Running on Full

Random thoughts, used to be about running

training

London Marathon

Training Recap – 1 week to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

 One week to London Marathon and what will be will be. A few more miles to do to keep my legs ticking over.   But the dreams. I’m not one for remembering dreams on the whole. This has been some crazy stuff.   Dream 1 – turn up at the start point in a panic as I’m late. I look down only to discover my kit is all wrong – wrong top, wrong shoes and no number. I have also forgotten my gels and jelly babies. I wake up in a panic wondering  why I haven’t got my gel belt on. […]

Grand Union Canal Half

Race Review – Grand Union Canal Half

Sophie–Race Day, Running–

Review of Grand Union Canal Half: To celebrate 10 years of the Grand Union Canal Half, Purple Patch Running added in a spring ‘special edition event’. This race is otherwise always run in the autumn. This is a point to point race from Cowly in Uxbridge to Cassiobury Park in Watford. I’d decided to run this as a training run and my final 10 mile plus run before the London Marathon. And I’m so glad I did – the sun and heat were brutal. The race was a 10am start and I managed to get a lift with friends from […]

Tapering Runner

Training Recap – 2 Weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

Ahh, the tapering runner! I’m so grateful it’s only 2 weeks to the London Marathon. While the miles are down, my legs feel heavy and unresponsive and I’ve got too much time on my hands and way too much energy to know what to do with.  Slight irritations are turning into major ones. I’m stuck in sucky thought loops that go something like this ‘This is going to be a disaster…I’m so unfit…I’ll never finish…Nooooo…’ Maranoia hasn’t hit yet so that’s something to look forward to.

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 […]

Review of Lidl Kingston Breakfast Run

Lidl Kingston Breakfast Run – Review and Lessons Learned

Sophie–Race Day–

Review of Lidl Kingston Breakfast Run. Ahh, the start of British Summer Time mixed with a race starting at 8am. I’d set two alarms the night before, bib on running vest, timing chip on shoe, gels squeezed into running belt. Waking up at 5am (4am the day before) is pretty tough when you’re not a morning person. But needs must and the Lidl Kingston Breakfast Run has a reputation as a good prep race for the London Marathon with four weeks to go. There are three options for distances, 8.2 miles, 16.2 miles or 20.1 miles – I’d signed up […]

4 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 4 Weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

4 weeks to London Marathon and it’s starting to feel real – an 18 mile run, arrival of the registration form, making arrangements to meet up with folks at the Expo, it’s all happening. I’m caught between excitement and paranoia. I had to defer the London Marathon last year 3 weeks before the big day due to facet joint issues in my lower back. This year I’m working it a little differently with regular core and stretching (OK, so it’s meant to be daily…), pilates and the occasional sports massage. Any niggles I’m getting on to straight away. Last week […]

6 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 6 weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

With only 6 weeks to London Marathon, it’s been mixed when it comes to running. There have been highs and there have been lows. But it’s spring so I’m slowly getting over the winter blues. However, on Sunday, things did not go to plan. I apologise now to anyone who came across a very grumpy runner swearing very loudly. That was a bad run that seemed to go on forever. I just couldn’t get it together. I can’t blame the gels as thankfully I didn’t have any issues with them – perhaps doing a fast run Thursday, sports massage Friday […]

homemade baked beans

Great for Recovery – Homemade Baked Beans

Sophie–Mains, Running–

The miles are upping and I’m focusing a little more on nutrition. As part of this, I’m getting back to cooking food with flavour that can also support recovery – homemade baked beans fits the bill. I make a big batch of this stuff to have for breakfasts and after long runs to help with recovery and also to keep me happy. I throw in some garlic and chilli to give it a bit of a kick.

So you like running huh? Tell me more about carb loading

Getting the Basics Right – Nutrition and Fuelling for Marathon Day (Part 1)

Sophie–Running, Thoughts on Running–

We all know good nutrition is essential to performance. With this in mind, I was lucky enough to be invited to an event hosted by Science in Sport (SiS) on nutrition and fuelling for marathon day. In return, I was asked to write this post. I also wanted to share some of the key takeaway messages. The afternoon included a number of presentations and a run. Presenters included Dr James Morton – SiS Knowledge Director, expert on sport and exercise metabolism and academic at Liverpool John Moores University, also nutritionist for Team Sky Alan Murchison – SiS Ambassador and owner of […]

7 weeks to london marathon

Training Recap – 7 Weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

It’s only 7 weeks to London Marathon and it’s been a week of highs and lows. My long run was slow and steady as planned and I ran part of the route. It did give me shivers  – not long to go now! But then things got tricky. My run on Tuesday was awful – one of those runs that makes you question the point of it all and if I can really do this – the bad run. I know this is normal as the miles start to build and I’m running on tired legs. My run the following […]

8 weeks to London Marathon

Training Recap – 8 Weeks to London Marathon

Sophie–Running, Training Updates–

8 weeks to London Marathon! Last year was a rubbish running year for all sorts of reasons. It was one of those extended periods where running took a dip, I mainlined Netflix and my favourite pair of running shoes gravitated to the back of the wardrobe.  On very rare occasions, I’d look on the scales – the numbers didn’t change much but clothes got a little tighter and I was feeling soggier around the edges. This brings me to the wonders of London Marathon training. Again, the numbers on the scales really haven’t changed but I’m soon in need of […]