Tom Roper's Running Training

Running in 2014 and 2015

The year that is nearly over was not my finest. I ran 390.97 miles, running on 106 occasions, and ascending 7,578 m. For comparison, in 2013 I covered 406.05 miles in 113 sessions, and in 2012 687.33 miles in 161 runs. Some months were better than others; in the early part of the year I was still beset by a knee injury. From the chart below you’ll see that the first half of the year, and October,  for some reason, were the worst months. 

As for races, I entered nothing until the Heathfield 10k in late June. After that, I began to find form once more, and even improved on my 2013 times for some races. 

What of 2015? I already have a place in the Hastings Half, and training is in progress; indeed, yesterday I ran my first interval session for a very long time. I’m tempted by other, longer races too: the Rye Ten Mile and the Bewl Fifteen for example. I’m more interested in new races than those I’ve run before. I have no plans for another marathon, though perhaps I should. I reach the ripe old age of sixty in February, though runners, like racehorses, all have their birthdays at the same time of year so I will not go up into the 60-70 age group until 2016. 

11 weeks and 4 days till Hastings
20 weeks and 4 days till Rye
26 weeks and 4 days till Bewl

Crowborough 10k

The sun shone as I drove north through Sussex to the start.  Crowborough is famous, not only as the home of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, but also as the highest inhabited point about sea level in East Sussex. I found the race headquarters in damp thick fog. 

The race is hilly, two laps, comprising a long descent, an ascent and a brief flat stretch. It is easy to go too fast on the first downhill, as I did. The uphill starts with a ford, and it is a mark of pride for many to run through it. I did so on both laps. 

I first ran this race in 2011, I see, the year after it was snowed off. My times have been as follows

2011: 1:01:32
2012: 1:02:33
2013: 1:04:33
2014: 1:02:20

So, while today’s time was not a course personal best, it represents improvement. It would be lovely to run it inside the hour. Perhaps it is still possible.