Tom Roper's Running Training

Early morning

An early morning murky run down to and along Seaford sea front.
Time: 48:17
Average heart rate: 136
Distance: 5.1 miles

"Give me a cool drink of water 'fore I die"

From John Henry (trad).
Time: 1:51:46
Average heart rate: 146
Distance: 11.4 miles
Today I took the car to the Seven Sisters Country park and ran over the Sisters, Birling Gap, Belle Tout and nearly to Beachy Head. Though not very far in distance, it was very tough, up and down, up and down very steep slopes, and very exhausting. I tried to count the Seven Sisters in my head as I ascended and descended each one, but lost count (like counting the balls of an over in cricket). Wild daffodils in bud near Belle Tout. Possibly I should choose easier but longer routes.
Total distance this week: 37.3 miles
Now eleven weeks to the London marathon, three till the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon and six till the Hastings Half Marathon

Seaford front

Short run this morning down to the sea where the sun shone brightly, along the front to the base of the cliff where the kittiwakes nest.
Time: 44:57
Distance: 5.1 miles
Average heart rate: 139

Alfriston, Cuckmere, Seaford Head

A long run today, along what is roughly the route of the Seaford half marathon; up on the path to Bostal hill, along and down to Alfriston, then the Cuckmere valley to Seaford Head, up along the  cliffs and home. Very sticky, glutinous mud in the Cuckmere valley, the sort that takes shoes and never gives them back. Sheep, larks, swans, oyster-catchers.
Time: 2:25:42
Average heart rate: 147
Distance: 14.1 miles

Total distance this week: 38.9 miles
Now twelve weeks to the London marathon, four till the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon and seven till the Hastings Half Marathon

Short Seaford run

A short local run on a fine cold morning. Ran alternate two minute sessions of hard then easy.
Time: 30:00
Distance: 3.8 miles
Average heart rate: 141 (the monitor seems to have righted itself)

Beddingham

Out along the path to Firle Beacon, then on to the Beddingham radio masts, then back by way of Black Cap Farm, Norton and Bishopstone.  Snowdrops and one daffodil, dogs, horses and sheep. I felt rough for first thirty minutes and doubted if I'd make the objective of the radio masts, but felt better and faster once I turned west onto the path up Firle Beacon.
Time: 1:57: 53
Average heart rate; 93 (that's what it says, but this must be utter fiction: will try a new battery)
Distance: 12.3 miles

Total distance this week: 39.8 miles
Thirteen weeks to the London Marathon, five till the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon and eight till the Hastings Half Marathon

Bishopstone and Seaford front

Damp, mild and muddy (for the section over the fields) run at 9 this morning over to Bishopstone and then along Seaford front.
Time: 1:00:05
Distance: 6.6 miles
Average heart rate: 93 (some mistake surely: I can't have put the sensors on properly)