Jessica Ennis in training for the World Championships – answers and notes

1 Her maximum speeds a) over 6 metres and b) in the long jump run-up (over the long jump run-up).
The run-up to the long jump is the distance before the long jumper actually jumps – i.e. the approach to the jump. We use the word ‘run-up‘ to mean a preparatory period before an important event – eg The run-up to a wedding can be very expensive. Tracy told me she had not worked very hard in the run-up to her exams. The Greens lost several votes in the run-up to the elections.
2 The fact that Jessica is not doing a typical training session because today people are concentrating on trying to get some data about her performance.
3 She is simply doing ‘one-off runs’ – so is only doing them once, rather than numerous times or over a longer period of time – and this means she also has a bit more recovery time here, which is untypical.
One-off – adjective and noun – if something is a one-off it means it is something that is done, created, etc. only once, and often quickly, simply, or improvisationally. Eg We decided to organise a discussion session just as a one-off to see if anyone was interested in any of our ideas. We’re having a couple of matches as one-offs to see if we enjoy playing together.
4 Data / information on her speeds ‘and stuff’ (=etc) which they will then feed back to Chel* / i.e. to her coach to give him some insight into what Jessica’s actually doing.
*Jessica Ennis’s coach, Toni Minichiello
5 Hard and horrible.
6 Rubbish (= terrible) – even harder (i.e. than the training sessions to put up with).
7 Getting back into everything – i.e. resuming all her sports activities.
8 Running, jumping, lifting weights ‘and stuff’ = and so on.
9 ‘Everything’s sort of moving on.’
To run like stink – informal – run very hard indeed. We could say ‘run like hell’ or ‘run like mad‘ (both informal)to mean the same.
10 The hurdles, the long jump and the shot.
11 3 – it was a 3-event challenge.
12 Reasonably / fairly – she says it was ‘alright – a bit mixed‘ because it was the first time she’d jumped off her other leg (i.e. her non-injured foot) in the long jump & (also) put speed onto it.
13 A lot more time to practise it (i.e. the long jump) & get it right.
14 Because she hadn’t done any hurdling / the hurdles for such a long time.
15 a) Fatigue – tiredness – ‘she felt more tired than anything’ – but b) it was still nice being back in the competition environment

If you’d like to see the last event in the heptathlon – the 800-metre race – click here for a clip from the IAAF⁺ Track and Field World Championships.

⁺ International Association of Athletics Federations

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