Thanks to everyone who has bought/downloaded the book so far and left such great reviews. Humbled and delighted that it is a current No. 1 Best Seller – albeit in a narrow category!! LOL. Spread the word . . .

5.0 out of 5 stars.
“Is it really nearly 34 years since I took part in the ‘I Ran the World’ Sport Aid Event? In common with millions of others around the world, I took part in a 10k ‘charity run’ to help raise funds for the starving in Africa. I am sure that I can still feel it in my legs! I ran with a group of fellow squash players from my local club who were determined to make it competitive. At the end of it I was “exhausted…knackered….f*****d”
And those are exactly the words that author Chris Long uses in the prelude of ‘I Ran the World’, to describe how he felt as he landed at Heathrow en route from the UN headquarters in New York to Bob Geldof’s house in Chelsea.
The book is a delightful, insightful and thought-provoking autobiographical recounting of how he battled against the odds to arrange Sport Aid’s staging of the largest mass participation event in history – a global fun run to raise awareness of the plight faced by millions in Africa; to raise funds to feed them; in short to change the world view.
But there is also a darker side to the book. The description of how the arguably cursory approach to the preparation for a follow up project – Sport Aid 88 – resulted in a very different outcome. And how it affected his emotional well-being is, for me at least, an even more compelling tale. It makes the question that he asks, “If you could change the world, would you?”, not an easy one to answer.
Overall, does he think he succeeded? No spoilers here, but the author does challenge us to learn from the lessons learned and to apply that learning to the challenges faced by the world community today – particularly related to Climate Change and now Covid 19 – as well as many continuing crises in parts of our fragile planet.
The copy on the cover page describes Long as an ‘ordinary’ person. I think an extra word would be useful here. That word is ‘extra’
A well written, compelling – but also entertaining – read.. Highly recommended.”

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, must read.
“Read this from cover to cover in one sitting!! Can’t believe this was 34 years ago, feels like yesterday! An amazing story of the biggest mass participation event in history – EVER – to raise money for starving in Africa. It tells how one man changed the world with nothing more than passion, enthusiasm, bloody mindedness and a small band of volunteers. Even more inspiring this happened without social media, intranet or even a decent mobile phone that we all take for granted today. In these current troubling times of Covid 19 and climate change, this story can inspire a whole new generation by learning from past mistakes and making a positive contribution to our world.”

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn’t put it down !
“Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2020
This is not just another true story but one mans dedication in making a huge difference.
In a time that the new generation could not even imagine, the challenges faced in promoting a global event without social media ! An easy read that everyone can access, thank you Chris Long for never giving up.”

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring must-read!
“In this time of lock-down is there a more inspiring message than the one in this book? That one person can really make a difference in the world. Chris Long’s courage, faith, passion and determination led the world to participate in a race against time to try and bring about change. A truly inspiring read!”

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories
“I found the book fascinating, it shows what a difference one person can make to the lives of so many others.
It also bought back memories for me, on the start line 34 years ago with thousands of others waiting to run the 10k in Hyde Park with my I ran the world T-Shirt on.”

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring read
“The gripping tale about how Sport Aid was conceived and made a reality. The story of a herculean undertaking told with great skill and humour, made relevant to what’s happening in the World today. A great read.”