Having got wind of it through the Running Commentary forum, I ran for the first time with the Jog Shop Sunday morning Marina running group, choosing the twelve mile option when we reached Saltdean and divided. I found the pace hard to match as we went over Telscombe Tye, along on the downs, travelling some of the route of the Mince Pie Ten Mile, and then up the Snake and home by way of the racecourse. I now have a better understanding of the geography of that area. It was a good discipline to run with a group and have to move faster than usual, but I feel the effects today. Conditions underfoot were muddy, and, though the promised high winds didn't appear, there were strongish winds in some of the more exposed parts of the course.I see that I climbed 1289 feet in the course of this. It was fun to run with others, and I was pleased to run into some old running chums.
I should have run a five mile steady pace run as well on Friday, but a cough prevented me. I am more or less recovered, but it may explain why I found yesterday difficult. Looking back at my training for Beachy Head, I was running 11- minute miles at the same stage in the programme then, so yesterday's 10.13 pace is good. Is it harder work running an unfamiliar route?
Time: 2:05:53
Distance: 12.3
Pace: 10:13
Total mileage this week: 16.46
Fourteen weeks till the London Marathon
Five weeks till the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon
Eight weeks till the Hastings Half Marathon
