The Runner: Four Years Living and Running in the Wilderness
Description
As a teenager, Markus Torgeby turned out to be a very talented long-distance runner. It didn't take long before he was discovered by an enthusiastic coach who set very high goals. However, while Markus performed brilliantly in training, during competitions he often failed inexplicably.
The pressure of competition alongside the strain of caring for his MS-suffering mother took its toll, and when an injury put an end to Markus's running career, he lost his foothold in life. At just 20 years old, Markus moved to one of the most isolated and cold regions of northern Sweden. There he lived as a recluse for four years staying in a tent and braving the harsh Scandinavian winters. And he ran. His time alone would prove to be more than an escape and was in fact a search for a direction in life.
The Runner is a unique and powerful book: a portrait of an extraordinary man as well as a fascinating exploration of running and personal wellbeing.
Praise for The Runner: Four Years Living and Running in the Wilderness
“This stirring treatise of living (and running) simply will inspire those struggling with finding their place.” —Publishers Weekly
“Torgeby's memoir offers a powerful testament to simplicity, the quest for inner peace, and the liberating joy of running.” —Booklist
“Engaging, smart, and full of adventure. This book vividly illustrates the power of running, nature, and the human soul in overcoming obstacles and finding joy.” —Mackenzie Lobby Havey, author of Mindful Running
“Few people have the courage to be true to the person they really are... A fascinating story about a man dedicated and entirely devoted to his true love, running.” —Dean Karnazes, legendary ultramarathoner and NY Times bestselling author
“The most beautiful book I ever read.” —Rune Larsson, ultra-distance runner
“Poetic, direct and honest. Read it!” —Maria Kustvik, Östgöta Correspondenten
“There is nothing superfluous or pointless in this book. Only heart and taut verbal muscle.” —Bodil Juggas, Arbetabladet
“A frank, vivid and muscular memoir. His story will stun you and teach you about running, escape and life itself.” —Chas Newkey-Burden
“A strikingly honest account of stripping back life to its bare essentials to understand what's important. Some beautiful descriptions of nature and survival.” —Vassos Alexander, BBC Radio 2
“Celebrates the sheer instinctive naturalness of running.” —Phil Hewitt, bestselling author of Keep on Running and Outrunning the Demons
“Torgeby has reached the runner's promised land, a place of complete physical freedom. The whole book twitches with his urge to outrun the world, to escape the track and return to the trees. At its best, reading The Runner is like following a deer in flight. Torgeby's claustrophobic rage evaporates when he's on the move, his problems fall behind the rhythm of his heart and limbs.” —Jack Cooke, author of The Tree-Climber's Guide