Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

Running

Day 56 of lockdown - faded rainbow in crayon on local footpath

London – Day 56 of lockdown

Sophie–Running–

It’s been a productive day. I’ve been working since 7.30 this morning, taking breaks by way of short walks for anywhere between 10 and 20 mins. I’ve managed numerous trips out today. My local area is quiet and it’s easy enough to jump into the road to get appropriate social distancing when needed. I came across fewer people combined than I would walking in Dulwich Park, fewer people to stress about potentially coming into some vague semblance of close contact with. On my first trip out, I found a couple of cats to pat. The weather is glorious and the […]

Pre-training Training: Part 2

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running, Training Updates–

I might not be fast. I might not run far. But over the days, the weeks, the months, I am seeing some progress. It’s hard to know where I’ll get to. Will I run the London Marathon again? Will I get to the Guernsey Ultra? I want to run far but whether my body will let me is another story. And I miss it. I miss being out in the world – of running in torrential downpours, of running through my local woods, of the chats when running along with someone, of the social connections, of the random stuff you […]

#gymlife - photo of shoes, water bottle etc

Pre-training training – Part 1

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Or perhaps I should call it gymlife, this pre-training training lark! At the moment I’m getting my butt into gear to start training for marathon number 3 next year (an an ultra a few weeks later). I’ve found an 18 week schedule which kicks off in about 8 weeks. I’m getting back to basics. This year I’ve been sidelined by injury – a dodgy knee. But slowly, oh so slowly, I’m on the mend. I’m now at the gym pretty much daily. I don’t know if my plan will work. While I’ll be deeply disappointed if I don’t manage to […]

Sign on footpath pointing to the gym

Coming back from injury…

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

It’s been a while, a very long while. Coming back from injury, it’s been slow going. These days I’m taking it run by run.   Some background It was January. I was on a run and felt a tweak in my left knee. While I’ve had various issues with my right knee including the fabulously named fat pad impingement, my left knee had never caused me issues. After that run, I went home and rested. Knee was swollen, elevation, ice, physio. More elevation, ice, physio. Tried running again, same issue, and again. I deferred the London Marathon. I’d already deferred […]

Why motivation sucks

Why motivation sucks (and how to get your arse out the door)

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Why motivation sucks – this is one I’ve been thinking about for a while. If I waited for the motivation genie to strike, I’d rarely get out the door to go for a run. I don’t know about you but ‘motivating’ quotes like ‘Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations’ ‘Pain is temporary, greatness is forever’ ‘Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it.’ make me gag a little. My visceral response is ‘bollocks’. Dreaming of being a supermodel (NOT something I dream about) or being a famous fiction author (if only I liked writing fiction enough) or running a sub-4 marathon […]

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 […]

Tall building as seen on long run

Week 3 of London marathon training … the lurgy

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Ah, week 3 of London marathon training and struck down by the lurgy. It had to happen at some point. I’m working on the basis it’s a virus which, as long as I’m sensible, should disappear in a day or two. That’s my hope. So I’m not sitting here feeling sorry for myself, though that might happen if it means too many runs missed. My priority is on getting better so while the miles won’t run themselves, rest and tweaking plans is what I need to do. Thankfully it’s still early in the training cycle.   Running when ill The […]

Selfie after long run

Week 2 of London marathon training … a little chilly!

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Week 2 of London marathon training, and slowly, oh so slowly, the miles are starting to build. So far so good. It’s been a little chilly but it is London, and it is the middle of winter. Thankfully it’s not yet been icy or snowy, just a little grey and grim…! And how I deal with the grey and grim – lightbox, sunrise alarm clock, Vitamin D supplements, running. Saturday’s run was planned at 9 miles, I ran almost 10. My reason – it meant I could reach the cafe that does a pretty damn good mocha, faster. A mocha […]

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 […]

London Marathon Ballot

On waiting for the London Marathon Ballot Results

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

It’s that time of year again. A couple of hundred thousand of us anxiously await the outcomes of the London Marathon Ballot. I’m assuming it’s a ‘SORRY’. I think this might be my 6th year of applying through the ballot. I’ve been fortunate though. I’ve run London twice, getting places via my running club. What happens, happens. And the cool thing is, whether it’s a yes or a no, I still get to be part of it. My club always marshals on the day, so if I can’t run it, then I marshal. Wishing everyone the best of luck!!!   On […]

deal with it giphy

On dealing with a bad race

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

On dealing with a bad race … You’ve done the training, it’s gone well. For a 50k, you’ve covered marathon distance, you’ve hiked hills with a weighted backpack, you’ve run up and down many other hills, you’ve tested nutrition and hydration, you’ve tested your kit. The day arrives. All is going well. And then it all goes to shit. This was me in July. And no, I haven’t blogged since then, not because of the trauma of a race gone bad, life got in the way. To begin, this has nothing to do with the race itself, the Chiltern Challenge […]

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 […]