Women fight for right to run
Heads-up on an excellent book that was published today (13 Aug) – Rulebreakers & Ghost Runners by Katie Holmes.[Full disclosure: Katie is a fellow novice author, and asked me to give feedback on the book, which I agreed to do after reading the draft manuscript, with the possibility of using any of my comments in publicity, if the publisher so wished.]
I found it an very interesting topic that covers an important phase in the history of the sport. The sub-title of the book is: ‘The British women who asserted their right to run’, and has a cover photo that includes Joyce Smith – former UK women’s marathon record holder, and sometime member of my own athletic club (Barnet & District AC) back in the day.
The background is that before 1975 women in the UK weren’t allowed to race at distances over four miles. In the 1960s women had started to run unofficially in men’s road races, challenging discrimination and showing that they were perfectly capable of running marathons – and even further.
The book highlights the impact of social change in the decades from the end of the First World War to the present day, including feminism and the jogging boom of the 1970s, and the marathon boom from the 1980s onwards. What I particularly liked is that Katie tells the stories of athletes like Violet Percy, Dale Greig and Leslie Watson, amongst other rulebreakers. As is noted in the publicity blurb:
These inspirational women broke the rules, broke records, and broke barriers. They successfully challenged the exclusion of women from Britain’s races.
My response to the publisher initially included: ”Holmes showcases a great depth of research into many of the pioneer women runners who have been previously been ‘written out of history’. New interviews and contemporary records are neatly intertwined to tell the story of the problems women had in being accepted into races, and how their breaking of rules, and ghost running, eventually affected necessary change.” Another part of the response was used as an endorsement, as shown in the attached publicity image.
Note: I am contractually obliged to further mention the availability of my own book – Voices from the hills: pioneering women fell and mountain runners – which tells of a similar historical situation, of the exclusion of women and the those that challenged this, in the fell and mountain running branch of the sport.
Podcasts of my life
Having just agreed to go on the ‘Here for the long run’ podcast it seemed a good time to collect together my podcast experiences, which seem to total nine so far. Each entry in the list below (most recent at the top) has a brief description (usually from the pod edition), and a link to play it back if interested. Warning: several are blatant publicity opportunities for some of my books.
Adventure habits. Ep 34 (Jun 2026)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvR3fVpGPfQ
David Overton (from Splash Maps) sits down with renowned fell running author, coach, and historian Steve Chilton for a deep and inspiring conversation about endurance, resilience, adventure, and the spirit of the hills. From the origins of fell running in Northern England to legendary challenges such as the Bob Graham Round, the Three Peaks Race, and the Cuillin Ridge, Steve shares decades of experience exploring some of the toughest and most iconic landscapes in the UK. Steve also reflects on his journey as an author, researcher, and coach – revealing the lessons learned through success, failure, ambition, and stepping outside of comfort zones.
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Stud Marks. Ep 27 (Feb 2026)
https://shows.acast.com/studmarks/episodes/the-history-the-bob-graham-round
History: The Bob Graham Round – Rough, ready, and completely unedited – Steve Chilton, Mark Roberts, and Andrew ‘Scoff’ Schofield talk all things Bob Graham Round. Scoff dials in on his phone, Mark’s on the white wine in his van, and the stories flow as they share experiences, laughs, and reflections on how the Round – and fell running itself – has changed over the years.
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Stud Marks. Ep 5 (Jul 2024)
https://shows.acast.com/studmarks/episodes/the-history-steve-chilton
History: The Three Peaks Race – Steve Chilton delves into the rich history and personal tales behind the Yorkshire Three Peaks Race, as chronicled in his latest book. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of this iconic event, Steve’s work is a deep dive into the endurance race that has become a cornerstone of the UK’s fell running calendar.
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Local interviews: Portsmouth’s xpress fm. (May 2024)
Steve Chilton joined Paul Marsh in the studio to talk about his new book about the marathon with mountains – the Three Peaks Race. Steve spoke about how he went from marathon running to mountain running and where in his process that he started writing about it, also the amazing history of the Three Peaks Race.
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Wild Ginger Running. Ep 132 (Apr 2024)
https://youtube.com/live/yrNidbk2rk4
Book launch – Steve Chilton’s latest amazing book – The Three Peaks Race: the history & characters of the marathon with mountains. We chat to Steve about his incredible account of this iconic Yorkshire fell race. [‘Thoroughly enjoyable tales of those incredible runners who have done battle over this gruelling route’ – Boff Whalley]
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Outdoors in Scotland. Voices from the Hills (Aug 2023)
https://www.johndburns.com/steve-chilton-voices-from-the-hills-podcast/
John Burns talks to fell runner, Steve Chilton, about his life running in the mountains and his work as an author. Previously published by Sandstone Press Steve has now joined leading outdoor publisher, Vertebrate Publishing. Voices from the Hills is the story of the barriers encountered by the first female fell runners who fought to participate in the early days of this male-dominated sport. Despite experiencing discouragement and resistance, these women responded with personal courage and self confidence.
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Wild Ginger Running. Book Launch (Sept 2020)
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Geomob. Ep 6. (Mar 2020)
https://thegeomob.com/podcast/episode-6
I’m here today with my good friend, Steve Chilton. Steve and I could be two of the oldest members of the geomob community, but hopefully with age comes at least a little bit of wisdom and hope. Steve is going to share some of that wisdom with us this afternoon. So by training Steve’s a cartographer having originally studied at Oxford Brookes University. He’s recently retired from Middlesex University. His responsibilities there included curriculum development and how educational developments and methodologies can be applied to enhance the student learning experience. Steve was also Chair of the Society of Cartographers for many years and he’s working on a co-authored book on the first Ordnance Survey six inch maps.
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Very Spatial Podcast. Ep 99. (June 2007)
https://veryspatial.com/2007/06/a-veryspatial-podcast-episode-99/
Very early doors of podcasting – A VerySpatial Podcast – Episode 99 June 10, 2007. A mere 3 years or so into the OSM project. Main Topic: Discussion with Steve Chilton on OSM (OpenStreetMap) and the State of the Map conference. Click link above to directly download MP3.
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Borrowdale fell race data
There was not enough space in the article on the Borrowdale race record in Cumbria magazine (which can be read here) to include any data. Two tables are reproduced here, which list the top 10 best times ever run at the tough Borrowdale race, and the six races that Billy Bland won in a three week period that led up to him setting the Borrowdale record.
Notes: these were all set over 18 years, and (as the article explains) the course was lengthened in 2003. The fastest time on the longer course (reckoned to be some 2 mins 30 secs slower at the time) is by Simon Booth – his 2-46-18 in 2005 – which is way outside even the top 20 fastest times at the race. The 20th fastest time is Bob Whitfield’s second place in 1981 — 2-43-27 — when Billy Billy set the record.
Note: the races above are those that Billy Bland competed in during a three week period in 1981. Three of them were tough Championships races, and two were double race weekends. Whilst Billy’s winning Wasdale margin of 17 min 13 secs is pretty remarkable (his time was 3-35-10) it was surpassed the next year when he set the existing race record of 3-25-21, in his second of ten wins in a row at the race.
All the above leads me to consider that his Borrowdale race record and this sequence of race race wins was Billy most outstanding achievement, which he would be especially proud of. When I spoke to him recently he commented on that, with his usual direct analysis: “No, not really. I would know what I was doing …… I think that maybe it was Wasdale that is going to prove to be the best record, because of my training. I was probably in better condition than anybody else I was taking on, because I trained harder than them.”
Maybe I’ll do a full analysis of the Wasdale record and best performances next, including the seven wins there by Jasmin Paris.
Article in Cumbria magazine
I have no book on the go at the moment, but have written a couple of articles for magazines recently. This is the first one to come out. It appeared in Cumbria and Lakeland Walker magazine (in the May 2026 issue). In the article I discuss the long-standing Borrowdale fell race record and re-live it with the record holder, Billy Bland.
Th full article is available to read (in PDF format), but unfortunately had to be in 4 separate files, one for each page. They can be downloaded here:
page 1 :: page 2 :: page 3 :: page 4.
NB: unfortunately proofing did not catch an awkward mistake. In the first sentence on p2 I wrote: ‘Billy was just changing over from amateur to professional status when the race started ..’. This should of course be the other way round, as he was just getting his teeth into the amateur scene then.
My biography of Billy Bland (which of course explains the whole pro/am situation) is available here: All or nothing at all.
Book interview – expressfm
A link to an interview I did on Portsmouth’s expressfm radio has been added to my CV page: https://www.expressfm.com/podcasts/local-interviews/episode/steve-chilton-talks-about-his-book-the-three-peaks-race/
It is described thus: “Steve Chilton joined Paul Marsh in the studio to talk about his new book about the marathon with mountains – the Three Peaks Race. Steve spoke about how he went from marathon running to mountain running and where in his process that he started writing about it, also the amazing history of the Three Peaks Race.”
Buy the book: https://www.gnbooks.co.uk/product/the-three-peaks-race/
Being a guest on BGR podcast
It was a real pleasure to be one of the guests on the Studmarks podcast, along with fell legends Scoffer Schofield and Mark Roberts. Our topic was the Bob Graham Round. Host Chris Goldie allowed the conversation to flow over the past, present and future of the BGR. Some wonderful memories were shared by all, including highlights of prepping and completing (in both Scoff and Mark’s case, and supporting for me), and also some amusing tales or mishaps and attitudes of various events witnessed, including Billy Bland’s blistered feet at the end of his ‘walked every step’ round he did with a young Gavin Bland in 1989, in a time of 20-48.
We also touched on changes in the fell running scene over the years that we have all been competing. It showed us as a bunch of traditionalists at heart, revelling in the fact that back in the day Walsh shoes were the ONLY ones for fell running. For anyone interested in fell running and the Round I heartily recommend a listen to the podcast, which can be found at this Studmarks podcast link.
For further history on the BGR, there is always my book ‘The Round: in Bob Graham’s footsteps’ and for history of fell running, ‘Its a hill, get over it’. Both available from good booksellers, Amazon (linked above) and direct (signed) from me.
My running books
All my books are available from good bookshops and from Amazon. Anyone wanting a signed copy of any can contact me directly and I can send you one.
A brief description of all the books can be found at https://itsahill.wordpress.com/2025/04/18/books-at-three-peaks-race/.
My blog in 2025: most visited pages, most downloaded content
It is time to review the blog after another year. I did fewer blog posts over the year, as the blog seems to be becoming less used by me (and less viewed by others – with 20% less views than 2024). Two stats: referrals came mostly from Search Engines and Facebook, with Twitter/X being virtually moribund now. For Twitter I have one account, whereas I can post notifications in a number of FB Groups. Visitors came from 70 different countries, with USA and Ireland being second and third places behind the UK, and Germany a distant fourth.
MOST VISITED PAGES
The most visited page on the blog was one from December. It was to highlight (and link to) an interview I did with Gavin Bland as part of my current research into the longest lived fell race record (Langdale Horseshoe, from 1977). The research is for a potential article for the Spring issue of The Fellrunner, for which I have chatted to the main players in the story. The post can be accessed here: https://itsahill.wordpress.com/2025/12/05/a-chat-with-gavin-bland-on-farming-racing-langdale-and-forgetting-races/
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The second most visited page was was one from January, where I did a little gentle analysis of the completions from the previous year on the Bob Graham Round. It shows the continuing interest in the BGR, and also gives some info on the male/female stats for the year. The post can be accessed here: https://itsahill.wordpress.com/2025/01/14/bob-graham-round-data-for-2024/
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The third most visited page on the blog was one in June recommending a book called ‘England’s Everest’. It is the self-published history of the Lake District 24-Hour Fell Record, by Peter McDonald. Check it out here: https://itsahill.wordpress.com/2025/06/19/new-book-recommendation/
MOST DOWNLOADED CONTENT
The most downloaded content was an article I co-wrote with Steve Birkinshaw for The Fellrunner way back in 2018. It was a case study of four athletes who had suffered CFS [chronic fatigue syndrome] in varying degrees of seriousness, and how they came back from it, or didn’t. It can be accessed here [PDF file].
The second most downloaded content was a profile of myself that appeared in Fellrunner magazine, called ‘In conversation with Steve Chilton’. It was set up and recorded by long-time contributor Graham Breeze and allowed me to say a few a things about my own running and how and why I got into writing about the sport. Have a read here: [PDF file]
The third most downloaded content was a piece I wrote a while ago for Cumbria magazine, which looks at Billy Bland’s legacy. Researching for my biography of him (All or nothing at all: the life of Billy Bland) I had many long and fascinating discussions with him, which gave me a window into his career and life. The article can be accessed here [PDF file].
MY FAVOURITE POST
Finally, the blog post that is my favourite from the year is one from January. Entitled ‘Will I be using AI in my book research soon‘, it was an investigation prompted by a news source that reported on AI: ‘it sends shockwaves through US tech firms as stocks plunge‘. I found some frighteningly inaccurate information brought up by the AI tool I tested when searching for info on myself and other data that I knew the answers for from my research. The blog can be read here: https://itsahill.wordpress.com/2025/01/28/will-i-be-using-ai-in-my-book-research-soon/
NB: Most of my writing can be accessed through the link to my CV.
List: my best books read in 2025
Two lists of my three best reads in 2025, with short reviews. They are in the categories of: non-fiction and novels (and were not necessarily published in 2025). I read 67 books in the year, and reviewed them all on GoodReads, but only gave 5-stars to two of them. This year’s reading target is a modest 65.
NON-FICTION
1: The place of tides by James Rebanks – James Rebanks really has a knack of conveying emotion and the depth of nature. Here he tells the story of a tough way of life in Norway. It is a sort of Norwegian Pastoral. The author evidently has a great respect for his subject and one feels enriched by learning about his time with two fascinating and independent minded women, who are carrying on some simple old traditions, based around protecting Eider ducks and gathering their down.
2: Politics on the edge by Rory Stewart – The rest is Politics (both UK and US versions) are my ‘go tos’ for current political coverage. This book goes back to an earlier time, finishing with Rory Stewart’s bid for the prime ministership. The details of his political journey are fascinating and certainly gave me plenty of insights into the way British politics works (or according to him, doesn’t work). A recommended read for anyone wanting a better understanding of global politics.
3: Ultra Women by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson – The authors showcase and celebrate women’s endurance and athletic ability well. Each chapter highlights a women’s ultra endurance story with the science background to discuss whether women are better at endurance, before suggesting what women need to be doing to reach their true potential. There is a thoughtful manifesto for changes (that are still needed) at the end.
Came close: Dispatches from Pluto by Richard Grant and Bicycle diaries by David Byrne.
FICTION
1: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles – The 1950s in America was generally an optimistic time but the characters in this book lived through tough times and have learnt to survive in their different ways. Although the plot is somewhat outrageous it has a balance between innocence and experience. Essentially it is an 18-year old fresh out of jail and looking for his mother. Many adventures ensue as he crosses from Nebraska to New York with three other runaways. The book has a satisfyingly vague ending.
2: Dregs by Jorn Lier Horst – This was the second Horst/Wisting book I have read and I gave it a solid 5-star, one of only two 5-stars all year from me. An intriguing plot around several severed feet turning up in Wisting’s patch. The plot, settings and characters are all well described and developed, with a fine denouement to finish it satisfactorily. I have come to really like his style of writing, plot development and tension building, as a result of this two other books of his were close to being top three (see below).
3: The Trees by Percival Everett – I was really not sure about this one as I started reading it. It is a black comedy of racism and revenge that isn’t always funny, and it is certainly violent thoughout. It is a very readable book though, which starts as if a good murder investigation. But it just goes off quite wildly in the second half and I felt it ended very abruptly. Though I had my issues it had a lasting impact (and led me to buy his book James to read later).
Mentions for: Two other Jorn Lier Horst books – Hunting dogs and Closed for winter
BBC Countryfile: what is fell running
In the January 2026 BBC Countryfile magazine there is an article on fell running, by Sam Pyrah, to which I contributed a couple of very short pieces, along with Kerri Wallace, Richard Askwith and Fran Blackett.
It has some good advice in getting started, getting hill fit and on ensuring your navigation is up to scratch.The full article can be read at: BBC Countryfile fell running [PDF]
IT'S A HILL, GET OVER IT 