Tom Roper's Running Training

Mince Pie Ten Mile

For the third year, I went on a Sunday December morning to the Meridian Sports Centre in Peacehaven to take part in the Mince Pie Ten Mile. The weather could have been better, but even so I enjoyed myself.
At around the third mile we met unbelievable mud, puddles and driving sleet. I lost my number to a bush, but retrieved it. Then over the downs, the descent to Saltdean and the vicious hills back up to Telscombe Tye; then the back roads of Peacehaven, a final stretch of mud over a ploughed field and home.
In these conditions the real heroes are the marshals, who have to stand still and get soaked; we runners  can at least keep moving.
Unusually  for me, I swore several times as I was running. I do apologise to anyone I may have offended.
My time is the worst I have recorded for this course, but given the conditions I think I can be excused. I was 157th out of 227 finishers
Time: 1:35:31
Distance: 10
Pace: 9.28 (best 7.06)

Lots of runs

It has been a long time since my last confession, and it has included too many runs to describe in detail, but let me offer three outstanding moments: a cow run, with seven human runners and a dog, on Wednesday 28 November, a long run to Frile Beacon and back on Sunday 2 December, in the teeth of a gale, home in time for the St John's College advent carol service, and yesterday's solo run up onto the downs, which  unintentionally became a 7.5 mile effort, as I contrived to get lost in the mist and rain.

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