Bloody Sophie Raworth

Feeling smug that I managed to get out of bed, walk past the hotel restaurant, then run to Primrose Hill for a series of calf-sapping, lung bursting hill climbs - on the hottest day of the year so far - I got back checked the BBC news and as I scrolled through the headlines saw this: ‘In pictures: Sophie Raworth and the 150-mile desert ultra-marathon.” And there she is, pictures of her taping her feet up and running up impossibly steep sand dunes in temperatures of 50 degree plus. Come on Sophie, you have a full time job, you have kids, I imagine you have reasonably busy schedule - so how the hell are you finding the time to train for and take part in the Marathon de Sables!?

And here’s what she says about being a runner in her 50s: "There is something extraordinary about getting older but getting faster. I just find it astounding. I never imagined that I would be the fittest I have ever been at 51-years old. I have never been fitter or faster. It is the complete opposite to what you are led to believe.” Bloody Sophie Raworth!

I’m 48 in 16 days. This is on my mind. If I’m to run, cycle, swim in the seemingly endless marathons, triathlons, extreme events that take place around the world, the window is shrinking. Yes, I know there are all those pensioners running and cycling and completing 3-hour marathons and in theory there is still a big window, but clearly they were put together better than me. My left knee is already swelling from this mornings effort, my left ankle is in constant pain, I’m convinced it’s arthritis, my lower back feels like cement has been poured into it and is binding my lower spine together. I wonder if it’s time for another knee operation, maybe another set of injections in my spine.

Surely Sophia Raworth has injuries if she’s training to a level where she can complete the MDS. She must wake up and hobble to the toilet feeling like someone has taken a hammer to her ankles overnight; she must struggle to bend over and tie her shoelaces. I think I need to stop thinking about Sophie Raworth in the morning and concentrate on my own body and the next big challenge coming up. Which will be the Sudbury Sprint Triathlon in about 6 weeks.