Podcast #82: Sophie Power a role model to ultra-runners and women globally
The latest episode of the England Athletics Podcast features a fascinating interview with Sophie Power, who is a role model for ultra-runners and women around the world.
In conversation with England Athletics' Barry Hopkins at the National Running Show, Power talks about the moments that have shaped her inspiring career-to-date.
You may have seen the viral photo of Power breast-feeding her three-month-old baby at the 106-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc race in 2018. More recently, she was part of Great Britain's gold medal-winning team at last year's IAU 24-Hour World Championships. No stranger to a challenge, Sophie has also broken the world record for distance covered on a treadmill in 48 hours, and has become the fastest woman to run the length of Ireland.
"Running for GB is the biggest privilege of my life. It's incredible, because I came second-last in the mile at school and I wasn't a sporty kid," she recalls.
"Having three GB vests after I had my three children - that's such a story that I want to tell to other mums."
Performances like those hold great memories, but Sophie is also very clear on the impact made by the aforementioned viral image.
"That photo completely changed my life," she admits. "I don't think I'd have three children if that wasn't taken, because what it allowed me to do is a bit of a life rethink."
"My life was completely overwhelmed by this going all over the world in so many languages. I was the CEO of a tech company. I realised I couldn't be a CEO and be the mother I wanted to (be to) both of my children, so I stood down."
"I realised what I loved was helping other people and advocacy. A platform is a privilege. If you have a platform, the ability to drive change, then you've got to step in and do it."
Power is the founder of SheRACES - a network designed to drive positive change by highlighting issues facing women and mothers within ultra-running. Her latest book titled "The Power Within: Record-breaking, ultrarunning and fighting for change'"' has also recently been published.