Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Hope everyone has had an amazing christmas (i sure have) and that you all have great parties tonight to bring in the New Year !!

This year has been pretty awsome: of course firstly running my first womens 10k, returning from an expedition in Africa, leaving school to start my course at Glasgow Caledonian, good nights out and gigs and then to top it off being picked for face of the race 2011 :) Looking foward to what the new year will have instore.

Kicking it off by heading of to France tomorrow "Risoul" to be specific for a week of good banter and snowboarding, then back for the launch on thw 10th of January and after that I will need to kickstart my training for May !!!

Met up with a group of friends from my old high school last week and me being on the leaflets has tempted them to possibly sign up for the run (no idea why as there are far greater thingsabout thw 10k than me being on the leaflets :P) but I will be making sure they stick by their word ... no backing out now !!

All the Best

Jodie

First Blog as Face of Race

Here goes the first blog since finding out I was going to be one of the faces of the race 2011 :)

Cant explain how excited and suprised I was when I got the call and cant wait till the race in May. Although I will certainly need that time to get ready for it as my training has been well ...non exsistant for a good while now.

The photoshoot was great fun and can't wait till the final shots come out ! Also looking foward to the launch in January just need to ensure no injuries the week before -since I will snowboarding in France- :)

So bring on less snow and clear paths and the training will begin ......

Winter blues

I'm new to blogging, so you'll have to bear with me. Having recently been told I'm a 'Face of the Race' (the most 'mature' one!), I feel a bit of a fraud because I haven't been out running for several weeks now. The pavements are still icy and treacherous and I'm not going to risk a fall, as I'd be out for weeks more. I had a great pre-Christmas drink (or several!) with women from my infomal running group and it's great to make new, like-minded friends through running.

Let's hope the weather warms up soon, so that we can get out there and start running off those mince pies, to make room for the turkey and Christmas pud!

goodbye and thanks

thank you soo much everyone for the support and encouragement doing the 10k race......i am soo glad i entered the race and the competition to be face of the race.....i dont want it to end???

ive made two great friends in Pip and Ange and hope to keep in contact with them xx

and i will definately keep up the running/jogging....i havent been to a class for ages...much prefer outdoors now!!!

thanks to everyone hwo sponsored me to raise money for the big build appeal xx

will see you all next year at the next 10k xx

love always natz

Goodbye from me!

Well after many months of training and lot's of anxiety, sadly it's all over. It was another brilliant year, I managed a PB taking 10 mins off last year! 1:01:40 - Really happy with this time.

I could not get over the number of people this year again taking part, everyone was so happy to be there, the residents along the route made me burst with emotion, supporting and cheering us on while offering water and sweets :D

I hope my blog has helped others in some kind of way, I have really enjoyed writing them. See you all next year! xx

A huge thanks to my family and friends for all their support and sponsorship.

JogScotland and Parkrun for the training, and everyone at Run Glasgow for organising such a great event.

Tomorrow could be the greatest day of our lives!

They say ignorance is bliss so I have deliberately tried to avoid finding out too much about the route for the 10k (just like I refuse to watch the trailer for Sex and the City 2), which is now less than 24 hours away...But like the best laid plans, I came a cropper this morning when I went along to take photos at parkrun.

As we left Pollok Park after the run, we came upon the markings and tape all set up for tomorrow. Just when I thought my mouth couldn't get any drier, my (formerly) good friend Carlos decided to impart the interesting (to him) information that the 10k route followed some of the parkrun route, except with a twist. It goes in the reverse direction (I should have known he had something evil in mind when he came dressed in his cape, top hat, and twirly moustache today).

This means that the hill that usually signals a welcome respite from battling with my legs to keep going during parkrun is going to take more persuasion to work tomorrow than a Tory-Lib Dem alliance. And like the voters who were denied entry to their polling stations, my legs just won't be given a choice tomorrow as there will still be several miles to go to the finishing line at that point.

My training has taken a nose dive in the last 6 weeks but I managed to at least recoup a little in the last fortnight. Parkrun, which is half the distance of tomorrow's race, has been a struggle the past 2 weeks I've run it, so it doesn't bode well. However, I was boosted by the fact that my wee sister signed up on Monday night - well I signed her up, and yes she does know...now. It always makes a great difference to your confidence when you have a familiar face to run with, and behind, and then catch up with an hour later at the finishing line...

But on the whole, I'm actually really looking forward to it! Which couldn't be further from this time last year when I completely lost my nerve after I had a similar lapse in training close to the time of the race, and then ended up not doing it. This year, I was determined not to lose out on what everyone tells me is a fantastic day to remember, and an achievement for every single woman who takes part. And hey, I can always walk some/most/all of it.

So for my supportive wee sis, here's a video which will stir some good memories...:-)

The big day is nearly here!

Was thinking about going for a run on Sunday - anyone wish to join me??

I would also like to wish everyone the best of luck, will try to control my tears of excitement so I look semi decent in my pictures. And I hope to come back on Sunday to advise of a great time and the fact that I managed to complete the run without the aid of oxygen :D

Best wishes everyone - remember to cheer on the pipers! :D

10K 9TH MAY 2010

Just wishing everyone the very best of luck for the big day on sunday..
Enjoy the run it,s all good fun and make the most of the chance to be part of
one of Glasgows biggest days .....Good Luck Ladies...

All sponsors welcome!

I'm running the 2010 Ignis Asset Management Women's 10k and attempting to raise money for Alzheimers Scotland.
I care for my elderly mother who has Alzheimers and receives support from Alzheimers Scotland who provide day care facilities for her. Without this support I would struggle to continue my work as a nursey nurse, and also support my family. I am also looking to raise awareness for this disease that affects many people and their families.
I was proud to be nominated by my son for the Evening Times Face of the Race 2010 and was lucky enough to be one of the winners! My role has been to promote the race and to inspire others to sign up! This has also given me a boost for my fund raising.
It's a busy life bringing up five kids and supporting my mother but I know what she done for me bringing up a family of six so it's a labour of love. She's a great character and Alzheimers is such a sad disease.
Any donations would be greatly appreciated. http://www.justgiving.com/angiemcqueen
Angie McQueen



X

Under 3 weeks to go!

Well what an eventful few weeks I’ve had! First, we had such a great time at the Glasgow Running Network 5k at the end of March, it was a great atmosphere and a really good training exercise for the 10k. However, not long afterwards, my family and I were struck down with a sickness bug which was just horrible and hindered the good progress I’d been making with training. Once we were over that things got a little better and I got out running again. I am so determined to do this, I was even running to and from my Weight Watchers class - now that’s dedication isn’t!
So, training is going well again and I was pleased to find out that the other Face of the Race girls and myself were due to get fully kitted out with running gear as part of winning the competition! We went to Run 4 It on Bothwell Street in Glasgow and Pamela from the shop was great! We definitely got the special treatment and got to pick some Gore training kit and a pair of Ascics trainers, so now I am fully kitted out with the best kit I really need to pull out all the stops ha ha.

My son Paul and I did over 5k the other day and I was so pleased with my time, I managed it in 29 minutes so I know I am definitely progressing. Roll on 9th May!

I have also now started the ball rolling with my sponsorship and aim to raise funds for Altzheimer Scotland who do a fantastic job, the money will go direct to my local centre who have helped my mum who suffers from altzheimers and my family a great deal.

Well that’s me for now, good luck to all the other ladies and speak soon,

Angie x

26 Days!

The day is drawing ever closer!

My countdown app is telling me today that I only have 26 days till the big day, I can't believe how the time has flown by. I am so excited, constantly checking Facebook for updates, worrying about what I should wear! The list goes on :D

I ran my first Parkrun at Strathclyde park on Saturday and was very chuffed to take 3 minutes of my last 5K time four months ago. It was great fun, so much better running in nice spring/summer weather.

Back to fashion - I have a new pair of trainers and do not know when to break them in or in fact wear them at all! If I get a bad time, the trainers will of course get the blame. But if I don't wear them, then I shall never know?? So many decisions!

Anyway, as the countdown has begun, I better get my skates on (or trainers!) and start building up more distance.

Good luck everyone, hope you are managing to make decisions better than me!

Balfron 10K - 25 April

Hello.

This has been voted the top 10K in Scotland by readers of Runners World Magazine (they must mean after the Glasgow Women's 10K)... the Balfron 10K is 2 weeks before our event so have just entered to see how I am getting on.

More at the link, sounds a fun one: http://www.balfron10k.org.uk/

Pippa x

PB or not PB

I've been in a right cream puff today.

I'd gone along to the 5k parkrun at Pollok Park again this morning, (following last Saturday which was the first I'd run it since December), fully pumped up, psyched, stoked, or whatever else is the latest americanism all the kids are using these days. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I was aiming to beat my time of last week (34:52), or even better, to beat my parkrun Personal Best of 34:27.

It was another beautiful morning, and even though the pavements were still glistening wet the sun was well and truly out. By the time I'd met my friend at the entrance to the park I was even, drum roll, pleasantly warm. Warm enough to run without my jacket, another first this year.

Having Nessa there was a great boost to my spirits, and being able to keep pace with her for the first km or so would get me off to a good start (one thing I thought let me down last week was starting too slow and never really breaking out of that pace). Conditions were perfect, and it was time to get down to business.

Although Nessa and I parted ways before the first km was reached, it was okay as I found a friendly spot in a pack of half a dozen or so women near the back of the race who were all about the same pace as me. There was the usual overtaking/being overtaken as various of us would stop to walk, then start up running again when we'd caught our breath. I was just grateful to be amongst company than to be running on my own with 30 seconds between me and the next person in front.

I must admit to tiring a few times during the run but overall I was pleased with my efforts as my legs felt stronger going up the inclines and steep hills than last week and I was convinced that my pace while not cheetah-like was at least one species up from a sloth.

But alas, my hopes for a good race time were dashed upon seeing that my nikeplus showed 35 mins as I crossed the finish line. Unable to reconcile such a disappointing time with how good I had felt during the run, I fantasised that perhaps I had gained extra time somehow, and that the parkrun timer would record my run as a personal record breaking -34 mins.

But unless the regenerated Doctor Who, tiring of his new assistant already, had swung the TARDIS by Pollok today to pick me up and help him fight the evil forces of the galaxy, I couldn't think of any other circumstance whereby the space-time continuum would show the parkrun timer to be 2 minutes out from my nikeplus. (Though even as I write this I suspect that the Daleks were somehow behind my poor performance today, all part of their despicable plan to destroy the human race one parkrunner at a time...)

Meanwhile back in the real world, I know I'm never going to come first at parkrun, or any race I enter where there is more than one participant, so if I can't beat anyone else I would at least like to beat myself! Talk about scunnered. But somehow even though I still can't run faster than I did last August, I just can't entertain the idea of giving up on running. Cos each time I tie up my trainers and head out for another run, I cling to the hope that this will be the day I achieve a personal best. And I suppose to keep on trying and not give up is the best I can do.

Who am I trying to kid, coming over all philosophical...I still want to see that darn 'PB' alongside my name at next week's parkrun! And if I don't, i'll scweam and scweam and scweam and scweam!

OH MY GOODNESS.....

Hello there

I am so glad I got to do the 5k on Sunday.....it was much harder than I thought!! As im not a runner I thought my fitness levels were good as I go to classes regularly and I use the treadmill but it was totally different running outside......

I have walked/jogged a 5K's before and even the 10K when I was pregnant with Max so I dont know why its so hard now?? This will be the first time trying to run it but as Laura says....its the distance I am wanting to complete so If I need to walk or jog...so long as I finish it and raise money for my charity I will be happy.....I think I will really need to train outside from now on....hopefully I can do this as we have a few weeks left.

This morning I put my car in for an MOT in Bishopbriggs and jogged/ran/walked from there home. I did this in half an hour. Again I will need help with my breathing I think?? Any suggestions??

I will need to find out my time for my 5K at Bellahouston and I will try and beat this time for my 5K funrun.....or at least not be ready to collapse this time!!!!!

Dear Green Places

Sometimes I kick myself (but not too hard, I bruise easy...) at how lucky I am to live in Glasgow. With its diverse population and communities, world-renowned educational and cultural institutions, not to mention one thousand and one ways to spend your time or your hard-earned buck. But recently I've also been reminded how dear our green places are, especially now that I use them to run in, through, and around.

Being a southsider I have loads of parks to choose from, practically on my doorstep. Pollok Park is a fave Saturday morning locale since I started going along to parkrun regularly last year, and I ran it yesterday, for the first time since December. Even though my training lately has reduced to going out twice a week, I do feel fitter than the last time I ran the 5k there and so was a bit disappointed not to better my personal best on Saturday morning....however, the beauty of parkrun is that there's always next week. And I did manage to run up the hill from hell both times without stopping, a personal achievement, and no mean feat if you have been and know what I'm talking about!

Last Sunday I took a wee notion to run in an entirely different direction to normal, and ended up in Linn Park. Even though it was the middle of the afternoon I was a bit wary running into a park alone that I had only been to once in my life, but the plus side of running in an unknown environment was not realising just how tough it was about to get...A river runs through the park and on one side is a lovely flat trail nestling alongside the lazy river while on the other is a winding narrow path consisting of a rollercoaster ride of steep steps up and down, obviously dreamt up by some psychopathic park designer with a grudge against runners, walkers, or anything else on two feet.

With typical (for me) beginner's luck, I ended up on the Himalayan side. As much as I would love to tell you I took on the hills with gusto, bounding up and down them in two single leaps each time, my feeble attempt ended up being closer to crawling on all fours than actual running. Once I reached the flat ground again my legs were useless lumps of lead and I conceded defeat to a pair of very dapper old ladies out for an afternoon stroll who managed to overtake me at all of their 2.5 mph pace.

Ignorance certainly is bliss to me, so since the course for the Women's 10k has been officially announced, I've been too nervous to look at it very closely. However, a friend was telling me that the route takes in not one but two parks, Bellahouston (which for my shame I have never ever been in) and Pollok. Again, I think to myself, how lucky I am to live in a city with so many lush green spaces to run through, home to different species of Glaswegian wildlife, and lots of animals and plants too I hear. ;-)

When I'm on the home strait of the 10k through Bellahouston and maybe struggling a bit, one thing that will keep me going is a long-held wee dream of mine: which is to one day go for a run through one of the most famous city parks in the world, and somewhere very close to my heart, Central Park in New York.

And I'm not talking about doing the New York Marathon. No, I just mean like when you see shots of people jogging in films or tv shows which are set in New York (remember all those key moments from Sex and The City which happened in Central Park? eg Charlotte meeting her future pet dog "Elizabeth Taylor", or the time when Miranda moved into the 7 minute mile running group after another disastrous 'romantic' encounter, the details of which I won't go into here, SATC fans will know what I mean!), well I want to do that someday.

I've been to New York several times before and spent memorable hours in Central Park, but only got the courage to take up running in the last year or so. And I don't think I'll be able to truly say I have had the complete Manhattan-ite experience until I've jogged through the city's iconic park on a sunny spring day...

Return flight to New York, £499. Running through Central Park, priceless :-)

How about you? What's your favourite real-life, or fantasy, park run?

Glasgow Parkrun

Hello again

Saturday morning 2nd parkrun ,better P.B. I would recommend this free run to anyone training for the ladies 10K .Its easy to register online , easy to find. easy to park and thats about it for the EASY part after that its all about pushing yourself round this challenging 5K route guided by all the organisers and it is such a well run event it makes it so easy to take part . Everyone taking part is made to feel welcome from the novice runner to the winning athletes Give it a go ladies .

Been Feeling Rubbish

Well it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted a blog. This is mainly down to the fact that I haven't been able to get out for a couple of weeks due to to having a heavy cold, I was struggling to breath and lost my voice! It was terrible - and I was on night shifts.

Anyway, this is almost all out my system and I am back to my training. We ran 47 mins on Tuesday night at a great pace and I felt brilliant after it. Starting to gradually build up my distance - I haven't managed more than 8K since last years race and really should start building up my distance.

Parkrun will be starting up over the next few weeks at Strathclyde park and I looking forward to a regular timed 5K to keep me on track.

Love reading everyone's blogs, keep up the good work x

Face of the RaceFame!

Face of the Race Fame!

My training is going really well at the moment, I'm managing my usual 5K route comfortably and I'm trying to add a bit extra on each time I run so that I can gradually build up my distance although measuring my distance isn't my strong point, I don't really use my pedometer or chart my distance but I base it mainly on local knowledge and I know the rough distances so hopefully I'll get by on that. During my early morning runs I'm often quite taken by the view, particularly on a bright, fresh morning and sometimes I find my running can get a little side tracked when I stop to take pictures!!!

I'd really like to try the actual Women's 10K route, but as I'm not from Glasgow I don't often get the opportunity to spend time in the city however next weekend I have a hen night in Glasgow and I'm making plans to incorporate some running along the race route beforehand - I think it will be really exciting to try it out!

The Face of the Race competition has been amazing, local people who see me running my usual route each morning are coming up to me and telling me how great they think it is that I'm involved and my good friend opened her No1 magazine a few weeks back to find my face in the middle of it, she said she was really proud which was a great feeling! I've also had a lot of support from my Weight Watchers leader Patsy Freeman, I would really like to thank her for that. She announced my involvement in the race at our meeting and encouraged all the other girls who attend my meeting to get involved and run the race which was so kind, makes it all seem really special and is doing wonders for my motivation. Looking forward to the months ahead!

Here's looking at you, kid

Palms are sweaty, my stomach is churning, couldn't sleep last night, and I'm shaking as I walk out the front door....to face my first run out in the open air since December.

Some people will be wondering why I am so scared of something they find perfectly natural, while other people will know exactly what I'm going on about. It's not the first time I'm ever attempting to run so its not the fear of the unknown. In fact it's probably cos I know what to expect that I am so anxious.

It's all those fears that using the treadmill for the last 3 months had eradicated: what if I run out of steam before I'm even more than halfway home, what if I need the loo, how many people are going to witness my huffing, puffing body trundling along, and what are they going to think? Having decided to try a run by myself, at least I didn't have to worry about holding anyone back or have the embarrassment of seeing the rest of my companions shrink to the size of ants as the gap between them and me widened.

But, I had decided this weekend was now or never. The weather has been beautiful, my hip seems to be on the mend, and all my friends are making great progress with their training, so it was time for me to stop being such a baby and grow some cojones!

I headed out nice and early and used my nikeplus to make sure I didn't go too fast too soon. It wasn't long before that wasn't a problem anyway as my legs realised what a cushy number they had been onto in the gym. One km in and I was struggling to lift my feet off the ground and wondering if any of my neighbours would clock me if I headed back to my close 10 minutes after I'd just left.

Well, I managed just short of 5km in the end, not the best of runs, and I stopped to walk even between the traffic light breaks. But in the end I did what I set out to do, which was set my foot out the dreaded front door, and planned to try again today - if my body was still friends with me after putting it through that rude awakening. And a rude awakening it was this morning too, rising out of bed I felt like I had been run over by a steamroller in my sleep, however, catching sight of my lady bumps in the mirror it was obvious that nothing about me was flatter than yesterday...:-)

I'm always one to listen to both sides of an argument before I decide to do what I wanted to do all along anyway, so although my body was protesting any further effort this weekend, off out the door I set again this morning. Not quite as early as Saturday morning, so the world of Glasgow was very much up and at 'em, but after 10 minutes I was actually so tired I couldn't give a flying fig who saw me, what they thought, and what kind of a state I looked. I was oblivious to everything but just trying to keep going.

One wee trick that seemed to work for instance was not looking ahead but staring resolutely at the ground. It actually did work as sometimes seeing a long street ahead of me makes me think I'll never make it and that's when I usually give up and walk.

I also struck out on a different route to my old tried and tested, as I think that the same familiar landmarks tend to remind my body of past occasions when I've felt jiggered at those points. Today everything would be a new experience and so my legs would just have to plod on without prejudice. And so I was able to run up a hill without stopping, got a chance to run on grass, and I even managed to run along a few streets which were human-free (the holy grail of the self-conscious runner).

On the home strait I checked the distance on my nikeplus for the first time, knowing it was definitely longer than the previous day but hoping that my usual luck wouldn't mean it was about 0.1km longer. But, yippee, I had actually managed another mile more than yesterday!

Stepping back through my front door ruddy-faced, windswept, and smiling to myself, I suddenly felt a pang of unfaithfulness to the trusty old treadmill that had seen me through the good days and the bad of the past few months. Cos it was clear at that moment that I had fallen in love again with running outside...

The treadmill and I both knew it couldn't last forever though, and that if I didn't leave the comfort of the gym I would regret it. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of my life. As for my return to running outdoors again? I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship :-).

What I Think About When I Think About Running

Okay, just start slow, let the beats of Madonna wash over you, whatever you do don't think about the fact you are going to be running for another hour and right now you are only 30 seconds in...one tune down, six to go till you've done 5k, but don't look at your nikeplus, promise you won't look now...oh here we go, someone's joining me on the nearest treadmill, a guy, who doesn't smell for a change, thank god, o-ho, he's going for it, must be about 6 minute mile he's going there, see how long he keeps that up for...2nd tune down...

...I should really take back that t-shirt dress to H&M as I like the idea of it more than I like it actually on...woo-hoo, every few minutes it actually seems like I'm going as fast as that speedy gonzalez next me to here cos we run in sync for like three steps...was that the 3rd or 4th tune that just finished...if i was a man, and gay, and lived in LA, in the sixties, I bet I could cure Colin Firth's broken heart...mmm Colin...knew it, Speedy was in it for the short haul and has abandoned me to my plodding, oh well peace again...don't like this tune, skip it...

...well my hip seems to be holding up, let's crank up the speed to 5.2 on the treadmill, wonder what the 5.2 is, probably the richter scale considering the way my fat bum is jiggling along, be enough to cause an earthquake 2,000 miles away...check pace on nikeplus (careful not to press the button for distance, mustn't know the distance just yet, probably only done 3k or something), aye, pace just under 7km/min, that's pretty average for me....

...here comes another treadmill neighbour, hold on a minute is that guy really wearing denim shorts??? Careful not to stare or you'll fall off the treadmill and become one of those stories that people pass on 'did you hear about the girl who fell off a treadmill in front of the entire spin class?'...god he must be roasting in them...god, i'm really hot actually, feel like the air is as thick as custard, wish i hadn't worn this stupid hairband, keeps all the heat in and then it feels like my brain is cooking!....phew, a cold breeze just in the nick of time, just as well I went round and opened all the windows before I started....

...right 7th tune, that must be about 35 mins of running now as that's usually my 5k time, how do I feel? pretty damn good, reckon I could carry on like this for hours! steady on, let's see if you can do another seven tunes, then if you can limp through another two you should be able to beat your furthest distance yet...okay, so save the most inspiring tunes for when I really need to pull out the stops, Bruce, Madge, Kenny, bide your time my old pals, bide your time...

...loads of skater girls passing by outside, oh aye, must be that roller derby thing again in the gym, changing rooms were full of tattooed, hair-dyed girls skating aboot last week, looked like a cool bunch mind, and at least no as whiny as they netball girls the week before...

...uff...ouch, that was sore, wee knee gave way there...okay slow pace down for a minute, knew hadn't seen last of that gammy hip...just take it easy, in fact press pause on the treadmill and have a wee drink....aye, that's better, now be careful and press the right button to get started again, press the wrong one and it cancels out your settings on the treadmill and you have to start all over again....and for god's sake don't forget to start up the nikeplus cos if it doesn't record this run you may as well give up now and hit the nearest wine bar...mmm what I wouldn't give for an ice cold glass of Pinot right now...

...Okay, all good...might be time for first patron saint of my running playlist, Kenny Loggins come on down...."been working so hard, keep punching my card"..."everybody cut, everybody cut, everybody cut footloose", yes, I feel great, check pace, down to 6.37km/min, woohoo, never been that fast before!...everything's going great, maybe it would be okay to look at distance now? No, you promised yourself. You'll only be disappointed. Nah, it must be about 7k by now surely. Surely you can't be serious, I am serious and don't call me Shirley, hahaha never gets old...

...time for Hung Up again methinks! Watch out for that bit when it fades out and you think the song has finished cos it just fades up again and there's still another two minutes of the song to go...god my legs feel like lead, okay what was thing you read in Runner's World, that tip that said imagine you are walking on clouds and if you step too heavy your feet will go through the cloud...yeah that's it, feel a bit better, more upright, god if only I wasn't so ruddy hot though....

...right that's it, I can't take it anymore, I'm going to check the distance now!....no, now...this time...now....woohoo!!!!..8.5k....I think I can do this, I think I can get to 10k and a bit more, I'm tired and my pace is down at 7.20km/min but i'll save the final push for last km....here's another new neighbour, aye go for it, knock yourself out, pounding away next to me like the proverbial hare, yes I look knackered and my leaden feet are hardly lifting off the treadmill but I've been here for almost an hour you johnny-come-lately! Gaarrrr....

...you're almost there, time to go down fighting..."baby we were born to run, woah ho ho, woah ho ho ho ho hoaaaahhhh", I am going to die right here right now but at least I'll die happy, check the distance, 9.9k....oh c'mon do me a favour!...Right keep going just a little bit longer, 5 mins and you'll have beaten your longest ever run...but my legs are so tired...well use your arms then, keep them pumping along and they'll keep you going...

...I just want to sit down with a cup of tea and a giant double choc chip cookie and never move again...okay let's check the distance then, 10.1k, almost there, right that's you got another 0.2k to go and you'll have gone further than ever before, keep your mind occupied, work out how long do you need to run for if your pace is 7.20km/min and you have 0.2k to run...okay speed multiplied by time equals distance or is it distance divided by speed equals time, or time times time divides distance up to speed....what the hell am i going on about? Just check the ruddy nikeplus ya big numpty....here we go...10.3k, yippeee!!!!!!!!!!! Job done and I don't have the energy to go another step...slow down the speed of the treadmill....wipe your brow and grab the bottle of lucozade sport...mentally punching the air and shouting inside 'get it up yous'!!! I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...Right, when can I get back to the gym this week to do it all over again?....

Just completed a 6.5k run in glorious sunshine! I have a week off work and what a difference it's made to my motivation to just get out there during the day, I'm finding I actually want to go out rather than I have to go out.

I think I've mentioned previously that I'm not really new to running but it's the first time I've commited to running a race and therefore training for it and it really does make a big difference. I've kept my running up continually now since the start of the year however I've really stepped it up in the last month, the time when I would normally be trailing off from my promise to myself at the start of the year to exercise more. I can feel the difference in my fitness levels now and I feel better in myself, more alert and energized in general. So if any of you girls out there are thinking about signing up for the Women's 10K in May my advice would be just go for it because it makes running worthwhile, gives you a goal and something to focus on plus I just keep thinking about what a fantastic day it's going to be!

I'm going to stick to working on my distance at the moment, perhaps working up to 8K by the end of March, rather than focus on my speed as the most important thing to me at the moment is to keep going and not stop mid-run, otherwise I can't get going again! Planing on running the Women's 10K route early April to get an idea of much work I've got to do before 9th May!

Will catch up with you soon and all the best with your training meantime! x

Getting the running bug xx

hello again....well i am starting to train now that the weather is better....last week i jogged/ran from my house in Lambhill to Stobhill in half an hour...I felt great afterwards...

I have also been keeping my fitness levels up by attending keep fit classes...body combat, attack and thighs bum tums....I also tried yoga on Thursday night which was very relaxing and great for stretching the muscles.

I am looking forward to the fun run at the end of March at Bellahouston. This is a 5K and I hope to do meet up with the other face of the race winners for some handy tips for training xxx

I have set up an account with Just giving to raise money for the Big Build Appeal and the sponsors are coming in. Thank you everyone xx My team who are running with me are my sister Nicola Foy, my cousins Tracey Hill, Donna Price, Mary mcGonnigle, Jess Nelson, Ashleigh Graham amd my Aunty Jean xxx

New Shoes?

Looked at my trusty shoes this morning and thought they looked a bit sad and tired. In fact, that is what most people have commented on re: my 'face of the race' 10K photo - that I should have at least washed my training shoes before the photo-shoot! I never noticed and just reply that it makes them look well used and authentic!! (not old...)

Anyway, need to get some new ones soon so they are all worn in and trusted before the race. I usually just go to Achilles Heel but has anyone out there got any other recommendations of good service and/ or a good deal?

Thanks in advance...

Glasgow Parkrun

Hello again ,

Just a wee update on the training to date ..All is going well managing to up the miles little by little without incurring any painful niggles which is all good.
Most of the routes we are covering are on the walk jog run website and there,s many routes for all abilities - have a look -might be just whats needed to keep up the motivation .
I took part in the Glasgow Parkrun in Pollok park on sat morning as part of Team Jen all for the good cause of The-Make-A-Wish Foundation UK.. there were 20 of us all first time parkrunners and we were made to feel very welcome by a very competitive crowd of 5K runners .
I really enjoyed the run and will be back for more -excellent training- and very well organised so well done to all who volunteer and make it all possible ...

Hitting that perfect beat

Laid up with (what I hope is) a temporary gammy leg, I was faced with the choice of passing Sunday afternoon in front of the tv flicking between channels showing Eastenders (I know who killed Archie now so no need to watch Enders for another ten years), Holiday On The Buses (really STV, is this the best you can do in 2010?), or another repeat of Friends (very tempting seeing as its impending disappearance from C4 and E4 is looming…end of an era, sigh) but I decided instead to get on with my rainy day project: finishing off a playlist of music for running to.

Before my injury, I had managed to work my way up to 10k on the treadmill and I can honestly say that listening to inspiring music has played a big part in that. With my ipod on shuffle, Born To Run came on at just the right point during the final 5 minutes of last week's 10k and where I would normally have stopped as soon my nikeplus showed the distance I was aiming for, I kept running for another 0.1k (hey, every extra step counts when you've just run 10k :-)) just to spend every last second with Bruce.

Another much played favourite has been Hung Up, which I can always rely on to get me pumping after initial warm up, or see me through any rough patches, which is ironic really cos the last thing you want to hear on a treadmill is ‘Time goes by, so slowly’!

Any song with running in the title or lyrics is also a good bet for motivation, eg “I want to run, I want to hide” from Where The Streets Have No Name, “Let’s take a ride and run with the dogs tonight” Suburbia by Pet Shop Boys, or Keep On Running by the Spencer Davis Group. There are exceptions to the rule though, for instance this is one lazy girl doesn’t need to be hearing Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill just yet - I’ll leave that to some day when I feel that death by hill running is the way to go.

Having downloaded the Now That’s What I Call Music series parts 1-13 recently, I spent a happy afternoon today reliving the 80s, without the perms, shoulder pads, or ra-ra skirts (unfortunately), and adding the most high energy songs I could find to my running playlist.

Movie songs spawned some faves (Holding Out For A Hero from Footloose, Maniac from Flashdance, and Eye of the Tiger, cos even us girls like to run along pretending we're Rocky Balboa sometimes); 80s pop, being cheesier than a multipack of Quavers, offered up the guilty pleasures of Walking On Sunshine, Take On Me, We Built This City; and Jimmy Sommerville and Paul Weller both hit the dizzy bpm heights with several songs set to get me lifting my legs that bit higher off the ground (Hit That Perfect Beat, Why, Don’t Leave Me This Way and Town Called Malice, Going Underground, Walls Come Tumbling Down, and Shout To The Top from Mr Happy himself).

Getting towards the latter part of the 80s, dance classics from acid house to the beginnings of hip hop left me spoilt for choice, so I'll work on a dance only playlist some other rainy day. But just listening to The Only Way Is Up while sitting at my laptop today had me with my hands in the air so I can’t wait to see what effect it will have when I’m battling with the last mile of a 10k, and who knows maybe even pass 10.1k next time...

I’ve babbled on enough but let me just leave you with a cautionary tale.

Listening to feel good music can also be bad for your health. The gammy leg that has forced me to rest while my friends are out racking up the miles this weekend can, I think, be traced back to a particularly energetic session on the treadmill earlier this week while listening to Footloose by Kenny Loggins. Let’s just say that experimenting with a new genre of exercise, a mixture of running and dancing, or what I like to call rancing, probably shouldn’t be carried out on a treadmill. If at all. But that’s the heady power of music for you!

Breaking that barrier!

I'm really excited because I feel this week I've reached a turning point with my training. Previously I would be utterly exhausted after a run and completely out of puff however this week things have really changed, I'm managing 5K very comfortably and when I'm finished I feel really energized and alert which means my training must be paying off and I'm now seeing the benefits!

Of course I've still got a lot of work to do and will really need to focus on building up my distance and speed if I want to complete the race in under an hour (wondering if that's too ambitious for a first timer?!?) but I feel encouraged. A couple of weeks ago doubt was starting to set in and I slightly regretted signing up for the race but I'm so glad I persevered!!!

I really can't wait until the big day, quite a few of the girls in the office have now signed up and there's quite a buzz, we're all encouraging one another, plus I now have a lunchtime training buddy which is great!

Hoping to get another run in this weekend and hit the 6K mark....oh there's no stopping me now! x

My introduction to Lactic Acid!

Well, I went to visit the lovely people at Glasgow University Sport & Recreation Service the day before yesterday to be given the training programme that is going to help me go a bit faster than I have ever been before!

No surprises but that also means that life is going to get a bit harder (and slightly more painful) that it has ever been before too! Strangely though, I am really up for it and think that I might enjoy it.

Now, I am an outdoor girl at heart but this is going to involve interval training on a treadmill so that I can control the speed that I am going at for the short, fast bits and push my little legs and my heart rate beyond the comfort zone that they have currently been enjoying.

My real introduction to lactic acid came this morning but I am told that it is a good thing... happy days!

I love Fridays!

Part of my training plan involves doing a 10K on Friday mornings around Garscube Estate with my (very energetic) wee dog (Jacob the Cocker Spaniel). This morning was perfect... crisp sunshine and all done by 9.15 so I can then feel great for the rest of the day.

That and the fact that I don't generally work on Fridays makes for a super, smashing end to the week. Happy days.

Planning to do the Glasgow Running Network 5K on 28 March @ Bellahouston - is anyone else up for that?

Get a Move on!!

The title is more reference to my state of mind at the moment, I've been a bit lazy of late due to not feeling my finest but I am going to pick myself up and get back out there. I'm happy all the bad weather is away and any hint of ice is now gone, so I can plan my routes and have a great time.

If you do go running yourself/with friends and without a group then planning your route using a route planner can really help. It can give you a sense of achievement by managing the route and if you still walk a little, then you can note your progress.

I'm starting off slow this weekend, going to try a 5k this weekend at parkrun (which I recommend for all abilities) and get back into it again.

I was thinking of last years women's 10K and how emotional I felt getting close to the finish line - all those folk who cheer you on but don't even know you - they were great and just really help for that final push you need to get that time you've been working towards! Thinking of that gets me motivated and really excited to take part once again!

I spy lighter evenings!

Hello girls!

I'm ashamed to say my training has been a bit sluggish of late, I think it's the cold weather and dark nights but since the lighter evenings are definately starting to creep in I'm quite confident things will get much easier and I won't just be limited to weekends! My husband has also started running more often because I keep talking about it so it's having a knock on effect on him and it's great to have a bit of support!

I've found reading the other girls blogs really motivational and helpful, it's good to know we're all in the same boat, even the experienced runners! The Women's 10K facebook page has also been really handy as there's loads of girls on there sharing hints and ideas to help so I plan to use some of those (plus I also feel like part of wee team of runners now!).

Can't believe it's only 3 months away, I entered the race in October and the time has really flown by, getting really excited, I just keep thinking about crossing that finish line and the sense of relief and pride that I'll feel. I must dwell on this to keep motivated!!!

xx

Any more snow??

OK, so I have finally decided on my charity. I shall be running for the local Hospice - St Andrew's Airdrie www.justgiving.com/julie-paterson. I am trying to think of different ways to raise money suggestions welcome. Rather than asking for just sponsorships I am currently selling stuff I have won in competitions on Ebay, I am also running the 10K in September, so I hope to have raised quite a bit by then.

Back to the training I never managed to run outside last week due to the snow and work commitments. I hit the leisure centre instead - I would like to shift some pounds before the big run so ran on the treadmill on Friday for 35 mins then on Saturday I had nearly two hours of body pump then body attack. OMG! this is now Tuesday and I still feel as if someone has attacked my body!! Fatima was great in pushing me to the end of the class :D Hopefully, I will be able to run tonight.

Being a bit of a gadget freak, I purchased the Nike sensor to connect through my iPod and track my distance's and times on-line, it also updates my friends via facebook. It has a 10K trainer to give you targets to reach, I am just over 5K at the moment and slowing building up to the 10K.

So, a 40 min run tonight - wish me luck!

Baby, it's cold outside or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the treadmill

When I started running last year (or run/walking at first as an unfit beginner) I was so chuffed to have found a form of exercise which no longer shackled me to the gym, and more to the point shackled my bank account to some 2-year contract. I joined a couple of running groups, some cost a little money (the Glasgow Running Network’s 10k Crash Course for Beginners), others were free (parkrun and Jog Scotland), but all involved getting out and pounding those pavements in the fresh air.

Unfortunately, fresh air in Scotland also comes with rain, hail, sleet, fog, and as we have all witnessed recently, snow! If I’m totally honest I have to admit that I only ran in the rain a handful of times last year, just lucky I guess (or does that say a lot about how often I went running... :-0). But when the severe weather took hold last month, I thought sod this for a game of soldiers! Walking on the pavements was a dice with death (and embarrassment if you went flying in the middle of Sauchiehall Street) never mind try running on them (even though I did see some runners out in the height of the icy weather but they were always men, and I just thought, ‘aye trust them‘!) so I did something I thought I would never ever do again…..joined a gym!

But do you know what, hand on my heart, I’ve never enjoyed running more! I’ve discovered all these advantages you see. Like for instance, it doesn’t rain in a gym (unless some eejit has set the sprinkler system off for a lark). The amount of people who get to witness my red face and wobbly arse are way reduced (and I think I am actually doing the public a favour in this respect!). And if I need the loo mid run, I can actually go and use one, instead of wondering if I’ll make it back in time or cursing having been born a woman with the less handy equipment which makes it so easy for guys to go to the toilet anytime, anywhere.

I think the biggest turn on to the joy of treadmill running for me has been that no matter how slow I run I am no longer huffing and puffing at the back of the pack, trying hard not to be last in the race or last back to the muster point. There’s nothing more soul-destroying to be in a running group where you are the slowest (and I have been, quite a few times) . But now on the treadmill I can joyfully keep up with my pal N and although we cover a different distance in the space of an hour, I’ve still done the hour’s run, but just at my own pace, happy as Larry!

That’s just my personal experience of treadmill running though, as I know many people could think of nothing worse than running on a revolving tyre like a lab rat, never moving any further forward than the fixed spot of the machine, while staring at some unchanging view (or in the worst case scenario, a mirror….aarrghh!). Yeah, even I’ll admit that being stuck in the same location can be fraught with dangers. Especially when smelly/letchy/competitive* guy (*delete as appropriate, or if you’re really unlucky you get all three rolled into one) chooses the treadmill right next to you, despite a whole bank of other free treadmills. But that’s when I choose to play my joker: run in an insanely distracting way as possible (a bit like Phoebe did in Friends) and that usually scares them off. Till they go and fetch their pals to point and stare at you, but that doesn’t happen too often.

I’ve probably struck lucky with my gym as well, as they have none of those anti-runner rules like ‘maximum of 20 minutes on machines’ (my friend at work was telling me she actually had a queue behind her when she was on the treadmill at her gym - I can’t imagine anything worse than people standing impatiently waiting for me to finish my go or fall off the treadmill, whichever happened to come first). And I’ve been able to sign up for just 3 months so can de-camp to the real world in April, free of an ongoing direct debit.

But all good things come to an end (even a 10k race, though it doesn’t feel like it at the 1k mark) and I know I’m going to have to go back outside at some point and join all the other brave souls who have already started hitting the tarmac for their 10k training. So if you see a mad girl running along with crazy flailing arms and legs which puts you in mind of Phoebe Buffay, then you will know that the wind changed and I’ve stayed like that!

Enjoying the scenery

Well where do i begin..

Just back from a wee 4 mile run with Evelyn&Mary Well done ladies running in the snow is not for the faint-hearted among us but we weathered the storm and im sure were glad we did.
We ventured out slow to start worrying about sliping, but it looks so much worse than it actually is -The route we chose was slighly hilly but surprisingly easy underfoot considering the snow is a few inches thick:We then finished with two laps of the field which added on an extra mile and you always feel so good when you do a little extra .
Keep up the good work everyone and dont let the weather get in the way of a wee run..

Evelyn Flannery is fundraising for Make-A-Wish Foundation UK - JustGiving

Evelyn Flannery is fundraising for Make-A-Wish Foundation UK - JustGiving

Posted using ShareThis
Hi im running as part of teamjen-5k on 20th February at the Glasgow park run
Jen is raising funds for The-Make-A-Wish foundationUK
AND IS IN THE FINAL 20 of this years Miss Great Britain/Miss Universe comp
please everyone give a small donation and come to the Glasgow parkrun and suport Jen

I will be there running 5K all part of my womens 10K training come along at 9.30
blow the cobwebs off the trainers and get involved
Eviefla

Inspiration, perspiration, and inebriation!

What a difference a few days can make.....

Earlier this week I was feeling a bit down and sorry for myself after giving up too easily in a session on the treadmill. Come Sunday evening, and looking back over the week, I am chuffed to say it's ended on a high note :-).

Re-motivation came in the form of inspiration from various people. A work colleague tried his best to show his support and encouragement by telling me a very scary story about collapsing at mile 12 of a half marathon. It was really nice of him to share his own lowest moment, but I can honestly say now that I won't be signing up for a half marathon in a hurry! He has though, for the Edinburgh Half, and I'll be eagerly following the progress of his own personal challenge.

The same day I got a text from my best friend who moved to a new life down under a few months ago. We had started our Women's 10k training together last year and though I didn't manage it, I am proud to say K did, and when I got my confidence back in the summer we kept running together, going along to parkrun (more of this in a moment) and joining the Glasgow Running Network. Losing her to the attractions of Australia was a bit of a blow but we are constantly in touch and one of our favourite subjects is comparing our running progress.

With an average temperature of 29 degrees at the moment though, K has had to revert to the treadmill (so have I, but not cos it's too hot outside...Oh if only, in Scotland!) and without planning to, or with anyone by her side to cheer her on and encourage her, she texted to say she had just done 21k, ie a half marathon, at the gym, much to her own disbelief! This was no mean feat, having started running just last year, and only ever done a maximum of 10k. Well, I am still completely in awe 4 days later at her achievement and as proud of her as a best friend could be. Only shame is that I can't give her a huge well done hug in person (probably just as well as I think I would hug her to death!).

Inspiration no.3 came yesterday when I returned for the first time this year to Glasgow's most welcoming and friendliest (in my wee opinion) running community, parkrun. Parkrun is a free, timed 5k organised by volunteers which takes place every week without fail (even on christmas day!) in Pollok Park on Saturdays at 9.30am. It's been going for just over a year, and I first went along in June last year after K had given it a try first. I've managed to get my personal best down from dropping out after the first lap (about 3k) on my first attempt to completing the 5k course in 34:27, and hoping to get faster this year.

But running the actual race is just part of parkrun. Equal satisfaction (and you might say even greater if you count watching people come in at the finish line with a huge smile on their face as satisfying :-)) is helping that week's race take place by volunteering. I've done it a couple of times now, and though nerve-wracking (big sweaty fellas lumbering over me as my frozen fingers make sure I type their finishing place correctly into the laptop, eek!) it's been made more than worth it by the friendships which are now forming with the other volunteers. It was a lovely moment proudly typing in A's finishing time on Saturday, who I had met my first time volunteering, and who is returning from his own setback due to injury.

The only reason that Glasgow parkrun happened was down to a lovely guy called Richard Leyton who had seen it work in England, and now living in Glasgow wanted to start it up here. So he is my final inspirational model this week, cos if he hadn't gotten up off his ass, instead of leaving it up to someone else, and decided to start parkrun with some fellow enthusiasts, then I wouldn't have gotten my ass up out of bed on many a Saturday morning...come to think of it though, shouldn't I blaming him rather than thanking him, for all those missed long lies? ;-)

And a big shoutout to all who came along on Saturday for the highest attendance so far, a whopping 267! To think it was averaging 50-60 this time last year - who says the residents of the West of Scotland are the unhealthiest in the UK! Check out the parkrun website http://www.parkrun.org.uk/glasgow/Home.aspx or facebook page http://www.facebook.com/glasgowparkrun?ref=nf if you fancy joining us next Saturday (pre-registration via the website and printing off a barcode from your welcome email is required if you want your official time recorded).

I've no doubt that thinking about all these inspirational people kept me going when I managed to run for 8k at the gym today, the most I've done on the treadmill so far! And that's despite the bottle of wine I had last night, but don't tell anyone....;-)

Ok, so here goes.../

Hello all, firstly let me introduce myself. My name is Cat, I am a 30 year old psychology student, and a wife and mother of one. I'm a 10k virgin, and in actual fact I'm an absolute beginner when it comes to all types of running! I still can't quite believe I have signed up for this, if you were to ask me this time last year, I'd have become breathless just at the thought of it!

At the beginning of 2009, I was 5 and a half stones overweight, and the only exercise I partook in was walking to the kitchen to top up my wine glass, however, I was turning 30 in July '09, and I really didn't want to spend my 30's the way I'd spent to majority of my 20's - overweight and miserable! I began controlling what I was eating in January '09, and went to my local Body Combat and Body Pump classes at least five times a week. It's been hard work, but I saw results really quickly as the weight started falling off. By July '09, I'd reached a weight I was comfortable at (just in time for my 30th birthday holiday).

I've maintained my weight loss, and I'm still an avid BC & BP go-er, however I'd like to lose one more stone and felt that going into the new year I need a new goal to keep me focussed on this. When my friend suggested we sign up for the 10k in May, although the thought was daunting as I had never ran any grat distance before, I knew this would be the ideal challenge for me. I started training two weeks ago, on the treadmill at the gym.

The first time I walked for 3 minutes, ran for 3 minutes, over 38 minutes (I thought I was going to pass out at the end of each run), but I kept at it and within a few days, I felt confident enough to increase my times. So now I'm walking 4 minutes and running 6 minutes over 60 a minute period! :0O...

Two weeks ago I entered this race with a sense of trepidation, however, I now feel confident that I'll be able to at least finish the 10k, and I'll be delighted if I manage to do that under 60 minutes (I'm even starting to believe that is a possibility!).....

It's pure mental, so it is

In my first blog I was talking about my fear of not being able to complete the Women's 10k. Certainly when I chickened out last year it was the fear of not being able to physically make it to the finish line, but almost a year on I'm now discovering that the mental challenge is just as difficult to conquer as the physical one. In fact you could say that once your body is in shape enough to run for an hour or thereabouts (I fall into the 'thereabouts' camp), you've kinda got a 10k licked (I'm not saying my body is in that shape yet though!).

Then I hit the treadmill tonight and despite running 7.5k and 6k in my last two sessions of this week, I only managed a paltry 3k tonight! And for the past few hours since getting home I have beaten myself black and blue (metaphorically) about such a rubbish performance. I mean, what a waste of energy is that though! It would have been much easier to not have given up at 3k and tried to run for just another couple of kilometres than to spend all evening brooding about it.

So, I guess I need to give myself a mental kick up the bum and a) don't give up so easily when things aren't going my way (eg I hated the music on my ipod tonight, I hated where the treadmill was in the gym) and b) don't waste so much energy going over and over what went wrong, when I can't go back in time and change it anyway! Rome wasn't built in a day and the next few months of training are certainly not all going to be wine and roses.....The wine and box of Roses will come on the evening of 9th May!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS I didn't know whether to post this tonight cos I thought it was all a bit negative and feeling sorry for myself but talking to my friend after the gym she said she likes it when she reads about other people's not-so-good experiences of training. Not cos she revels in their pain, but cos she says at least you know you're not the only person who feels like that! So this is for you N :-)

What have I done......?!

I don't know what's scarier right now....the thought of completing my first ever Women's 10k or committing to writing this blog from now till the 9th of May!

No longer can I kid myself about my training schedule, healthy diet regime, target finishing time - if I blog it, I'll have to do it. But then, even telling people that you are running the Women's 10k doesn't necessarily guarantee the medal, t-shirt, and goody bag, come race day. If only you could get all that for just talking about it (so that's where I was going wrong for the past 10 years....) but to my dismay you actually have to follow through and run the blinking thing.

See, I had a bit of a bad experience last year. Even though my best friend and I started training early (before New Year and resolution fever) and joined one of the Glasgow Running Network's Beginners 10k courses, I managed to bottle it before May arrived and on the day of the Women's 10k I was nowhere to be seen when my friends were lining up to face the challenge. I was absolutely gutted but had convinced myself that I just wouldn't manage it (if only I had believed all those people who told me it was perfectly okay to walk/jog or even walk the entire thing). However, a month later I completed my first official race, a nice friendly and not at all scary 5k, and proudly displayed my Race For Life medal on my desk at work. I then ran the Great Scottish Run 10k in September with a time of 1:15 (who cares about the time, I actually finished it, much to my disbelief!).

So even though I can now say that I have run a 10k, and got the medal to prove it (I do love a medal!), I still have the spectre of the Women's 10k haunting me from last year. Plus, the race t-shirt is really cool!

I'm really looking forward to writing all about my training experiences in the coming months, and hope people feel inspired to leave comments about their experiences, especially any girls who are as feart as me!

Time to Start...

Firstly a little introduction - my name is Julie and I am a hard working Mum, Wife and Nurse. I work long shifts (12 hour shifts) and use my running as a way to de-stress.

OK, so the panic has started. With just a few months to go till the big day, I really need to start running again. The same thing happens each year, I build up to a good level before Christmas and struggle to get started again! I used the snow as an excuse over the last couple of weeks, but intend to get back to it this week - I even treated myself to a new pair of trainers :D

I run with JogScotland Airdrie, who are brilliant. Always such a great laugh and the leaders are great at getting us to run up all those hills! Due to work, I can only commit to once a week, so go to the gym also.

Last year was my first ever 10K (1:11), now I know what to expect I am hoping to do a little better this year.

The target this week is to get back out on the streets.

Good luck to everyone!

Fitness Testing!!

Hello there and congratulations to everyone that has signed up so far, I can't wait!

The University of Glasgow Sport & Recreation Service are giving me some training support and so the first thing is a fitness test tomorrow morning @9.30am.

It all seemed quite a good idea and now I have to say that I am a bit nervous... and that was before I was told that I had to fast from 10pm tonight!

It is going to involve a 'continual ramp test that will continue until I physically can't continue anymore'! Happy days.

At the end of it though - I will be able to compare against other runners, including top Kenyan athletes so that will give me something to aim for!

Will let you know the results - well I might but it maybe depends what they are... the things we do!

Training update

Hello again,

Its been a while but here goes:
I dusted off the trainers on Friday evening , met up with three of the girls and went for a short sharp jog 2 miles steady avoiding the ice patches .
Everybody seems fine to be back out running blowing away the cobwebs and already the conversation piece is the Womens 10K.....Thanks to the recent advertising in the Evening Times and the Cardboard cutouts springing up in the Glasgow club premises , we are all well aware that the countdown has begun..
Saturday morning we repeated the 2 miles, worked a little harder though and the ice patches are all but gone a little reassurance that the runners weather will soon be here , i love the cold crispy spring mornings for running / cant wait.
Monday morning 10am/ BODY ATTACK Now i know i am back in training for the run , body attack is not for the faint hearted but if you feel like getting fit fast/ this may be the way to go and can i just add that Lorraine may be the (scariest) Best fitness instructor on the circuit if she cant make you work hard no one can !!

Right....lets get going!

Hi!! Well I'm also new to blogging so I will try my best to keep this interesting and full of tips for the readers! I have been running for just over a year and took part in my first ever Women's 10K last May which I thoroughly enjoyed. The atmosphere and the feeling when you had finished was amazing, I would highly recommend it to anyone....especially those who are still a bit unsure to sign up for it.

Signing up for it now gives you the incentive to get out there on those cold winter nights and that's how I feel my running has improved. With the snow and ice playing havoc with my running I'm so excited to get back into it once again. My time last year at the Women's 10K was 01:05:19, and my time for the Great Scottish Run was 00:59:47 so I'm aiming for a new personal best - I hope you're joining me!!

Running is such a popular activity and there's so much of it going on...whether you go out on your own, with friends or with a club - you're bound to feel the benefit of it quickly. I joined a running club towards the end of last year and it has improved my running and my training schedule - which I will be keeping you all up to date about!

I last went for a run on Saturday which was a 7K run (roughly around 4.3 miles). It felt good to get back out and I'll build up my mileage over the next few weeks. I'm off to netball tonight - I like to vary my exercise routine!!

Good luck with your training, speak soon!

Emily x

Beginner....well sort of

Although I'm not entirely new to running, this is the first year I've ever signed myself up do a race despite vowing to do it every year! I think the Women's 10k is a good race to start with because so many women with different abilities take part so I know I'm in good company with all the other first timers. I'm aiming for around 1 hour, so I really do need to work hard.

I signed up in October and glad I did it so early because after the festive break I feel really lethargic and knowing I've signed up to run the race means that I have to get out there and start running (...next week!)! I did start my training in October/November and worked up to around 5k, so I was half way there!!! But I reckon the reset button has well and truly been pressed and I'll be back to puffing and panting after just 5 minutes. I won't let it stop me I'm determined to do this in a decent time so I will push myself and I've found it doesn't take long to build up the stamina.

I also have a another incentive to get out and start training, my sister has also signed up to do the Women's 10k and reckons she'll manage a better time than me so the sibling rivalry will definately kick in!

Time to start training...

I’m Angie McQueen, one of the four Faces of the Race and already it’s been quite an exciting January. We attended the Women’s 10K press launch last week which was freezing but a great experience. I felt nervous just before I arrived but I was soon in the swing of things posing on top of the bus along with the other girls and seeing my picture in the paper was quite something! My trainings going well, in fact I’ve just done the ‘school run’ – literally! I seem to run everywhere at the moment. I’m keeping to my routine of doing 5K every morning, something I never thought I would be able to do. I usually keep to the same route, from Gourock Pool to the Western Ferry but occasionally I do a little extra and I’ve considering investing in a good pedometer to find out the exact distance that I’m covering, I’ve a feeling it may be a bit more than 5K which I’m really pleased with. Still got a lot more work to do though to build up to the 10K but I’m feeling more confident as time goes on.

Another thing on my ‘to do’ list is to get in touch with Alzheimer Scotland and find out how I go about arranging my sponsorship! I’m hoping the fact that I’m a Face of the Race this year will boost the funds that I raise, I’d like to raise as much as possible for them as the support my mother has received has been incredible!

All the best with your own training and I’ll be in touch soon with another update.

Angie.