Tom Roper's Running Training

Newhaven and Seaford

A Sunday run down to the sea, along the front to the end of Newhaven's East Pier, then back the length of Seaford front to Splash Point and up Seaford Head.
Time: 1:25:56
Distance: 8.77
Pace: 9.48 (best 7.55)
Average heart rate: 159
As I ran I thought about future running plans. I'm not entered in anything at the moment, but came to a decision: I shall do both the Jog Shop Jog (20 miles) and the Beachy Head marathon. The Jog Shop Jog shall serve as a last long run before the marathon.

Seaford half-marathon results

The results are now up on the Lions website.
My official time was 2:07:36 and I was 144th out of 344 (in 2004 time was 2:00:15 and I was 50th out of 143)

The day of the Seaford half marathon

It was today; the weather stayed dry though windy. It was hard work and I was slower than last year.
Provisional time (some operator error with Forerunner so I'm afraid official time will be worse): 2:07:39
Average pace: 9.45 (best 7.12)
There are some photos too.

Official time

Here's my time from the results on the London Marathon website. My BSMS colleague Claire Brooks did it in  4:16:14. A full account of the day will follow:

Results for:   

TOM. ROPER
Marathon

Runner No.: 34664

Nationality: GBR

Position (Overall):     17861
Position (Gender):     14151
Position (Age group):     1562

Splits
KM10:     0:58:46           KM20:     2:00:04
HALF:     2:07:16           KM30:     3:09:59
KM40:     4:18:59           FINISH:     4:32:11

25th Flora London Marathon 17 April 2005

Today was the day. I started well, hitting 9 minute miles as planned for the first ten miles, but then cramp or something similar hit in right leg.
So final time according to own watch was something like 4:32. Official time to follow.
Thank you to everybody who supported me and the Blue Cross, and to those people on the route who cheered me, even though they didn't know me from Adam.

Hastings Half Marathon photos

The photos are now up. But I'm afraid I don't think any of these do justice to my puissant technique or film-star good looks; the camera often lies.

Hasting Half Marathon

Two rest days on Friday and Saturday, followed by the Hastings Half Marathon which I completed in 1:43:44, by my watch, with two caveats:
1. I started my watch as I crossed the start line, which was about two minutes after the gun, but another runner told me they only work from gun times, not chip time. [Post scriptum: provisional results are now out which give me as 1:45:05 and 912nd]
2. Confusion at the finish meant I didn't stop my watch straightaway. But I'm very pleased, as it's the same sort of time as I did for the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon, but over a hillier course.

Now five weeks till London.
Total distance this week: 30.3 miles

Sussex Beacon Half Marathon

Today was the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon. I ran it, along with some 2700 others, on a sunny morning but with a coldish wind.
Time by my watch: 1:43:23 (which I'm very pleased with, but I await the official time, supposed to come it by text, but nothing yet) Post scriptum: it's just come, 01:43:14, and my chip position [sic-is this the same as race position?] was 661. If I was 661st out of 2,700, I think that very respectable for a man of my age.
Distance: 13.1 miles

Total distance this week: 34.1

Now eight weeks to the London marathon and three till the Hastings Half Marathon