Raziq Rauf & Sophie Heawood in Conversation

Distances and entry

• General Admission — Free

About Raziq Rauf & Sophie Heawood in Conversation

6.30pm-8.30pm @ Artwords,
2-4 Clarence Rd E5 8HB

To celebrate the release of This is Running by Raziq Rauf, he will sit down with his longtime friend Sophie Heawood at Artwords Bookshop in Hackney to discuss this particular cultural moment in the booming world of running.

Sophie recently penned one of the most talked-about articles in the running world, when her idea to bring Harry Styles and Haruki Murakami together for Runner’s World took the literary scene by storm.

About This is Running:

"THIS IS RUNNING isn't your typical running book. It's not a straightforward celebration. It's a collection of glory, in all of its forms. It somehow captures all the beauty, all the anguish, all the feelings and stories and rituals that made us fall in love — and stay in love — with running." — Anne Helen Petersen, author of Culture Study

"This Is Running is a beautiful book in every sense of the word. I've got a whole library of running books, but this one will remain on the coffee table for everyone to enjoy." — Matt Fitzgerald, author of 80/20 running: Run Stronger and Race Faster by Training Slower

"...proof that the most valuable voices in any culture are often the ones standing slightly to the side" — Tempo Journal

This is Running is a celebration of the world of running, exploring everything you'd need to know about the sport and the rich culture that surrounds it.

Running is huge with an estimated 621 million runners worldwide, but behind that statistic is a world that is as diverse as the people who engage in it. From the elite endurance of the Rarámuri tribe from Mexico who frequently run ultramarathons in nothing but simple sandals made from discarded car tires to some of the most famous races which are household names for runners and non-runners alike, coach and journalist Raziq Rauf gives a fascinating snapshot of this world.

This is Running covers why, where, and how we run, incorporating insights from psychologists, sociologists, and other experts from our first dash around a childhood playground to joining a run club or hitting high-altitude mountain trails whether that be for the health benefits, to make friends, test your own limits, or to explore the world around you.

A host of compelling essays explore topics such as running’s technological revolution, brands and streetwear, women’s experiences of running, the boom of trail running, and the future of the sport. Also included is a selection of the world’s most notable runs including The London Marathon, the UTMB, and the Barkley Marathons, and Q&As with individuals who are pioneering global running culture including influencer and comedian Laura Green, Nils Arend from The Speed Project, professional trail running athlete Dylan Bowman, and Jessica Zapotechne from Girls Run NYC.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with striking photography, This is Running is the perfect gift for the obsessive runner in your life, or for anyone who wants to know more about the sport and the culture that surrounds it.

Quite simply, if you are a runner, this book is catnip to your passion.