Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

training

tips on training plan

6 Tips on Putting Together a Training Plan

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

I’ve been running on and off for five years now. It’s only this year I’ve really worked on putting together a training plan that works for me. There are some key elements I’ve included which might be helpful if you’re struggling to develop a plan you can generally stick with. For me, the real benefit of spending time on this is it means for weeks at a time, I don’t have to think about what run I’m doing that day. As I mentioned in Why Motivation Sucks (and how to get your arse out the door), it means I don’t […]

I'm not lazy

When does running get easier?

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

A big question for me last year and one I continue to ask myself as I train for my first 50k in July: when does running get easier? Last year it went a little like this… It happens to the best of us – when running takes a dip, you mainline Netflix and your favourite pair of running shoes gravitate to the back of the wardrobe. You look on your scales – perhaps the numbers haven’t changed much but your clothes are a little tighter and you start feeling soggier around the edges. 

Fat Girls Guide to marathon running

The Fat Girls’ Guide to Marathon Running By Julie Creffield

Sophie–Books, Running–

Ah, the excitement of marathons. It’s hard not to get caught up. If you’ve ever had that crazy thought ‘I want to run a marathon’ but feel too fat, too old, too unfit, or indeed have naysayers in your life laughing at you for the mere mention of it, the Fat Girls’ Guide to Marathon Running is for you. Or indeed, if you’ve had someone say, ‘You’ll never run a marathon’*, this book is for you. Julie’s book is dedicated to ‘anyone who ever dreamed of running a marathon, and everyone stupid enough to actually do it.’ Yep, it’s hard […]

grumpy runner

The Grumpy Runner: When Autumn Hits

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

I am the grumpy runner. This came to the fore on Sunday. It was one of those runs where each step is like wading through treacle. I got out the front door late. I’d procrastinated – cleaning, a few tweets, another coffee. The weather was mild albeit a little grim. My plan was to do about 6 miles with some hills thrown in for good measure. Mile 1 – sucked. This is fine. It takes a little while for my breathing to sort itself out and my legs to work out what the hell is going on. Mile 2 – […]

Reasons to run an ultramarathon

6 Reasons to Run an Ultramarathon

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

So what are the reasons to run an ultramarathon? I get odd, quizzical and confused looks from non-running folk when I tell them this year I’ve done a couple of marathons and an ultra. For those of you new to running, an ultra is a race at a distance longer than the 26.2 miles of a marathon. I don’t look like a marathon or ultra runner. Indeed, I don’t look like a runner at all really. My thighs are not on the small side and there are bits of me that wobble that perhaps shouldn’t and I’m slow. But following the […]

Running a 50k

Running a 50k: Lessons learned

Sophie–Race Day, Running, Thoughts on Running–

Running a 50k is an amazing experience. Well, there was a lot of walking on my part but hey ho. It’s been a couple of weeks since I completed the Chiltern Challenge 50k. Review here. I learned a lot – in the training, on the day, and about myself. While the day certainly didn’t play out as planned, took longer than expected, and included a lot of pain, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. There’s nothing I’d change about the race itself, but there are things I’d do a little differently in the lead up.   Running a 50k: […]

taper grumps

Ultra Training Diary: The Taper Grumps

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

Be warned: writing this while with a case of the taper grumps. On Saturday I headed out to do my last double digit run until my 50k this weekend. I’m now familiar with how the taper goes: legs feel heavy; thoughts of I’ll never do this creep in; the end of the world is nigh! Every physical tweak makes results in a feeling of panic. So I wasn’t expecting much. But this was beyond the bad run. It was a warm day. I started off with a loop of a local park and then headed into the woods. A mile and […]

Taper time

Ultra Training Diary: It’s Taper Time

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

It’s taper time and for once it brings a sense of relief…for now! 12 days to 50k! But it’s also when the questioning starts: Have I done enough? What’s it going to be like on the day? What’s the weather going to be like? The last week has been hard work. After covering a marathon distance a little over a week ago, there’s not a lot left in my legs. There have been a few nights out as well, with some wine…hmmm. But I’m very glad to report my lower back is better with no aches and pains. And there […]

Marathon in training

Ultra Training Diary: A Marathon as Training

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

If someone had told me 6 months ago that I’d do a DIY marathon as training for my 50k, followed by a run (well, more of a painful walk) the following day, I would have laughed. And that laugh would have been a loud, verging on hysteria. But on Saturday that’s just what I did. But I’m getting ahead of myself… It’s been a strange week. My facet joints in my lower back have sorted themselves out and I’m back to doing core work. But it was still the case that on Wednesday I had one of the worst runs […]

running with back pain

Ultra Training Diary: Running with Back Pain

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Running with back pain is not fun. After a 4 mile run on Tuesday and 40 lunges, I decided it was time to do some squats. BIG MISTAKE. I felt my lower back tense as soon as I went into the squat. I stood up gently but knew my friendly L3 and L4 in the lumbar region of the lower back were giving me a lovely little reminder that they’re there. It’s on ongoing issue for me and when it comes to running, it’s meant I had to not do the Rotterdam marathon in 2015 and had to defer my place […]

Ultra Training Diary: 5 weeks to go

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

I’m exhausted. No surprises in training for an ultra – the last week was my highest mileage ever in a week, 44.6 miles.   I know there are many folk out there who do a lot more. To be honest, I should as well given I’ve gotten a 50k trail race to do in 5 weeks. I’m happy – a 5k seemed tough at the beginning of the year so the fact I’m doing a 50k so soon is exciting. I know there will be walking and there will be hills. The plan is to treat it like a fun […]

After a bad run, Snoopy wondering about the meaning of life - where am I going? What am I doing? What is the meaning of life?

Dealing with the Bad Run

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Ever had a bad run? I mean a run that really sucks? One of those where you doubt your ability to run even one mile. This was me the other day – 7 miles with heavy legs running slower than I have for a long time.  I wasn’t ill and I’m not injured. This run sent me into the dreaded downward thought spiral. Doubt. Fear. A bit of an existential crisis. Yep, it’s all there. But over the last few years, I’ve learned a lot about how to deal with runs like this and try to switch my headspace from […]