Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Paul Thompson - 32min 21sec in 10km Scotland Run

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

The Ever Running Paul Thompson















Having spoken about Paul Thompson in the previous post in the blog, I am happy to hear even at 45 years plus, he is still strong as ever. Paul has raced in Singapore for a number of years and still yearns to run here. He only started serious running at the age of 30. Even at this age, he is very fit for a 40 plus-year-old runner. Recently Paul ran a section of the New York City Marathon, called Scotland  10km Run. In the race, he did a superb sub 33 min which shows that he is in great shape to run the half-marathon and marathon races. I found that his time is coming close to doing a sub 32min. I hope that we can be motivated to train hard in running by reading his interview. 

How is your training going on?

Q1. Well but not as well as early last year. I've had to lower the intensity of workouts to stay injury-free and business travel has forced me to shorten my long weekend runs.

How was the weather during the race?
Q2. Almost perfect. Light wind, dry and around 50F.

What was the race that you took part in recently?
Q3. Scotland Run, Central Park. A 10K race - just over one full circuit of the park ending at Tavern on the Green, the finish line for the New York City Marathon.

What was your time for this race?
Q4. 32:21, 19th of over 8500 finishers, second over 40 and first over 45.

During the run were you able to see the splits.?
Q5. Yes. Clocks are positioned at every mile. The ones I saw read 5:02, 10:10, 15:23, 20:48, and 25:57. Miles 3-4 take in two significant climbs. I hung onto a group of 3 for most of the race but in the last mile, they pulled away to log low 32s.

Recently, have you run any races beside this?
Q6. Yes. This was the third of 2011. The first was a hilly 5K road race in northern Manhattan in early March. I ran 16:04, the first time I had run outside 16 in 20 years. Age is catching up with me. The second was the British Masters XC Champs at Alexandra Stadium (base for US 2012 Olympic Team), Birmingham, UK. I finished 8th overall but second M45-49 so won the silver medal (first-ever individual national medal for the home country) and chance to run for England in a Home Countries XC International in the autumn (England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland).

What is your next short-term goal?
Q7. Run under 71 minutes in the Brooklyn Half in May and break 33 minutes, and get first prize in the over 40s, in the Bolder Boulder 10K in late May. The latter race is at altitude (5500ft) so will be tough.

Any long - term goal that is coming up?
Q8. Help England win the Home Countries XC International referred to at Q6 above.

Any marathon race that you are preparing for?
Q9. None planned but NYC or Chicago is an outside possibility in the autumn. I will be watching Boston this weekend.


Note:

By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).


He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.