Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

running

9 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 9 Weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

It’s starting to feel real with only 9 weeks to London Marathon. But while the miles are building and my base fitness has improved, I’m getting lazy about everything else. The laziness has to do with core and rolling, life in general, my diet and all the other stuff I need to be doing to get me to start line of the London Marathon. I blame February, or more specifically, the weather. I noticed last weekend how grumpy so many folk are. I think it’s the time of year and the everlasting and never ending English winter. Every run is […]

10 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 10 Weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Having the lurgy sucks. Having the lurgy when it’s only 10 weeks to London Marathon really sucks. To run or not to run, that is the question? I had to answer this on Sunday morning for which I’d planned a 12 miler. I’d done Parkrun the day before. I’d woken up with a bit of a tingle at the back of my throat but was otherwise feeling fine. And it was a good run – faster than training pace. After the routine mocha/hot chocolate with my running buddy, Mary, I headed home. I mooched about in the afternoon, did core and […]

11 Weeks to London marathon

Training Recap – 11 weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

With 11 weeks to London Marathon, I’m doing something a little different to avoid my endless rounds of injuries. I’m taking on the advice that seems sensible – exercises that your physio and all the running magazines tell you to do and you tend to ignore it because to be honest, it’s pretty bloody boring. Yes, I’m talking about core, rolling and general strengthening. I’m never going to be a fast runner but I am working on being a less injury prone one. So with exercises from my physio, a few pilates moves I’ve learned this year and my trusty […]

12 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 12 Weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Only 12 weeks to London Marathon! It’s been a big week – 10k race on Saturday followed by my first run into double digits for almost a year in preparation. And it’s been cold, so cold! I’m not a huge fan of races. I always get twitchy and nervous. I know most folks do. I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others, namely the speedy runners.  It’s hard doing a race at training pace. My training pace is slow – 11 min miles. I’m a plodder.

Race Report: RunThrough at Battersea Park

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

What is it about races that sends me into a tither? My fist RunThrough at Batersea Park. It’s the feeling the night before when you’ve got your kit sorted, you know what you’re eating in the morning, you’ve sorted out how you’re going to get there, you’ve checked the weather at least 15 times, you’ve set two alarms just in case you turn one off but still … what if you’re late, what if they’ve lost your registration … what if …

13 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 13 weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

13 weeks to London Marathon and the miles are starting to build. My confidence is growing, slowly. I’m sticking to the plan and adding in extras to build up strength. Most importantly, I got through the worst of runs. One of those where I doubt my confidence to run a mile, let alone the London Marathon. Only 4 miles but each step was an effort. On the plus side, I didn’t stop, I didn’t walk and I kept plodding at my planned pace. I’ve been running for long enough to know that shitty runs make the good runs oh so […]

Training Recap – 14 weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Yesterday hit the 100 day mark or 14 weeks to London Marathon. My panic about getting the training done and staying injury free has subsided … a little. In my efforts to stay injury free, I’m working on building a strong base. Over the last 5 years, I’ve had running related injury after injury -SI joint pain, left Achilles, soleus muscle in my right calf, fat pad impingement of the knee caused by tripping on a tree root and various other niggles and strains. This has been made worse by an underlying issue not related to running, of slipping a […]

15 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 15 weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

15 weeks to London Marathon. The panic has subsided a little and my training has begun in earnest. This week and the next month or so are about building a stronger running base.  My running has very much been on and off again over the last year, since I had to defer from the 2016 London Marathon. Life got in the way and I’d lost my mojo. A few months ago I decided to get back into running – it’s been very much up and down but that’s the past, time to move on.  So with the help of lovely […]

starting marathon training

Welcome 2017 and Marathon Training Begins

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Sixteen weeks to go to Virgin London Marathon 2017 and I’m starting marathon training. Shit. Shit. Oh shit!     Base Miles 2016 was by no means a good year in building strong miles – work stress, life stress, catching everything going around and injuries. On the good side, having lost my mojo, I found it again with the help of my running buddies. While mojo is still lurking about, my fitness has taken a dive. It’s been a huge year

Cross-country racing

Where’s the Mud? The Joy of Cross-Country Racing

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

I hated cross-country racing at school. While I didn’t have to deal with the mud that is a little more typical in the UK, I was not what you’d say sporty. Why? I went to a competitive school but I don’t have a competitive nature. I hated individual sports and I particularly hated team sports. I could never quite see the point.  

Embracing the Blerch

Embracing The Blerch: The Runner’s Dilemma

Sophie–Thoughts on Running–

Embracing the Blerch is tough. The Blerch is that part of all of us – the fat little cherub who follows when we run, sleep, work and eat.  He’s a wretched lazy beast who represents all form of gluttony, apathy and nothingness. I take no credit in naming this little beasty, that goes to The Oatmeal. The Blerch sometimes whispers, sometime shouts –

Running in Knole Park

Good Times, Bad Times and a Picnic

Sophie–Thoughts on Running–

So running in Knole Park … Let’s start with the bad… Have you ever felt your body out of whack when you’re running? You know what I mean – legs are heavy and there’s no rhythm to your stride even after a few miles. Your diet is fine, you’ve slept well, stress levels are OK, but you feel like you’re wearing concrete boots.