Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

ultra

First ultra

Ultra Training Diary: How I’m thinking my first ultra will go

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

They say a picture paints a thousand words. So rather than rambling on about what Saturday might be like, this is how I’m thinking my first ultra will go …   Fear of not waking up on time means setting multiple alarm clocks at 1 minute intervals and no sleep   The next morning   Breakfast   Coffee Getting dressed   Leaving home   The arrival   First things first At the start line of my first ultra   A few miles in   A few more miles in   At the aid stations   A few other thoughts   […]

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 […]

Ultramarathon training

Ultra Training Diary: Slow and Steady Progress

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

I’ve hit my highest ever mileage for the week in ultra training. A week where the heat and humidity hit hard!   Some would see it as low (I do), others as ‘bloody hell… that’s a long way’. In total, almost 38 miles.   The 50k in July is going to be tough so the miles don’t give a sense of how many hours I’ve spent on my feet, wandering about, and walking up those escalators at tube stations. I’m certainly not having any problems with sleeping – I’m wanting to do a lot of it!

Women Can Marathon

Race Review – Women Can Marathon (Relay)

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

When I heard about the Women Can race, a women only trail marathon (with the option of a relay) to celebrate 50 years since Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially complete the Boston Marathon, I was in. This was a real landmark in women’s sport and one to be celebrated. And the location, Devon, with its rolling hills and trails galore to make any trail runner happy.

Getting into the groove

Ultra Training Diary: Getting into the Groove

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

I’m getting into the groove of ultra training. My miles aren’t as high as I’d like them to be and it’ll be slow – I need to manage it between life and staying injury free – but it will be done. 50k in mid-July in the Chilterns with XNRG. I’m trying to shift my headspace a little. Marathon training is about the miles, it’s also about keeping running. Running and walking up hills etc takes a little getting used to on trails. Trails are taking a little getting used to.