Ultrarunner Sophie Power smashes world record in Birmingham
Power said she had made it her mission to break down barriers facing women in sport - including greater consideration of women's needs in race planning.She rose to prominence in 2018 when an image of her taken during the 2018 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc captured her breastfeeding her son, during a 103-mile race, one of the world's toughest ultra-marathons, while a male competitor napped beside her.This inspire her to set up the charity, which aims for better equity and inclusion for women in trail running and ultrarunning."SheRaces is about changing the narrative for women in endurance sports - breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and empowering women to achieve their full potential," Power said."This record is proof that when given the platform, we can achieve the extraordinary."
She added that running on a treadmill – as she did for this record – was harder than running outdoors, as the unchanging environment makes it mentally exhausting."You don't have the stimulation of scenery or fresh air to keep you going," she said."It was tough not being able to nap or properly eat while trying to keep moving, and the monotony tested my resilience, but ultimately we can do hard things and that's what I set out to prove."She said doing it for SheRaces and ensuring her daughter does not experience the barriers she faced kept her pushing on.
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