The Runner: Four Years Living and Running in the Wilderness

"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. During his teenage years, Torgeby turned out to be a very talented long-distance runner. 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 his 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 and move to one of the most isolated and cold regions of northern Sweden. There he lived as a recluse. His time alone would prove to be more than an escape, it was in fact a search for a direction in life. The Runner is a unique and powerful book, both a portrait of an extraordinary man and a fascinating exploration of running and personal wellbeing. The book will certainly strike a chord with the running audience, but also has the potential to find a wider readership"--