This is a book about a barefoot adventure, but it’s also a book about the kindness of others and the bonds of the running/adventure community. Told with Anna’s trademark warmth and humour (I say “Anna” because she feels like a friend now!) this book is also an honest account of the highs and lows of taking on a physical and mental challenge. In 2016 McNuff cycled 5,500 miles through Bolivia, Chile and Argentina in 184 days as part of a two-woman team. They ascended over 100,000 metres on their journey, which is equivalent to 11 times the height of Everest. I’m a big fan of Alastair Humphrey’s books about his big adventures. While I waited for his book about his time spent travelling across Spain playing the violin I thought I’d read the book which inspired his journey. I've read all of McNuff's other books and love being transported around the world and accompanying her on her adventures.

Anna McNuff Ran 2,620 Miles Across Britain in Her Bare Why Anna McNuff Ran 2,620 Miles Across Britain in Her Bare

She started working in marketing and, conditioned by structured training programmes and organised competition, did an Ironman, some ultra runs and the Swedish swimrun race Ötillö. ‘But I realised what I really wanted to do was just GO,’ she says. In 2013 she cycled across every state in the US and one Canadian province – 11,000 miles over seven months. Anna’s previous adventures include cycling 5,500 miles through the Andes, 11,000 miles through every US state and even rollerblading 100 miles around Amsterdam. But even for Anna’s lofty standards, 100 barefoot marathons seems pretty mad. Contributions: McNuff has contributed pieces to a number of other books including: Waymaking: An Anthology of Women's Adventure Writing, Poetry and Art (Vertebrate publishing, 2018), The Kindness of Strangers: Stories to make your heart grow (Summersdale, 2017), Lonely Planet Atlas of Adventure (Lonely Planet, 2017), Adventure Cycle touring Handbook (Trailblazer, 2015).

Anna’s Barefoot Britain challenge saw her run along rugged coastlines, through small villages, across moors, over wind-swept mountains, along beaches, farmland and even down the odd picturesque A-road, all of course, bare foot. The warm-hearted, funny and painfully honest read, reveals the reality of taking on a an epic challenge, and above all, shows how one person’s will to dig deep and carry on can encourage others to know they can do the same.

Barefoot Britain: A Running Adventure Like No Other by Anna

Anna McNuff (born 18 October 1984) is a British endurance athlete, adventurer, author and motivational speaker for her long, human powered adventures – most notably running the distance of 90 marathons through Great Britain in her bare feet. In 2013 McNuff completed a 7-month, 11,000 mile cycle through North America. She travelled through every state of America, solo and unsupported. Disillusioned with corporate London life and with no previous experience as a long-distance cyclist, Anna decides to clamber atop a beautiful pink bicycle (named Boudica) and set out on an 11,000-mile journey on her own, through each and every state of the USA.Like many of us, she read Christopher McDougall’s book Born to Run, took in its message about the benefits of minimal running, bought a pair of Fivefingers shoes, ‘ran 10K and absolutely destroyed myself’. Getting ready to run this epic distance barefoot was a much longer process. ‘I essentially spent four and a half years transitioning down from trainers.’ If you need some inspiration, then read this or any of McNuff books as they always make me want to find my own adventure. At adventure pace, of course, and with lots of cake.

Barefoot Britain: A running adventure like no other: 4 (Anna

The daughter of two Olympians, McNuff grew up in a family where the pursuit of physical and mental excellence was encouraged. From age 6 she played football in a boys league and later went on to play for Wimbledon Ladies FC. At aged 16 she took up rowing and went on to represent Great Britain. During her time in the Great Britain Squad, McNuff became a World Champion at the University Games in 2006, [1] and won a bronze medal at the 2007 European Championships. Due to injury she retired from rowing and embarked upon new endurance challenges as an adventurer. The book combines insights from both Scott and his wife, Jenny, as they partner together on this challenge. Anna’s 2nd book tells the story of the time she decided to cycle 11,000 miles through each state of the USA after becoming disillusioned with corporate life. A super-tough adventurer has completed a historic feat of endurance - running 2,620 miles across the UK barefoot.Safe to say it took a fair bit of training for Anna to prepare her feet for the roads, though. “Being able to talk about tough days openly is not something that comes naturally to people. It’s showing vulnerability. But that’s the only way you’re going to help people. Everybody feels like that sometimes. ” As the middle child between two brothers, and a keen footballer, she says she grew up less aware of inequality than many. ‘I didn’t see myself as any different. It’s only later in life I’ve realised it’s an issue for a lot of women,’ she says. Now she wants to be an example. ‘The best way to help the younger generation of girls is to get out there and do adventures, so they don’t even question the fact that it’s a girl doing it.’ I have enjoyed all of Anna's books but this one holds a special place for me as I was one of those 2500 runners who joined her for a stage on her journey running barefoot Britain. With only a farm dog, Holly, labelled “a domesticated wolf” by her former owners, to keep her company, Trina unravels under the pressure of a long-distance relationship and a dawning awareness of the environmental crisis that climate change is producing in the boreal. Meeting with Girlguiding members along the way Anna has helped inspire them to have the confidence to seek out new challenges and believe they can do anything. Anna met with over 70 units along her journey and many of these heart-warming moments are featured in her book.

Anna McNuff has run more than 2,000 miles across Britain – in Anna McNuff has run more than 2,000 miles across Britain – in

That’s why I’ve run the length of the UK in my bare feet – to show girls and young women that taking risks and doing things that scare them, big or small, can be incredible. Completely and totally inspiring!! What an amazing journey Anna went on - and took me with her on the adventure! I feel that I ran every step and helped her eat every sausage roll!! A great book about running, but more about the power of the person to change the way people think about life. She is an incredible person who finds other incredible people as she adventures and then writes about it (and them) all with humor, humility, whole hearted love, and the weirdest joy. The intrepid explorer, whose partner is Gloucester's own 'Adventureman' Jamie McDonald, has previously cycled through all 50 US states and run the length of New Zealand, has been obsessed with running without shoes for a while now.The girls are always so eager to see my feet and surprised that they don't look all that different to their own – mine just have a bit more dirt on them." Launched 6 December 2022, Barefoot Britain tells the story of Anna McNuff’s incredible 90 marathons (2,352 miles) barefoot adventure to show girls and young women that they can do anything they set their mind to. From Shetland to London, Girlguiding Ambassador Anna met and ran with hundreds of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers during her five-month challenge in 2019. I love these books because they get the heart of the adventure, they tell you the things you want to know, what adventurers eat, the days when you can’t be arsed but plough on regardless but most of all they remind you there are more people out there like us, people who want you to achieve and will cheer you on and welcome you in. We need more of that. This adventure is a huge experiment – I’m looking to see if I can coax my feet into doing what they were truly built to do, after a lifetime of being squidged up in shoes.” My favourite genre of books is outdoor adventure books. There’s just something about really getting lost in someone else’s adventure, its ups and downs and the scenery that they’re exploring.