‘In nothingness there are only the heartbeats of hope. I vow to myself that I will clamber out of this hole.
I will find my feet and flourish.’
I will find my feet and flourish.’
This is the most inspiring, heartbreaking, uplifting book I have ever read. I knew before I even turned the first page that it was going to be one I couldn’t put down. I have smiled, laughed, empathized and cried my way through Hanny’s journey. This book displays immense courage and vulnerability at its best and her story is one that will leave its mark on every person who reads it. Thank you Hanny from the bottom of my heart for finding your feet and sharing your story. - Reader
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ABOUT THE BOOK
At 19, Hanny Allston faces a ‘perfect storm’. Her father is terrifyingly ill. Beside his hospital bed, she teeters painfully on crutches after surgery that could end her sporting career. Her future in medicine is in peril because the university cannot defer her studies. From these depths, Hanny rises, step by step. Knocked back by further tragic losses and a relationship with a false friend—Anorexia—she continues to strive to find her feet. Despite the times of struggle, Hanny’s story glows. The idyllic, unconventional childhood on a small organic farm in Tasmania. The pre-dawn chlorine fumes of swim squad before school. The spirited beauty of wilder adventures with her parents and older brother. The rapid rise to athletic stardom. She becomes the first and only non-European World Champion in orienteering, and flirts with her potential for the Olympic marathon. The call Hanny eventually answers, however, is wilder. She becomes a champion ultra-distance trail runner, and a coach to others who seek the wild potential inside themselves. Finding My Feet is a luminous story of hope, determination and possibility. Hanny Allston shares her life with courageous honesty. Her goal is that her playful spirit and rise above adversity can inspire you, too, to find your feet. |
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I would not change one single moment of it. For if I hadn’t had the valleys, I could not have possibly seen the vistas beyond. If I had only seen the sunshine, I would not have seen the sunrises and sunsets casting golden glows on my internal boulevard. If at times I had not walked alone, I would not recognise the joy in walking beside or hand in hand with another. If I had not run away, I wouldn’t know the excitement of running towards. If I had not blundered blindly forward, I would not have learnt the important lessons I am now so eternally grateful for.
Finding My Feet: My Story
Praise for Finding My Feet:
"Just thought I would share my thoughts on this book so far. I am about halfway through and I am finding that I need to read a bit, and then pause to reflect, and think about it some more. I know that sounds strange but it’s prompting me to do some self-value checking!? Also, it has made me remember a very wise quote that I was told by an old cyclist one day when struggling on a big climb, ‘The body will only do what the mind tells it too.’ It applies to all areas of life not just sport and adventure. Thanks for being so honest in the book, it is a great read so far but more over, it is real. I am taking my time to read it and I will probably re-read it again in a few months!" - Greg
"Enjoyed this book over the weekend! It was a lovely, affirming read after being outside and creating my own adventures in the wild weather!" - Tova
"This is the most inspiring, heartbreaking, uplifting book I have ever read. I knew before I even turned the first page that it was going to be one I couldn’t put down. I have smiled, laughed, empathized and cried my way through Hanny’s journey. This book displays immense courage and vulnerability at its best. I am so honoured to call Hanny my friend, her story is one that will leave its mark on every person who reads it. Thank you Hanny from the bottom of my heart for finding your feet and sharing your story." - Anne
"Her book is fantastic! She writes so beautifully and really takes you on her journey." - Janine
"I have just finished reading Hanny Allston’s memoir and I highly recommend if you are looking for inspiration. She is such an amazingly talented sports woman and knows the joy and happiness that running gives you, no matter how far or fast you can go." - Nicole
"I have spent the week immersed in Hanny’s life - reading her book. The book is so well written and such an honest thrilling account of her journey so far (found it hard to put it down!) Congratulations Hanny - such a great achievement amongst everything else in terms of business, health, podcasts and travel. The book has made me reflect on purpose and what is next for my own journey! Looking forward to her next book..." - Isa
"I finished this book and well… it has certainly made me think about past and present! Past particularly in relation to all the wonderful people I have met and also so many athletes who would have benefited from reading this book or having learnt from Hanny’s wisdom. It resonated with me and I did shed a tear as I recollected the treatment of female triathletes by coaches and administrators. I want to read this book again in September as I think it will be good for me then as I prepare for some big goals. One final comment I will make is this book was not a ‘sports read’ for me but rather has been a tool to think and realign. We all need this from time to time, no matter how experienced old or wise we think we are. Cheers and THANKS Hanny!" - Greg
"Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story - brave & so important. As always you’re leading the pack." - Alice
"I really enjoyed reading this book and am now feeling very inspired to play wilder. Thank you, Hanny, for sharing your story." - Michelle
"I have just read Hanny’s book. It is a raw account of overcoming anorexia but so much more too! discusses everything that made Hanny the role model she is now. Congratulations Hanny on a wonderful book!! May your book encourage all of us to experience wild and wacky adventures. In your words… Be, Play and Perform WILDER!" - Kerry
"Amazing read. I’ve just finished this book as I have been a long-time follower of Hanny, secretly fan-girling her at so many running events. Hanny has been raw and honest, writing about her amazing journey and learnings that many will gain from it. Hanny is an amazing athlete and person, and the message of being more to do more resonates so strong. It is not your results that define you but rather it how we approach the journey." - Kat
"I’ve read this memoir and felt the width and depth of Hanny’s journey. I hope this book does open up discussions for others – that would be a terrific outcome. Hanny is a fabulous role model and god knows women need more role models to show the way! Keep shining please!" - Lawrence
"I read this book and it’s such a wonderful read. A wonderful life story. Inspirational and some parts actually hit home to my own life. Thank you Hanny for sharing your story. It’s helping me through a rough patch at the moment as I’m trying to find my feet again. I love it!" - Eleanor
"Everyone should read this, it became my highlight of the day, I could not put it down." - Virginia
"I enjoyed this book so much! When you send a story out into the world I think you need to hear from readers! I haven’t even finished the book but I don’t want to finish it! Such a rich, honest and fascinating story, very well told. It has helped me understand where I want running to take me. After being in a bit of a rut I am eager to get back to the trails now! Thank you Hanny for sharing your life so far with us, and with such honesty. It is a wonderful journey. I wish I’d read this book twenty years earlier!" - Rachel
"With all my heart I thank you for sharing your story with me - and the world - Your story sends a message of encouragement and hope, describes the importance of perseverance, persistence, endurance, self-belief, self-compassion, and confidence as a result of personal efforts. Despite fear, sadness, and physical and emotional suffering you never gave up, overcame unbelievable obstacles, and finally found self-fulfilment in finding your feet "flowing" over trails in freedom and happiness. If you did not have so many witnesses, one would not believe that one slim person could have achieved so many outstanding results! Now you have become a writer, your story was fascinating right from the beginning, and beautifully written. You are so much more than "only" a runner, and one might wonder "what next"?" - Helena
"Hanny, I wanted you to know that your words helped me in a moment last night when I needed it, and to thank you for your bravery in putting them on the page." - Fiona
"Hanny, I just wanted to say thank you for your beautiful book. While not an elite athlete, I battle with many of the same internal struggles and it is refreshing and enlightening to follow your journey. You have a beautiful style of writing." - Tennille
"This is for Hanny - thank you for your book & being such an absolute legend, someone who shares so much. It really made a difference for me, and I'm sure I'm just one of many people who feel the same. And I'm hoping one day I can build up to coming on one of your trail tours!" - Laura
"Just thought I would share my thoughts on this book so far. I am about halfway through and I am finding that I need to read a bit, and then pause to reflect, and think about it some more. I know that sounds strange but it’s prompting me to do some self-value checking!? Also, it has made me remember a very wise quote that I was told by an old cyclist one day when struggling on a big climb, ‘The body will only do what the mind tells it too.’ It applies to all areas of life not just sport and adventure. Thanks for being so honest in the book, it is a great read so far but more over, it is real. I am taking my time to read it and I will probably re-read it again in a few months!" - Greg
"Enjoyed this book over the weekend! It was a lovely, affirming read after being outside and creating my own adventures in the wild weather!" - Tova
"This is the most inspiring, heartbreaking, uplifting book I have ever read. I knew before I even turned the first page that it was going to be one I couldn’t put down. I have smiled, laughed, empathized and cried my way through Hanny’s journey. This book displays immense courage and vulnerability at its best. I am so honoured to call Hanny my friend, her story is one that will leave its mark on every person who reads it. Thank you Hanny from the bottom of my heart for finding your feet and sharing your story." - Anne
"Her book is fantastic! She writes so beautifully and really takes you on her journey." - Janine
"I have just finished reading Hanny Allston’s memoir and I highly recommend if you are looking for inspiration. She is such an amazingly talented sports woman and knows the joy and happiness that running gives you, no matter how far or fast you can go." - Nicole
"I have spent the week immersed in Hanny’s life - reading her book. The book is so well written and such an honest thrilling account of her journey so far (found it hard to put it down!) Congratulations Hanny - such a great achievement amongst everything else in terms of business, health, podcasts and travel. The book has made me reflect on purpose and what is next for my own journey! Looking forward to her next book..." - Isa
"I finished this book and well… it has certainly made me think about past and present! Past particularly in relation to all the wonderful people I have met and also so many athletes who would have benefited from reading this book or having learnt from Hanny’s wisdom. It resonated with me and I did shed a tear as I recollected the treatment of female triathletes by coaches and administrators. I want to read this book again in September as I think it will be good for me then as I prepare for some big goals. One final comment I will make is this book was not a ‘sports read’ for me but rather has been a tool to think and realign. We all need this from time to time, no matter how experienced old or wise we think we are. Cheers and THANKS Hanny!" - Greg
"Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story - brave & so important. As always you’re leading the pack." - Alice
"I really enjoyed reading this book and am now feeling very inspired to play wilder. Thank you, Hanny, for sharing your story." - Michelle
"I have just read Hanny’s book. It is a raw account of overcoming anorexia but so much more too! discusses everything that made Hanny the role model she is now. Congratulations Hanny on a wonderful book!! May your book encourage all of us to experience wild and wacky adventures. In your words… Be, Play and Perform WILDER!" - Kerry
"Amazing read. I’ve just finished this book as I have been a long-time follower of Hanny, secretly fan-girling her at so many running events. Hanny has been raw and honest, writing about her amazing journey and learnings that many will gain from it. Hanny is an amazing athlete and person, and the message of being more to do more resonates so strong. It is not your results that define you but rather it how we approach the journey." - Kat
"I’ve read this memoir and felt the width and depth of Hanny’s journey. I hope this book does open up discussions for others – that would be a terrific outcome. Hanny is a fabulous role model and god knows women need more role models to show the way! Keep shining please!" - Lawrence
"I read this book and it’s such a wonderful read. A wonderful life story. Inspirational and some parts actually hit home to my own life. Thank you Hanny for sharing your story. It’s helping me through a rough patch at the moment as I’m trying to find my feet again. I love it!" - Eleanor
"Everyone should read this, it became my highlight of the day, I could not put it down." - Virginia
"I enjoyed this book so much! When you send a story out into the world I think you need to hear from readers! I haven’t even finished the book but I don’t want to finish it! Such a rich, honest and fascinating story, very well told. It has helped me understand where I want running to take me. After being in a bit of a rut I am eager to get back to the trails now! Thank you Hanny for sharing your life so far with us, and with such honesty. It is a wonderful journey. I wish I’d read this book twenty years earlier!" - Rachel
"With all my heart I thank you for sharing your story with me - and the world - Your story sends a message of encouragement and hope, describes the importance of perseverance, persistence, endurance, self-belief, self-compassion, and confidence as a result of personal efforts. Despite fear, sadness, and physical and emotional suffering you never gave up, overcame unbelievable obstacles, and finally found self-fulfilment in finding your feet "flowing" over trails in freedom and happiness. If you did not have so many witnesses, one would not believe that one slim person could have achieved so many outstanding results! Now you have become a writer, your story was fascinating right from the beginning, and beautifully written. You are so much more than "only" a runner, and one might wonder "what next"?" - Helena
"Hanny, I wanted you to know that your words helped me in a moment last night when I needed it, and to thank you for your bravery in putting them on the page." - Fiona
"Hanny, I just wanted to say thank you for your beautiful book. While not an elite athlete, I battle with many of the same internal struggles and it is refreshing and enlightening to follow your journey. You have a beautiful style of writing." - Tennille
"This is for Hanny - thank you for your book & being such an absolute legend, someone who shares so much. It really made a difference for me, and I'm sure I'm just one of many people who feel the same. And I'm hoping one day I can build up to coming on one of your trail tours!" - Laura
AVAILABLE FROM...
PAPERBACK (FOR SHIPPING WITHIN AUS/NZ)
PAPERBACK (INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING)
E-BOOK
PRAISE FOR FINDING MY FEET: My Story
Jen Brown, Sparta Chicks Radio:
"Oh my gosh. Hanny! Your book is extraordinary. You are an exceptional writer. And it's so incredibly brave and vulnerable. I can't put it down. I will be sharing this widely and from the roof tops. Thank you for sharing your story so openly. I am sure it will help many individuals to find their feet."
A Book Review by Miriam Palmer:
Hanny Allston’s autobiography Finding my Feet is a definite read. Especially in these uncertain times when you might be facing unexpected challenges, reflecting on what life is all about, or simply feeling stir crazy, trapped at home and struggling to focus. Maybe also, you want to run faster, push yourself further or stop hitting the wall on your own epic adventures. There really is something in Finding my Feet for everyone, and in ways you might not expect.
If you haven’t already heard of Hanny Allston, at just 20 she became a world champion orienteer. From Australia, she was the first and only ever non-European to achieve this feat. Then over the next decade Hanny went on to run Olympic marathon qualifying times, and to smash numerous trail running records. Along the way, she also established her own business, Find Your Feet, to support others to achieve their running goals. And which has now grown, as a partnership with her husband Graham Hammond, to offer trail running tours in wild places in Tasmania, Australia and around the world, and also as a boutique outdoor adventure store. But Finding My Feet: My Story is not just another book about ego, winning or success, rather Hanny takes you behind the scenes and on a deeply insightful personal journey which she has shared to help others grow. It’s a story about shedding expectations and finding self-compassion, and through this, the freedom to fly, to traverse mountain ranges with ease.
Finding my Feet will quietly draw you in and keep you captivated, because for Hanny, despite the glitz and glamor of podium finishes, awards and magazine covers, her life has certainly not been all peaches and cream. In fact, her life at times has been extremely difficult. Just months before her first world title, Hanny’s idyllic childhood - growing up on a small farm on the edge of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania - was ripped away from her when her father experienced a mental health illness. In hindsight, there were signs her family had been living in a pressure cooker, but at the time these things have a habit of creeping up on you. And so, when things finally exploded, what had been a close-knit family united by a love of adventure and delicious homegrown food, imploded. At a time when her peers were starting out at university and on their paths to aspired careers, Hanny totally lost her sense of security. She began clinging to her own high expectations of success as a form of escapism and became obsessed with the goals she had set for herself as a child – to be an Olympic athlete and to become a doctor.
As Hanny’s journey unfolds, and she shares her struggles and achievements, you will relate to much of what she says on a meaningful level, and from which you can reflect and grow. In talking about herself, Hanny explains why to perform as an athlete, being in the right headspace is just as important as being fit and having the right nutrition. She makes you question why you run, and reflects on how for her, finding this answer meant reaching a peace within herself to not be afraid to set her own direction in life. Hanny exposes the pressures on young female athletes to be light. She openly admits that for many years she shared her life with an eating disorder, who she has personalised in the third party as “Anorexia”. Anorexia negatively imposed herself on close relationships Hanny treasured, as well as impacting on her training, results and love of running.
Today Hanny still runs, and fast! But now for joy – to play wilder. She sets herself challenges that for most of us seem completely nuts. Like running Tasmania’s 92km rugged South Coast Track in 12 hours and 20 minutes (most people take a full 8 days). Recently she completed a 19 day solo traverse for 700km across the French Pyrenees Mountains.
In writing Finding My Feet, Hanny has worn her heart on her sleeve, but not in an indulgent way. Rather, with raw honesty which is much welcome at a time when we know, shared experiences and talking make us stronger.
Jen Brown, Sparta Chicks Radio:
"Oh my gosh. Hanny! Your book is extraordinary. You are an exceptional writer. And it's so incredibly brave and vulnerable. I can't put it down. I will be sharing this widely and from the roof tops. Thank you for sharing your story so openly. I am sure it will help many individuals to find their feet."
A Book Review by Miriam Palmer:
Hanny Allston’s autobiography Finding my Feet is a definite read. Especially in these uncertain times when you might be facing unexpected challenges, reflecting on what life is all about, or simply feeling stir crazy, trapped at home and struggling to focus. Maybe also, you want to run faster, push yourself further or stop hitting the wall on your own epic adventures. There really is something in Finding my Feet for everyone, and in ways you might not expect.
If you haven’t already heard of Hanny Allston, at just 20 she became a world champion orienteer. From Australia, she was the first and only ever non-European to achieve this feat. Then over the next decade Hanny went on to run Olympic marathon qualifying times, and to smash numerous trail running records. Along the way, she also established her own business, Find Your Feet, to support others to achieve their running goals. And which has now grown, as a partnership with her husband Graham Hammond, to offer trail running tours in wild places in Tasmania, Australia and around the world, and also as a boutique outdoor adventure store. But Finding My Feet: My Story is not just another book about ego, winning or success, rather Hanny takes you behind the scenes and on a deeply insightful personal journey which she has shared to help others grow. It’s a story about shedding expectations and finding self-compassion, and through this, the freedom to fly, to traverse mountain ranges with ease.
Finding my Feet will quietly draw you in and keep you captivated, because for Hanny, despite the glitz and glamor of podium finishes, awards and magazine covers, her life has certainly not been all peaches and cream. In fact, her life at times has been extremely difficult. Just months before her first world title, Hanny’s idyllic childhood - growing up on a small farm on the edge of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania - was ripped away from her when her father experienced a mental health illness. In hindsight, there were signs her family had been living in a pressure cooker, but at the time these things have a habit of creeping up on you. And so, when things finally exploded, what had been a close-knit family united by a love of adventure and delicious homegrown food, imploded. At a time when her peers were starting out at university and on their paths to aspired careers, Hanny totally lost her sense of security. She began clinging to her own high expectations of success as a form of escapism and became obsessed with the goals she had set for herself as a child – to be an Olympic athlete and to become a doctor.
As Hanny’s journey unfolds, and she shares her struggles and achievements, you will relate to much of what she says on a meaningful level, and from which you can reflect and grow. In talking about herself, Hanny explains why to perform as an athlete, being in the right headspace is just as important as being fit and having the right nutrition. She makes you question why you run, and reflects on how for her, finding this answer meant reaching a peace within herself to not be afraid to set her own direction in life. Hanny exposes the pressures on young female athletes to be light. She openly admits that for many years she shared her life with an eating disorder, who she has personalised in the third party as “Anorexia”. Anorexia negatively imposed herself on close relationships Hanny treasured, as well as impacting on her training, results and love of running.
Today Hanny still runs, and fast! But now for joy – to play wilder. She sets herself challenges that for most of us seem completely nuts. Like running Tasmania’s 92km rugged South Coast Track in 12 hours and 20 minutes (most people take a full 8 days). Recently she completed a 19 day solo traverse for 700km across the French Pyrenees Mountains.
In writing Finding My Feet, Hanny has worn her heart on her sleeve, but not in an indulgent way. Rather, with raw honesty which is much welcome at a time when we know, shared experiences and talking make us stronger.
ALSO BY HANNY ALLSTON:
