Fatwa

Got up early this morning at 7.30 and went for a 20 mile run. It was really tough going and my legs felt heavy for the majority of it. I miscalculated my route and actually ended up running 21.25 miles instead. I could have stopped at 20, but I'd have still been a mile from home, so on I went!

The reason for the early run was that I had a ticket to see Salman Rushdie at the Edinburgh International Book Festival at 3pm.

Seeing Rushdie speak is practically a once in a lifetime opportunity. I couldn't pass that up. And what a charming, articulate and intelligent man. Back in the 80's he was highlighted as a brilliant up and coming writer. Then he published The Satanic Verses in 1988, which earned him a fatwa - issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, on 14 February 1989. This is basically a death sentence and sparked mass violence across the world - from book burning and firebombing bookstores that sold the book to the attacking, injuring and killing of those translating or publishing the book.

Rushdie has lived his life since 1989 in hiding. He recounts the tale of his life in his new autobiography - Joseph Anton, one of the names he lived under in hiding. The fatwa has never been withdrawn as the only person who can withdraw it is the person that issued it, and he is dead. However, Rushdie confided that he felt reasonably safe with us at the book festival.

A very very interesting afternoon, and I am now ashamed that I've never read any of his books. I'm going to start with his autobiography (now signed) and then take it from there.

Today's run: 21 miles
August running mileage: 47 miles
2013 running mileage: 695 miles

Ps the book from yesterday was The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett - well done to my friend Chris who got it right!