Book Title – Don’t Stop Me now
Tagline – 26.2 tales of a runners obsession
Author – Vassos Alexander
Rating – 4.75/5 
Plot – The book begins at the start of Vasso’s marathon leg of the Outlaw Ironman Triathlon. It encapsulates his pain physically, mentally and emotionally following his 2.5mile swim and 112mile cycle. As the book develops each chapter briefly describes his mental/physical state through the distance but also looks at everything running. From his first embarrassing 10 minute jaunt to his 100mile challenge, the radio 2 sports presenter describes his best runs in Britain and around the world. It goes a lot deeper than just personal achievement, it goes into the importance of ParkRun and junior ParkRun for his family, setting healthy standards for them to follow and be influenced by.
Each chapter also has an insight into celebrity journeys to where they are in the sporting world including Paula Radcliff, Steve Cram, Alistair Brownlee and Jonny Brownlee. The deeper into the book you go the more invested you feel in the challenge Vassos has undertaken and also you relate to each and every positive outcome he has found from running.
My favourites are the 17 laps of a 2.5km cyclopark trying to achieve 2:49 marathon time but not realising how undulating the course is. He had created a cut out pace chart for his wrist but chickened out of using in amongst the Garmins of the world.
He also describes his trip to the physio, when his ITB flares and requires a stiff elbow to the glutes and lateral hip and goes through a running assessment to help correct the cause of the knee pain. Educated and aware of his body this has helped him manage a lot more of the injuries he unduly came across. ( Available at PhysioRun SPEAR Physiotherapy )
Vassos discusses winter running, moorland running and simply explains running as the simplest sport you can do. if you are starting, all you need is a pair of trainers and clothes and go out for 5-10mins. He challenges us all to get bitten by the running bug.
Positive things about the book – The chapters are all different but have a theme running through the whole book. You become immersed in Vassos journey and secretly start willing him to victory and completion of his challenge…like supporting your local under dog to a victory. It is easy to read, easy to put down but very easy to pick back up.
The chapters are short and manageable but all relate to experiences I have been through and it was great reading someone else witnessing the same thing.
(N.B – I also got the Brownlees to sign my book at a camp recently – even better.)
– As a physio, I was shouting for him to stop and not injury himself further or could spot his overload two or three steps before he did but that is merely my physio head talking. Its splitting hairs but nothing else …it was amazing.
Recommend to – triathletes, runners, swimmers, ultra marathoners, recreational and competitive runners. This book is great for small flights and long hauls – there is no travel this book couldn’t reduce the time of.
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Run Long and Prosper
James
