A Few More Laps

'A Few More Laps' by David Chalfen. A deep dive into the sharp end of running and coaching (Foreword by Dave Bedford, former 10,000m World Record Holder)

Paperback - £10 (+postage of £2.50 UK or £5 Europe)

It has been listed amongst the Evening Standard's "Best Running Books",- "His insight into the split between social running and competitive athletics is particularly sharp....part memoir part state-of-the-nation muse on more than 45 years immersed in the sport ...he has encountered some of the sport's most recognisable faces and trained national and international athletes aplenty.....all delivered with conversational wit"

 Athletics Weekly -  "A wealth of anecdotes and opinions from the last half century. A highly interesting read especially if you have followed endurance running in the past 20 to 30 years...primarily a love letter to running and his enthusiasm oozes from the pages, laced with humour."

 Trackstaa  - "a fantastic masterpiece....How the culture of running is fostered by the coaches, athletes and volunteers. His style brings his experiences to life with a definitive dash of British wit and humour. We learn so much about the good old days....about the coaches who have had an impact on great athletes of now and of the past. You'll find it hard to put this book down."

The Athlete's Voice -  "A round trip through the brain and feet of an individual whose association with the variety of characters seems to attract makes for a book purpose built for the fanatic. For anyone who likes running, and the clarity of their own personal pursuit, it will leave your mind wandering, wishing you could it all again ". 

Camden News and Islington Tribune  “Finding his stride from the start he shines a much-needed light on “a weird” community that lives all around us but is rarely explored. David uses great warmth, humour and insight as he shares a wealth of anecdotes from a lifetime in the sport. “The word ‘community’ is often overused, but the running community is a very special thing,” explained David. “Running is a hard sport. You choose to go running, sometimes twice a day, covering maybe 70 to 80 miles a week, and you do that for years, and along the way you find other people who are just as weird as you.”

In addition, endurance legend Mara Yamauchi summarised " If you want to get the measure of running....this book is for you. Highly recommended."

As the world of running broadens its appeal, the author delves into his 45 years of experience in the sport, as athlete, coach and administrator, to examine the trends, people, and events that have shaped it. Using his own experiences as a starting point, he then widens the lens to pen detailed profiles of a range of current and recent high level runners he has coached and leading British coaches, giving an insightful flavour of the characters of these performers at national and international level. The author also digs into aspects of Kenyan and Spanish running cultures based on his networks and experiences of their approaches to the sport.

Through further interviews and research, he provides lively and candid pictures of some greats of the sport such as Dave Bedford and former Commonwealth 10,000 metres champion Jon Solly.

The author looks at the tides that shift the balance between the "sport" and "leisure " strands of distance running and brings out that whilst it is an endlessly exciting world to become enmeshed in and serves as a gateway to the full range of athletics events, it is never entirely free from greed and corruption.

Published just after the 2024 Paris Olympics, it comes fully up to date with current insights into the top levels of distance running.

Copyright 2024. Published October 2024

196 pages Paperback. Signed by author.

Bulk orders of 6 or more – FREE 7th copy

Other multiple orders contact author at davidchalfen@runcoach1to1.com