‘The Race Against Time’ by Richard Askwith

Yes, I know, it’s another running book! I like reading running books!

Although, this one, less so.

This book explores the science behind running into old age, together with stories from athletes running through their 60s and into, in some cases, their 100s.

There was a lot of stories from athletes who have achieved incredible times running later in life. Of course, these athletes all have different ‘secrets’ as to why they can do what they do. Some only do very short intense sessions, some long and slow, some focus on strength, some stretching.

If you want the ‘secret’ of running into old age, this book won’t tell you.

There was one piece of advice that I’ll be taking on board, from Mahatma Ghandi:

Work as if you are going to live for ever, but live as if you were going to die tomorrow.

‘The Night Sky in my Head’ by Sarah Hammond

This is another teenager novel; probably aimed at 12 and 13 year olds.

It follows Mickey, a 14 year old boy who has this weird ‘backwards’ thing, it means the places he visits tell their stories and secrets.

The novel itself is a bit like a crime novel where Mickey has to work out what has happened to his Dad and why he is in prison. Although, it is definitely more than just a crime novel for teenagers.

‘I Know a Secret’ by Tess Gerritson

A piece of standard crime fiction. Tess Gerritsen has been publishing books for near on 30 years; she can write a pretty good book.

Not going to bore you with a detailed plot description. Suffice to say there is a murder, this leads to another murder and the connection with a historical abuse case. Good plot, good characters, good twist. What’s not to like.

‘The Satsuma Complex’ by Bob Mortimer

Liked this – would recommend.

This novel follows Gary, a thirty-year-old legal assistant, who gets mixed up with police corruption and gangsters. My favourite character was Gary’s next-door-neighbour Grace, with her dog Lasso.

‘Check Mates’ by Stewart Foster

Felix is struggling at school, has ADHD and often finds himself in the isolation room. Grandad’s offer to teach him chess doesn’t go down well with Felix and leads to quite an adventure.

Yep, it’s another teenage novel, probably aimed at 11-14 year olds. But it was a good read, it’s funny and heartfelt, and has a nice twist at the end.

‘In the Spell of the Barkley’ by Michiel Panhuysen

Yep, it’s another running book. This time about the infamous Barkley Marathons and an account of Panhuysen’s various attempts to complete it. Spolier alert: he failed to complete it. Probably not much of a spolier, very few people have ever completed the Barkley Marathons.

Although, it’s more than just a book about how a bloke kept failing, it’s a story of sporting obsession, exploring what drives people to challenge themselves at the limits of what is possible.

It’s quite nice to read a running book where the writer doesn’t actually ‘win’. If you know nothing about the Barkley Marathons this book is well worth a read, if you know a bit, probably not.