Nigel Crompton’s Comments (group member since Jan 13, 2021)

Nigel Crompton’s comments from the Bookhounds Running Club group.

Toby wrote: "Oh go fourth and start telling people now if you want...I’ve already started asking people. I’m not great at shouting about myself so if you wait for me to announce it, it’ll be a month before the ..."

So...... don't keep us hanging. What is it?

Great choice. Well timed, too, as it arrived literally as I was leaving the house for 4 night in Wales. I had already bought two books for the trip which have got shelved and I've started on this one. Again a world that I know so it will be interesting. So far I can only say I like the conversational style of the prose but look forward to feeding back more and hearing from others.

Fair enough. I agree that the writing style wasn't great. Regarding the outdated mental health references I feel I would need to read again to see this. I can't remember anything jumping out when I did read it. I wouldn't necessarily agree with some of it but just took it as one persons perspective I guess.

What don't you like, Beth? It is not the type of book I would normally read but I enjoyed it - although I know many of those featured in it so that perhaps puts it in a different light for me. The bad news for you, though, is I thought the first half was better than the second half. Sorry!

I'm about half way through. Enjoying it. I have known Rachel for about 4 - 5 years but didn't know half of this! You think you know somebody. Can't wait to read more.

Hopefully even more soon, Harry. I'm just sorting out the illustrations, photographs and book cover for my own book and hoping to get it out there before the end of lockdown or just after.

I think probably around 'stretching' and mobility and also about strength and conditioning. I am biased because I don't believe in stretching but at least in my book I will say why you shouldn't (and offer alternatives) not just 'You should be stretching. Do it' which sums up their brief mention of it. In terms of strength it was kind of here are some exercises you can do. Valid but not balanced with the amount of information in the training section which I thought quite good ( I personally would have steered recreational (mid pack) runners from using VO2 max as an indicator which they did a bit but that is an opinion coaches differ on so fair enough)

Having just read the interview I get that they were trying to fill that middle space between beginners manuals and more scientific pieces. But my questions still stand.

Almost finished it. As a coach I'm more interested in what others think. There are bits that are okay, there are bits that I disagree with, bits that are skipped over, I felt, with little detail and other areas that I think were dealt with really well. Not referenced - are people okay with that? They mention various authors - Magness, Hoborough etc but don't really reference their work and in terms of subjects like stretching, strength and conditioning etc there is no actual evidence presented for their assertions. Are people okay with this? Perhaps they are. It is written for midpack runners (we all sit there, well most of us, so an interesting idea to make this the focus) so maybe that is what is wanted but, then, how do you know the information is correct? Do we just accept that as Martin Y is a former elite runner and married to another one that he is right? If being an elite runner qualifies you to espouse about running coaching, training, technique etc etc go and have a chat to Mo Farah! He may run fast, but trust me, he won't ever be a coach. Genuinely interested in what others think.

Gosh .... running with other people? Can anyone remember what that is like?

A friend has just had a book published called Marathon Mum. She is Rachel Brown and runs Mums to Marathons which is Wirral based. She started running to manage her own mental health and this is what the book is about. Be good to support a local author. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marathon-Mum...

Two great books, Egg. Micah True (Caballo Blanco) from Born to Run stayed with me when he came to England. Interesting chap. If you liked Running with the Kenyans you should try Adharanands other two books The Way of Running (similar thing but delving into Japanese running culture) and The Rise of the Ultrarunner describing his own journey in ultrarunning.

No more Ultras for me. Except the Bob Graham - which is unfinished business. Now, that is a story.

Funnily enough I was going to write a book about it. Never did. Loads have been written now.

2006 and 2008 so a few years ago now. I could still talk about it forever, though! Definitely the best event(s) I have ever entered. First time near killed me. I made a decision day 3 that I would finish or be taken out in a box. Got easier after that. Second time I had learned the lessons from first time - better kit, better nutrition, better footcare. The MDS isn't a running race. It's a test of logistics, hard headedness and humour. The sandstorms that he described once taking the tent down overnight were most nights! I'd do it again tomorrow but at about £5000 to enter ....

Just finished! The great thing about this whole concept is that this is a book I probably would not have read had it not been for Bookhounds. But, that I thoroughly enjoyed. The synergies for me is that I have twice ran the Marathon Des Sables (not as quickly as Dion) and I, too, run with my dog so I was grabbed by the story quite early on. Great, well written first book, Char and team. I agree with Harry as well ... Dion's personal growth intertwined in the story brought it all to life.