
In It for the Long Run
Damian Hall
In It for the Long Run is ultrarunner Damian Hall’s story of running a first marathon aged thirty-six, dressed as a toilet, and representing Great Britain four years later. His midlife-crisis running problem escalated to 100-mile ultramarathons and record-breaking bimbles, culminating in his 261-mile Pennine Way run in July 2020.
In 1989, Mike Hartley set a record/Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Pennine Way, running Britain’s oldest National Trail in two days and seventeen hours, without stopping for sleep. Hartley’s record stood for thirty-one years, until two attempts were made on it in two weeks in the summer of 2020. First, American John Kelly broke Hartley’s record by thirty-four minutes. Then Hall knocked another three hours off Kelly’s time.
Hall used his record-bothering run to highlight concerns for our climate and ecological emergency: his attempt was carbon negative, he created no plastic waste, and he and his pacing runners collected litter as they went, while also raising money for Greenpeace. A vegan, Hall used no animal products on his attempt. Scrawled on his arm in permanent marker was ‘F F F’, standing for Family, Friends, Future.
Packed with dry wit and humour, In It for the Long Run tells of Hall’s nine-year preparation for his attempt, and of the run itself. He also gives us an autobiographical insight into the deranged, custard-splattered, hedgehog-dodging world of ultramarathon running and record attempts.
Duration - 9h 50m.
Author - Damian Hall.
Narrator - Stewart Crank.
Published Date - Friday, 16 January 2026.
Copyright - © 2021 Vertebrate Publishing ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
In It for the Long Run is ultrarunner Damian Hall’s story of running a first marathon aged thirty-six, dressed as a toilet, and representing Great Britain four years later. His midlife-crisis running problem escalated to 100-mile ultramarathons and record-breaking bimbles, culminating in his 261-mile Pennine Way run in July 2020. In 1989, Mike Hartley set a record/Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Pennine Way, running Britain’s oldest National Trail in two days and seventeen hours, without stopping for sleep. Hartley’s record stood for thirty-one years, until two attempts were made on it in two weeks in the summer of 2020. First, American John Kelly broke Hartley’s record by thirty-four minutes. Then Hall knocked another three hours off Kelly’s time. Hall used his record-bothering run to highlight concerns for our climate and ecological emergency: his attempt was carbon negative, he created no plastic waste, and he and his pacing runners collected litter as they went, while also raising money for Greenpeace. A vegan, Hall used no animal products on his attempt. Scrawled on his arm in permanent marker was ‘F F F’, standing for Family, Friends, Future. Packed with dry wit and humour, In It for the Long Run tells of Hall’s nine-year preparation for his attempt, and of the run itself. He also gives us an autobiographical insight into the deranged, custard-splattered, hedgehog-dodging world of ultramarathon running and record attempts. Duration - 9h 50m. Author - Damian Hall. Narrator - Stewart Crank. Published Date - Friday, 16 January 2026. Copyright - © 2021 Vertebrate Publishing ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:13
Dedication
Duration:00:00:07
Chapter 1: Challenging times
Duration:00:40:51
Chapter 2: Before running
Duration:00:30:51
Chapter 3: Becoming a runner
Duration:00:29:09
Chapter 4: Early experiments in ultrarunning
Duration:00:29:31
Chapter 5: The Spine Race and other mishaps
Duration:00:29:47
Chapter 6: Three big ones and an FKT
Duration:00:35:35
Chapter 7: Fear and loathing on the South West Coast Path
Duration:00:32:02
Chapter 8: Turning 'pro'
Duration:00:33:32
Chapter 9: High on Charlie
Duration:00:32:17
Chapter 10: Underdog and under bog
Duration:00:34:24
Chapter 11: Crew to be kind
Duration:00:35:43
Chapter 12: Blowing hot and cold
Duration:00:32:11
Chapter 13: Getting in a(nother) Paddy
Duration:00:39:51
Chapter 14: Skywalker or solo? Nope, a bear of very little brain
Duration:00:23:54
Chapter 15: The waiting game
Duration:00:28:27
Chapter 16: #PWFKTea
Duration:00:28:45
Chapter 17: Edale
Duration:00:25:46
Chapter 18: The aftermath
Duration:00:12:42
Chapter 19: Yeah but why?
Duration:00:30:22
Acknowledgments
Duration:00:03:53
Closing Credits
Duration:00:00:23