Outrunning the demons - healing trauma through running

Phil Hewitt (UK runner, author and journalist) woke up to a sunny morning in Cape Town, South Africa and a day filled with his favourite sport, cricket.  He was thrilled to have got tickets and make the journey.  But by the end of the day, Phil's life had changed forever.  A decision to walk back to the city on his own led to a near-fatal knife attack, his life miraculously saved by a passing pizza delivery man.

Returning back to the UK, it became clear that Phil was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  How could he get back some control and heal his shattered spirit, overcome the sense of helplessness and the panic attacks?  By leaning in to his love of running.  Putting one foot in front of the other, step by step, moving forward, the healing journey began.

He decided to share his experience and the learning by writing a book called Outrunning the Demons (Bloomsbury).  In it, his story is one of 35 true life accounts of how people have healed themselves through running after suffering trauma.  It's an inspiring collection.  Does he wish that day in Cape Town had not happened?  His reply is a surprising "no".  On the contrary, it has enriched his life, and he explains why.

Find Phil: Twitter @marathon_addict