Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

Thoughts on Running

ultra recovery

Post-Ultra Recovery

Sophie–Race Day, Running, Thoughts on Running–

A week ago I did my first ultra – a 50k in the Chilterns with Extreme Energy. There was joy, there were a few blisters, and there was some loud sobbing, but I finished! This brings me on to post-ultra recovery. I’ve found recovering from the 50k easier than the marathons I’ve done. OK, stairs were a little tricky to negotiate for a day or two but I haven’t felt nearly as battered or bruised. So the last week’s gone a little like this …   Post-Ultra Recovery – The Last Week Feeling like this at random moments   A lot […]

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 […]

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 […]

runner envy

Runner Envy: When the Lurgy Strikes

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Ah, the ill runner … it’s when the terror of running envy strikes. And let alone if you’re training for a race – clearly it’s the end of everything. This is something that all us runners have experienced at one time or another and it sucks. It sucks big time. Knowing I can’t run because I’d be likely to end up flat on my face if I did frustrates the hell out of me. Now it might not be the sort of envy that immediately pops into mind. I’m never going to be a fast runner. I also think it […]

Nutrition

Nutrition and Fuelling for Marathon Day (Part 2)

Sophie–Thoughts on Running–

In March, I was lucky enough to be invited to an event hosted by Science in Sport (SiS) on nutrition and fuelling for marathon day. The key lessons from that session can be found here. Now the marathon is done, I thought it would be useful to update on how it went. And how it went on the day? I would’ve like a faster time but given a 5k seemed a long way on New Year’s day, I’m happy with the outcome. You can read more here.

postrace lurgy

A Case of the Post-Race Lurgy

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

It had to happen. The post-race lurgy. After months of training with only a cold that lasted for a few days, post-race, I’ve succumbed. I’ve known for a few days though I was in denial. A clear sign I’m getting sick is carb loading – the sort of carb loading you might do in the lead up to a marathon or ultra, only with more cake and no running to be done. I figure this is pretty normal. After months of training followed by the marathon with 40,000 other folks, I’m bound to pick up something.

postrace blues

Getting over the postrace blues

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

Ah, the postrace blues. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Surely someone must have written a poem or a song about this. Haiku anyone? It’s that feeling you have when you’ve focused all your energy for months on one week, one day, one moment, and then it’s over in a flash. Reality comes back to bite you in the butt. Don’t get me wrong. It was an amazing day and I loved every second of it. I’ve managed clearly to already forget those moments when running my second marathon hurt and I wanted to cry. At least this time I […]

Tapering advice

Marathon Taper Tips – Getting to the Start Line

Sophie–Race Day, Thoughts on Running–

Marathon tapering tips…what can I say about the madness that is taper time! Here’s some great advice I got at a pre-marathon workshop with Barry Crane at Run and Become in London. I wanted to share some of the advice given as taper time can be rough. It’s when all the niggles and concerns can get blown out of proportion. There’s a lot of excitement mixed with fear about whether you’ll get to the start line and if you can do this. I wonder if anyone ever truly thinks they’ve done enough? This is only my second marathon with my first […]

#reasontorun

Free to Run – My #reasontorun

Sophie–Thoughts on Running–

So this is my #reasontorun … We all start running for different reasons. For me it was about getting a little fitter, perhaps losing a little weight. This has nothing to do with why I run now and why I’m about to embark on my second London Marathon despite my first being an unmitigated disaster! I’m proud to be raising funds for Free to Run. So why do it? At the heart of it it’s about the people I’ve met, the confidence I’ve gained, and the community I’m now very proudly part of. Running has opened up a new world for me and […]