Running on Air cover art

Running on Air

From BBC Headlines to Life-Changing Finish Lines THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

Running on Air

By: Sophie Raworth
Narrated by: Sophie Raworth
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £13.82

Buy Now for £13.82

Bloomsbury presents Running on Air: From BBC Headlines to Life-Changing Finish Lines, written and read by Sophie Raworth

*This audiobook features an exclusive conversation between Sophie and fellow ultra-marathon runner, Susie Chan*

'A cracking read' – Jojo Moyes

From the BBC news to the Marathon des Sables, this is an inspiring journey into running from one of the UK’s best-known broadcasters.

The marathon bug had bitten. I discovered I loved the training, the discipline and the structure that it brought to my life as well as the realisation that despite being in my early 40s, I was getting faster. My confidence grew too. At a time when I felt unsure of my footing at work, running was starting to make me feel steadier on my feet and in my mind. Could I go faster?

At the age of 40, BBC broadcaster Sophie Raworth assumed she was too old to start running. She had done no exercise for decades. But after seeing a friend do the London Marathon, Sophie decided to give it a go. Collapsing two miles from the finish line, her first attempt was a disaster. But she picked herself up and kept going on a path that would take her to races all over the world, across the Alps and even to the Sahara Desert for the famous 150-mile Marathon des Sables.

Along the way Sophie discovered great friends, unexpected strength, new confidence, and deep resilience that has helped her deal with some of the toughest challenges, both at work and in life.

Running on Air will show you that you can do so much more than you ever believed, just by putting one foot in front of the other.©2026 Sophie Raworth (P)2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Art & Literature Journalists, Editors & Publishers Running & Jogging Sports Heartfelt Inspiring
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c

Critic reviews

To say this is a book about running does not do it justice; this is about life and all its challenges, and how lacing up a pair of trainers can take you to places you cannot imagine, while giving the strength to deal with challenges far from the marathon trail. A cracking read. (Jojo Moyes)
Don’t miss out on this fun and inspiring first hand account of how to discover the joy of running at any age. Sophie perfectly conveys all the ecstasy and agonies of her running journey with honesty and wit and shines a light on the wonderful running community and how it can change your life. (Paula Radcliffe)
Inspiring, sometimes painful, always joyous and where it matters very moving - Sophie’s life as a runner will make you want to get your own trainers on. (Jeremy Bowen)
A marvellous book that reveals not just why Sophie is so compelled to run, but makes sense of why I feel the same way too… (Ricky Wilson)
Running on Air is Raworth’s love letter to the sport… a generous, joyful book, compelling regardless of whether you run (I don’t – haven’t got the knees for it – but loved it anyway), deeply moving at points, very funny at others. Generally – and genuinely – life-affirming.
uplifting and inspirational
All stars
Most relevant
I’ve run since the age of 10, half marathons at 13 and whilst no longer able to run as far as I would like, am still enjoying 10k races.
Motivated to go further afield for races after listening to this book.
Sophie is so honest and genuine. Brilliant, brilliant listen.

Brilliant!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The whole book was inspiring and as I started park running in my seventies it meant so much listening to Sophie. Felt as if she was just chatting to me.

Running against horses!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a brilliant, personal account of running, pushing yourself hard, and being able to believe that you can achieve great things! I found it deeply inspiring. I laughed and I cried. I listened to it all in 2 days. Couldn't stop. Highly recommend.

Loved this so, so much!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Funnily enough I was sitting next to Sophie on tube & wondered if she still ran. My last London Marathon had been in 2011. A couple of weeks later I noticed this book was soon to be released, so I decided I’d have a listen. Glad to have done so, as it is both enjoyable and very informative. It is very well written and the reading of it is excellent.

Enjoyable listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’m not, and will never be a runner, but this book is inspiring and uplifting. To begin you are listening to Sophie the Newsreader, but she is swiftly replaced with a passionate runner, with a great story to tell.. I’ll keep walking, but I love that she’s running! A fantastic listen

Non runner review: Uplifting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews