I had high hopes for this book. It promises a true life story of a man from Sweden who finds solace and peace in running, especially in the Swedish wilderness. It begins in childhood with the author starting out on his blossoming running career. The book deals with his struggles at home due to his mother being diagnosed with MS, and continues towards his loss and grief at finally losing her, and how he finds peace in his sport.

I expected more from this book based on the description. Instead of respect for his mother and her struggles, he is brutally honest in how her treated her, which was at time verbally brutal! It is repetitive in its descriptions of race meets and the authors body struggles during practise and races, and to be honest I lost patience with the attitude of the writer. At 25% through I skim read to three quarters through, and there was more of the same and no lovely descriptions of the wilderness of this beautiful country. I’m sure it probably came towards the end but I’m afraid I abandoned it at this point in disappointment and anger at his lack of respect for his family at times.

I’m so sorry it wasn’t for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an autobiographical account written by a man who likes to run and spent his teenage years and early twenties doing just that. But it's also about his home life, including the difficulty of growing up watching your mother's health deteriorate and not being able to do anything about it. Markus is very open about the mental stuggles he faced and how running and isolation helped to ease or clear his mind. To live alone in the woods in Sweden, for four years, is an unusual and fascinating prospect and to train with an African running team in the hills and mountains of Tanzania and Kenya, equally so.

This is a short book which is packed full of things to make you stop and think. You don't need to be a runner or even be interested in running to read this. It is insightful in so many ways and a very enjoyable read! Thankyou to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave a real insight into getting away from the rat race and being at one with nature. It also highlighted the enjoyment of running just for the enjoyment, not chasing times or following a plan, just running because you loved the feeling that it gave you. An enjoyable read