There Is No Map In Hell

Introduction

I often holiday in Settle and 3 Peaks Cycles is in the centre and, as well as bikes, does breakfast and sells books and more.

I am not a biker (though I can ride a bike) or a runner (I am so lazy), but wandering past the shop, in the window, I saw "There Is No Map In Hell" by Steve Birkinshaw.

There Is No Map In Hell

Steve works at Newcastle University, and when I started reading this, I was shocked by his determination and how he pushed himself through barriers most of us would never come near.

This is no gentle Wainwright walk; it is a vicious and incredible journey.

Here is the promotional paragraph from the Amazon site.

In 1986, the legendary fell runner Joss Naylor completed a continuous circuit of all 214 Wainwright fells in the Lake District, covering a staggering distance of over 300 miles - plus many thousands of metres of ascent - in only seven days and one hour.

Those in the know thought that this record would never be beaten. It is the ultimate British ultramarathon. The person taking on this superhuman challenge would have to be willing to push harder and suffer more than ever before. There is no Map in Hell tells the story of a man willing to do just that.

In 2014, Steve Birkinshaw made an attempt at setting a new record. With a background of nearly forty years of running elite orienteering races and extreme-distance fell running over the toughest terrain, if he couldn't do it, surely no one could. But the Wainwrights challenge is in a different league: aspirants need to complete two marathons and over 5,000 metres of ascent every day for a week.

When I saw the title in 3 Peaks, I had to buy it immediately just for the title, and I am so glad I did.

I have bought this book for myself, my dad and my niece, and some running friends, and I found it amazing joining Steve on his journey, which actually outdoes Eddie Izzard's twenty six marathons.

214 fells, three hundred miles in just over a week, virtually non-stop.

If you pick up this book, you will not regret it.