What connects Brentford FC to a 106 mile ultramarathon around Mont Blanc?
My name is Sophie Power, and I’m an GB ultrarunner, mum of 3, advocate for women in sport and now a huge supporter of Brentford FC.
In my youth, I was actually a Wimbledon FC fan, before the name change and all that. My dad knew their youth coach so I’d be lucky to get tickets every now and then to go to Selhurst park and watch a match.
I remember being the only one in my girls school remotely interested in football and just couldn’t understand why my classmates would prefer to discuss the latest East 17 songs. Despite my passion for watching the game, I wasn’t “sporty” in the slightest. When we were forced to run a mile at school, at age 14, I came second last in the class, staggering over the line.
From that day, I pronounced myself “not a runner”, so much so that I would actively avoid running. As a novice rower, I even got up early to walk to the boathouse at university rather than run the mile there. That was until 12 years later when I found myself signed up for a 250km ultramarathon across the Sahara desert.
My friend had just finished the Marathon des Sables himself, and managed to convince me it was more of a hike than a run and nine months would be more than enough to train. I naively signed up, then having realized my fate went for my first run the next day.
In the race itself I found myself doing far better than I thought. My limited military experience made me competent enough to manage myself and my kit and I was able to just enjoy the experience, meeting new people in beautiful scenery. From there I competed in stage races – runs split over multiple days – all around the world, from Iceland to Bhutan, Cambodia to Utah.
In 2014, I secured a place in once of the most iconic (and difficult to get into) ultramarathons in the world, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc.
I also then fell pregnant.
I assumed I could defer my place until the year after, when I would be recovered but their policy only allowed for an injury deferral, not pregnancy (that was a “choice” according to UTMB).
I had a difficult physical recovery from giving birth but got back to running ultras, including the 156 mile Spartathlon in Greece.
I kept applying for UTMB though, finally getting a place in 2018 as I’d missed out several years in a row. Except I realized I would have a 3 month old baby on the start line. With no change in their policy, I decided to just have a go and perhaps walk the first 10km.
My son Cormac was only breastfeeding, so I had detailed logistical plan to pre-pump milk then get him to me at the half way point for a big feed. I was 16 hours into the race, having run through the night.
I was feeding him one side, whilst pumping the other. All whilst a male competitor slept with his feet up next to me. A photographer spotted me and asked to take my photo.
A few days later that photo had gone viral around the world. The image spoke of the struggle women have to be athletes and mothers. To have our own goals, alongside our family responsibilities. It also raised the issue – why was I not allowed to run the year after when I was fully fit and prepared?
I was live on the BBC with baby Cormac, being interviewed by global media in-between breastfeeds and being back at work. My life was turned upside down! I was never on social media before, but started an Instagram @ultra_sophie and received hundreds of messages from mothers who identified with the struggle.
I started to campaign races to allow women to defer their places when pregnant or postpartum, securing wins with big races such as London and Chicago marathons, and eventually UTMB itself. At the same time I spoke openly about my struggles to return to fitness after my first pregnancy, and to juggle family and work with my passion for running.
In 2020 I had my third baby, Saoirse. I decided to make a film about my return to running to empower other women – not expecting that I would find out I had a prolapse on camera (the film is available here ).
After a long recovery, I started to focus more than ever on my running and ended up qualifying to represent Great Britain at the 24 hour European Championships in 2022 (where you run 1-2km laps for 24 hours and see how far you can go…)
I also realized that equality for women in racing was about far more than allowing women to defer for pregnancy. In the ultramarathons I competed in, women often only made up 10% of the field, with participation gaps in every distance upwards from half marathon. I decided to carry out some detailed research, surveying over 2000 women on their race experiences. Why they raced, what put them off certain races and what could be improved. Together with race directors, I created a set of guidelines for races – simple steps that could be easily taken to get more women on start lines, give us a better experience when we race and fully value our competition. From using images reflecting every runner, to t-shirts that fit and having female toilets with period products. From longer cut-off times, to equal media coverage and of course pregnancy deferral policies.
These guidelines became the foundation of SheRACES – an organization which is now driving change in races across the world.
Which is where Brentford comes in…
My 9 year old son was actually already a Brentford fan. He’d been wearing Bees kit for years, via 4th generation hand me downs and with the lack of parental steering towards any team, had organically become a Bees fan.
Given my SheRACES experience, Brentford asked me to help them put in place a new deferral policy for pregnant season ticket holders.
Giving women the flexibility to take a pause on attending matches until they were ready to return to the GTech.
Just as runners would be allowed to defer running a race until they felt ready.
I must admit I was taken by surprise that a football club would be so inclusive and forward thinking! Learning more it is clearly a theme that runs across the club and has converted me as well into a supporter!
My son, Donnacha, absolutely loved his day out at the Gtech.
Whilst we only managed a draw, he was lucky enough to witness one of the goals of the season – Wissa’s incredible volley against Chelsea.
I’ve had to promise to bring him more next season, though I’ve told him I can’t promise more goals like that!
Running wise, I’ve been setting my own goals. In December, I was the first British Woman at the 24 hour World Championships, running 227km in hot and humid conditions. I then decided to take on a challenge of a lifetime, with the goal to inspire other women to set their own challenges.
At the end of May 2024, I set a new World Recordrunning across Ireland – 347 miles in 3 days 12 hours and 8 minutes – taking only 2 hours and 17 minutes combined sleep along the way.
My two sons supported with my husband (as well as 4 crew) and may have their own record for playing football in the most Irish towns in the same time!
Along the way we had so many schools come out to support and cheer, and hopefully it inspired a new generation of athletes to believe they can achieve more than they realise.
Donnacha is a Bee!
I’m proud – we are all proud – to be Bees fans now – the feeling of inclusion runs throughout club (even free period products in the toilets!).
BeeTogether is setting the standards for other clubs.
I never thought I’d be brought back into the world of football through losing my place in an ultramarathon!
Sophie Power
Sophie’s website is here
A women’s place is on the start line She Races
