Sophie Raworth says she thought she was ‘dying’ when she blacked out with dehydration mid-marathon – caused because she was ‘so obsessed’ with race times she refused to drink any water
- Sophie Raworth, 51, from London, became ‘obsessed’ with marathon timing
- Stopped drinking water to avoid toilet stops and keep time below four hours
- The newsreader ended up blacking out during the 24th mile of the race
- Revealed: ‘The next thing I knew it was pitch black and I thought I was dying’
Sophie Raworth has revealed how she thought she was ‘dying’ when she blacked out with dehydration mid-marathon because she was ‘so obsessed’ with race times she refused to drink any water.
The newsreader, 51, from London, said she was so determined to get a timing under four hours during the London Marathon in 2011 that she stopped drinking water so she could avoid toilet breaks.
However after 24 miles, the mother-of-three began weaving across the road, and crashed into a barrier before blacking out.
She told The Sunday Telegraph: ‘The next thing I knew it was pitch black, I’m lying on the pavement, and I thought I was dying.’
Sophie Raworth, 51, from London, has revealed how she became ‘so obsessed’ with race timings during her first marathon that she stopped drinking water and blacked out (pictured while running in London)
Sophie had completed the Great North Run in 2006 before giving up running for several years to welcome her third child.
But after watching the London marathon on television in 2010, Sophie decided to sign up for the 2011 race.
She planned to raise funds for Cancer Research in memory of a friend who had recently passed away.
The newsreader also felt motivated to lose the weight she had put on during her third pregnancy, and hired a personal trainer to help her prepare for the race.
Having seen her running, the trainer suggested she had the style and the capability to finish the run in under four hours.
At the time, Sophie said she became obsessed with the idea that she felt if she drank anything she would be forced to stop and take a toilet break.
Instead, the newsreader opted not to drink anything on the day.
The newsreader said she hadn’t wanted to add extra time onto her run by taking time out to go to bathroom
When she started feeling unwell at the 24 mile mark, Sophie believed she was hitting ‘The Wall’, which is often spoken about by runners.
However the next thing she knew she was waking up wearing an oxygen mask, with paramedics telling her she had been unconscious for 20 minutes.
Sophie revealed she felt the experience was ‘stupid’, adding: ‘I’m running for these women who died leaving their children and I’m going to die too leaving mine.’
After two hours in the back of an ambulance, she realised she wasn’t going to die and, despite advice from medical professionals, she was determined to finish the race.
After collapsing during the 2011 marathon and finishing the race in 6 hours 24 minutes, Sophie went on to complete the 2012 race (pictured, before the run in 2012)
She raised over £12,000 for charity and went on to finish the run in 6 hours 24 minutes.
The newsreader went on to enter the race the following year in 2012 because she said she had a ‘point to prove’ to her family.
Sophie called the experience ‘terrifying’, saying: ‘I realised it was dehydration. I was so cross with myself. I felt stupid for collapsing. I had a real point to prove to my family, who had waited at the finish line for hours.’
She has since gone on to complete 15 marathons, three ultra-marathons as well as a number of half-marathons.