Episode 11 Sophie Bennet: Ultra Marathon runner, Empowering women to move and of course life supporting our partners from the sidelines...

Sophie Bennett partner to Alan Ryan Strength & Conditioning coach of Stade Toulousain, a former team manager at Bath Rugby, shares her journey in sports and her transition to a new role. She discusses her passion for sport, her experience in coaching and managing rugby teams, and her love for running and CrossFit. Sophie also talks about her relationship with her partner, Alan Ryan, and the challenges they faced being in different countries. She reflects on the emotional process of leaving Bath Rugby and the importance of family and support in her life. Sophie shares her passion for running and supporting women in their fitness journeys. She discusses her own experiences with ultra-running races, including Dragon's Back and Winter Downs. Sophie emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community and taking care of oneself in the demanding lifestyle of being a partner to a professional athlete. She offers advice for getting started with running, including finding the right shoes, joining a couch to 5K program, and considering a coach for support.

Transcript

Jada Meafou (00:01)
Hello and welcome back to Life from the Sidelines. Today we're joined with a very special guest. All the way from England, we have Princess Sophie Bennett with us this morning today.

part of our Toulouse crew so we're gonna get stuck into some information about Soph and what she gets up to and yeah welcome welcome. Thanks for having me just a brief little introduction into Sophie. So Sophie is a partner to the strength and conditioning coach of StadToulouse, Alan Ryan. Who's Irish? Who's Irish? Very strongly Irish. Sophie is Welsh.

But Sophie's background is insane. You are an extremely talented runner, sportswoman, businesswoman, manager. I think it's like in your blood to manage.

So do you want to give us like a brief little, we're really bad at like enjoying our guests FYI. You do it yourself. Yeah, you do it yourself. You do it yourself on the show. So it just gives you an opportunity to kind of, you know, show off a little bit, flex a little bit about your background.

Okay, well thanks for having me. This is my worst nightmare doing this, but I'm really grateful that you've asked me. I guess my background is I've always loved and been passionate about sport. I've always played every sport that I can be a part of since school and also coaching. I am...

coach rugby since I was probably about 18, played rugby, played football, and I have just, yeah, really, really passionate about anything to do with sport. I guess my working background is that I worked for Gloucester Rugby to start with as a community manager. So I kind of, when I was at uni, I got some work experience at Gloucester and worked coaching in the community department. And from there,

kind of managed to get myself to community manager and took over the department. I remember my old boss, she was like, you went from voluntary girl to manager. But I think, you know, just was really passionate about the coaching side. And so was at Gloucester. And then from Gloucester, I went to the Welsh Rugby Union and I was Academy Manager for the women. And slowly that turned into Performance Manager for the women. And...

then National Programme Coordinator for the kind of National Academy of the Boys as well under Joe Lydon. But I was always kind of at the back of my mind, I was really passionate and really wanted to be a professional men's team manager. So that was always kind of my goal. While I was in Wales, I team managed and coached the Blues under 16s, the Blues under 18s, boys. I didn't know any of this. I got the role. I managed to team manage the Wales under 16s boys side. I think I was the first female to kind of

managed in Wales at that point. And maybe the under 16s, but it was a great opportunity. I was involved with GB7s when all that first side happening. So did the sort of GB students, sevens went to Russia and that was a great opportunity for the women. And then I was kind of falling out of love with rugby. I was really passionate about the kind of fitness space. I was cross fitting. I was what were you doing in the studio? Cross fit at the stage? Not a yes. I was just I was still playing rugby myself.

And I'd, at this time as well, I'd sort of found marathons. At what age? When I was in Wales, I was about 25, 26 and the girls I worked with, they were really into running and there was Cardiff Half Marathon and they were like, come on, you know, come and do this with us. And I was, you know, playing rugby, not really running at this point. So I was like, okay, yeah, I'll do this. So, train with them for Cardiff Half, sort of slogged it around.

And I was like, right, my goodness, Lander Marathon is on my bucket list. I need to do this. And I definitely wasn't Norella. This is how it starts. This is how it starts, Kayla. And I definitely wasn't a runner at this time. I was a rugby player. And...

So I started training myself for London Marathon and got myself managed to get a ballot place. I don't know. I got a charity place. That was it. Because I was with the WIU, managed to get a charity place. Got myself a little program off Runners World Online and just started training for this for London Marathon. Did the marathon, got around it like really slowly, like four hours 40, got to the end and my sister was there and I was like, this is amazing. London was, if you ever are going to do a marathon, London's the one.

got to the end, I was like, I need to do this. This is amazing. I had so much fun. And then went in the ballot and got a place again for the next year. By this point, I was like, right, joined a club in Cardiff and sort of started taking running a bit more seriously. At this point, I was still working for the Welsh Rugby Union. So I was trying to play rugby on a, I was doing my long run for the marathon on a Sunday morning of like 20 miles. And then I was going out and playing rugby in the afternoon. And I was like, this is not really working. Because I was supposed to be in charge of rugby for women in Wales. I was like, I'm not

really given a great account of myself here after 20 mile runs. So sort of kind of unofficially retired from rugby and then the running took hold. That year I joined a club.

trained really hard and actually took, I think, yeah, I managed to get a 327 in the marathon the year after. So I got a good for age place and that was kind of where I was like, right, I'm hooked on running now. So the next couple of years I was running, but then I sort of started picking up injuries and kind of as this time was going on, my mum got sick and we lost mum and I was injured and sort of came out of that period of time with hair quite a lot bigger than I went into it. Because we were on some sort of weird holiday, like looking after.

her and then I found CrossFit so then that would have been 2010 maybe 2011 so sort of gave running went on the back burner for a while and I started CrossFitting and just found my absolute tribe like the girls now that I met in Cardiff yeah they're still like some of my best friends. CrossFit has like that crazy effect on you. Yeah the cult. It's a cult. I guess it's like anything when you're working out in group hate. I think like the CrossFit thing is just you know if you

get a good CrossFit gym where you've just got really good people and you sort of hang out every day, you train, you go to the world together, you kind of sweat blood and tears and I think it doesn't really matter how good you are, it just gives you an opportunity to push yourself and everyone can push themselves on their own level. I mean CrossFit is still my favourite form of training. Are you going to CrossFit Worlds? Are there any bucket lists? No, unfortunately my parents didn't really give me the gymnastics genes so I wasn't really going anywhere with that. So like I definitely like you know back in the old days,

competed before it got to where it is now and we sort of go to like local competitions but gymnastics is not my bag. It's sticking me like on a rail doing any of the endurance stuff or like fairly strong but yeah the gymnastics I mean ripped hands and yeah but that was just such a cool like it's such a cool environment and even now being here in France I've joined the CrossFit gym here in it's not quite the same like because I don't go as much and I don't put as much into it but it's definitely wherever you go you get kind of welcoming into the gym.

I don't know if it's just a language barrier or what but it's very clicky. Yeah, I definitely haven't found... I've been to a few different ones and I'm like, I don't belong here. You're just borrowing it as I'm like, really? They don't even try.

Yeah, literally the workouts are in English, like you could try. Yeah, it's definitely been difficult, but I've kind of settled in at St. Denis now and Oric and the team there and obviously we have Mae there, like one of the other girls. So that's definitely got better. But yeah, I've definitely not found exactly the same vibe as I had then.

But yeah, so then after CrossFit, so then I was kind of, yeah, I was sort of a bit done with like the rugby and I was coaching, I did my CrossFit coaching and stuff. And so myself and one of the other girls, Angie, we used to run like a women's class. Absolutely loved it. It was just the best like couple of hours of my week. And we had like women of all ages, shapes and sizes, and they were just all doing really cool stuff. And it was kind of at that point that I realized my passion really was in coaching. And I had in my mind that I just wanted to set up a business that supported.

women or help women that were struggling with their weight because I did. I mean, I was like yo -yoing. If I was injured, I was like putting on weight. If I was like in a good place, I was lean and I was fit, but kind of like it was all or nothing. So I kind of decided in my head things at the WIU weren't great then. A guy called Josh Lucia come in and he's trying to change things with the women's and it just wasn't, it wasn't sitting well with me. So I kind of...

Because of the changes trying to make I managed to negotiate my way out of there basically And I was going to leave in the August after the Women's World Cup in 2014 So I was doing my PT course I was like Obviously coaching CrossFit and I was gonna set this business up and this was after my mother passed away So she'd like left us a bit of money. So it's like perfect. This is gonna be her legacy You can set my business up and literally four weeks later I got a message on LinkedIn saying I'd like to speak to you about a potential team manager role in the premiership and I was like

like, this is my dream job that I've basically wanted. And I was like, but what about my business? I spoke to the recruiter and at this point, I didn't know what team it was or anything. And he just sort of talked through the role. And also the team manager roles in the premiership are all slightly different. Kind of people do different roles. Sometimes you've got someone who's kind of like a head of recruitment or doing the contract. So this is the English premiership for the rugby bits. Yeah, men's premiership. And this is, yeah, 2014, kind of March time.

And he spoke to me, and he hadn't done with the team or anything yet, but I spoke to him on the phone and literally, like, he told me the role and it was, if I could have written a job description for myself, that was the role. And then he handed the team and in my head I was like, please don't be Newcastle, please don't be sale, you know, like I didn't want to be at North. I've been in Cardiff and I've been in Cheltenham. And he was like, yeah, and the team's bath. And I was like, my God. Cause like, obviously that's just in that sort of Southwest corridor. It was like perfect. So then he was like, you know, would you like, like.

go and meet Fordy, go to the club and meet them. And when I met Fordy, when I met the team there, and I was just like, this is...

Everything fell into place, yeah, and they offered me the role. What year was this? This was 2014. So I'd agreed to stay with the WIU until August after the World Cup. So Fordy was like, well, can you start earlier than that? And I was like, OK, well, I've got some loo time. So basically finished off my season with the girls and I went to the World Cup, managed that. But I also was doing two days a week for Bath as well through this period. So I was like organizing stuff. I mean, remember we said the World Cup was in Marcusi that year in France. And I remember we obviously

Sunday night is the last night and you can kind of have a few drinks. I just remember getting back to England on the Monday, really, really hungover. And that was my time with like the WIU done. And then on the Wednesday, I was flying to Jersey with the team with Bath to take them on tour. And so there wasn't really much time to process the end of that chapter. So then started as team manager at Bath Rugby. So, yeah, August 2014. Wow. And...

Yeah, that was awesome. But the kind of fitness and that kind of passion had to go on the back burner really, because I mean, anyone that works in, or you know what it's like working in professional sport, it's just from the partners. What did you do to look after yourself? Are you still running or exercising cross -fitting? So yeah, I... It's not a really big city, it's kind of quite small. Yeah, St. Barth had a really good cross -fit and I knew some of the guys from CrossFit Bath because we used to do competitions with the Cardiff one. So I kind of started trying to go to cross -fit there a little bit.

Again, my hours were just wild. I was like in by seven and I was working until seven, eight o 'clock at night. So actually my fitness really suffered for that kind of that start, I guess, of being at Bath. And...

everything was just work. Like it was wild. It was, yeah, it was really, really full on. It was all encompassing. Like it just was relentless. And at that point I was still living in Cardiff, so I was trying to commute. So it's not that far, but the old M4, it could be anything from 40 minutes to an hour. So I think maybe the year after eventually I moved and kind of definitely took back a bit of a hold on my fitness. I started drinking less, got back into CrossFit, got back into running again. And that sort of took a bit more of a...

census age, I guess, because I was like, right, enough's enough. So I think then in 2017.

I'd suffered a lot of injuries. I think I ran a half marathon maybe in 2016, just like when I did one. Just casually, yeah, just a half. Yeah, all you guys. Actually, why I did it was because they were the guys at Bath, some of the staff were doing it, and they all had skins on their desk, you know, like the make -brand skins, like leggings. And I was like, why have you got these? They're like, because we get it for doing the half. I was like, I really want some of them. OK, I'll do the half. Three skins? Yeah.

And then I was like slowly but got back into training and stuff again. And then in 2017, in the March, I was in Amsterdam on like a little holiday, like had a few too many drinks and just, I can't even remember but just basically. For those that are listening, so for loves a drink, so yeah. Yeah, I like to train hard but drink hard too. And I just basically saw this.

This marathon, well, a cut -sword way, 100K. And when I'd been running marathons before, so just going back to 2006, 2007, one at Dunn London, I ended up running quite a bit then. I did a couple under -marathons, I did snow -dun marathon, I did a few things before I got injured. And I was obsessed with this guy, Dean Carnegie, who's this ultra -marathon man.

And he used to run all these really cool ultra races in America, like Badwater and Hard Rock. And he's kind of... This is anything over a marathon. He was like, I was like, this is incredible. Basically, I read his book and he talked about getting a pizza delivered to the sidewalk in Mountain Dew. And I was like, any sport that you can eat pizza and drink Mountain Dew, I need to be a part of. And then that obviously went on the back burner. And then coming back to March 2017, I saw this race, 100K Cotswold Rally, which runs from...

helped him to bath and I was like well those are the two places I've lived and I just signed up for it I hadn't been running or anything I was like right so it was March and this race was like the first of July so I'm like okay we're gonna do this 100k

So yes, and then I just started training for that. And the guy, I had a guy who was like, he's actually did my massages at the time. He helped me train and yeah, like what April, May, June three, four months later, around this hundred K and then. Yeah. And from there, I was just absolutely hooked on it. I was like, this is so cool. I remember like looking back on that race. Now I did it in a pair of like assets, road shoes. I had this little rucksack and I was out there for like 14 hours, you know, and it was like, I just had the best day ever. And I was like,

like this is what I need to do. That's where my ultra stuff came from. So what do you reckon it was that kind of, I mean, there's a lot we need to strip back. Sorry. I didn't know it was good. Because you've done so much, but we'll focus on running right now. What do you think it is? I mean, I know you've been, I mean, just going to the half marathon, the atmosphere is really cool. Like, yeah, guys, I did the half, I did it, I survived and I finished. yeah.

line. Yeah, see permission. But what is it that, what is it that hooked you? Is it the one that's high? Is it? The air, the fresh air, the hard feeling, the heart rate? I think firstly, like because I've always been sporty it was really...

And I don't know if you found this, I think you probably did, but just having like a program and just having something, like a purpose. And I think me and you have talked, me and Jade have talked about purpose quite a lot, but I think having a purpose, again, in your training just actually is the first thing that kind of gets you there and like gets you excited. And then like you cannot be a like beta race day. The atmosphere and you know, not all races are equal. And I guess the marathon, like a road marathon traditionally is a little bit more serious, but I mean,

London Marathon you will never beat the atmosphere at a London Marathon like running through the kind of suburbs you've got your name on your vest and kids are like high -fiving you handing you sweets telling you that you're amazing shouting your name I mean like I think you'd have to be pretty pretty hard to not like find that quite cool. I guess it is like same thing with the boys right?

To have that as your primary job, the high that you get from playing sport is next level, that's separate to the boys. But then if you find something where, it's a hobby, would you say it's a hobby? Yeah, it's definitely a hobby, but it gives you a bit of purpose. Yeah, 100%. But running especially because with sport, normally you have to train, you train your running for a specific sport, but with running you just run and you train to run. I think that's really unique and really cool.

running I guess, because you're a basketball you have to train skills as well. Short sprints and like you're running but you're not focusing on the running. Yeah and you can like there's so many ways to do it I suppose as well because you know you can just go out and gives you that freedom like we talked about you know you know if you need a break from your children or you just like I mean I live with a teenage boy so like home avoidance. So just being able to go out and just put your trainers on and I know it can be more complex than that but it's kind of basic.

It's like most basic form, yeah. It just gives you that ability to a bit of freedom. And, you know, I know there's a lot of talk around women and not feeling safe and not maybe feeling that freedom, but, you know, we're very lucky here, especially out here in France.

I never feel too worried about where I'm going running. And I feel, you know, I remember when I first got here and obviously I didn't really know to lose all the surrounding areas and I'd get my all trails out and I'd just find a route and then I'd get in the car and some of the girls are like, you did what? Where are you going? And I'd go in the car for an hour, an hour and a half, find myself a route and like just go and get out there on the trails. I think the ultra community or the trail community again is another level on in terms of that just celebration of like coming together and people.

supporting each other. It doesn't matter whether you're really fast or whether you're slow or whether you hike or what you do, but it just really is that being out and some of the views you get to see, some of the things that you get to experience are just incredible. So I think that's, yeah, after that Cotswold way, I was just, I was completely hooked and then it was like, what else can I do now? So fast forward, you're at Bath. Take us back into this story.

Working, got some male counterparts, one called Alan. So what was Alan, was S &C there as well? So yeah, I was, I suppose, head of performance, but yeah, S &C. Was he there before you arrived? He was there before I arrived. And I think we maybe worked together for pretty much like six years.

like we worked together, yeah, for about six years. And like, we still laugh now at any point if anyone had said like, you two are gonna get together, we would have been like, absolutely not. I mean, for me, just this miserable, like Irish grumbly, mumbly man, who obviously had quite a kind heart, but like, you know, he was always, he has like, for anyone that doesn't know him, he's got four children. He would...

you know, these kids would be like in the gym, they'd be like permanent marker on the pen and be like the Ryan children have been in again. You know, I remember once one of them had fallen up the stairs and there was blood and then I still remember now, so he had split up with his partner. He was on his own and he had these four kids and it's just always chaos. But like you could just see he just had a really good heart. And I remember the one day like, so after games you had like your shirts, like we all had to wear like number ones and shirts. I remember just looking at his shirt and it literally looked like he'd slept in it.

So I was like, I'm gonna take this and iron it for you. And you know, and then, but so I guess over time we didn't really realize it, but I guess we were getting closer. We were obviously worked on like the schedule and stuff together as like team manager and.

had a performance and we got closer and then yeah just from nowhere one day it was like it was okay this is this is us and yeah how many wines did he have? A lot yeah no he's gonna kill me but no it was and literally he just came in and like swept me off my feet it was really unexpected and yeah and I guess you know the children you've been around them as well yeah got to know the children and you know obviously he'd been to bed with his partner for like

over a year and so you know it was nothing untoward it was just like we just sort of came together and obviously to start with we kept like no one can know like because because to start with it was like I don't really know where this is going on we basically we worked in an office which was there'd been two girls in there me and Kate the analyst but Kate had left so there was basically just like the analyst the coaches and the SNC we were all in one office together I remember him saying to me he's like you can't ruin the office and I was like thanks Alice.

Like as if it was on me. But yeah, no, quite quickly I realised, I think we both realised that it was, you know, when you're old, things happen quite quickly, don't they? And we're both old and we're kind of, you know, it was like, right, okay, it was quite obvious that this was more than just, you know, a quick thing, but we kept it really, really quiet.

We didn't tell anyone because obviously we didn't want anything to get affected at work. And I just remember we got to the September then and we're going to have to sit top black out of our Zara like DOR at the time. And like Toddy's amazing. We had like, it was such a good time like bath management team at this point.

And I was like, right, you're going to have to tell Toddy. I was like, I'm going to have to tell Toddy. And it felt like I was going to speak to my dad. And I remember we were at Leicester away and I put it off the whole time and we were about to get on the bus for the actual match. And I was like, I'm going to have to tell him. I'm going to have to tell him. And I was like, Toddy, Toddy, I need to speak to you. You know, it's literally like you were about to tell your dad something. And he was like...

He was like, yeah, yeah, what, what? And I was like, okay, well, me and Alan are, you know, kind of dating. And he's like, mate. Like, I can't do a cute accent. mate. He goes, what's going to happen if it goes wrong? And I'm like, in my head... It's so cute. He was literally like, he goes, there's great news, because he obviously loved us both, but he's like, that's great news, but what happens if it goes wrong? And I was like, in my head, I was like, I'd leave. But I was like, it'll be fine.

and he'll be absolutely fine. But in my head I was like, yeah, I would definitely have to leave. But it wasn't. And you know, seven years later, we are still together and yeah, I'm very lucky. He's a pretty good guy. Yeah, and you're a pretty great guy. We're lucky that he's come here because now we've got you.

Yeah. Yes. How so? So you're still at Bath and he made the shift? So his contract came to an end. I was getting really confused, but I think it was like 2018 -19 season maybe. His contract came to an end and it was a bit of a... It wasn't a great ending at Bath, really. There was lots going on, but you know, don't need to go into that. But...

He's very lucky to get this opportunity at Toulouse. And it was just, I remember it was such mixed feelings. He was on, Dylan had a football camp in Amsterdam or like in Holland and he'd gone with him and then he had to fly from Holland to Toulouse, from Amsterdam to Toulouse for the interview. And you know, you kind of never think it's going to happen. And then he's like, yeah, I've got the job. And I was like, we just moved houses in Bath to like a bigger house because we had the children 50 -50 and like we'd bought, we'd like just rented this lovely big house.

house and it was just like suddenly in a second like life changed it was like well and I just wasn't ready to leave I was like I loved my job I've worked really hard to get this job there was only maybe one other female doing the kind of role I was doing at that time.

I was like, I'm not ready to leave. And he was absolutely obviously supportive of that. For one reason or another, his ex went back to Dublin with the three children and Dylan made a choice to stay with me in Bath. And then Alan went to France. So it was suddenly we were across three countries. Far out. Me and Dylan were rattling around in this big house together in Bath. And, you know, me and Alan actually hadn't been together that long at this point, maybe 18 months. Yeah.

So it was a really big change, really big decisions, but I just knew that I didn't want to come to France. And Dylan didn't really want to either because he had all his friends and he was really settled in Bath as well. So we made the decision that we'd stay. And yeah, like it was only really that first year and then it was COVID. So yeah, it was strange, but.

It was really difficult as well because obviously we were both with a team. So our weekends were matches. So we'd have to get the calendar, try and coordinate games. And then, you know, if we played on a Friday night, me and Dylan would try and fly then out to France on a Saturday. And then we'd have to sort of try and get back for school and for work. And yeah, I mean, we made it work, but it definitely was testing. And then with the kids being in Dublin as well, it was kind of like that extra added. Obviously, everyone was just suddenly split up. So.

As much as the glamour of being in professional sport, I guess the reality is, you know, you're facing your family all being split up and just trying to find a new normal. But then Covid happened. So then I guess that March, when everything shut down, Al came back to the UK.

and we just went and got the kids from Dublin and we spent that first kind of six or seven weeks of COVID together in Bath as a family, which was on reflection, like it was great. But then... We all said that the whole world stopped, time stopped and we actually got family time. I'm always really conscious of like not saying it was great, like because I know a lot of people suffered, but for us after that kind of eight months of not being together, we suddenly were all back together. So it was a really special time. And then obviously he had to come back to France because things were... Just France, their own rules.

their rules and the boys were training and stuff. So kids went back to Dublin and then me and Dale were just like, right, we should just sort out our own routine here. But we didn't, we sort out, like, it was obviously really tricky because of like the COVID stuff. And we could fly because of the family thing, but not that often. And obviously we were both in separate rugby bubbles. So we couldn't really cross contaminate. We were being tested all the time. And obviously if you'd traveled and then came back into and like you passed it on, then you just, yeah, it would have been really tough.

it would have been really tricky. So yeah, so then I guess two years, I think it would have been about two years we got through that, but the big deciding factor for me was...

Christmas the next year, me and Dylan were supposed to be flying to Dublin and Alan was flying from France to Dublin for us to have a family Christmas and the island shut their borders to the UK on the 23rd or the 24th, like just before we were about to fly. So Al got from France to Dublin, but me and Dil got stuck in the UK. So they had Christmas together and me and Dil were on our own for Christmas. Bless my dad, he took us in that day. But you know, like, and that was for me, it was like, this is, you know, I love, I love my job, but actually the family.

is more important. So then we were like, he said like, if my contract gets renewed, will you come out? And I was like, yeah, yeah, of course I will. And in my head I was still a bit like, I was like, what are we gonna do?

He was like, you can just come out here and basically be an ultra runner. That's how he was trying to sell it to me. I was like, okay. Wine, baguette. I know. So, yeah, October 21. So August 21, I basically told Hoops, I was like, right, I'm leaving. It was the most emotional thing I think I've ever been through, which is horrendous to say when my mum died. But like, I literally was like, I couldn't, I couldn't.

I didn't, like I was telling him and I was just so upset, I was so sad. no, that's emotional. Sorry. So you were crying when you left Bath?

Yeah, so I just remember sitting in the office telling Hoops and like a lot of stuff had happened at birth. So, you know, I was still a bit bitter about a few things, so I kind of knew it was the right thing to do. But when I told him, I literally like couldn't get my words out. And me and Hoops, you know, he was great. We got on really well and we were close friends. But yeah, I was like just...

And then I think for the next few weeks even, I couldn't really like, every time anyone asked me about it, I was still emotional. I was like such a wreck. But what I realized was it was just that transition. And actually, it was really good for me to go through that because actually my next role, I was lucky to get a role, or I've got a role with YMU, with the Global Talent Agency, looking after players. But kind of looking after athlete transitions and looking after the boys in terms of what they're going to do next after rugby. And basically that all kind of

to October till I actually moved and probably a little bit longer I went through this huge transition where I was coming out of rugby like even though I still had YME from being with the team and going through that transition was just huge and it was really emotional and I think yeah going through that just gave me this whole like other level of understanding for what the boys were going through when they were deciding to finish and retire and

Yeah, it was, I mean, the boys were incredible. They, I mean, I had the most unbelievable send off. Had a party, all the boys came to, you know, like they even - Pretty much their mum. Yeah. Not many teams, especially in New Zealand, have women in those managerial roles, which I think they should probably do more of to kind of, no, to like in New Zealand, because they're just so like male dominated. They need a mum, not someone like you to come in and soften.

soften them up a bit, because in New Zealand, rugby in terms of mental. It's not a thing here in Bath, eh? No. No. I think, you know, the role I carved out for myself at Bath was, yeah, like a kind of mum role, you know. Basically, I was at births. I was at court appearances. I, you know, through COVID. What would they do? Lord GBH, that one. You know, through COVID, I was like food chopping. I remember one of the players I made him Christmas, because me and Dale got stuck in Bath, so I made it.

and made him Christmas lunch because he was in isolation on Christmas day. You know, it was just so much more, I like worked really hard with the partners as well, because for me, I just felt that they were so important, which is slightly different to what we face here in France. But for me, you know, with the girls, it was, you know, I got to know all the partners and the fixtures, for example, they change, like, obviously, we know we don't get them until every six weeks. So the girls, I'd send them the training plans out. They'd know in the days off where they would get the fixtures. It's just having that unique perspective.

Yeah, it's like they just needed to know this stuff. We try and put on socials for them, just include them in things. And you know, it wasn't perfect at Bath, but it like, I feel like we did try, we did try our hardest to make sure the girls were included. And so I think, you know, when I left it, it was, I wouldn't say I liked that they were big shoes to fill or anything like that. But I think the boys were just used to me and I've been there for like eight seasons. They were just used to knowing that I would be there for them and pick up like anything they needed picking up really. But yeah, I was like, I had a great send off.

they even did a move for me. Honestly, they got on a selfie. And then one of the boys scored on my last away game and he did a little S into the camera and stuff. It was really cool. It was just super emotional. I literally just was into it as a whole, that game. It just felt like a really big thing to be leaving. Do you think it's because you're going to the unknown?

something straight away another role? Yeah, I think so. And I think I'm just really driven and motivated and I just I love you know I love my job and I was sort of coming to France and it was you know kind of not really on my terms it sort of was but not really on my terms and you know I was very lucky that I'd been offered this kind of part -time role to stay in rugby but I wasn't entirely sure how that was gonna pan out and it just seemed really like daunting I just couldn't really get my head around I was like you know for the first time in my life I'm not gonna be working 24 -7.

and I'm the sort of person that we know, like people are like, you're always busy. And I'm like, no, I'm always busy because I make myself busy. Like I don't need, I'm unnecessarily busy. I think it's the high thing for all of us though is like, I think for those of us, we've all had jobs prior to the men, but you tie a lot of your purpose up in your job. So like not having a job to distract you, you're like, so who am I then? If I'm not making my own money and if I'm not going to work every day, if I'm not.

You're relying on someone else as well. And you're like, I think we're all quite independent women really, aren't we? And then you suddenly feel like you're tied up in this, like...

the sort of term wag and it's like not being disrespectful, but it's like, yeah. But it feels like suddenly everything's, I mean, me and you, Jada, we spoke so much, didn't we, in those first months about purpose and just, you know, what is our purpose now and how important it was. And I think, you know, I'm still trying to kind of refine my purpose, I guess. I guess it's redefining purpose as like a whole, like you just, you existing.

I feel like it's your purpose and it's really hard to accept that once things have been taken away from you. It feels like things have been taken away from you but really it's like some people would probably dream about the life that we're living to an extent. But yeah, purpose hates, like the never ending set. In the meantime we run a 100 kilometres of that drive.

France. France and I mean the most recent hectic ultra run that you did while you were here was the...

one in Wales, the back, what's it called? Dragon's back. And for me, that was the first time I've actually known someone that's done. Me too. You see this on social, see this online. But to personally know someone that is crazy enough to do it, that was a whole week, or you explain the race in a minute. But I remember she said, this is how you follow me. And all of us girls here jumped on board in a chair and we're literally following a red dot every day, following Sophie running on this map to see if she had to hit targets. And that was just like, yeah, even the boys were in on it, it was something we'd never really experienced.

So now I'm like, well, she's actually an ultra runner. She's mad. So Dragon's Back of the whole of Wales. Dragon's Back. So I actually did Dragon's Back for the first time the year before I came to France. And I, in theory, failed. So basic Dragon's Back is a 330 kilometer race from the...

top of Wales, the end of Wales basically, the bottom of Wales. So from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle. It's a stage race, you've got six days and it goes through the mountain ranges basically in Wales. So as well as being 330 kilometres, it's 18 ,000 metres of climbing. And you've got, I think 16 hours a day to do each of these stages. So I attempted it in that first year and I missed a cut off by 12 minutes on day two. On the Wednesday, like day three.

It was day two, yeah, it was day two. It had been a really, really hot couple of days and we just misjudged it. We carried on there myself and the guy that was running with Steve, we basically carried on. We did the whole week. It was like the most expensive recce ever. But there was no way that we were giving up at that point. So we did it. And then basically I'd always said it's going to be a one and done. Obviously it wasn't. So at that point I was like, right, I'm going to have to do it next year. And obviously at this point I didn't know I was going to be in France. So I signed up again and then...

I basically moved to France just after Dragon's back. So then it was really difficult to train for it, but I got back a little bit. And then, yeah, obviously, 22, I was here. And obviously, yeah, I spoke to you girls and sort of said, I think, like, yeah, I can't even remember what I did in the run -up to it, but I don't think, yeah, anyone really knew too much about what I was doing. Because she's such a quiet person as well, so I didn't want to blow your own trumpet. So no one really knew to what extent, you know, because we're all kind of trying to get to know you as well. I feel like also when you're in your like leading up to a race.

out there. It was unbelievable to be honest because you get Dragon Mail so at the end of each day like people could follow you obviously but they could also send you messages and I'd get back and you'd basically go and you'd get back from your day and it could be any depending on how your day had gone it could be anywhere up to sort of 10 o 'clock at night obviously you're pretty tired. That year it was much better for me.

like get in and then they'd scan your barcode on your wrist and then you'd get a printout and people getting like a few nice messages. It was actually embarrassing, like my list of messages. I think I've actually done an Instagram post on it because it was wild and someone actually said to me that you won the messages that year. Ask you guys when I mocked each other on your actual messaging. It was like a group chat. A group chat was on her freaking printout. Yeah, it was amazing. Like I absolutely just felt the love from everyone and I think it was the first time you just kind of feel like...

you've sort of been accepted and you've got this family away from like away from your family and because you know I guess we're all away from our friends and especially for you guys like it's so hard not having any family here.

That was the first time I was like, wow, these girls. And then the icing on the cake was obviously I had an amazing time, finished it. It was like, I've got such cool videos of you guys like basically having a party on my finished day, watching it on the screen. I was like, this is unbelievable. And then I flew back. I think I finished on the, it was a Saturday and then I flew back. I think it was a Monday night maybe and walked through the gate at the airport to all of you with like rosé balloons. It was about midnight.

to see a song in the airport? It was, yeah, that was unbelievable. It was definitely pretty emotional. I mean, I was swollen and tired and very emotional anyway, but yeah, that was incredible. So yeah, I think that was the, that's kind of... Your biggest race? Yeah, I think at the time, now, obviously the last couple of years, I've definitely done some cool races. I've been pretty lucky. You know, my biggest race probably so far would be the Winter Downs in December, the 200 -mileer.

We sent your own running, which was just an incredible race. Totally, totally different to the Dragon's Back. It's when you're hallucinating. I saw her at the end because we came over to London.

And so I was like, yeah, I was just hallucinating in the woods. And me and my friends, my mates at the time, Jake and Annalee, were like, did she just say she was hallucinating whilst running? I was like, yes, she's not okay. So this race was like, it's actually the same distance and there wasn't as much climb in it, but it was nonstop. So it was very much, much more runnable and you weren't stopping each day. You basically could just, anyone, you could go without sleeping if you could go without sleeping. And it's still a race. You've got someone that's going off to have a sleep and you're not gonna sleep because you need to.

You didn't write you need to beat her. So basically there was like three big checkpoints where you can sleep like and then some people had like vans that people would sleep in as well so you kind of had the options you have a crew and I was really lucky to Steve who I met on Dragon's Back and he we've become great friends Steve Bennett everyone thinks we're related or married but we're not. He crewed me with my sister which was they were just unbelievable they were so supportive. So going into

I just hadn't really done anything. So I'd done Wendover Woods, which was another Centurion race this previous summer. That was 100 miler, but it was 10 lots of 10 mile laps around the woods. And that had actually taken me sort of 30, 31 hours. So I knew that I could go for 30, 31 hours without sleeping, but I just didn't know how that was going to affect me going through the rest of the week. And then the September before I'd been in the Swiss Alps and I'd done...

the Ultra Trail Monte Rosa and that was 100K but again that had a lot of climb and I'd done that in 24 hours. So those two races I knew that I could stay awake but going into this longer race I had no idea how it was going to affect me. So in my head I was just kind of like maybe 100 miles and then try and sleep and we'll just see how it goes.

But yeah, the sleep was wild. So I think to start with, I'd got like maybe 40 minutes or so at the first checkpoint, which was about after about 92 miles. So I think that was about 27 miles in, because I was like, I need to sleep before I need to sleep almost. And then I kind of realized I was in, I guess in a bit of a race. So I was like, right.

Okay, so I'm gonna have to try and not sleep now. And then yeah, I just took little sleeps along the way, getting into the van. My sister and Steve were like, you need to sleep. And they dragged me into the van and...

you know, but yeah, the hallucinations right at the end were wild and because I'd never hallucinated before, because I'd never been out long enough. Yeah, absolutely. So I was in these woods and I was just delirious and there was this puddle on the floor. Like I know it's a puddle now, but at the time I didn't. And I looked down and this puddle literally just came off the floor straight at me, like it was a monster. And I remember just like literally going, screaming. Like I was like, what?

but it was good because it almost woke me up. And there was another time when I was kind of, I was in field, but I was coming into a town and I could just see these three figures and basically they were like the Ku Klux Klan. I mean, I have no idea where that came from because I can't say that I've thought about Ku Klux Klan people or anything, but they were just like in front of me, like, yeah, walking. And I was like.

Should we do a little hallucination? Yeah, I mean... In the lovely British countryside? Yeah. Wow. So extreme that you put yourself through. Yeah, but it was just the coolest race. I mean, St. John we're Running are an amazing company and if you want to go and do anything kind of over a marathon, they're the guys to go and do it with. It's just the most amazing atmosphere. And I think, again, all of us that were running

the 200 mile, I think there's about 92 of us started. It's almost like you're just running in this big family because everyone's actually super supportive. So even though it's kind of a race, it's not a race. For me, it's more of an individual kind of thing, but it's not as well. So individual in terms of like you're the only one that can get yourself through it, start to finish, you're not a team, but you also have a team around you as well. Yeah, it's kind of two ways, twofold really. You have like your crew who are there for you. Well, I guess three even, and then you've got the guys that the staff of the company and they're, you know, they're doing

and everything they can to make sure everyone's in the best chance of finishing safely. And then you've also got your sort of people around you. So for me, like there's a girl called Ali and we ran the first 30 of miles together and it was just the most like, it was amazing. It didn't feel like hard work. We were just chatting away and we just had such a lovely time. And, you know, and then I think I ran a hundred miles with another guy, Seb, who, you know, we, again, we went through every emotion together. Like I didn't even know, I sort of had met him before, but not really. And I think we,

cried, we bickered with each other, we laughed, we sang, you know, so it's, but that's ultra running. Like it's, it's just the friendships you form on the trails or something else. Well, you've definitely motivated me more for this Murdoch thing that we're running in September. That's for sure. Like now I'm actually looking forward to training.

I've just got a three month old baby too.

He's like, yeah, you're going to be pushing me. Wow, you're pretty heavy. No, I think that's what I'm really passionate about, I guess. I love running myself, but I also just absolutely love supporting and trying to help others. And pushing on to the next things. So now being in France now for a few years, what are you doing at the moment? What are your next... I guess, well, I'm still working for WME and supporting rugby players, but I guess my side hustle or my real passion is...

So you've done a full circle again, you've gone back to helping females. Yeah, exactly. Coming back to my real passion, which is just like basically just getting women moving and believing in themselves. So, you know, they always say that you shouldn't do too many things not very well. But I guess what I love is the kind of girls I'm sort of trying to support is, you know, we're helping on the nutrition front, we're helping with training, we're helping with like run coaching, we're kind of doing life stuff. Like tomorrow, there's a group of us and we're going to

an hour away from Toulouse for like just a lovely walk. Yeah, just a lovely walk she reckons. I'm in this group and this is where we're going. But I just, yeah, I'm just really passionate about just showing, you know, for me, I'm so lucky that I've got the confidence and the motivation to get an app, find a route, get in my car, drive and go and find it and just hike it or run it.

And I know there's a lot of people that want to do that, but just don't feel the same. So I just want to show the girls that I'm around, you can do that. So, you know, like just give them the confidence to be able to go and do that. And obviously Kayla with her half marathon, you know, it's just, it's so cool to see, like it's just so cool to show someone, like you didn't actually do anything, but you're just giving them probably a little bit belief that they can actually do it. And you just sort of - So yes, I did do a half marathon and she ran the whole way, talked the whole way, just positive.

as the hallway and in the last three minutes she's like you need to fucking move I think it was fucking run yeah she did yeah again I would have done that without your support so I'm just saying like it's

So you've got like a proper, well you're starting this coaching business, right? That is... I mean, yeah, very, very down low. Not, I mean, business is a bit of a scary word. It's not really my thing. I guess I'm just trying to help people that are around me. So it kind of started off, obviously I'm lucky I'm involved in the boot camp with the girls, which was very well set up and they sort of run it themselves. They don't need anyone. I think there's a girl called Charlotte who used to run it really successfully and then the girls sort of took it on themselves. So I kind of joined that group and I got...

to know a lot of the other English girls that are not rugby, they're mostly Airbus.

And I think through that we just slowly but surely we did like a little challenge before Christmas and then basically I've just put out like a little spring challenge thing now and for about 16 ladies I think that were involved in it and it's not like one of those crazy body transformation things or anything.

Exercise, no, I'm joking, I'm joking. Yeah, no, the spring challenge, yeah, just really like just trying to help people with like find their habits and just making sure that, you know, people are like drinking water and getting their steps in and really just kind of trying to support these girls that want to be supported and just get them back into finding themselves. Because I think especially in this life, like, you know, I'm very conscious that, yeah, people look at us and say we're very lucky, but I think this life isn't that easy. You know, you're like we said,

you might have lost a bit of your purpose, you might not be doing exactly what you want to do right now, you might have time on your hands, but actually I think when you're not doing a lot, it's actually harder to get motivated to do things and I think that's, you know, that's where you come into it. Let's say that because I get like from all the podcasts that we've done, sorry about myself.

Shh, it's for women. Shush you. Like, no, but most of the people that we've spoken to, the biggest thing that does make a difference in the livelihood of all the wives that are being wives, being mothers, supporting their partners in their jobs, whether it's staff or players on the rugby team, it's how you look after yourself. Like, in terms of what you like, all the things that you've just touched on, like if you're not taking time out for yourself,

yourself and going for runs or working out really. Like your mental health, it affects your mental health, it affects your home, it affects everything, it affects your whole experience.

being a wife to these boys. I think I'm pretty lucky because I don't have young children constantly to look after so I can go and do the things I want to do but I think for some of the girls out here who've got three children, you know, got lots of children, you know, and their lives revolve around taxiing the kids around and preparing the meals and cleaning the house and, you know, like, and that's really, really important but they often then forget that they need to look after themselves and or they can't

quite just carve out that time for themselves, they might be a bit lost with it. And actually, can we or can I put some sort of support mechanism in place to help them find that? Because they can do it, but it's just sometimes when you haven't been doing it, it's really hard to find it again. And it's almost just bringing everyone together as well, because I think that's just really important, is just having that network. And in this life, it's really easy to sit at home on your own and just hide away. It is really easy to do that.

you're kind of in this country where it's not easy language -wise, you know, just getting things. I think for us as well it's difficult, you just, if you were at home, you're back in your own country, you would just get stuff done. Like you need, you need a medical appointment, you can just get it done. Here you are either relying on...

partner or you're relying on someone else or you're, it's really difficult to get those things done and then to try and fit in doing things for yourself I think yeah it's really easy to kind of get lost and forget so I think if we can just put some mechanisms in place and support you know like we're so lucky we've got obviously our like to lose group and then we've got this kind of like little like fitness group I guess and you know people can just...

you know, air their frustrations or, you know, someone wants to go for a walk, they can just stick it on there and usually someone will, you know, join them and hopefully it's just empowering, empowering the girls to be able to do what they want to do and just look after themselves. It's so important, like it's so important. I think it's why we're kind of shifting even our podcast in that direction, like taking care of ourselves because... And that can look different for everyone. Yeah, exactly. For me, a massage for one hour 30 is when I'm most relaxed.

I don't believe you're relaxed out. I'm not on my phone, usually I sleep. But I said to Peter that is the only time that I ever feel relaxed is when I'm at a massage and no one's around me. No one's talking to me. Eliza bubbles the best. She knows when I want to talk and then when it stops.

And some people might find that therapeutic and running trails and ultra running. So everyone's different, it's just trying to find out. Everyone's wellness journey is a different two. Everyone's got different approaches, different diet plans, different tools I guess you could feel. Different body shapes, different body types. And children are different ages. Everyone's got different challenges with the different ages I think. But I think what I've learned in my short time as a mother...

so far is like you get so wrapped up in trying to keep these things alive like we actually do have time if you just like breathe but you just are so hormonal and so like all over the place and especially here where you don't have family to support you you take it all in yourself and you're like actually I can just like chill the fuck out and like

take a second for myself because it just benefits everyone else. Yeah, I think that's something, isn't it? Like, actually, what you realise is, and like, to be fair to Alan, he's really good at this. He knows, like, not that he lets me run because he didn't let me run, like, he wouldn't stop me, but... Gives you permission to take a shot of your leash. Yeah, take it. Go run. You don't pay her as a day off.

Yeah, no. But what he knows is that if my training is going well and I'm eating well and all of those bits and pieces, he knows I'm a better person generally. He'll be like, no, she's measurable and grumpy. But that's, you know, and I think for everyone, you've got that thing and it's just finding... Yeah, helping people find what their thing is and what's actually going to give them that kind of... Because actually, they'll be a better parent, they'll be a better person. They'll, you know, not as in judged better person, but as in just they'll feel better. Yeah, sure. Yeah.

Most of the times the boys don't actually know what that is either. So like when I was in a rap, Peter's like, what is it? I was like, I don't know what it is. So he couldn't help me. So it's like this, and I guess only women kind of know what women go through to an extent. Which is why it's cool our foreign group here or any other player around or partner, the foreign group or your, your wag group sometimes does play a big role in trying to find out what that is. But it's not easy. It's not a glamorous life.

We get some great perks. Yeah, we get some great perks, however it comes with... I think we are all really grateful. And I think that's the thing. It's like... Hashtag grateful, hashtag blessed. I think that's the thing. It's even when you've got... People used to say to me about my bath job, you've got the most amazing job. And it was incredible, but it was still a job. And I think that's kind of like with this now, it's like it's... We are all really grateful for the position that we're in, but obviously there's always sacrifice. Everybody makes sacrifice, but...

People say, you know, you're in a really great position, but you are, but it shouldn't be at the detriment of you and your wellness and your health and wellbeing, which it can be at times. It can be a hundred. I think most of the time it is. And then we as women have to find and rebuild all of that. Because I think, like I said, we are coming from a position of privilege saying this, but it is to our detriment that the men in our...

can do what they do. And then it's us constantly having to find ways to...

Rebuild because we can build this community and these things here and to lose but then the next contract But at least it's like you said it's having the mechanisms in place so knowing I need to join a community Yeah, like having crossfit this crossfit every other words. I need to join a crossfit gym. Yeah, it's just learning the basic structures Yeah, and you're ready for it you're prepared and you've got your you know, your non -negotiables may be in place. So actually yeah

I'm happy to move, but actually the three things I need to make sure for me is I have a gym. Not going to that club if there's no CrossFit gym. There's no mountains or trails. I'm not moving there if it's flat. That's why I keep saying that to Al. I'm like, everyone says, Toulouse is wonderful. I'm like, it's a little bit flat. It's so flat. And I'm like, Al, can we not make it to Perpignan or Cologne? And he's like, can you just be grateful?

Like Pesh David is the highest peak, right? And that's ridiculous. When I found that I was like, right, I've got a peak now. But yeah, I think that's what I say to people. We actually read somewhere with Sian and Zach for one of his birthdays a couple years ago with the swing bridge. yeah? That was hard. That was uphill. That was in the... I'll have to let Sian find that out because Sian listens. Hi Sian. But that was like a bit of a hike and we took all the kids up it and at the top was a massive bridge, swing bridge. But that was like...

I'll find that out for you, Arshan. Excellent. Yeah, no, I think now... That was about an hour and a half drive. See, I'm pretty lucky now I've got my running community as well as the rugby community. And I, you know, I'm so lucky that I got connected with Sarah Cameron, who has been over here for, I think, like 18 or 20 years. She's English and she's actually... More crazy than you. She's more crazy than me. She's a coach and I got connected with her. And so she then became my coach, but she's also become a really close friend. And, you know, I'm so lucky to have her.

and we go, so we went yesterday, we drove in Grenada somewhere and just ran up a hill all day together, you know? It's kind of like having that person. And I think that's probably another thing is just finding your tribe or finding your people that like, that you can.

you know, that you can do these things with and do the things that you enjoy with because actually it's lovely going for a run on your own but sometimes it's just nice to have people around you and people to do it with. Interesting because I thought some people may think running is just yourself because it's not a team sport but now you've... You're running away. If we go for a run with you, you're running away. No, I'm saying I'm coming from a support, like a team sport. I thought running was just go by yourself and I don't do that.

I need to talk to people. Yeah, I mean she says that and then she's like sprinting. Shut up. So awkward to me. But it's cool to know that you've said that just to be a runner you can still have a community and be around people and run with people. We're very lucky we've got like a really cool little group here that she's built in Toulouse and you know we've got a little WhatsApp group and we'll go to races so someone's been on half marathon on Sunday and there's like three or four of them running that. So you ran my half marathon a couple weeks ago. Yeah. Then she goes to England to see her sister Laura who's also a runner and doing a

proper London marathon so she goes and runs 20 something K was her and then this Sunday she's wrecking pacing Kelly just another casual half marathon I'm like so she's done half yeah in about in one month for about two or four of them so much fun for us this September you're gonna be amazing I'm super excited for your journey so we've also on that note Jade and I have luckily thanks to JB our wine guy has hooked us up to the Murdoch in September the 7th and Bordeaux

which is a marathon running through all the vineyards, which we thought Sophie was going to join us in, but she's got to do another bigger race in Italy. Guts for us. I'm absolutely gutted to miss that race, but you're going to have the greatest time. So you will be taking all running tips for marathons now. So what are your tips for people that want to get into running? I guess this is probably the best tool you can give, like probably our listeners who are wives of athletes.

running is probably the most accessible thing. You don't need to sign up to a gym, you don't need to do anything. It's free. You just leave the house, go for a run. What's your advice to get people started on their running journey? Well, I guess it depends on the level of fitness to start with, but I think... Shoes first? The right shoes? Yeah, probably some trainers that fit you. So we had a few issues with Kayla. So some trainers, like I think running in its basic form, you know, you can, yeah, a pair of trainers you can get outside. Obviously, depending on your neighbourhood,

and feeling safe, all that caveat. But if you, you know, on the internet now, you can easily, happily get a couch to 5K program. So, couch to 5K. Yeah, so if you haven't been running that much, the best way to get running is to go out and walk and then run and do this kind of walk -run strategy. Like when you want to go out, there's no rules around, I have to run this fast for this long. You know, it's just you getting out there and just enjoying being outside. So even if you haven't really been running, you've just been walking, you could...

introduce a couple of minutes of running into it. You can download this Catch to 5K program. I think if you can find a friend that wants to do it with you, like we talked about, obviously having people around you is obviously the...

best way to get yourself out there and get committed to it. I think it's just important to, yeah, just do it. And if you feel like you can't go outside and you're a member of a gym, then obviously there's the treadmill. There's absolutely nothing wrong with getting on a treadmill. I think you've just got to, basically, whatever you need to do to get yourself out there is the way to do it. I mean, the other option as well is finding yourself a coach. A lot of people think, my God, I don't need a coach. But actually, like, it's just having someone,

to help you write your program and to bounce ideas off and to actually support you on your journey. So I think, you know, any kind of sort of PT or coaching, that's also a good opportunity to, you know, really kind of hold yourself accountable. It just depends where you're at really. I mean, just the first thing is just getting yourself outside, even if it's just a walk. But yeah, if you don't have really lovely accessible trails like we're lucky here, then yeah, the treadmill in the gym, but just get yourself moving.

Or message me. Yeah, she's a good coach. She got me. We'll definitely tag all of Sophie's socials and contact details if you are interested in getting a running program or just joining one of Sophie's communities that she starts up as well. We'll definitely be sharing all of that. She's very supportive, she's very patient, she's very nice. Mostly. Cool. Yeah, she can coach Kayla, she can coach anyone.

I told you to stop running quite as fast, like you were winning the race every time you went for a run. I'd write back to her and Peter's like, shut up and listen to her. I was like, no I'm just saying what I feel. And she's like, no you're not. She's like, listen. That's what happens when you deal with a limpia. Do you run very fast? Fast, am I right? I was like, why is she not happy I got this time? And she's like, you need to slow down Kayla. I was like, huh? Okay. So yeah, the reprogramming took about three weeks for me to reprogram my mental state. But yeah. That is really cool. I felt privileged now. It was really cool.

Very good. So what's your next, before we finish off and wrap up your big race that's coming up next? So I've got a little two day race for Sarah in May I think, East Gile Trail, where we run 20k on the one day and then we run 20k the next day. Our biggest challenge is going to be not drinking wine because we're away for the weekend that night. And then my, then I've got 100 miler in June, Centurion, South Downs Way, which is actually part of the route of the 200 miler that I did, but going the other way.

and it's just the most beautiful UK, one of the most beautiful UK trails, beautiful views across the coast. So I'm really excited for that. And the one that you missed out on running with us is because you'll be running... Le Tour de Gionte, which is again, 330 kilometres and 24 ,000 metres in the Italian Alps. Which was a ballot system, so you're grateful to even be there. I absolutely did not expect to get a place. So I think it was like over 2000. Our runs are going to be way better, but we'll be wishing you good luck for that. I'm going to be so jealous.

Yeah. Just any videos of us drunk off the board over here. And we'll be running on the Saturday either, so I'll just be following you guys, waiting for the footage. So yeah, no. So we've got a very exciting, very exciting summer planned, yeah. And some hikes with you guys. Yeah. Well, we don't know how tomorrow goes, whether I go back again or not. Are we ready to go in a couple more weeks? Yeah. Probably one more week.

Yeah, that is hard work postpartum physio. Yeah You play video games with your vagina. I'm not kidding. You play video games with your vagina. This is a whole new world to me. That's not like Flappy Bird. You gotta get the bird to collect the coins and it goes up and down. Did you do this? No, this is what Jane of this new generation looking after their bits down there. It's good.

She said I'm fine, I only need to do 10 sessions. So that was, I felt good about that. I felt like you were winning.

I don't know how I'll be at that game right now. My mum's still weak. If you did a half marathon without wearing a pad you'd be fine. Yeah, no. I wasn't. Yeah. Didn't wear an epi. Didn't have to wear an epi. It's just period undies. Just in case. Just in case. okay. The new body, hey, just add that on top of like...

or already your body insecurities and peeing yourself onto it. In fact the list is endless right? But thank you for coming on and sharing your journey with us. We knew you know you were quite nervous but we feel that getting your story out there is gonna motivate some men and women that potentially may be listening to us.

Thank you. My worst nightmare, but if it can just inspire or just help some women get out there, that's kind of what I'm really passionate about. So yeah. Well, you've gotten Kayla to do a half marathon. You've motivated me to even just sign up. You went from zero to a hundred. You're going straight marathon. Full marathon. We'll chuck a little half in there first. Thanks for the recommendation. I ran a second.