Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

Race Day

Some key pointers for London Marathon runners including getting to the Expo early, getting your name printed on your top, and remember to pace from the start and not get caught up in the hype.

Advice for London Marathon Runners

Sophie–Race Day–

London comes alive on the day of the marathon. And the thought of it, especially if you’re running it, can be daunting. Here’s some advice for London marathon runners. The excitement in the air is palpable. It brings out the best in runners, in the fantastic marshals and volunteers and organisers, and those 10s and 100s of thousands of members of the public that line the route. Bands are playing. Some make a day of it with picnics. Others are drinking wine or beer. It’s a day that brings out the best of everyone. 

Image of nervous girl

How I think my second ultra will go!?!

Sophie–Race Day, Running, Thoughts on Running–

So…my second ultra…hmm. For those of you who don’t know what an ultra is, it’s a race longer than marathon distance. I’m doing a ‘short’ ultra, a 50k, through the Chilterns on Saturday with XNRG. My training has had its ups and downs – a brief lurgy or two, some twinges in my knee. But otherwise, it’s pretty much gone to plan. In addition to covering the miles, I’ve run and stomped up a lot of hills, covered marathon distance on a rather warm and sticky day, walked around every now and again up and down said hills with a […]

Pacing the Hackney Half

Sophie–Race Day, Thoughts on Running–

Pacing the Hackney Half for 2:20 – What a day! Sunshine, a real buzz running through the crowds of runners and supporters, a half marathon to be run. And best of all, despite a touch of heatstroke, I made my time but more on that later…. The race is part of a whole weekend of the Festival for Fitness which include a 5k on the Saturday and a line-up of fitness classes which includes an action packed boxing lesson. And Virgin’s ambition? To make fitness fun and accessible to all and celebrate the spirit of Hackney. The half marathon is […]

Mo Farah third in place at the half way point

The London Marathon: On being a marshal

Sophie–Race Day, Running, Thoughts on Running–

On being a marshal: The 2018 London Marathon was my third time marshaling this race, and the most challenging. But I’m getting ahead of myself… First to say well done to everyone who undertook the race. It was the hottest ever with the running beginning with high humidity and bright sunshine. I know there are many runners who didn’t achieve their time targets, and a few who had to pull out due to issues brought on by the heat. But brilliant work my friends, you’re an inspiration! Second, my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Matt Campbell, a 29 year […]

Standing at Greenwich after completing, holding up my medal

The Big Half Review

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

The Big Half Review: I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to this race. I’ve run the London Marathon twice and this covers much of the same route though in reverse. The biggest question in the days leading up was indeed will it still go ahead? Snow and ice had brought much of the UK to a standstill. Through the country, races were being cancelled or postponed due to the weather. And so it was, 2pm the day before the Big Race, a confirmation email – it was on! I hadn’t run for close to a week due to […]

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 […]

With finisher's medal

Tadworth 10 – Mud Trails and Great Company*

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

Short version: It’s the second time I’ve run Tadworth 10, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat! Long version: On the first non-bank holiday Sunday of the year, the Tadworth Athletic Club put on Tadworth 10. This is a 10 mile race across Epsom race course and through the Epsom Downs. There are hills, there is mud, there are some good road sections – what more could you want to start the year with! This year, add in some cold and some wind. They also had some fab help from the Sunnybank Trust, supporting adults and young people with […]

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 […]

Race Review: The Cabbage Patch 10

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

Short version – This is my third time running the Cabbage Patch 10. I’ll be coming back for more. Long version – The Cabbage Patch 10 is almost as old as the London Marathon. It’s one of the flattest 10 mile races in the country along roads and towpaths. And it’s attracted some big names, sometimes before they were big names like Mo Farah who won it in 2005. There’s also something to be said for races that donate money to local charities as this one does. In addition to cash prizes, the winners receive a cabbage. In addition to […]

Ealing half

Race Review: The Ealing Half

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

The Ealing Half has an amazing reputation. I wanted to see if it lived up to its reputation as winner of the UK’s best half marathon in 2014, 2015 and 2016 from the Running Awards. I was offered a free place in return for a blog post and signed up. So did my running buddy, Mary, to raise money for the Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay who had provided amazing support to her mother-in-law. This was her first half marathon since beginning running. Mary and I go back a while. We met on the first day of the beginners’ course 5 […]

Eridge Park 10

Race Review: Eridge Park 10

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

When I heard about the Eridge Park 10 from a fellow running club member, I knew I had to do it. Ten miles of hilly trails, only I somewhat underestimated the hills….and the mud! A few days earlier I opened the instructions and the route goes a little like this – ‘the New Gully leads the descent to the biggest of the three lakes Carp Baggers; the second Lake Serene sits at the foot of the first long climb taking you through the infamous Cheeky’s Bog… freewheeling down Heavenly Hill; open grassland takes you into the Lost Wood; to emerge […]

River relay

Race Review: Thames River Relay

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

I’m chuffed. Yesterday I ran 4.9 miles as part of the Thames River Relay. I beat my predicted time by over 45 seconds per mile! Post-ultra, I decided I wanted to get faster so I’ve been doing self-styled speed sessions over the last month. While there are still improvements I can make, seeing such rapid progress is encouraging. And the race, it was followed by a picnic to end all picnics. My running club knows how to put on a great spread. It was an early start with leaving home at 6.30 for a 7am pick-up. I’m not an early […]