Protagonist and juvenile delinquent sent to Ruxton Towers borstal. A talented long-distance runner who uses running as an escape from his poverty-stricken upbringing and a rigid society. After his father's death and family breakdown, he turns to petty crime. He deliberately throws a crucial cross-country race to reject forced labor and maintain his independence, defying the Governor's authority.
Protagonist's psychological struggle between conformity and self-determination.
Longstanding companionship rooted in shared lower-class upbringing and petty crime.