Training Plans & Runs | Beachy Head Half

I think it’s important that we treat some races as normal long runs. In terms of effort level I mean. Obviously this is going to be anything but a normal long run with the elevation involved, but the goal has to be to go out and enjoy it.

Don’t worry about what pace you’re running or what the clock says when you cross that line. Some of my most enjoyable races, in fact nearly all of my most enjoyable races are when I take this approach.

There’s a time and a place to push hard and chase PBs. This ain’t it. What I will be more focused on in your feedback is how much you enjoyed this race. Something to bear in mind when taking the start line.

Given this, I won’t be setting any targets here, as there is nothing to be gained from that. Enjoy and Good Luck Ben.

PS: Walking is fine. I’ll be doing plenty of that during the marathon 24 hours earlier.

Coach Simon

FEEDBACK

6 ENJOYMENT

RPE

9:50 min/mile

PACE

My initial target was just to do a faster time than last year (2:13 – although there was an extra bit last year that added a couple of minutes), but with training going well recently I had raised my expectations and thought that I may be able to get closer to the 2 hours mark that I did in 2020 (I also did 2:02 and 2:03 in 2021 and 2022). I quickly realised that was not going to happen as started to struggle on the first hill (walked more of it than I would have liked). Anyway I had forgotten how much more running on trails takes out of you. Thing I wasn’t happy about: – Walked far more on the flat bits and near the start than I wanted to. Things I was happy about: – Weather was glorious and couldn’t have been better – sunny, but not too warm and little wind. – I did beat last years time in the end. Overall the hills felt like they narrowly beat me, but managed to keep going at the end to finish relatively strong, although not sure I could have gone much further and certainly couldn’t have done anymore hills! So, I enjoyed the challenge and glad that I did it, but can’t say I enjoyed the whole race, and realise if I want to do it quicker need to do more hilly trails as prep. (Sorry – that is a bit long, don’t feel you have to match it with your response!)

Ben Sallows

I appreciate the feedback. Sometimes the more the better. My response (won’t be as long 😜) is that we did zero preparation for this specific race. So I wouldn’t worry it didn’t go as well as you may have hoped. Has this been a goal race for example we’d have spent more time familiarizing the route and doing trail runs with similar elevation. I probably had a similar experience and appreciate the trails were actually muddier than they would normally be at this time of year. As you say that saps energy. Plus it’s so difficult once you start walking to get out of that habit. Hopefully overall a good experience and nice to do something different. Well done Ben.