Tom Roper's Running Training

First post-marathon run

For my first run since the Beachy Head Marathon, I waited until today, and ran down to the sea and along, in gorgeous sunshine. I ran quite fast too, surprisingly, and felt good. I should have run with the BSMS runners, but one of them, Claire, is on her way to the US to run in the New York Marathon, part of a season's running she's been doing in aid of Get Kids Going, and it's not too late to sponsor her.
I got my time for the Jog Shop Jog yesterday too, 3:24:46, 122nd out of 195 finishers.
Time: 44:40
Distance: 5.00
Pace: 8.56 (best 7.11)
Average heart rate: 157

Technorati Tags: seaford

Beachy Head results out

The results are up at http://www.beachyheadmarathon.org.uk/whatson/bhm/results_2006.html
My official time was 4.54, and I was 461st.

Technorati Tags: beachyheadmarathon

Beachy Head Marathon: puir bliddy swaddies are weary.

The title is from Hamish Henderson's 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily, to the tune Farewell To The Creeks, which a piper played today as we ran past him, a little way after the start.
The conditions were not as bad as expected, for the promised rain didn't arrive, though there was a stiff wind and the mud in the low-lying areas was nowhere near as bad as I had feared. My knee did not let me down.
My time was five minutes slower than last year, but under the circumstances, that is to say the disruption to my training, I'm not too disappointed.
Time: 04:55
Distance: 25.86 (something wrong here, for the course definitely feels like the full 26.2)
Pace: 11.32 (best 6.51)

Technorati Tags: beachyheadmarathon, hamishhenderson

One day to go

A short run in Stanmer Park with Claire, Jana, Joanna and Steffi. I fell beforehand and hurt my knee, which is stiff and sore, but I think will last tomorrow.
Time: 24:24
Distance: 2.45
Pace: 9.56 (best 8.07)
Average heart rate: 133

Easy two miles

I rose well before dawn, to see the stars still clear in an indigo sky, for a two mile easy run
ITime: 20:34
Distance: 2.09
Pace: 9.51 (best 8.13)
Average heart rate: 172
Two days till Beachy Head.

Four days to go, three runs in one post

There's now four days to go to the Beachy Head Marathon. I've been in Cambridge, but have three runs to record, one at home, out to High and Over for a one hour trip, the first half hour in dry weather, but then the rain started; but I saw the ponies again. The second was in Cambridge, out on the Barton Road and into Barton village, for a session of two fast mile runs, with three minute jog recoveries and ten minute warm-ups and cool-downs, and then today a three mile run out to Grantchester on the road and back along Grantchester Meadows, by the river.
So Sunday's run:

Time: 1:07:47
Distance: 6.79
Pace: 9.59 (best 7.32)
Average heart rate: 145

Monday's:

Time: 44:32
Distance: 4.81
Pace: 9.15 (best 7.38)
Average heart rate: 145

For the mile sessions, my times were as follows:
Mile 1: 8.49
Mile 2: 8.44

And Tuesday's:

Time: 27:25
Distance: 3.09
Pace: 8.53 (best 6.48)
Average heart rate: 148

Technorati Tags: cambridge, grantchester, ponies

Stanmer woods

I had a wet but agreeable run, particularly in the wooded section, with Claire, Jana and Steffi
Time: 44:07

Distance: 4.29
Pace: 10.16 (best 6.57)
Average heart rate: 159

5 miles easy to High and Over

I ran the High and Over route in a brisk wind, but in reverse, so leaving Seaford on the Alfriston Road, up to High and Over and back alongside the golf club.
Time: 48:27

Distance: 5.04
Pace: 9.36 (best 7.20)
Average heart rate: 147

Technorati Tags: easyrun

Repetitions on Seaford front

For my first run after the Jog Shop Jog, I went for three ten minute fast runs with three minutes recoveries in between, and the usual ten minute warm up and cool down. It was hard work and I wasn't very fast, but I dare say it did some good.
Time: 59:00
Distance: 6.37
Pace: 9.15 (best 4.55)
Average heart rate: 153
For the three ten minute sessions, distance and pace were as follows:
Session 1: 1.12/ 8.55
Session 2: 1.09/9.09
Session 3: 1.11/ 9.02
Photos for the Jog Shop Jog are now out, but no official times yet.

Technorati Tags: repetitions, seaford

Jog Shop Jog

Today I ran, for the last long run before Beachy Head, the Jog Shop Jog, an agreeably challenging twenty miles over the downs, including pleasures such as the North Face, the Big W, Death Valley and the Snake. I completed it in a decent time, which was especially satisfying as my history with this race in unimpressive: in 2004 I finished, but had to walk the last third of the course, and in 2005 I was pulled up after the Big W, both times because of knee trouble. This time I had no such trouble, and finished well for me in around 3:25 (some doubt about this as the Forerunner didn't find a signal at the start, which is underneath a fly-over.
Time: 3:24:13
Distance: 19.85
Pace: 10.17 (best 5.54)

Total distance this week: 38.57
Two weeks till the Beachy Head Marathon. Now the taper starts.

Technorati Tags: jogshopjog