Outrunning the Demons : Lives Transformed through Running

An exploration of the transformative power of running--and it can be the key to unlocking resilience we never knew we had. With a foreword by Dean Karnazes.

Outrunning the Demons is an in-depth exploration of just why running can so often seem the answer to everything when you find yourself in extremis. Phil Hewitt has been there himself. He was viciously mugged in 2016 and left for dead. Suffering the acute symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and unable to make any sense of what had happened to him, Phil found that dedicating himself to running--and its possible healing powers--was the only route ahead.

Running can take us to fantastic places. Just as importantly, it can also bring us back from terrible ones. For people in times of crisis, trauma and physical or mental illness, running is often the means by which they reconstruct fractured, fragmented identity--or indeed the means to a new identity. When normality collapses, running can put it back together again. In the very worst cases, it can actually create a new normality and offer us the chance to move on.

The author's own experiences place him in a unique position as he interviews runners who have suffered similarly and worse in a wide range of scenarios. The book covers the themes of Trauma, Bereavement, Depression & Anxiety, Addiction & Alcoholism, Terrorism, Violence/Sexual Abuse, Long-term Health Conditions (cancer, stroke etc), and Eating Disorders.

While dealing with heavy, harrowing subjects, this powerfully compelling, engrossing, and enriching book will ultimately uplifting and celebratory, an exploration of why running can be the key to overcoming traumatic experiences and rebuilding lives.

“... an inspiring collection of stories about runners who have run through unimaginable adversity to find perspective, resolution and ultimately peace, within themselves and with the universe.” —Dean Karnazes, ultramarathoner and New York Times bestselling author

“Uplifting and important... This is a book about courage, about kindness, about grief and fortitude, about healing after trauma, about running as a way of finding oneself, about witnessing the best in humankind having experienced the worst” —Kate Mosse, author of 'The Burning Chambers' and 'Labyrinth'

“[a] remarkable collection of intensely personal stories connects the reader to the restorative power of running. With the assured touch of an experienced journalist and editor… his absorbing accounts allow voices from around the world to remind us that despite the suffering humanity inflicts and endures, through the exhilarating discipline of running the indomitability of the human spirit can prevail.” —Hugh Bonneville

“Exhilarating, compelling and beautifully written; this extraordinary book, both humbling and uplifting, is a hymn to the triumph of the human spirit and the human heart.” —Peter James, international bestselling writer

“I defy anyone not to be inspired, moved and excited by the stories of these brave runners, beautifully narrated by Phil Hewitt, who understands their challenges because he is still outrunning his own demons. This book may be a life-changer - or a life-saver.” —Peter Lovesey, crime writer and historian

“A really good book ... with fascinating stories” —BBC Radio Four, Today Programme

“Extremely readable… a sane, unsentimental commentary on why they keep on running” —i