The Pants of Perspective: One Woman's 3,000 Kilometre Running Adventure through the Wilds of New Zealand

"When I ran, I ran for pleasure. I didn’t run for times, to win, to I ran for me. When I ran my bum cheeks rubbed together, so much so that if I was going on a long run I’d have to ‘lube up’. I maintained that I was not a ‘real’ runner – I just liked to run so that I could eat cake."

Anna was never anything like those ‘real’ runners on telly – all spindly limbs, tiny shorts and split times – but when she read about New Zealand’s 3,000-kilometre-long Te Araroa Trail, she began to wonder… perhaps being a ‘real’ runner was overrated. Maybe she could just run it anyway?

Travelling alone through New Zealand’s backcountry for 148 days, she scrambled through forests, along ridge-lines, over mountain passes, along beaches and across swollen rivers. Running up to 52 kilometres in a day, she slept wild most nights, and was taken into the homes and hearts of the kiwi people in between.

The Pants of Perspective is a witty, colourful and at times painfully raw account of a journey to the edge of what a woman believes herself to be capable of. It is a coming-of-age story which will lead you on a roller coaster ride through fear, vulnerability  courage and failure.

For anyone who has ever dreamt of taking on a great challenge, but felt too afraid to begin – this story is for you.

REVIEWS:

★★★★★  "A thrilling coming of age journey that'll make you yearn for adventure" - RUNNER'S WORLD

★★★★★  "Beaming with limitless positivity and ambition" - WOMEN'S RUNNING

★★★★★  ”A story that inspires others to blaze a trail." - THE GUARDIAN

★★★★★ "Travel writing at its best!"

★★★★★ "Hilarious and inspiring."

★★★★★ " So down to earth. Full of passion and vulnerability"

★★★★★ "Wow. Wow. Wow. Pure inspiration."

★★★★★ "I don't normally feel moved to review books, but this one blew me away! I was gripped from beginning to end."

★★★★★ "I felt like I was running right alongside her."