Running helps Sophie O’Brien test her limits
Why do you run in the first place?
I joke sometimes that I started running marathons so that I would have something to talk about with my grandpa; I grew up hearing stories of his years running and as I got older it started appealing to me as a way to relate to him and to prove my grit. He still offers me training advice and is one of the first people I call to chat about a race. Besides that though, running is a practice that brings me a sense of presence and mindfulness better than anything else. It is a way for me to test my limits and navigate the world around me; when I move to a new place, the thing that makes me feel most at home is finding my running routes.
What do you think about when you’re running?
At the beginning of a run everything is going through my mind: anxiety, to-do lists, my schedule, what I’m going to eat for dinner, etc. But the sweet spot is when all those things have run their course and it’s quiet enough to observe the beauty around me—all of the birds and flowers, or whatever other remarkable thing I encounter on my path. I had a friend ask me if I get bored on long runs, and I told them that that’s kind of the point!
Describe your ideal run.
My ideal run is on a sunny day in the spring when everything starts blooming. I love seeing what’s coming up through the seasons, and I think my favorite is the early delphiniums–that’s when I know we’re almost through the winter!
How’d you find out about RCTC?
A friend of mine heard about RCTC on the radio (I think on OPB) and told me about it. I’ve been looking for a running community since moving here last year, and was very excited to join this fall after spending so much time running by myself.
Where are you at with running right now?
I’m getting ready to start training for Boston!
Where do you want your running to take you?
I’m interested in seeing how fast I can run the marathon and running ultramarathons as a way of exploring how far I can go. Setting the goal to run a BQ this year felt presumptuous when I first started thinking about it, but I surprised myself! Accomplishing that goal reminded me to stop underestimating myself and encouraged me to keep making commitments to big goals. So, we’ll see! I still feel a little shy about proclaiming how fast I think I can be, but I’m definitely planning to continue working on improvement.
What’s it like running in the PNW compared to other places you’ve lived?
Running in the PNW often feels so lush. I love running in a place that always has some greenness to show that the world is alive around me. I previously lived in Montana and still miss how easy it could be to access so many different trails from my front door, but I couldn’t hang with those winters. It’s fun living in a place where the seasons don’t feel quite as harsh.
Tell us more about your life outside of running!
When I’m not running, I’m walking through my neighborhood, reading, writing poems, cooking, baking, or watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (again). I love to make and share food with people, and have lately been on a big confetti cake kick!
What are you reading right now?
I just started reading Ross Gay’s new book Inciting Joy, which is absolutely gorgeous. He has another collection of essays called The Book of Delights–it’s my favorite and one that I recommend to anyone who will listen. I started reading The Odyssey this fall, but I might have to take a break.. it is quite the tome, and I’m not sure I have the attention for that right now!
