Alison Stankard is a Running Wanker. It didn’t happen overnight – but a few morning stumbles around the block somehow turned into 5ks, 10ks, marathons and more. And one day, looking at her lack of toenails, embarrassingly large collection of jazzy trainers and more lycra than an 80s nightclub, she realised, she had become a Running Wanker.

Seeking to bravely help herself and others, she wrote a viral post and quiz so others could work out if they too had the same condition. Years and millions of views later, she still gets a global audience confirming that they too, are Running Wankers. And so the book was born…

There are a lot of books about running. Serious books about marathon plans, advice on fuelling, hydration, injury prevention. This book isn’t that. It’s a sweary, honest celebration of all the things that Running Wankers new and old get up to: crapping in bushes, going down the stairs on your bum because your legs won’t bend the day after a marathon, lying about how much trainers cost and harbouring dreams of winning best in age at Parkrun.