Book Review: Rundinavia – Running 3,000km Through Scandinavia by Sophie Rooney

One of the things that stood out to me most while reading Rundinavia — a play on words combining running and Scandinavia — was Sophie Rooney’s honesty.

From the very beginning, I found myself reacting out loud while reading — thinking oh no, don’t do that or this is going to end in tears.

I could see the mistakes coming, almost predict what might go wrong. And that, actually, is one of the great joys of reading adventure books.

Mistakes happen.

Errors are made.

Plans unravel.

The real story lies in how those challenges are faced and overcome.

Sophie shares her journey with refreshing openness — her thoughts, feelings, fears, worries and doubts, alongside the physical challenge of running day after day.

As the journey unfolds, it becomes deeply relatable, especially if you’ve done adventures yourself.

You know that some days are magical, when everything clicks and goes to plan, and other days — through no fault of your own — absolutely nothing works.

Those moments of frustration, boredom and exhaustion are where the real growth happens.

About halfway through the book, Sophie celebrates her 24th birthday, and it really stopped me in my tracks. She was just 23 when she started this challenge.

While she was very much an adult, it deepened my empathy and admiration. To take on something this physically and mentally demanding at such a young age — and then to sit down afterwards and reflect so thoughtfully by writing a book — is incredibly powerful.

This is why women’s voices and women’s stories matter so much.

In an age of social media, where adventures can be edited into endless blue skies and highlight reels, Rundinavia shows the reality. Yes, there are beautiful days and incredible people along the way. But there are also days when it’s cold, wet and monotonous.

Days when you’re tired, frustrated and questioning why you’re even doing this. When your hands and feet feel like icicles. When you run out of money, your phone is dying, you can’t get a coffee, and you’re worried about your safety.

These are the stories I want to read.

Although this was a solo challenge, the book is also a reminder that no adventure is ever truly done alone. Sophie highlights the support of family, friends, online communities and complete strangers — small acts of kindness that make all the difference. If you look for kindness, you often find it.

One of the greatest pleasures of reading Rundinavia is watching Sophie grow.

From the opening pages to the end of the journey, there’s a clear shift in confidence, resilience and self-belief.

Things that once caused fear become normal. Camping solo, knocking on strangers’ doors, pushing on through tough days — all become part of who she is.

Even the moments where she doesn’t feel like a “proper adventurer” are, in fact, what make her one. The struggles and self-doubt are the very things that shape her.

Sophie does a wonderful job of documenting her journey, and her willingness to share the hard parts as well as the highs is what makes this book so inspiring.

It’s not just a story about running 3,000km through Scandinavia — it’s about growth, learning and discovering what you’re capable of when you keep going.

A brilliant book, a huge challenge, and a powerful reminder of why honest adventure stories matter.

Sophie also shared her story on the Tough Girl Podcast many years ago, and both the episode and the book are well worth reading and listening to.

Buy the book: Rundinavia: Running 3000km through Scandinavia