Foreword by Dave Bedford, former 10,000m World Record Holder
David Chalfen is our Senior Men's A Group Coach here at Highgate Harriers and before that has a whole wealth of coaching experience from committed amateurs to internationals, individuals and clubs. Particularly in and around our local patch - before Highgate David has been a member at Shaftesbury Barnet, Serpentine and London Heathside.
David is a distance running fanatic and aficionado - as well as a fine elite-level coach and a shrewd mind - who has also been a runner himself as well as an administrator within the sport. Of particular note is that as well as being the Highgate men's coach he's also the personal coach to Alex Leprêtre and Jacob Allen - the two current men's stars at the club and international athletes.
David has written a book that is part memoirs, part musings and observations on how the sport has developed and where it is today, part anecdotes from his life as a runner coach and administrator, and part profiles of the people and community that make it what it is. All very much through a lens of competitive/sporting interest rather than mass-participation. It's a must-read for club athletes and competitive runners alike.
- The book is available to buy for £10 + P&P at https://runcoach1to1.com/product/a-few-more-laps/
- Or, in-person from David on Tuesday nights without P&P for £10 cash, just let him know you'd like one at davidchalfen2002 [--at--] hotmail.com (davidchalfen2002[at]hotmail[dot]com)
Here is a synopsis of the book, some testimonials and a bit about David:
A Few More Laps: A Deep Dive Into The Sharp End of Running and Coaching
By David Chalfen
Foreword by Dave Bedford, former 10,000m World Record Holder
As the world of running broadens its appeal, the author delves into his 45 years of experience in the sport, as athlete, coach and administrator, to examine the trends, people, and events that have shaped it. Using his own experiences as a starting point, he then widens the lens to pen detailed profiles of a range of high level runners he has coached and leading British coaches, giving an insightful flavour of the characters of these performers at national and international level. The author also digs into aspects of Kenyan and Spanish running cultures based on his networks and experiences of their approaches to the sport.
Through further interviews and research he provides lively and candid pictures of some greats of the sport such as Dave Bedford and former Commonwealth champion Jon Solly.
The author looks at the tides that shift the balance between the "sport" and "leisure " strands of distance running and brings out that whilst it is an endlessly exciting world to become enmeshed in, and serves as a gateway to the full range of athletics events, it is never entirely free from greed and corruption.
Published just after the 2024 Paris Olympics, it comes fully up to date with current insights into the top levels of distance running.
- ‘A fascinating, engaging and detailed account of a life lived through running - as an athlete, coach, mentor, fan and devoted follower. David’s experiences and knowledge of distance running are matched by very few others. If you want to get the measure of running - its ups and downs, its character, and some of its prominent personalities, this book is for you. Highly recommended.’
Mara Yamauchi, 2.23 Marathoner, 6th in 2008 Olympic Marathon and Commonwealth Games 10,000m medallist
- ‘As someone who has committed a great deal of time, energy, and dedication to our sport, particularly in the endurance events, we are sure that readers will find David’s personal accounts interesting and thought provoking. May it encourage those who read it to take their first steps into coaching and participation or to take up another role within our great diverse sport.
Chris Jones, CEO England Athletics
- ‘David has a huge passion and knowledge of endurance running. His dynamism and expertise come across brilliantly’
Dan Robinson, four times Olympic and World Championship marathoner and 2006 Commonwealth Games marathon medallist
David Chalfen has been involved in endurance running for over 45 years initially as a club and county athlete and for over 20 years as a senior coach. He has coached hundreds of runners from senior international through club and recreational levels (www.runcoach1to1.com) and worked for several years on the UK’s Elite Olympic funding for Sport England/UK Sport. His book Improve Your Marathon and half marathon running (Crowood Press) was on England Athletics’ recommended books for coaches and his work has appeared in The Guardian and Athletics Weekly. He was educated in North London and read English at the University of Oxford. He lives in Hertfordshire.
