Running and Poetry: The Result Is What You See Today

Featuring Paul deaton, Kim Moore & Ben Wilkinson. Chaired by André Mangeot.

Date: Saturday 30th July
Time: 19:00
Venue: Theatre
Price: £5.00 / £3.00

Running and poetry?

Curated by poet-runners Ben Wilkinson, Kim Moore and Paul Deaton, The Result Is What You See Today is a poetry anthology that threads running through myriad routes, venturing into the how, why and where of a timeless act. Join the co-editors of this inspiring anthology for a panel discussion, chaired by poet and marathon runner André Mangeot, to explore the ways in which running influences wellness, writing, and creativity.

The Result Is What You See Today shows that poetry and running have much in common, fulfilling a basic need to live freely, expressively, and to feel alive. The poems gathered in its pages reflect this freedom in all its forms: from the track to nature’s trails, from sprints to endurance, from near-spiritual moments of private connection to the buzz of competitive camaraderie. 

Distance runner and World, Commonwealth and European medallist Jo Pavey MBE describes the anthology as being “as varied and vibrant and running itself. Whether you’re new to running or a seasoned athlete, and whatever your interest, you’ll find words to inspire and entertain”.

Through the lens of the anthology and its poems, this panel discussion will look at the act of running from a variety of perspectives, providing insights into its positive power and the prize of euphoria that can be gained from the two, seemingly different, activities. Running has many similarities with poetry and its practice. As both are process / flow-based acts they are important forms of self-expression that deepen our connection with ourselves and build greater self-awareness. They can aid us through challenging times and bring balance that can help us shift dysphoric moods. In short, they can work together to affirm who we are and can, fundamentally, change how we see ourselves, and how we live, for the better.

Authors

André Mangeot’s poetry has appeared in the Spectator, New Statesman and Times Literary Supplement and won many competitions, including the 2019 Robert Graves Prize. His latest collection, Blood Rain (Seren, 2020) combines the personal and the public to touch on some of the major challenges now facing the planet. He has also published two books of short stories, A Little Javanese and True North (Salt, 2008 & 2010) and recently completed a novel. He lives in Cambridge but heads for the Brecon Beacons as often as he can. www.andremangeot.com Photo credit: Sarah K. Hall

Paul Deaton (left) was raised in Wales. A Watchful Astronomy (Seren, 2017) his debut collection, was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation and National Poetry Day selected title. He won a Society of Authors Award in 2019. Most recently he co-edited an anthology of running poems with Kim Moore & Ben Wilkinson. He works as a therapist and runs when he can.

Kim Moore is an award-winning poet. She completed her doctorate in Poetry and Everyday Sexism at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2020. Her poems have been published in the TLS, Poetry Review, Poetry London, and elsewhere. She regularly appears at festivals and events. Her pamphlet, If we could speak like wolves (Smith-Doorstop) was chosen as an Independent Book of the Year in 2012 and was shortlisted for other prizes. Moore won an Eric Gregory Award in 2011 and the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize in 2010. In 2014 she won a Northern Promise award. Her debut collection The Art of Falling won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and was longlisted for Lakeland Book of the Year in 2016. Her second collection All The Men I Never Married was published in 2021. She is co-director of the Kendal Poetry Festival. Photo credit: Lorna Elizabeth

Ben Wilkinson was born in the English Midlands and now lives in Sheffield, Yorkshire. His poems, criticism and journalism regularly appear in national publications including The Guardian, The Poetry Review, The New Statesman, The Spectator, and the TLS. In 2014 he won both a Northern Writers’ Award and the Poetry Business International Pamphlet Competition. He lectures in creative writing at the University of Bolton. His debut collection, Way More Than Luck, was published in 2018 and highly commended in the Forward Prizes for Poetry. A His second collection Same Difference was published by Seren in 2022.

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