The excitement had been building in Woodbridge, and throughout Suffolk, for our visit from Sophie Raworth to The Riverside this weekend. And she didn't disappoint! What's more the sun shone and, with the start of the Bank Holiday, the town had a carnival atmosphere.
Sophie was spending the weekend with friends nearby so had driven up from London earlier in the afternoon. She seemed relaxed and happy, and delighted in seeing her name 'in lights' on the hoarding outside the cinema. She took plenty of pictures inside and out, revelling in the history of this beautiful independent cinema.
On stage, she told us something about her week, reporting from the Chelsea Flower Show, before explaining how she discovered the joy of running in her 40s, and now relishes taken on some extraordinary challenges.
She shared photos from her family album and from her most astonishing achievement in distance running - completing the 150 mile Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert - with lots of funny and astounding stories along the way.
And it was fascinating to hear how she has approached some of the big interviews in her career in the same way that she prepares for a marathon run.
Her passion for her sport was infectious and she's keen to encourage us all to put on our running shoes so that we might also experience the confidence, strength and resilience it has brought her.
It was a fabulous evening. Sophie is a very fluent, engaging and entertaining speaker and hugely inspiring. And she had time for everyone in a very long queue at the end of the evening. Everyone, it seemed, had a story to tell Sophie about their running dreams and ambitions.
But no one was in a hurry to leave as we all enjoyed soaking up an evening of warm friendship, sunny spirits and buoyant positivity. It was a real tonic!
If you weren't able to join us, Sophie's book will also do the trick! Get your copy of 'Running on Air' here and you can take a look at some of the pictures from the evening here.
Thank you for reading.
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