Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

training

running faster

The Art of Running Faster by Julian Goater and Don Melvin

Sophie–Books, Running–

Review of The Art of Running Faster: Improve technique, training, and performance by Julian Goater and Don Melvin  (2012)   ‘Don’t practice plodding,’ the key takeaway from The Art of Running Faster. And running is an art – just watch Paula Radcliffe or Mo Farah at their best if you haven’t already. Now I’ve been a plodder pretty much since I started running 5 years ago. It’s seen me through two marathons and my first ultra a few weeks ago. This is great and there is some real benefit to plodding. But, to be perfectly honest, I’m getting a little […]

Week 1 of London Marathon Training

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

A few weeks ago I got some great news! With thanks to my running club, and the ballot it holds for those unsuccessful in the public ballot, I have a place in this year’s London Marathon. I’ve been fortunate. This is my third London Marathon, and when I haven’t been running it, I’ve been a marshal. Because of getting a place, I have taken the decision to defer the Guernsey Ultra, a 36 mile mixed terrain race around the island of Guernsey. It’s only three weeks after London. It looks to be a truly superb race in a unique environment […]

Tow girls pouring water over their heads

May Roundup: Feeling hot hot hot

Sophie–Training Updates–

May Roundup: Ah, that time of year when it hits 16 +, it’s sunny, running equals pools of sweat and distinct tan lines… fun times… (and well, the tunes, I couldn’t help myself). Now, I’m well aware that my friends in Australia will laugh at me. Growing up, we’d put our jumpers on once it hit about 20 or 21 degrees. Very occasionally in winter it might get really cold and dip below double figures. Yep, I’m from Brisbane so a little sub-tropical and where they sensibly start Parkrun at 7am – even then you need to take water, wear […]

Sign about jogging in Parc du Bruxelles

Running in Brussels

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Running in Brussels: Let’s just say I’m not a travel writer but here goes… An invitation I couldn’t pass up. I was on the phone to my Aussie bestie when her 3 year old son started shouting in the background ‘Est tante Sophie venant à ma fête.’ (Is Aunty Sophie coming to my party?) You see, he and his twin sister were having a party to celebrate turning 4. They wanted…no, the needed to know, was I going to be there? So I did as any good Auntie does, I booked my Eurostar tickets to Brussels. Now, I figure you know […]

April Roundup: When training doesn’t go to plan

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

When training doesn’t go to plan … I’m training for the XNRG Chiltern Challenge, a 50k race in July. This was how I fared last year … I was slow, so very very slow. There was pain, there was sobbing, but I finished. I laugh every time I see this photo. You can read how it went in detail here. I’m doing this race again because I have a point to prove to myself! But over the Easter weekend, about a month ago, I tweaked my back … again. This time is was soft tissue damage in my lower back – […]

Back pain and running - panda saying 'not again'

Back Pain and Running… no, not again…

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Back pain and running don’t go together! ‘No, not again’ I muttered when I felt that familiar tweak in my lower back. I was on a run. There was a dull pain. That spot where I’ve slipped a disc twice and had ongoing issues with the joints that sit around it (more of the back story here). It was a pain that built during the day to a crescendo in bed when trying to turn over. OK, this pain sucks. Over the next couple of days, I did stretches, I did some gentle walking. Time to hit the Arnica (limited […]

Ducks on a frozen lake in the snow - as seen on a run

February Roundup: Playing with pace

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

A mixed month for running – some good weeks on miles, some not so good weeks. I’ve been playing with pace and hitting the hills. My aim for this year is to get PBs from 5 to 50k which means some serious work …. Let’s just say I haven’t been as consistent as I’d like. Indeed, on some days I’ve been rather slack. I think there’s a bit in my brain which is hoping those PBs will just magically happen! So here’s how it’s been … Highlights Was off to a good start with the Watford Half – a fab race, well […]

Target with arrow

Target Race Update: Reading Half

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Target Race Update – So this year I’ve set myself a challenge – to aim for PBs for distances from 5 to 50k. No PBs yet which is pretty much as I expected. I’ve completed two races – Tadworth 10 and the Watford Half. My next is The Big Half where I managed to score a £10 community place via my running club. My target PB race (no pressure….no pressure) is the Sage Reading Half ! I’m a blogging ambassador for that one, so yes, I get a free place. Only 4 1/2 weeks away – argghh! So, here’s to put it out there, […]

Watford Half medal

Watford Half Review: Chilly and Hilly!

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

Watford Half Review – A hilly and chilly race half marathon and my second race of the year in my aim to get PBs in everything from 5 to 50k. But I wasn’t planning a PB for this race, rather, just a check of my fitness level. I wasn’t sure what to expect for this one. Most of the half marathons I’ve done have been pretty flat. I’d looked at the race profile a few days before and did a little swearing under my breath – this wasn’t going to be an easy one.   The route This is how […]

Picture of me at work, and me at the end of the Chiltern Challenge

What Running Has Taught Me: On Being Self-Employed

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Have you ever had one of those moments? You know the ones that slap you in the face and you realise there’s a choice to be made. This was me in terms of my job last year. So, here are some thoughts on what running has taught me. It had been brewing for a while. I was walking down a nondescript corridor in Whitehall and the thought entered my head ‘I can’t do this anymore, something’s got to change’. And the thought stuck. I was lucky. This happened in the early stages of a radical restructure where my Department was […]

Buffy - I have the best plan ever

2018 – From 5k to 50

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Here we go again… another New Year, another set of running plans, a few goals. From 5k to 50 will be part of the story for the year for me. A bit of a repeat but not too much of one. These aren’t resolutions as such. I kind of think resolutions suck and give me something else to beat myself up about. So I’m thinking of this as more of a plan. A plan to get stronger and faster and kick butt (my own that is). The aim this year is PBs from 5k to 50. Maybe longer? Who knows…will […]

The people I've met

2017 Running Review

Sophie–Race Day, Running, Thoughts on Running, Training Updates–

The 2017 running review – and what a year it’s been. I was going to do a ‘best of…’ and then realised it was impossible – too many moments, meetings, and races, to choose from – each unique and memorable in their own way. So here are some of the highlights…   Panic training Those moments. You know those moments where you realise what you’ve signed up for? The first – When I realised I had the London Marathon to train for. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a plan. It was the fact that life had gotten in the […]