The Running Pilgrim

Tales from a 1,400 Mile Journey Around Ireland

Adharanand Finn

From the acclaimed author of The Rise of the Ultra Runners comes an astonishing and moving meditation on running, mindfulness, and belonging.

Aged 50, Adharanand Finn failed to qualify for the longest race of his life. Finding himself at a crossroads, he couldn't help but ask himself: what was he doing all this running for? Instead of pushing himself further and further, he needed to consider a different approach—perhaps a 'race' wasn't what he needed, but something more intentional, in search of meaning, understanding, and adventure.

In The Running Pilgrim, Adharanand travels to his ancestral homeland of Ireland, setting out to run 1,400 miles around its perimeter, hoping to reconnect with the birthplace of his parents and the country where he spent summers in his youth. Journeying from Dublin, Cork, and Tralee to Galway, Sligo, and Malin Head, through national parks, historic spiritual landmarks, and countryside and suburbia, he encounters people and landscapes which upend his understanding of Ireland—and himself.

An inspiring story of self-discovery and physical endurance, The Running Pilgrim is a paean to the transformative power of running; to the pain of the times where you feel as though you can’t take another step, and the exhilaration of those rare moments when you believe you could run to the horizon, and over and beyond it.

Adharanand Finn is the author of Running With the Kenyans, which was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book Award. He is an editor at the Guardian and a freelance journalist. He currently competes with the Torbay Athletic Club in Devon, U.K., where he lives with his family. Follow him on Twitter at @adharanand.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for Adharanand Finn

"A heartwarming journey into a wonderful world that I never knew existed until Finn swept me up and brought me there." Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run

"The definitive book on ultra running today. I couldn't put it down." Dean Karnazes, author of Ultramarathon Man

"A riveting, thought-provoking, and often funny journey deep into the heart of the fastest-growing corner of the endurance world, from running’s foremost cultural explorer. If you’ve ever wondered what draws people to venture beyond 26.2 miles—or been tempted yourself—The Rise of the Ultra Runners is a must-read." Alex Hutchinson, author of Endurance

"Finn penetrates some of the most fascinating running communities across the world to learn from and train with the individuals that shape them. From Oman to Colorado, Finn offers a vivid glimpse into one of the world’s fastest growing and most mind-boggling disciplines." Runner’s World, “Best Books for Runners”