The Runner

Markus Torgeby was just 20 years old when he headed off into the remote Swedish forest to live as a recluse and dedicate himself to his one true passion, running… He lived in a tent in the wilderness, braving the harsh Swedish winters - for four years. This is his story. A bestseller in Sweden, the book is a powerful exploration of running and personal wellbeing.

During his teenage years Markus Torgeby turned out to be a very talented long-distance runner. It didn't take long before he was discovered by an enthusiastic coach who set very high goals. However, while Markus performed brilliantly in training, during competitions he often failed inexplicably.

These pressures, along with the burden of having to care for a MS-suffering mother took their toll, and when an injury put an end to Markus's running career, he lost his foothold in life. In order not to completely go under, he chose to do something that most of us only dream of: to escape the modern world.

Aged 20, Markus Torgeby decides to move to one of the most isolated and cold regions of northern Sweden. He's going to live right in the middle of the forest, alone. There he lived as a recluse for four years. The only thing he kept was his running - his 'drug', the one thing he can't be without. His time alone would prove to be more than an escape and was in fact a search for a direction in life.

The Runner is a unique and powerful book which can be read both as a portrait of an extraordinary man as well as a fascinating exploration of running and personal wellbeing. The book will certainly strike a chord with the running audience, but it has the potential to find a wider readership than that.