The Bare Truth

Bare Truth 67: Helen Summer


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I first met Helen in Toronto! She was assisting on a Running Crazy trip to run the Niagara Falls half marathon and she looked after us all very well indeed. It was in Calvia Marjorca, in December this year, that I discovered that she had written a book with the title fittingly 'Running Crazy'.
The book features people who have run 100 marathons or more. It is so easy to write that down, but as a marathon runner myself of significantly less marathons under my belt than 100, I know what a huge feat running 26 miles once is, let alone 100 times or more!
In speaking with Helen it is evident that this book is about humanity and the personal quests and journeys of individuals rather than just about running. In speaking with Helen, it seemed to me that she glimpsed the souls of the people she interviewed and saw more about the person than simply about their running, but then running, a simple action, one foot in front of the other, is as complex as each human being taking those steps, and unraveling themselves in the process..
Helen said that all the people she interviewed have their own personal reasons for running so many marathons and all have their own stories to tell. Set out in 26.2 chapters, which was Helen's son Jack's idea, she hopes that the book will appeal not only to marathon runners but to anyone who enjoys heart warming human interest stories that inspire and entertain!
'Running Crazy' is due to be published on March 5th, by John Blake publishing - it is currently available on Amazon for pre-order.
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The Bare TruthBy Julia Armstrong, Andy White