Trails and Tribulations

DAILY MAIL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
WINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2025 SPORTS PERFORMANCE BOOK OF THE YEAR
'I laughed, gulped and cried as I read Susie's stories of battling through some of the hardest races on this planet as well as some of the hardest moments in her life' Sophie Raworth
AN EXHILARATING READ FROM ONE OF THE UK'S LEADING ENDURANCE RUNNERS.
Susie Chan is an icon of endurance running. Since taking up running at the age of 35, she has completed the legendary Marathon des Sables more times than any other British woman, set the 12-hour treadmill World Record and was one of the first women to finish all the World Marathon Majors. Susie's story is an inspirational fight against the odds. From leaving a dysfunctional marriage, managing as a single mum and tackling cancer treatment, Susie has had her fair share of adversity. Throughout it all, running has kept her going. She always finds a reason to lace up her shoes and hit the road - or the track, trail or tread. Her mantra: You never regret a run. From the Moroccan desert, the Peruvian jungle and the sweltering Death Valley, to Susie's local South Downs and a running track in Tooting, her adventures take her across the globe. With Susie's down-to-earth personality, refreshing attitude and wicked sense of humour, we learn the countless reasons she finds to push herself further and the life-changing opportunities running has given her. Her passion for the sport is infectious, and her story is a shining example to all in the running community and beyond.

Susie Chan is an endurance runner who takes on races of all distances from 1 mile to 100 miles. She is a veteran of several Marathon des Sables, runs 100 mile non-stop races and through jungles. She has also finished all of the World Marathon Majors. @susie_chan_

Prologue
1. The Start Line - Waterloo Bridge, London 2013
2. Sleeping Bag, Food, Water Bottles, Mirror . . . Venom Pump - Marathon des Sables, 2013
3. Rocks, Dunes, Heat - Marathon des Sables, 2013
4. It's Just One Day in Your Life - Thames Path 100, May 2014
5. Experience Weighs Nothing - Marathon des Sables, 2015
6. Snakes and Ladders - Jungle Ultra, Peru, 2016
7. 24 hours Running Around a Track - Tooting Bec Athletics Track, 2018
8. Guinness World Record Attempt. All Welcome - Kingston University, 2016
9. Seeing the Six Stars - Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, Tokyo
10. The Hospital - Farnham, 2017
11. 'Have a Word With Yourself' - Marathon des Sables, 2017 and 2018
12. Crew life - The South Downs, Grand Union Canal, Death Valley
13. I am a Runner - Hampshire, 2019
14. Hundreds of Miles of Nothingness - Badwater, 2023
Acknowledgements