DOUG Richards, the adventure running pensioner from Redditch, has published a new book entitled ‘Once Around The Planet’.
Doug’s first book ‘Running Hot and Cold’, centred on him discovering running fairly late in life, won the Silver trophy at the 2016 Running Awards in London.
It described how a single one-mile run led to him racing huge distances across the Sahara Desert and the ice-caps of Greenland, among many other worldwide adventures, despite ongoing struggles with mental wellbeing problems.
In the sequel, ‘Can We Run With You, Grandfather?’ Doug’s running adventures continued as he detailed his lifetime ambition of running at least a half-marathon on all seven continents before his 70th birthday, a feat achieved by only a few hundred people worldwide.
In the third volume, Once Around The Planet, Doug turns his attention from continents to running on islands, including one of the most remote in the world.
The book is due to be published Monday, June 19.
Doug, a regular Arrow Valley parkrunner and an England Athletics run leader and mental health champion, said: “Clearly I am now into the twilight years of my running career, but adventures are not only for the young.
“I managed to drag one last marathon out of my legs once I got into my 70s, but it will be shorter distances from now on.
“Running has given me so many amazing life experiences and allowed me to build a supportive worldwide circle of friends.”
Doug has always been open about his own battles with anxiety and depression, and how the simple act of running has helped him to combat these.
“The Covid pandemic threw up so many unforeseen challenges and uncertainties for all of us, and I was no different.
“Sometimes plans don’t work out as you hoped but what may seem like a failure at the time, may just open the door to a different opportunity.
“It is a privilege to be able to share my tales with people of all ages and backgrounds, and hopefully inspire them to be more adventurous in their own lives, whatever difficulties they may encounter along the way.”
Visit amazon.co.uk/~/e/B08NFBGLM5 to purchase his books.
