Product Description
IT'S NOT JUST THE RACE THAT CAN KILL YOU
Against the backdrop of one of the world’s most demanding races, four men must fight their personal battles for survival.
THE RACE: South Africa’s awesome Comrades Marathon – fifty-five miles of physical torture run over a series of massive hills in stamina destroying heat and humidity.
THE MEN: an idealistic British marathon runner duped into assisting with a murderous plan; a world famous American entertainer who unknowingly puts far more than just his career on the line; a Zulu youth with outstanding natural athletic ability but an unknown enemy; and the dissolute son of a wealthy Johannesburg stockbroker competing in a desperate attempt to preserve his inheritance. Some of these will learn harsh lessons. Some will pay a far heavier price.
None will ever forget.
“A gripping tale from start to finish.”
Steve Cram: Six times a gold medallist at Commonwealth, European and World Championships, also Olympic silver medallist and world record holder for the mile 1985 - 1993.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Finding himself unexpectedly unemployed at the age of 47, George Stratford was confident that he would soon find another job. But despite countless applications, his age and lack of formal qualifications were always against him. For three years nothing but an endless series of disappointments followed. Whilst at his lowest ebb, the only thing that kept him going was his commitment to writing a minimum of a thousand words every day. This novel is the result of that dedication. In 1995, at an age when most people's thoughts are turning far more to comfortable retirement, George returned to full-time education at Falmouth College of Arts in Cornwall for two years, earning himself a Higher National Diploma in Advertising Copywriting. Not only that, he subsequently succeeded in landing himself a full time copywriting position at the London office of the world's famous advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, where he spent four years working on campaigns for such prestigious clients as Toyota, Carlsberg, Sony and Proctor & Gambol.
Against the backdrop of one of the world’s most demanding races, four men must fight their personal battles for survival.
THE RACE: South Africa’s awesome Comrades Marathon – fifty-five miles of physical torture run over a series of massive hills in stamina destroying heat and humidity.
THE MEN: an idealistic British marathon runner duped into assisting with a murderous plan; a world famous American entertainer who unknowingly puts far more than just his career on the line; a Zulu youth with outstanding natural athletic ability but an unknown enemy; and the dissolute son of a wealthy Johannesburg stockbroker competing in a desperate attempt to preserve his inheritance. Some of these will learn harsh lessons. Some will pay a far heavier price.
None will ever forget.
“A gripping tale from start to finish.”
Steve Cram: Six times a gold medallist at Commonwealth, European and World Championships, also Olympic silver medallist and world record holder for the mile 1985 - 1993.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Finding himself unexpectedly unemployed at the age of 47, George Stratford was confident that he would soon find another job. But despite countless applications, his age and lack of formal qualifications were always against him. For three years nothing but an endless series of disappointments followed. Whilst at his lowest ebb, the only thing that kept him going was his commitment to writing a minimum of a thousand words every day. This novel is the result of that dedication. In 1995, at an age when most people's thoughts are turning far more to comfortable retirement, George returned to full-time education at Falmouth College of Arts in Cornwall for two years, earning himself a Higher National Diploma in Advertising Copywriting. Not only that, he subsequently succeeded in landing himself a full time copywriting position at the London office of the world's famous advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, where he spent four years working on campaigns for such prestigious clients as Toyota, Carlsberg, Sony and Proctor & Gambol.
Synopsis
Four vastly different men compete in one of the world's toughest races - South Africa's Comrades Marathon - in order to live out dreams, confront unknown enemies, or cling to their past. This is a battle of willpower over 55 miles against gruelling heat and humidity.
