Finding My Feet: My Story

by Hanny Allston

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. Hanny Allston is a peak performance coach with a heritage in assisting trail and ultra-distance runners to reach the pinnacle of their potential. She is an author, keynote speaker and host of The Find Your Feet Podcast where she shares the voices that need to be heard. She was 2006 World Orienteering Champion and is a past winner of both the Melbourne and New Zealand Marathon Championships. She is the current race record holder for multiple road, trail and ultra-running events, and has achieved many of the fastest known times on remote trails. She is truly a creature of the wild, and Hanny’s feet are at their happiest in a pair of muddy trail shoes … exploring.

348 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2020

Reviews

[Rach Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you want to read something which convinced you there is no one right way, that the motivation which leads people to be inspirational can be a two edged sword, that success lies in acceptance of self... this might be the book for you. Or not...
I enjoyed the love she has for all the places she has run, and for the many people who helped her along the way.
For me this way a good read.

[MemoirMountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt the story and approach improved as I went along. Some parts felt too drawn out but overall a good account by an accomplished athlete with lots of takeaways.

[Bonnie Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful telling of her journey to "find her feet"

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this honest story of how Hanny got where she is today. I'm a sucker for running stories and this had me reading all the way through..wanna be a trail runner now!

[Lonneke Koudijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible and difficult journey Hanny shared with us. Written beautifully and honestly. I’m a big fan of Hanny and can’t wait to read her story of traversing the Pyrenees!

[Oliver Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Not your typical running back which can get quite dull. I was enthralled and really enjoyed it

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An open and honest portrayal of Hanny's life and journey from swimming to orienteering to trail running. Heartfelt and inspiring.