Running Wild: An Extraordinary Adventure from the Spiritual World of Running [Paperback]

John Annerino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 1997

In this story of rare triumph, John Annerino chronicles his progress from injury to recovery to victory. Badly hurt in a climbing accident and told he would never run again, the author defied his doctors and his own overwhelming pain to run the length of the Grand Canyon three times, rediscovering Native American trade routes lost to modern knowledge. An incredible journey and spiritual quest to the limits of physical and mental endurance, Running Wild takes you there and leaves you breathless.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Canyon Pioneers. John Annerino . . . has made a series of audacious wilderness runs, including the first below-the-rim run of the length of the Grand Canyon."
-- Outside Magazine

The Grand Canyon Explored. "There's no one better to tap for insights on Grand Canyon lore, history and geography. . . Here, canyon master John Annerino unveils the greatest tales of Grand Canyon history."
-- National Geographic ADVENTURE

"His journey of discovery becomes . . . a fervent quest to share in the way of an ancient culture. This work is an unconventional blend of earth science and mystical revelation, offering a view of the Grand Canyon the way few have experienced it."
-- Library Journal

"Cheers to John Annerino, who . . . showed armchair America there are still some Richard Haliburton-style adventures to be found."
-- The Arizona Republic

"Annerino excels. . . and he writes tellingly of loneliness, fear, cold, and heat. . . well written and even inspirational."
-- Kirkus Reviews

From the Author

* View images from this collection at johnannerinophotography.com
* Read the author's illustrated biography at johnannerino.com
* Get updates about the author's published work at Author Central
* Order now from Amazon
* Autographed and inscribed copies available at johnannerinobooks.com

Images and essays from this book were featured in:
* Arizona Magazine
* The Arizona Republic
* The Los Angeles Times
* Inside Kung Fu
* Runners World
* Running
* Ultra Sport

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press; 2nd edition (December 18, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560251751
• ISBN-13: 978-1560251750
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Walking
  • #64 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Other Team Sports > Track & Field

More About the Author

John is pleased to share the exciting news two of his new photography and literature books were published on January 24, 2012: the "Land if Enchantment's" 100 Year Centennial Edition, New Mexico: A Photographic Tribute; and the "Grand Canyon State's" 100 Year Centennial Edition, Arizona: A Photographic Tribute. His third new book, The Virgin of Guadalupe: Art and Legend, will be published by Gibbs Smith on March 1, 2012. His landmark photograph commemorating the World Trade Center was recently published in the 2011, 10th Anniversary editions of the New York Times No. 1 bestselling books, LIFE One Nation, America Remembers September 11, 2001, and LIFE In the Land of the Free. The iconic image and others can be viewed online at www.johnannerinophotography.com. John Annerino's indelible photographs were published previously in the New York Times No. 1 bestselling book, America 24/7: 24 Hours, 7 Days, Extraordinary Images of One American Week, and the Grand Canyon state sequel Arizona 24/7: Amazing Photographs of an Extraordinary State. John is the author and photographer of many books, among them 17 distinguished photographic essays and thirty-two single-artist calendars, including Wild & Scenic Arizona, Wild & Scenic New Mexico, La Virgen de Guadalupe, and the award winning books Indian Country, Desert Light, Grand Canyon Wild, Vanishing Borderlands, Canyons of the Southwest, The Wild Country of Mexico, and Roughstock: The Toughest Events in Rodeo, (acclaimed by the Rodeo Hall of Fame). John's credits include Arizona Highways Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, LIFE, Newsweek, People, Scientific American, Time, Travel & Leisure, and many prestigious clients worldwide. In his quest to explore the renowned landscapes and secret places of the Great Southwest and Old Mexico with a camera and pen over last 25 years, John has climbed its hallowed mountains, rafted its wild and scenic rivers, journeyed on foot through its mystical chasms, and crossed its alluring deserts. He has photographed and come to know the region's Native peoples and ceremonies, Western cowboys and traditions, and Spanish heritage and celebrations. John Annerino is a member of The Authors Guild, New York. Visit his illustrated bio online at www.johnannerino.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A runner's touchstone, August 28, 2002

By 

Donnamarie Barnes "donmb" (Yonkers, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Running Wild: An Extraordinary Adventure from the Spiritual World of Running (Paperback)

I first read "Running Wild" several years ago while recovering from a running injury and it not only gave me the confidence to come back from the injury but also became my running companion. I have since re-read it many times especially before an important race or when the reasons for training get blurry. For a runner it is a spiritual connection to the joy and mystery that running can be as well as historic proof of the origins of American running. John Annerino is an incredible man whose courage and love of the wilderness together with his deep spiritual committment to the land, it's history and it's people make "Running Wild" a masterpiece.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Have to disagree on the 5 star ratings, December 30, 2004

By 

Michael Walsh (Cary, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Running Wild: An Extraordinary Adventure from the Spiritual World of Running (Paperback)

As a runner of 15+ marathons, a couple ultras and being an avid trail runner, I really wanted to love this book. Annerino is a compelling character, with great courage and anyone who has regularly run long distance on trail can see, a man who must have incredible commitment. The book however comes up short of where it could have. After the first couple of run descriptions, the rest merely become a repeat of lack of water, tough conditions, danger, exhaustion and route finding problems. Annerino frequently references that his motivation in running these routes is to gain information on how preceding Indian generations would have used them for trade, however with the exception of a small amount of info, that aspect is largely not covered in the book. It is a shame, as dedicating more print space to that objective would greatly enlivened the book. Overall, a good read and still recommended, but I can't go 5 stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book which captures the true feeling of running wild., January 22, 1999

By 

Dave Prosser ([e-mail] (Tucson,Arizona United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running Wild: An Extraordinary Adventure from the Spiritual World of Running (Paperback)

Running Wild was written in a way so as to capture the feelings that can overcome a person when he or she has an addiction to this kind of obsession.The obsession to run where no one else runs,to run when no one else runs (ie..blistering heat , biting cold)and to run farther than anyone else runs.The author does convey to the reader the reasons why he runs ,the mental euphoria ,the need to overcome physical pain,and of course loss of a loved one.What does seem to get lost in the translation is why we keep hearing about the ancient inner canyon pathway that the author is so adament about.I absolutely love the referance to the training runs that lead up to the BIG canyon runs.The detail about the scenery and conditions encountered filled my head with visions and feelings I'm all to familiar with.I am a resident of Tucson,Az. and a very avid trail runner and adventurer,the details expressed by John Annerinno in Runing Wild are some times more than enough to take the reader to theses remote hostile places,where you can take part in the pain and gratification of pushing your mind and body to the limit,and as the author puts it find your own Ancient Intercanyon Pathway.

Dave Prosser Tucson, Arizona familiar with