Second Edition

1/6/2010

06/Jan/2010
Thanks to some extensive overtime at the printers during Christmas, I am delighted to say that the book is available again. My thanks to everybody who has sent messsages of support.

25 Comments

Patricia Robinson

1/11/2010 07:09:07 pm

Hello Charlie. Looking forward to reading your autobiography. Anne told me about it in our Christmas card. Do you remember Alan and Patricia Sweetman, Michael's friends from the poly? I'm that Patricia; and yours is still the only Olympic gold I've touched! Great to hear you and the book are doing well.

Graham Bell

1/18/2010 09:03:55 pm

Good Afternoon Charlie,

What a good read and a fascinating insight into running in that era.I'm from Elswick Harriers, 41 years old and just an enthusiastic runner. It was refreshing to read a book that simply just got stuck straight into the detail! It was read in two days.What interested me is that it seems no one has asked for your experience to train folks at a local club? All that know how should be put to good use. I might see you again in the departure lounge at Heathrow after the London Marathon(2007!)
Have a good day and thanks again for writing the book.
Regards, Graham.
P.S. I can certainly sympathise with your tendonitis injuries...I have it too!

Martyn Warwick link

2/10/2010 01:36:52 am

Charlie, I stumbled upon your book in a running shop in Leeds and bought it not as a keen runner (I was in there doing research for my busines) but a person who is always looking to learn from others. Okay, I am only one chapter in but I am going to read it real slow because it is such a pleasure and I want it to last !!
You have a wonderful writing style, great humour and the underlying message is such an important one to spread ... superb !!

Steve Pero link

2/14/2010 11:21:35 pm

Charlie, just finished your book and let me say it is possibly one of the best books on running I have read.
I am 58 and have been running since 1975, ran for the CSU for many years and remember you when you were living at Henry's house. When I saw the link for your book on Bob Hodge's website, I had to get it and I'm glad I did.
Thanks for writing your story!
Steve

Andy Race

2/18/2010 08:58:34 am

Brilliant Book Charlie. Your dead right about the kids today. My son runs for the club i us to run for when i was younger Middlesbrough Mandale,and only 15 to 18 kids run in the NYSD Cross Country. When I did it they were at least the very least 50. Sad times we live in regarding bringing new talent through.

Looking forward to My 1st London Marathon even more now. love to get under 3 hours fingers xxx

Andy

Mad Welsh Runner link

2/22/2010 08:36:41 pm

hi Charlie
Awesome book very inspiring!!!what a career!!
i think you hit the nail on the head about kids/schools these days and the lack of inspiration they have to take up running. my first marathon is this April, i'm nervous but can't wait!

all the best

Mike McGuire

2/28/2010 09:44:06 pm

Hi Charlie,

Really enjoyed the book.

I am the fellow sudent ( Education Dept. ) that went out running with you many lunch times at Sunderland Poly.
You always had that extra that is necessary for a champion. I went on to do a 2-47 marathon. No where close to you !

Regards,

Mike

sean bennett link

3/1/2010 11:03:24 pm

Dear Mr Spedding,,
I have read your book with interest. I am the Chair of our Triathlon club, Barracudas, which has 175 members and close links with the City of Hull running club. Your experience in 10k and 42k are very relevant to those of us doing Olympic and Ironman distances. Also your problems with injury are common to many. We are always looking for people to inspire would be athletes and I would like to ask if you would consider giving a talk over a curry/pint to a keen group in Hull. We could pay travel and time spent.
Yours
Sean Bennett

Peter Wallis

3/2/2010 12:43:20 am

Hi Charlie,

I would like to say thank you for writing such a wonderful book. I have read it cover to cover at least 4 times and love the part in the Newcastle bar when you describe how you set about creating a new mind set. I do feel that this should be a compulsary read for any athlete or anyone setting out on a discovering a new them to realise that in this age of looking for instant success the qualities of hard work, determination, perserverence and a positive mindset have never been more important. Can't wait to keep using the what, why and how much and see where it takes me.

Kindest Regards,

Pete

Karen Haldane

3/9/2010 05:24:50 am

Hi Charlie, hope you are well, I was trolling the web and came across your book. I am looking forward to reading it when I receive it.

Kind Regards

Karen (nee Cornwall)

Ean Parsons link

3/9/2010 07:54:15 pm

Hi Charlie,
What an inspiring read! I was given a copy by one of our club juniors (Jonathan Baines, watch out for him) after I did some work with him last summer when his own coach was on holiday, a great thought. My copy has since done the rounds at the club (I know! - they should buy their own). I hear what you say about kids but its not all their fault. Kids need inspirational leaders and maybe it’s the adults that are too pre-occupied these days to invest any time in developing others. We’re developing an endurance club in Sedgefield (Sedgefield Harriers) near your old stomping ground and it’s a great success so far. Your story will definitely be ‘up there’ as an example of what can be achieved from local roots. I still remember watching your successes and some of the tips you gave in a running magazine around that time. Best wishes. Ean Parsons.

ben mitchinson

3/29/2010 07:42:24 am

a great read I polished it off in less than a week, even reading it off night shift! It was recommended in the fell runners magazine. I enjoyed the soap box chapter towards the end and couldn't agree more! I've read that many articles on training etc and trained with Frank Horwill some years ago it shows that mileage and minimum quality seems to be the keyto the Marathon lark!

Neil

4/10/2010 03:42:18 am

Hi, I have just read your article in GNC magazine. Im not a distance runner but I have been truely inspired by the article and have just purchased the book from waterstones online!

Thank you for putting your thoughts down on paper so the rest of us can make progress with our lives!

Best wishes,

Neil

LAUREN PISESKY

4/20/2010 08:46:37 am

Your book just arrived in the mail today thanks to Joe. Both Wayne and I will take pleasure in reading about the man who raised such a wonderful son as you have. Hopefully we will get an opportunity to meet you when we come to England next year for graduation. Or if you can ever travel to our part of the world we would love to host you.
Many thanks.
Lauren and Wayne

Neil Lock link

5/7/2010 12:43:15 am

Hey,

Finished your book at the weekend, a great read. Hopefully one day you will do a talk in London that I can get to as it was all very inspirational.

Brilliant!

N

Phil S

5/10/2010 03:53:35 am

Hi Charle; i read your book whilst on holiday and have to say it goes down as one of my favorites. i love sporting biogs & am fascinated by training methods. i wholly agree with your comments especially on running popularity and was fascinated by your psychological approach (subconscious). I will keep an eye out for you doing any talks as i have many questions i would love to ask.
Congratulations, i think its going to be a huge success!

Rob Dowse

8/5/2010 03:30:31 am

Hi Charlie,

Found your book in a running shop in the lake district earlier this week, couldn't put it down and have just turned the last page. One of the best running books I've read, very inspirational.

Best of luck with future sales.

Rob

Dom Murphy link

8/13/2010 01:56:46 am

Dear Charlie,

Think differently - write differently, too!
I've just finished reading your book and I can say, without doubt, that it's the best sports autobiography I've read. Not a hackneyed, ghostwritten rehash of an athlete's career, but a deep, insightful and thought provoking book.

I'm a marathon canoeist and canoe coach, and I'm going to be recommending your book to a lot of other paddlers and coaches.

Thank you.

Dom Murphy
Banbury & District Canoe Club

Daniel Weston

9/29/2010 04:09:33 am

I have almost finished reading your book. I couldn't put it down. The writing style is perfect and gives to the reader rather than just writing about your life. You keep the audience excited through each chapter of life. Thanks for all the hard work you must have put into writing this book. It's made a difference in my life. I love the bit in the book about you sitting in the pub. Best wishes, Daniel, Wrexham AC.

Pam Kavanagh

9/30/2010 10:25:16 pm

Just read your book and it was amazing i was gripped one of them books if you are reading on a train you have to be careful you don't miss your stop.

I remember when you were running your marathons and certainly you (and Ingrid) got me really running in the first place. Loved the beer drinkers guide to running Psychology and have picked up some new ideas to help with my running. Many thanks

Dr Paul Smith

10/2/2010 06:41:32 am

As others, I have just finished reading your book. Great read. I could not put it down.
I can remember you winning the London marathon, but then spent a few years achieving what I wanted and so only came back to running aged 35. I'm not able to run below 5 min per mile pace, but your book still gives some useful ideas.
Nice rant about the state of British distance running... Ever thought about politics?

Richard Calder

10/19/2010 10:32:05 pm

Hi Charlie
Seems a long time ago now since you, Max Miller and myself won the inter-house cross country at school in Durham!
I've already done a post but I'm not sure it got to you so here is another. I just ordered your book and look forward to reading it. I was never going to get near you on the track or the road but I did a few marathons before moving up to the "hills" and eventually taking on some pretty serious ultra mountain challenges. I loved my running but eventually packed in with wonky ankles and moved to cycling. Nice to hear you are still about, I will never forget you introducing me to Gateshead Harriers and sitting on the same bus as Brendan Foster! Look after yourself

regards

Richard

Keith Livingstone link

10/29/2010 11:40:01 pm

Hi Charlie!
I was given your book to read by a friend some months ago, and as it's a miserable day outside today I took the luxury of lying in bed and reading the whole thing. Finished an hour ago.
What a good book! I've written a book which is starting to get good raps too- a history of the Lydiard system that goes through the sports science of each step. I would like to send you a copy by post if that's OK. I think we sing a very similar tune, and I have a couple of questions for you that came up when I read the book. I love the 3 tenets: 1.What do I want to achieve?, How, Why , etc. I reached a good level, but not the level I dreamed of, so I'm very glad you can look back on your career and know that you couldn't have wrung much more out of it.
If you could email me your postal address, I'll send a book. You've "shown me yours", now I'll "show you mine". Your comments on the Lydiard system are interesting, and I tend to agree that slow twitch types like you and possibly Salazar seem to need a helluva lot of "top end" work to get to their best. Anyhow, hopefully you'll drop me a line. I'm getting over "terminal" brain tumours that were supposed to have killed me very quickly, 3 years ago, but I am going well, and am often on the bike. With a wife and 5 kids I have 6 extremely good reasons to live, and no particularly good ones to depart, apart from the opinions of oncologists, etc, who are learning to keep their opinions to themselves now! I must read Crime and Punishment- have you read any of Victor Frankl's stuff?
Cheers!
Keith Livingstone.Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

Phillip Fawcett link

2/28/2011 09:35:32 am

Phillip Fawcett link

2/28/2011 09:46:37 am

Hi Charlie,

I've only just discovered the existence of your book! I am 43 and have been a very keen club runner. The 80s and 90s were a golden age to me, and my personal 'heyday' came in 1997 when I broke 3 hrs for the marathon at age 29(in London) after years of trying. Your achievements were a big part of my inspiration. I think you're a hero of British athletics, and it's good to find you're doing well. I'll be sure to acquire the book as further inspiration for my life goals (which is now, by contrast, international piano!).

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