With the European Athletics Championships now underway in Barcelona, Run247 caught up with marathon hopeful Susan Partridge before the race on Saturday. One of Britain’s most consistent performers on and off-road, Susan has made a breakthrough this year, recording a personal best of 2hrs 35mins 57secs at the Virgin London Marathon and taking 17th place overall. It was this run that earned the Puma-sponsored athlete selection for the Europeans, which will be her first major championships.
How are you going to approach the race this weekend?
If it was an ordinary race, I’d be looking to run a personal best. But the big factor is going to be the heat and humidity. I have previously lived in Barcelona but it was a long time ago. I’d like to get through the race feeling strong. I probably have to accept the fact that I might have to ease back, be smart and make sure I’m properly hydrated. So, I’d want to get a decent time and finish strongly.
What did you do immediately after the Virgin London Marathon?
I had a couple of weeks rest, before starting to get my training back up to marathon levels, which, for me, means around 90-100 miles a week. I’ve tried to keep my mileage at the lower end of that range this year, as previously, I’d been a bit over-ambitious. It’s better to get a quality 90 miles in, than a bigger amount made up of more ‘junk’ mileage.
What do you put your improvement down to this year and why has it taken so long?
There are various reasons why it’s been such a slow improvement (she ran 2:37.50 in 2005 after a 2:41 debut the previous year). Some of my marathon races I ran I wasn’t 100% on the day; in others, I simply over-cooked it. In the last one I ran in 2008, I wasn’t right physically and mentally and my heart wasn’t really in it. I didn’t expect it to take so long, especially when I ran 2:37. Keeping my mileage at around 90 has meant I’ve been more enthusiastic about my training – and more consistent. It’s a way of making sure I do the right build-up.
How do you think you can progress your training?
I’d like to think that I will be able to consistently run 100 mile weeks before I retire. But it has to be done gradually and there’s no point trying to copy the training programme of a full-time athlete (Susan works as a research assistant at the University of Leeds). I’m good at recognising when I’m tired and will focus on key sessions like a marathon tempo run and a long run. For the most part, I can be reasonably sensible!
You started running marathons fairly early in your career. Why was that?
I just wanted to run a marathon: many people wait because they think they can get more out of their 10k times. It does mean that I’ve probably run my 10k and half times off marathon training. But you have to do what interests and motivates you. So long as you’re sensible, it doesn’t harm you to start early in your running career (Susan was 24). And it gives you more time to keep trying – which is no bad thing!
Do you have a coach?
I’ve been coached by John Montgomery at the City of Glasgow since I was at university. I try and see him as often as I can, but now I know what I’m doing. I speak to him once or twice a week and he sets me sessions. I still discuss my running with him and he sets and structures my overall training plan.
Susan Partridge wears the PUMA Complete Velosis 2 - www.pumarunning.com
