Beyond the Horizon: Extreme Adventures at the Edge of the World
By (Author) Richard Parks
By (author) Michael Aylwin
Little, Brown Book Group
Sphere
11th November 2014
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Extreme sports
796.046092
Winner of Cross British Sports Book Awards 2015 (UK)
Paperback
336
Width 233mm, Height 154mm, Spine 27mm
518g
Richard Parks has what must be one of contemporary sport's most extraordinary and inspirational stories. Soon after he turned thirty, the professional career in rugby that had been his life for over a decade was cut short by injury, leaving him faced with an uncertain future. But unlike many other young athletes, Richard decided to tackle his fears, anxiety and depression head on, taking inspiration from Ranulph Fiennes and a line from his grandmother's eulogy - "The horizon is only the limit of our sight" and setting out on challenges that have become part of his everyday life.
Richard created history with his first endeavour - the 737 Challenge - by becoming the first person to conquer the highest mountain on each of the world's continents and venture to both the North and South Poles within seven months. Then in 2013 he tackled three hugely challenging events - an ultramarathon through the Peruvian jungle, the world's highest mountain bike race, and a double iron man triathlon in Snowdonia - in preparation for an even more extraordinary challenge: to record the fastest solo, unsupported and unassisted journey to the South Pole. These three challenges and the Antarctic speed record quest that saw Richard ski 11 hours a day enduring perishing conditions, broken skis and spending Christmas and New Year alone on the ice, were all filmed for a major four-part series to be broadcast on Channel 5 later this year.Beyond the Horizon is an amazing, inspiring, and exciting story for armchair adventurers, extreme sports and mountaineering fans alike.Born in 1977, Richard Parks is a former Welsh international rugby player turned extreme athlete and adventurer. When he's not travelling, he divides his time between Cardiff, Sheffield, and London.