Running Challenges

100 of the best runs in England, Scotland and Wales

Author: Keri Wallace

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Running Challenges by Keri Wallace showcases 100 of the best runs across Great Britain, from inspiring 5Ks through to epic multi-day ultras. Split into three sections – England, Scotland and Wales – and featuring a mixture of marked trails, organised races and unmarked self-navigated challenges, the runs ramp up in difficulty as you go through each section, so, whether you are a beginner or a more experienced trail, fell, mountain or ultra runner, you can find something achievable, accessible or aspirational.

Running Challenges by Keri Wallace showcases 100 of the best runs across Great Britain, from inspiring 5Ks through to epic multi-day ultras. Split into three sections – England, Scotland and Wales – and featuring a mixture of marked trails, organised races and unmarked self-navigated challenges, the runs ramp up in difficulty as you go through each section, so, whether you are a beginner or a more experienced trail, fell, mountain or ultra runner, you can find something achievable, accessible or aspirational.

Keri draws on her experience as a mountain runner and running guide for Girls on Hills to hand pick the best and most interesting runs across Great Britain, starting with some first-rate parkruns and short trail runs, including the Loch Coruisk loop and the Hampstead Heath circuit, working up to tough and demanding routes and races, such as the Welsh 3000s and the Bob Graham Round. Use this book to tick challenges off, or as a tool to plan where to run next – wherever you are in the UK there will be a run nearby.

Each run has handy details to help with planning your adventure – start and finish points, distance and ascent, navigational difficulty, public transport, parking, route profile and overview map – along with inspirational text and stunning photography to give you a flavour of what the run is like. Other options nearby are included, along with suggestions for other similar challenges throughout Great Britain.

Keri Wallace is a runner, climber, mountain leader and co-founder of Girls on Hills, the UK's only guided trail, fell and sky running company designed specifically for women. She has numerous top ten finishes across a wide range of trail running disciplines from fell racing and ultrarunning to sky running and alpine tours. Keri's first personal challenge was to complete the three UK Big Rounds – the Bob Graham, Charlie Ramsay and Paddy Buckley rounds – solo-supported in a single, multi-day push for charity in 2011. Since then, she has completed a wide range of running projects and holds the female fastest-known time for the Glen Coe Round and the Winter Tranter's Round, as well as establishing the Glen Coe Classic Rock round in 2021. In 2023 she finished third female in the Skyrunner UK & Ireland series and finished fifth female in the 170-kilometre Ultra Tour Monte Rosa. Initially a neurobiologist, Keri has a PhD in Proprioceptive Plasticity but in 2018 made a career change, setting up her own trail running business. Keri now lives in the Scottish Highlands with her husband and children and spends her days run-guiding and juggling being a mum to their two girls. Running Challenges is her first book. www.girlsonhills.com

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Customer Reviews

Based on 11 reviews
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O
Olivia Hetreed
An inspirational book

This is a book for armchair adventures, meant to inspire the reader to get out and try things for herself. Routes are laid out in order of increasing distance for England, Scotland and Wales, with some easy and some very challenging routes at most distances. Each suggested route is given a brief description, map and enticing photographs. There is no detail and Keri is explicit that this is to make sure the runner does their own research and planning. This is fine and a good principle in a general book like this, but it's frustrating that none of the beautiful photographs has any labelling at all, sometimes not even clear which run a particular photograph is illustrating. But overall, a handsome and encouraging collection of lovely suggestions.

C
Catherine Brown
Beautiful book

Stunning photograph and great routes, I even found one close to home, which is unusual

K
K.P.
Something for everyone

I wasn't sure about buying this book, thinking it might be more aspirational than practical, as I am a beginner runner looking to start some trails, but enjoy hearing of bigger adventures. I love that this book covers a wide range of challenges, there are a couple of 5K suggestions close to me. Plenty more suggestions to investigate are given, and the summaries include interesting and helpful information. So yes, it is aspirational, but also gives a place to start.

L
Laura Barnicoat
My favourite kind of book

A great book with stunning photos and some beautiful routes. Can't wait to get out there and run some of them.

A
Audrey Thompson
So many ideas

Love this book and bought one for an adventurous friend who has done a few big challenges. He was like a kid in a sweetie shop looking through the ideas. I also love that there are suggestions for similar options and races on or near the route which might be easy options for recce