Rundinavia: Running 3000km through Scandinavia

by Sophie Rooney

In 2016 Sophie Rooney set off with the bold intention of becoming the first woman to run the length of Scandinavia. From Nordkapp (the northernmost point of mainland Europe) to the German border with Denmark (3000 km south) carrying everything she needed on her back.Initially accompanied by a fellow trail runner, Sophie finds herself thrown into a solo adventure running through some of the most rugged scenery Europe has to offer.Heading out to Norway, bears are top of Sophie’s worries. However, she is soon to find that these big grizzly creatures would be the least of her concerns. In the first month alone having to battle extreme fatigue, dehydration, relentless bog, hunger and eventually illness, the odds are quickly stacked against her. However, not willing to give in Sophie pushes on, often against the advice she has received from people back home. In doing so she finds herself on a journey of self-discovery which creates memories that will last a lifetime.Humorously, we travel along with Sophie, seeing the whole of Scandinavia as we go. The people she meets on the way, the scenery, the food (though often less than gourmet) and everything else that completes this inspiring and ultimately heart-warming story.This is a book which shows that ordinary people can do incredible things. Sophie begins this journey with very little running experience, a disillusionment with sprint kayaking (a sport she had been competing in since a young age) and a thirst to prove herself. Let Sophie’s journey take you out of your comfort zone and show you that there is always more out there if you just have the courage to go and get it.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2019

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read during the final phases of lockdown, I can’t imagine a text that would inspire more wanderlust. Not only does Sophie capably tell her story, down to some amusing details of the potential effects of a bilberry heavy diet, but her love of adventure and the outdoors is infectious.

The whole epic expedition relates a life affirming sense of what a person can achieve in choosing to swim against the flow. It is a book of brave, and occasionally rather uninformed (!), decisions and overcoming the challenges they present whatever the odds, temperature or perceived threat of elk attack. It also glows with basic human warmth thanks to the support of those who incidentally ‘foster’ Sophie along her way and her deeply expressed gratitude.

Unfortunately, it will almost certainly inspire adventures... so have some money put aside and a good bit of annual leave accrued before you read 😉

Vi elsker dette landet og denne boken.

[Miss R J Glithero · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable and inspiring

A great story of an ordinary woman deciding to do the kind of extraordinary thing I wish I was brave enough ( and not so injury prone) to do!

[Holly Kipling · Rating 5 out of 5]

An endearing, honest and inspiring book about a woman striving to achieve the extraordinary goal of running 3000km from Nordkapp to the German border. It has certainly made me bump Scandinavia up my hiking bucketlist!