As quoted in the book ‘as the great American runner Katherine Switzer so famously and so beautifully said ‘if you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.’’
Awe inspiring stuff.
November 15, 2020
It took me sometime to get through this, but as it is made up of individual runner’s short stories, I have been able to dip in and out of it easily. It is one story of personal tragedy after another, making it a hard and emotional read. Breaking it up and reading it alongside something else really helped. Some stories I had to skip completely as it fed to much into my own anxieties.
It is well put together and researched by Hewitt, and I completely admire all the runners mentioned. How they have overcome their individual challenges is just amazing.
It is not a bad book, but I was probably not in the right headspace to start this book when I did. This may be why I did not quite embrace it’s uplifting qualities as much as I could have. A mentally tough red for me.
It is well put together and researched by Hewitt, and I completely admire all the runners mentioned. How they have overcome their individual challenges is just amazing.
It is not a bad book, but I was probably not in the right headspace to start this book when I did. This may be why I did not quite embrace it’s uplifting qualities as much as I could have. A mentally tough red for me.
November 6, 2020
It was so hard for me to continue reading this book. Such traumatic stories. I totally understand and live daily, the lesson that running can help in coping with/relieving anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, and other mental health issues. I had to put the book away for awhile, because I was not in a good spot with my mental health to be reading about these horrible things these people experienced. Once I felt in better state of mind I could finish up the stories one at a time. Running is so powerful. It is how I cope with my anxiety and stay away from depression when it threatens to creep in. It does so much more for me mentally then I probably even realize.
April 17, 2025
After walking into the library determined to find an inspirational book about running, I’m happy to say I did just that. This book was a collection of personal accounts of individuals who suffered terrible losses and traumas and found healing in running.
While heavy at times, the underlying message of hope kept me reading.
I reminds me why I run and showcases the benefits of the sport while supporting mental health and bringing awareness to all the things that factor into our lives, good and bad.
January 17, 2021
This is a series of tales of how running has helped individuals get through mental struggles or traumatic incidences that have occurred in their lives. It’s written with the best of intentions but does come across quite ‘worthy’ and while I started to read as a straightforward book, the stories began to become a little samey and begin to lose their individual impact if you read them all together.
There’s a lot to admire and be inspired by in the stories but best for dipping into.
There’s a lot to admire and be inspired by in the stories but best for dipping into.
August 5, 2020
I liked the topic subject matter of the book, although I think that the stories largely stated the same thing over and over and over again, and they did focus very much on major struggles, which was a bit discouraging to read at times. I loved the idea of the book but I wish that the content was a bit more refined.
February 27, 2025
A little bit repetitive but as a runner you appreciate the myriad of reasons why we collectively run and feel cheered by the shared experience. Also interesting to show the links between trauma and exercise.
December 8, 2019
Well written, not my favourite subject tho
July 3, 2020
Easy to dip in & out of, & some inspirational stories
April 20, 2021
Further testament to the wonderfully life-affirming activity that is running.
August 2, 2021
Quite simply the best book I've read in a very long time.
December 1, 2022
Powerful stories but disjointed and I would have liked more of Hewitt’s perspectives and recovery
March 13, 2023
Some really interesting stories but it was a bit repetitive.
July 14, 2023
A powerful collection of stories from people who used running to find balance, rebirth and or recovery from trauma. Each story is a gripping tale of resilience and inspiration. A must read.
October 17, 2023
3.5 stars
July 19, 2025
Well written and interesting. There were times when the stories made me well up, and others where I laughed. An excellent collection of heartfelt events.
August 3, 2019
I had to stop reading this about half way through and left it a while, eventually taking over 2 months to read it. I just found the stories too similar and depressing to read. All very worthy - covering peoples troubles and traumas and how running had helped them. The author's own story sent chills through me and I admire his tenacity, and then energy in tracking down folk with similar tales and helping them get through them (which surely off-loading them did).
February 1, 2019
I was excited to receive a copy of this book, thanks to the always wonderful NetGalley. Allow me to provide to a brief background regarding why I absolutely fell in love with this book: In the early years of my life, I loved running. Strapping on my favorite ratty sneakers and hitting the trail was my favorite part of the day. Then life started and running kind of fell into the background of it all. Recently, however, I left a rather terrible situation and needed a way to deal with the stress, anger, frustration, and fear I was feeling. So I did. I hit the trail EVERY SINGLE DAY. During this time, I was able to process a lot of my emotions and determine where my life had been and where I wanted it to go. But, I digress. Reading Phil's story of survival and his determination to work through all the emotions and stress he was feeling was comforting to me. For me, it felt like a community of support reading his interviews with other people. Hearing about their running transformations helped me to better handle my situation. In the description for this book, it states: "When normality collapses, running can put it back together again." Never in my life has a phrase affected the way this one does. People ask me all the time why I put running at the forefront of my life lately. I tell them it helps me heal. Then I tell them about this stirring book and how it helped me work through the demons in my life.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews