SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2025 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR

‘Lays bare the realities of a sporting career’ - Lord Sebastian Coe

‘Gripping, revealing and honest’ - Steve Cram OBE

‘A gripping read ... Iwan runs and runs and runs, and arrives at himself’ - Jeremy Vine

Running has been Iwan Thomas’s life. He dedicated everything to becoming and remaining an elite athlete to such a degree that his efforts left him scarred. Iwan reveals the highs of his career, but also his struggles with the darker side of running – loneliness, doubts, pain, and ultimately, serious mental health issues.

After a youthful period as a world-class BMX rider, Iwan committed himself to running. Between 1995 and 1998, he became one of the fastest men in the world, winning silver in the 4x400m at the Olympics and gold at the European and World Championships. However, although his British 400m record of 44.36 seconds stood unbroken for 25 years, persistent injuries had already begun to limit his ability to compete with the best.

His response to setbacks was always to train even harder, but this was no longer possible. Without the structure of training, the motivation of competition, and the thrill of race day, Iwan struggled. He experienced a prolonged period of anxiety and depression before finally coming to terms with his life as a former athlete.

In this deeply reflective, utterly engaging, and honestly open book, Iwan shares an absorbing, sometimes uncomfortable, but truly memorable story, and finally reveals the truth behind his life in sport.

Pages: 240

Year of Publication: 1202

Dimensions: 12.6x12.6cm