CONGRATUALTIONS

To all who crossed the line, be that in 32 minutes or 2 hours 10!

See you all next year :)

In the meantime if you fancy reading about my ongoing training check here for my normal blog (which may contain swearing, pointless ramblings or bad jokes).

Over and out,

Fiona McG

So Soon!

Gawd this is creeping up fast... I've got to say that cause of 8 exams and endless stress my training has been appalling! I'll be the tortoise out there on Sunday.

I was dead excited to recieve my race pack and the new chip timing method- no more ankle irritation!

To all the ladies running, good luck! And remember, out there we are all in this together. Start soft, finish strong and HAVE FUN.

Fiona McG

The HEAT is ON!

Well who would have thought it would come round so quickly...I actually feel like the past 5 months have gone past in a flash! I can't believe the race is just around the corner and I am nowhere near as prepared as I ought to be! Oh well we live and learn I suppose!

Managed a 4.5mile run on Tuesday (which was supposed to be a rest day!) and went to Zumba last night! My thighs are suitably tight and I now have no opportunity to do anything until Sunday! Should have been running tonight however I have book group and that involves large amounts of Italian food, good banter and a wee bit of literary discussion! I may drag my ass to the gym or for a gentle run on Friday but to be honest I don't know that a run on Friday night would undo the lack of training for the past 12 weeks....what do you guys think!?

Well I guess this is it...there is nothing more I can do! I have resigned myself to the fact I will not better my personal best! At this stage I will be happy just to finish the race! I am however, so looking forward to the day! There is no better feeling than being surrounded by women all running together, for a common goal. It makes me a bit tearful just thinking of it! I will undoubtedly cry as I cross the finish line! And not just due to my dire finish time or aching feet and muscles, but because of the emotion of the race!

Sunday is also my Papa's birthday and I will probably shed more tears for him...but I know he will be looking down on me, hopefully proud that I am even doing this regardless of my time! Good luck everyone! I am sure you will all do great and I can't wait to see all the smiling faces along the way!

how did it get to be May so soon!!

so I have tried we are nearly there the running schedule of a middle aged working mum. I have been running almost 10K every saturday and usually 4-5K in the week ones or twice. Does not sound professional but I hope it is enough. Been trying to raise money and got to £200 so hope it helps Spinal Research. will be seriously emailing for spponsorship next week but work is hectic. Girls have standard grades and trying to get them to revise is impossible. They are so confident... not like their mum. Tomorrow is the Royal wedding, husband is hill walking, twins are belly dancing practice for a show on saturday, young adult is resting and mum is running and going to work as she has a grant deadline and collaborator is slow....... cant believe the race is so soon. Good Luck all you woman out there and thank you all the smilling Mugdock reservoir people for their encouragment.

Not long to go now!!

Hi ladies,
I hope that your training is going well for the big day next weekend!
I'm stilling plugging away at my marathon training (4 weeks til that and feeling extremely nervous!!).
I'm loving the sunshine but am finding it quite tough for running in. It was SO warm when I was out on Wednesday night. Hopefully we'll have dry but not too hot running conditions for the race.
I was running through Pollok Park the other day and saw some of the girls from the Glasgow Running Network - they were heading up the 10k hill in the right direction whereas I was taking the downhill option. I really need to try and do that hill again before next week to remind myself how it is...eek!
The Glasgow Running Network are having a pasta party next week at DiMaggios. Starts at the Royal Exchange Square one and finishes up at Theatreland - should be good fun!!
Check out their web site for more details: www.runglasgow.org/GRN
Good luck to Audrey, Tammy and the other GRN girls doing the Belfast marathon on Monday.
P x

Its about time I did a blog :P

Not done a blog on this for a while now so thought it was about time :P

Had a couple of weeks which involved no running :-/ during my uni exams, but since finishing have tried to get back into it and keep doing whatever I can since theres not long to go now!

Got quite excited when my pack came through the door, always makes you realise how soon it is when you receive your number. Was cool to see my shadowed outline on the tshirt aswell :P

I will be featured in the Cumbernauld News next week since I am running for Yorkhill and we want as many people as possible to jump on board and raise money for a good cause.

Hope everyones training is going well, no excuse now with the nice weather (except the fact that we would rather laze in the sun hah)

Jodie

Fiona: This Week

Hope everyones gearing themselves up- only a few weeks to go!

This week I ran a 6 miler on monday. It was quite toasty here in Ggow so afterwards I looked a lot like this: 

Gosh, my boyfriend is a lucky man. Do you like my neon extreme Grangemouth finishers tee shirt?

On Tuesday I did some extreme abs work from the Runners World Olympic Abs page. OUCH. 

On Wednesday I headed for the gym and made my peace with the dreaded cross trainer. I used to use the X-C in 10 minute bursts on a casual gym day. Then when I caught the running bug, X-Cs now felt boring, you just go on and on and on. But on Wed I ended up doing 30 minutes.Actually felt pretty good.

Now, if I could just bring myself to love the treadmill...

Thursday was another speedy 6 miler crammed into a study day:

Friday I took a rest (was dead stiff) and Saturday I ran for the athletics team in the 3K and 400m relay. Was a great laugh- ended up doing the  3K in 14.39 which is a 7.51 mile pace and I don't yet know my 400m time. I was so nervous before because track/athletics runners are a lot more serious and I had never run at a track event. Sarah and I, however, devised a mantra. That mantra was, 'We are distance runners. For us this is a TRAINING RUN.'. It really helped. To be honest I was really glad to be part of Glasgow Uni at that point because we were the ONLY team who cheered on anyone in any team. A lot of teams seemed to lack the camaderie you see in cross country.

There was a massive headwind on the 300m corner of each lap but my race seemed really well paced to me and the spectators told me the form was spot on. Overall GUAC came 2nd and could hold their heads high another day. Also I had fun! And I reckon I'd like to try a little more sprinting- I wore Sarah's track spikes for the 400m and I really liked running in them.

sunshine!!

What a difference the extra hour makes. Its so nice to drive home in the light and its so much easier to go out again. I am really trying to run three times a week and do a 10K on a saturday. Its not what is recommended but it suits my energy levels and spare time!! Yoga classes have stopped for Easter on the Monday but are running Wednesdays, but my work has been hectic going away to give talks on every Wednesday for the last three weeks. Missed yoga loads and have tried to do a little at home but get distractic by chores. My twin girls have been coming to the gym with me though and keeping me right. The reservoir on a saturday is great, so many people runing and smiling supportively. There are the ones that run past quickly the burst of air they create whoshing my hair, then I see a walker and think I just have to pass them without wheezing. Sprint past, smile then try and keep going long enough so they do not catch me up again! My running shoes are getting old, had them a few years now and the tread is looking ropey so with the 15% 1oK voucher got some new shoes!! Not doing well on the sponsorship front so if any one is reading this please sponsor me for Spinal Research!! Off to London to give a talk so no time to run......

Fiona: Staging a Revival!

University has been kicking my butt so utterly the past few weeks- sorry I've been such an absent blogger!

This week I did a few runs and a few sprint sessions and ate super healthily. I'm feeling out of shape and hoping to get back into it next week!

Also, I signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival HALF Marathon on May 22nd so I really need to get in gear!

As a quick bit of inspiration I found and loved this:

Happy training in the sun! :)

Fiona McG

Light nights at last!

Tonight was my first evening run since the clocks went forward (I was skiving on Tuesday night at the Kylie Minogue concert - well dancing is training right?) and it was SO good to be running when it is still light! I had been very regimental with my 4 training sessions a week for the last couple of months - but have missed a couple over the last few weeks. Still managing to make the Sunday long runs though which is what I need to build on for the marathon! I really should try and do a bit more speed work to try and get my Women's 10k time to under an hour too. Must be more dedicated during April :O) Hope that training is going well for everyone. If any of you are interested in a Saturday morning run then check out parkrun.com - 3 different runs in Scotland - all free and really well organised. The Glasgow one is in Pollok Park and takes in some of the 10K route (albeit in reverse!). Bye for nowp

running longer

So I am trying to increase my run on saturdays and have got up to around 9K. I have to start earlier than the rest of the runners otherwise everyone is waiting for me! Still I am slow but can do it and am not too sore after. Managed two yoga sessions (one ending in pub) yes we all agree it does not sound right, but it was fun to get together after. Husband is away again so got to the gym and took my twins, who ran well on the treadmill. Then my dad who is 82 on the 28th fell and broke his hip, rushed into A&E, and omitted to orthopaedics, so having to get my mum who is blind, back and forth as well as go to work!! Still dad is getting better and still managed three runs this week. Walked up the 5 floors to orthopaedics ,and took me five minutes to get my breath back before I went to the ward! All becasue the night before the lift would not stop at the ground floor , clunked at the 4th floor and then zoomed up to 10 again, twice. Had to push button to the 5th floor and walk down!! No way was I going in the lift on my own. Yoga has stoped for easter for 3 weeks, its light for longer so should run around those Bearsden hills!!

Fiona: Grangemouth 10K

I don't mean to sound like a whiny child, but sometimes it doesn't seem fair. I have been eating rot and hardly training, but I still can't believe that after a year with a club I just achieved a personal worst time. I know running shouldn't upset you... but this kinda does.

I guess I need to really get back on it. Start eating well, slim down, train hard.

It just really put me on a downer! Some of our team did amazingly too, the best at a swift 34 mins.

(My horrible time was 59.14. Which may not seem appalling, but the first 10K I ever did was 58.44, and my PB is 50.14. Ick.)

Fiona Mcg

7 weeks to go

well,

ive just spent my last few weeks in OZ and i have come home to reality....Did i train in Oz - NO

I did my first run this week since i got back i ran 5k in 33 mins which isnt too bad, now that the weather has finally got a bit better the running shoes are out....

This week i have run most nights and let me tell you i am struggling the only thing keeping me going right now is knowing that i am running for a good cause....

Today is my aunt Barbaras birthday whom im running in memory of, this is keeping me going.

well ladies another week is quickly flying by.......lets get out there

should be spring...

Husband was a way for a week so concentrated on training. Ran 3 times and yoga twice felt so sore but very proud. Even managed the bearsden hills (maybe they are not hills to you). Came up to that saturday Mugdock run and wait..... the spring and budding dafodils and crocuses were out but instead of lovely spring sun they were topped by snow. Sorry I am keen but not that keen! Anyway one daughter had a greek speaking competition and even listening to a bunch of teenagers spurting greek and latin was more appealing! How sad... but hannah got a certificate!! Sunday was better and got to 8K, so the week of training was doing something. Read the training schedules on line.... sorry I try my best but all too complicated and makes me panic and feel guilty. Plummer coming round tonight so may scupper the gym!

Fiona: Week 9

Another no training week :( I hate my dissertation.

Only one run on Tuesday- a six miler beside the Clydeside:

It passes the BBC (beebs) building, the Armadillo and the Science Centre, making it very scenic at night. I thought I'd link some pictures, since I've been letting everyone down by training so appallingly!

The BBC from http://www.edwud.com/.

Clydeside bridge from http://admin2.clikpic.com/billycurrie/.

I'm glad they've revamped it though- it used to be a dodger's paradise and not safely run-able. Now its totally cool, though I still wouldn't necessarily recommend that anyone runs alone late at night ANYWHERE in the world. I'll be sad when it gets light at night again though.

Glasgow Science Centre, from http://bencraven.org.uk.

It felt great after the readjustment to actually moving my legs. I wasn't sore at all the next day. Hopefully this huge hiatus will improve my running when i come back next week?

Fiona McG

...and so it begins

Well it took me long enough but I have done it...training has commenced!
The lovely people at Achilles Heel on Great Western Road Glasgow helped me find the perfect pair of running shoes, I've found a good training schedule, I am back at the gym and the running is going pretty well...well I'll be honest, at least it's finally going!

My pace is somewhat reduced and I can still feel the tops of my thighs creating enough friction to create a small fire but I am doing it! The weather this week has meant indoor running only unfortunately and with the forecast for the weekend pretty dire it looks like it might be the same until Monday at least! I can already feel an improvement though! I am sleeping better...for those that know me they will be astounded...who knew I could actually sleep better than I already do!?! I have more energy through the day and I literally cannot wait to get back out running once this weather gets better...but bloody hell it's hard going! I am nowhere near as fit as I need to be! I am conscious of the little time I have left to train! Even my Gatecrashers Anthems are not helping me pick up the pace! But I still have time...this has been my mantra since signing up for the race and I maintain that it is the case! Time is on my side...at least until race day...

Glasgow Running Network

Hi all,
Hope that everyone's training is going okay!
Like Fiona McG I would like to tell people about the Glasgow Running Network's refresher training courses for the 10k - they are brilliant!
The coaches are all brilliantly supportive and it's also great socially to get out running with a group.
I signed up for this training last year and haven't looked back since!

Cheers for now
P

Fiona: Week 8

I feel appalling this week- My dissertation is due in a week and thus I did NO running, NO workout. I don't feel refreshed, I feel exhausted!

Hopefully will get back to it this coming week, I feel like I have cabin fever. Hope everyone else's 10K training is going much better.

Glasgow Running Network 10k refresher courses start tonight at the Gorbals, Scotstoun and Tollcross Leisure Centres. You can go along and sign up on the night if you're interested. Details are here: http://www.runglasgow.org/GRN/spring-10k-training.php.

Fiona McG

runners about

10k runners are about. just in case you give in to excuses for not running there is a group of ladies out there getting fit. but not me last week, kids to go to college interviews (monday), tired (tuesday)after train to manchester and back in a day with terrfied teenager, wednesday parents eve for twins, thursday lecture at the univeristy and dinner after, friday.. last night before husband is off to canada for a week for a conference and then its saturday. No trainng but the 1.5 times round Mugdok reservoir was 1 min quicker and felt good. have I peaked!! sunday was a short run in bearsden for the hills. bearsden is hilly to me.... but did it without a stop so thats good. Back to try and get my yoga up to speed but got to 30mins and was exhausted...Still a week to get the training back on line only the kids to school and negotiating revising for their standard grades...Spinal research sent me a running top for the event, reall smart so thanks Jo and steve for the sponsorship got the t shirt now!!!

Fiona: Week 7

Monday I did notttttthing. Sweet old nothing.

Tuesday I did sprint reps. 1.5 miles warm up with 400mx8, then 0.5 back to the gym.

Wednesday us girls once again proved we are hardcore, as only girls showed up to train. We did the town route, a sweet 6.5 miles. I hadn't eaten enough or drunk enough during the day so I felt a bit sicko but that's my own silly fault :-D

Thursday I couldn't make training. Because 4th Year Uni sucks. Not that I didn't expect it to. So I went to the gym and sauntered about. This is my problem with the gym, unless forced I do very little. I basically did some arm work and 10 min X-Trainer... Lightweight! However, I woke Friday and was glad I only did that. Cause' my shins are sore again. So on Friday I did no cardio at all.

If I can (in my novice state) give you one bit of advice, I give you this: Listen to your body. If it hurts (like beyond a decent workout pain) and especially if it CONTINUES to hurt out-with tough workouts, listen. My shins and ankles are the weakest parts of my legs, easily. My calves are almost never sore, my thighs are steel (well... slightly mushy steel...), but my shins and ankles need a bit o' TLC.

Saturday was a blasttttt: 7 members of the team headed out to do Conic Hill Race, organised by the brilliant Chris Upson. It was tough- the elevation is really sharp and some sections are literally unrunable, but the descent is gorgeous. Especially a section where rise a little again, on a perfect springy grassy hill and suddenly the whole Loch is spread beneath you. Utterly magical.

From left: Bryan, Me, Neah, Julie, Ciaran and Steve

Cause' its held at Balmaha and limited to 70 people there are ample facilities, no queues for registration, and as always I can't help but think hill runners are so incredibly friendly!

Of our team our girl Neah was 3rd! She won lovely lovely booze (the other thing hill runners definitely get right- the prizes!).

Neah, wine and hound

One of our male team was also top ten. After the race, we took the opportunity of being at Loch Lomond to ice in a novel way...

Neah and I

It was FREEZING.

Hope everyone's training is going well! Remember to eat well, don't try and do tooooo much, run a few times a week and you'll be golden on the day. We're all in it together on 9th May!

Fiona McG

do it for charity

Driving to Mugdock last saturday was really uplifting as so many women were out there running all over the place and it was freezing and sleeting. The womans 10K is the best, getting us out there. The run was cold and wet and every step was a wet whip in the eye by my hair. Still sunday was much nicer. Trying to run 7.7K on the saturday and 5K on the sunday. Still not getting any faster but not getting any slower. Find getting to the 10K mark a struggle, but there is quite a few weeks left. Did some interval training in the gym too. Still going to yoga which I am hoping will help my breathing. Decided to definitely run for Spinal Research. They had a fantastic call for donations on television with two very moving accounts from spinal injured people. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00z0jsn/Lifeline_Spinal_Research/ Don't blink and you will see my lab at the end. It was so moving and spurred me on to try and raise some money. Set up a just giving page under Susan Barnett so please donate as I try and get my self round the 10K route and up thePollock Country Park hill.

Fiona: Week 6

Still having massi trouble getting rid of these blisters- the only thing that saves them from more wear and tear is Compeed blister plasters but a) at this rate im shelling out more a week on these bad boys than food and b) they stick to you long after the run is over, necessitating ripping a healing layer of skin off upon removal... Eew.

That said, impressive levels of training this week: yoga at lunch and then 6 miles on Monday, during which it poured, hailed, snowed and I refused point blank to give in. Instead the few team members who had showed to training started puddle jumping, singing, and trying to really confuse miserable passers-by with our cheery, cheery grins. After that, did some quick arm work for my ball dress on Saturday.

Tuesday was classic intervals- 500ms at 3.5 mins overall allowance. This means that if you're a slow bee like me you get a 1.5 min recovery (cause all of my 500ms were 1 min 57 seconds to 2 mins 6 seconds long). Did five of these and also ran 1.5 miles warm up and 1.5 miles warm down. Thats 4.5 miles overall! Also yoga-ed it up in this lunch break and did some arm/tum 'vanity' work.

Speaking of speed, check my new Nike tee:

Sadly they weren't selling one that said 'moderately slow' ha ha! It does make me look badass though!

On Wednesday us girls showed the boys up- not one single male member of the club showed! So us six girls headed out and did a speeeeeedy 6.5 miles. I was sore after this, but weirdly after going out that night and dancing, I was fine the next day... Dancing as a recovery plan, anyone?

Thursday I couldn't make training, which was to be a tempo run, so I meant to run solo but then had job applications so did NADDA. Same for Friday- stupidly busy with applications.

Saturday I was up at 7 freakin AM to run with a friend. Just a short and breezy 3 miles (it was baltic!) and then after breakfast I went to the gym to an hourt long boxfit class. Sounds hardcore but I must be honest- it was mostly for arm vanity cause tonight is the GUSA ball! Which also means posting now, cause tomorrow I plan to be sleeping curled up with the BF. Zzzzzzz.

Fiona McG

Hill work

Hey all,
Haven't blogged for a while - so I thought it was time I posted one and let you know how training is going.
As well as doing the Ladies 10K this year - I have also signed up for (my biggest challenge yet) the Edinburgh Marathon. Training started a few weekends ago with a course organised by the Glasgow Running Network.
I have to run 4 times a week - as part of the programme - long run on a Sunday, plus Tues, Wed and Fri nites. Have managed to stick to the programme so far and did a 9 miler on Sunday.
It was mighty hard work though as we had to tackle a couple of big hills - man - I hate hills!!
I was out with the Holyrood GRN group tonight and we did a 4 mile route that took in 4 hills - including a horrible hill on Millbrae Road - yuck!
However, despite the hill horror I know that they will be good for me in the long run - they really help with stamina.
For anyone training for the Ladies 10k you may hear horror stories about a horrible hill in Pollok Park - don't worry - it's not too bad. However, maybe try fitting in some wee bits of hill work to your training and it will be much less daunting on the day - that's what we did at GRN last year and it meant I knew what to expect.
Hope training is going well everybody!!
P x

running in the rain

Missed reporting last week as my running seems to be getting less instead of the steady increase in training. Still run on saturdays with the Mugdock runners but that is helped by the lovely breakfast and chat after. I am getting up to 1.5 times around the reservoir which is around about 7k. but the time is so slow. Started to try and read what I should be doing. some interval training and hills? Tried using the interval raining on the running machine at the gym which is hard work but not being outside seems funny. Think I cheat by grabbing the heart moniter handles which makes it easier. Yoga is still such a nice relief and I am trying to go twice a week and then run three times. Printed off an 8 week training schedule kindly suggested by my friend Sally, seems good but can I get out of my comfortable habbit. Got to remember to take my inhalers too as missing that out does seem to make a difference. The good news is if I do not run I miss it and worse still I feel guilty. But then I feel guilty as the kids are not getting a nice hot cooked dinner and have to wait. How do we fit it all in? How do you makes yourself run when its raining?

Fiona: Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you have a great day, whether you spend it curled up with a significant other, contented with your family, giggling with your friends or totally blissfully by yourself.

 

PS: Try and get a run in! Get outside and celebrate your relationship with running :-)!

Fiona Mcg

Fiona: Week 5

Now, this is what NOT to do:

1) Do nothing from Sunday after BUCS till Thursday.

I blame this bad boy.

2) On Friday try out zumba, even though you know you can't dance.

I know everyone loves Zumba but I actually found it really hard, having no dance background. So much I couldn't follow and I got so frustrated!

3) Spend all day Saturday in bed.

4) Spend all day Sunday in bed, then go to Super Circuits class, then leave 3/4 of the way through to throw up (no idea why!).

5) Eat rubbish all week.

I am an APPALLING IAM training blogger! Will try harder next week I promise.

Fiona Mcg

Fiona: Interesting Health & Fitness Idea

This video is by thefuntheory.com, which I came across randomly. The idea seems to be to make things that are good for everyone to do (more exercise, recycling etc), more fun to do in the hope that it will facilitate the behaviour. 

This one is about taking the stairs instead of an escalator- how cool is this?!

Fiona McG

Fail.com

So I failed my latest challenge but not in the way I anticipated! Instead of Friday night wine versus Saturday morning run it became Friday night cough bottle versus Saturday morning get off the couch! A chest infection and painful cough have thwarted my best intentions and prevented me from doing any kind of exercise for the past week!

In the meantime my bum has gotten so large that the lining of my skirt spent most of the day gathered somewhere around the top of my thighs in an unyielding and inelastic reminder of the current state of my body and my complete inability to run the length of myself!

As I drove home from work I saw lots of women running, training and getting in shape! I honestly felt a pang of runners envy! I am fully aware that my attempts at running look more like a waddle, with more than a little wobble, but alas it would appear I miss the public humiliation of running like Phoebe from friends (if you have never seen this episode I highly recommend looking it up)!!! I want to be the cause of someones runners envy! I will have new trainers by the weekend and will soon have some more inspirational material to share with the group....until then I'm off to do another menthol crystal inhalation and drink cough syrup straight from the bottle!

Training Update and Thanks

So thinking about signing up for the 5k fun run in March, think it will be great fun and also a good way to get ready for the 10k in March.

Not done quite as much running as I would like so far, but went for a wee run tonight from my house to Mollinsburn and back, not that far but went quite well :) also thinking about trying to go to the gym at my uni on the days where I have like 3 hours off between lectures -more productive use of my time- but we shall see how that goes !

Also want to say a big thanks to one of my fellow face of the race ladies Liz Burns for sponsoring me on my just giving sight, I appreciate every penny people can donate and just want to raise as much as possible for Yorkhill.

Have a receiption at Ibrox stadium on Thursday as me and my friedn rachel are receving medals for our help for the charity foundation. During the summer we ran from Hampden to Ibrox and then took part in a 5.3k walk around the pitch in order to raise money. So really looking foward to that and also getting more training in for the womens 10k.

Hope everyones training is going well :)

Fiona: Week 4/BUCS

Last week i did a lot of running (Mon-Thursday), nothing hugely out of the ordinary apart from ENJOYING a tempo run on Tuesday, which is a rare thing indeed! It was very hard but I felt a huge huge sense of achievement when done.

The biggest thing this week was of course BUCS, which went really well. Our highest woman was Elspeth Curran, a truly amazing runner, who was 8th in a very competitive field. I was the second slowest GUHH girl but for me my time was alright!  The girls team was 8th overall. Our captain was lovely and said that he was so impressed at all runners. Personally I was seriously impressed at Neah and Stephen, who had great races, and at Luke for battling through seriously hurting his shoulder. He was almost in tears when he finished but He. Finished. and thats incredible.

The men's A Team: from left: Adam, Chris (El Captain), Mike, Dave, Kerrick and Shabir.

Its a tough course too- a lap that was a) over the distance stated and b) had a double loop hill, where you are required to race up, run down, then turn on your heel and go straight back up... That its a lap course can also be quite demoralising as the best runners lap you.

Women's race start

I may not be any good as a competitive runner, but events like that remind me of why I race. Everyone was cheering everyone on- by name or by institution if you didn't know each other. If you saw someone flagging you yelled 'Good effort!' or 'Not long now!' or simply 'Come on insertunihere!'. It also reminded me of why I love my club- No one yells 'try harder' or anything, just full on support. Whereas other clubs had members shouting advice... in a race I wouldn't want to hear that! Also the overall feeling of GUHH is that its amazing if you happen to be a gifted athlete, but if you're not all they require from you is that you love a run and banter.

Back Row: Julie, Stephen, Chris, Neal
Mid Row: Megan, Me, Neah, Bernadette
Front Row: Yulia, Cat, Sarah

Fiona McG

The (Ouch) Challenge

Well I did it...I managed double Zumba! Two whole hours of huffing, puffing, sweating and yes, on one occasion swearing! I wish I could say it was easy, that my muscle memory meant I suffered very little pain (and embarrassment) but that would be a lie! But it's a start! It's a step in the right direction. It’s…a wake up call!!

Bleeding Heck (excuse my French!)! The race is 96 days away! 96 DAYS! OK…deep breaths…woosaaahhh! 96 days…that’s ok! That’s like 13 weeks…I can get back in shape in 13 weeks! 13 weeks of double Zumba, trips to the gym, pounding the streets of Glasgow and getting my wee (wobbly) bahooky back in shape! 13 weeks is an age! That is just over 3 months, one trimester of pregnancy, a quarter of a year…3 pay days! Ok maybe it’s not that long! But it’s achievable! Isn’t it?! Words of encouragement welcome here…

Self doubt and scepticism will be eradicated! First real run of the year planned for Saturday! I will not be defeated by the chunky, lazy girl currently inhabiting my body! I will update all on progress following the next real test on my willpower…Friday night and an open bottle of wine versus an early Saturday morning run! Wish me luck ladies!

still fun

just enjoying it and not really pushing. should i? had a great yoga session on monday and then had to fly to london to give a talk on tuesday. That meant the run in the gym was not on as I did not get back till 10.pm. wednesday should have been yoga but came home from work really late and so hungry that it was food or yoga... food won. sorry Jo. Then thursday my PhD student Besma, became a a Dr, and it was her last night in Glasgow going to Manchester and a new lab, so I just had to socialise. Just do not seem to be trying do i? still 7.5 K round mugdock reservoir on saturday. It was lovely and a beautiful rainbow. so many poeple running now, its such a good feeling. Then all the saturday runners went back for bacon sarnies! yummy. Today I went out on my own for a 5K and met two friends also jogging. There is definetly a lot of us ladies out there trying. It was so cold today my asthma was getting to me. That cold just hits the lungs so only once around the reservoir. No reason to my running, I must get some plan.....

Fiona: Week 3

Monday is my cheeky easy day. I don't eat so well (Divine chocolate at 2pm... Carbs to the max al day...), mostly as its usually a hugely stressful day, and I do less exercise. On this particular Monday I did 10 mins X training- HARDCORE.

Tuesday training was properly hard. It was 6x600m sprints, where each leg feels like forever. I managed them all sub 2.15 though, which isn't terrible for me. Loads of people from the club showed for sessions for once and there was a really curious astmosphere afterwards, where we all kept hugging and patting each other on the back and saying people did well. A bit like how people would act if there was a nuclear disaster and they were truly glad to have survived... Which is pretty much how I felt. Also ran 1.5 miles warm up there and 1.5 miles back.

Wednesday was the GUHH club's Re-Freshers run, which is like a recruitment run, aiming to promote running in those who don't already do it. I did the three miles fast run, which due to some creative route planning, turned out to be the four miles fast run.

I made this poster for it- thought I did an okies job :)

On Thursday I turned up to sessions and realised I'd forgotten my shorts. Then all motivation I had, which had already been beaten black and blue by coursework, left me and instead of borrowing shorts or running back to get mine I just went home.

From Friday I was trying to make an effort to eat better (ate so much junk this week) and I also made an effort to work out more- did a boxfit class and abs work on the floor. Been reading a lot about how important a strong core is to running and since my core is currently doughball-esque I thought I should step it up!

Saturday I did an hours walk with my parents. Sunday we had arranged a long run with the club- a violent 10 miles. Except I failed utterly and did 5. I was just so freaking exhausted, so stiff, so DONE WITH IT. I have been eating badly, hardly sleeping and stressed out about uni so I'm not surprised.

Plan for next week is therefore: eat better, monday gym, tuesday sprints, wed run, thursday session, friday swim then BUCCCS on Saturday, asleep each night before 11pm. Hopefully.

Fiona McG

Fiona: Inspiration To Us All

The Ignis Asset Management 10K is a women's only race. Part of what makes that race so special is the atmosphere surrounding it. I thought this Nike athletes ad was really appropriate:

"Are men bigger, stronger, faster? Yes. Is that all that has to do with being an athlete? No."

Fiona McG

January Blues

Well January has not really been the start to my running year that I hoped! A complete aversion to exercise for the past 6 months has put me right back at square one with the old training malarkey and right now I could figuratively run a mile but perhaps not literally!

However, Monday will be my start day! I'm going to get back into Zumba, get back to the gym and maybe even buy some new running trainers to I can actually start training for the race! That sounded dangerously like my usual diet mantra....'Monday will be the day I change my eating habits and unleash the skinny Amazon I know is lurking inside my 5ft 4", size 12-14 frame!'...then of course Monday arrives, I get on the train home and someone is eating a burger in the seat beside me and it all goes a bit 'pear shaped' (pardon the pun) as I go home and eat my own body weight in twiglets while waiting on a 4 cheese pizza to cook in the oven! But, alas! I still have time to get back into running! I will achieve my goal! I will be fit! And I will probably still cry as I cross the finish line!

Hmmm - right now May seems like ages away but I think that if the next 3 months go as quickly as January has then it'll be here before I know it! Eeeek! Better get those new trainers bought and get cracking! Thank goodness tomorrow is payday....x

Fiona: Devil's Burden

Hi all!

I ended up doing nadda after my last post before the Devil's Burden... 

MAN that is a tough race. My leg was literally 2 miles straight uphill and then rolling hills for one mile, followed by another half mile directly and steeply downhill. Today my ankles are starting to majorly ache and I bet by tomorrow it'll be sore. I also did nothing today. The first two miles felt like forever, and when I reached the halfway pt I was thinking 'are you kidding me?!'.

Its also very much a local's race. Unless you know the hills the navigation is challenging (every racer is required to carry a map, compass and whistle and wear full body cover). I almost got lost once, only prevented from doing so by another kindly participant who yelled at me and gestured. 2 of the 3 teams Glasgow Uni entered got lost on leg 3 (with my poor friend Stephen ending up doing 16k over 2 hours).

In retrospect I enjoy that I DID it, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. Unless you're a serious hill runner its just tough, though it can teach you a thing or two about running through pain. 

Fiona McG

its all to do with time

Started the week with a great yoga practice with Jo our teacher back from very serious flu, and it was lovely to have her pushing us through our practice. Really stiff the next day, like some steam roller had ironed out my body, but went to the university gym to try and do some interval training. My trotting is always so slow that I am going to try and speed up. Wednesday was a trip to London for a committee meeting and Thursday we had visitors to stay so I just did not have any spare time for exercise. Several excuses coming up but I was good on the weekend. Saturday is the Mugdock reservoir run, as I am working up to running twice round for 10K. Still only doing it once and it was so icy that it was hard to jog at all, more of a skate and I had to stick to the grass. Very foggy too, got round the reservoir before I noticed it. I listen to radio 4 Saturday live while I trot and got caught up to the stories. This time all the runners came back to us for coffee. My kids did good and phoebe made pancakes, Hannah lemon muffins and Alice croissants. All got scoffed too with gallons of coffee. Made it worth getting up and running. Saturday night was quite a late night to a Celtic connection concert at the Fruitmarket with more running friends from Edinburgh. They got us up Sunday morning for another Mugdock run as they are training for the Cape Wrath Marathon, so were planning to run10 miles. I opted for 7K (1.5 times round reservoir). The weather was much warmer and so much better for my asthma though the hip was twinging. It was nice though lots of geese on the water. Read the papers until they finished their run in 1.5 hrs.

Fiona: Fuerteventura

Hi again guys,

Got back from sunny Fuerteventura on Monday night (or technically Tuesday morning!). I'm going to be wildly honest- outside an extremely unskilled game of tennis we did no working out at all. We did, however, have a total blast and made great pals in the sprint team! Actually, I tell a lie, two boys did a whopping 24km run one day.

This week so far I have done my strength training at the gym (oww, hello arms), ran a whopping 7.5 or 8 miles yesterday and today Im planning on super circuits at 5.15pm (this one is a tough class). Eating since I got home has been okay- a little too much chocolate perhaps but hey, thats WHY I run...

I should tell you why I did so much yesterday... It isnt that I'm a cool, dedicated athlete. Its that Julie and I got lost on a group run. I had a date so we ended up tempo running two miles, found the start of our usual 6 miler and raced around that too at a massive pace. And I was still late!

There are a lot of hard races upcoming for me- this weekend is the (aptly named) Devil's Burden Hill Relay - I'm running leg 2 as part of a mixed gender team. Its hilly to be sure. Then its only 2 weeks till British Uni Cross Country Champs in Birmingham- eep!

Fiona McG

Had a good run tonight!

Hi all,
After taking part in a very snowy Great Winter Run I got back into regular training last week with the Glasgow Running Network (following a month off due to snow and flu).
I went out on Tuesday nite with Holyrood group and Thursday nite with the Pollokshaws group. By the Thursday night it still wasn't getting any easier with my breathing - ooof! But I had a good blether with one of the girls from my group called Tammy who gave me loads of good advice on marathon training.
I then did Glasgow Parkrun on Saturday morning - crumbs - it was hard work. I hadn't done parkrun for a couple of months and forgot how tough those hills can be. It was also really rainy and miserable (I very nearly didn't go - but my fiance uttered his catchphrase "your skin is waterproof" - so off I went to the park). Not surprisingly - there was no PB for me!
I'm working down south tomorrow so went out with the Gorbals group tonight - and had a REALLY good run. I started chatting to a couple of the girls and one of the coaches and it made the time pass much more quickly. I've arranged to meet one of the girls at Tollcross group on Wednesday night - have not been to that one before so it will be good to meet up with someone else who hasn't been either.
I feel much better following my run tonight. Hopefully I'll get a good sleep too - early start for the airport in the morning. Pam x

First Run :)

Ok so the ice finally melted ...

My first run in a good while took place this morning, nothing brillient I must add but its a start.
Went a wee run round Broadwood Loch and bumped in to a couple of other motivated people doing the same thing.

What I did notice is that when you run past people -and give the usual runner to runner nod- that I always wonder where they have ran from and how much further they are going to run.

Anyway glad that I have finally went out and hopefully it will kickstart me into training.
Back at Uni as of tomorrow but have mondays off so that may be a perfect morning to run.

Also Yorkhill have asked me to be part of their running team and feature on their website and letters in order to get lots of others involved in signing up for running events and raising money for Yorkhill, so excited about that

First week down

Well since I was asked to be an online face of the race I thought i had better start training. This years 10k is really important to me as i am running for a cause very close to my heart The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, and i would like to beat my fastest time of 59mins....

Tuesday - The week started great when i got back into my step aerobics classes on Tuesday night after the christmas and new year break, it all went really well untill i stopped by the local chippie on the way home. Never mind there is always tomorrow
Wednesday - Time for the work to begin with another step class, oh dear clearly the 3 week break has knocked me back a bit because i felt like i had did 10 rounds with Mike Tyson...
Thursday - Feeling good after last nights excercise time for Attack and a wee run home, I worked really hard in class tonight then took the (roughly about 3 1/2 miles) run home, which might i add took me over half an hour - clearly i have alot of work to do.

I have used tonight (Friday) to work out a training schedule to hopefully i can get back on track and of course i will keep you all updated on my progress

Naomi x

Fiona: A Week in Training 1

After my crazy Body Workout class, i woke up on Monday to thighs so tight I couldn't descend a staircase. Consequently I was dreading the evening training with the club (GUHH)... Just goes to show how wrong you can be. It was chucking it down but the run was one of those rare ones where rain just makes it easier to breathe. I stayed bang middle of the pack with the boys for the 6 miles, which is faster than my usual pace while training, and finished the run in under an hour. Shame I then forgot my towel and had to drip dry in the gym showers!

Tuesday I was going to do a boxfit class to take the strain of my thighs (which are definitely feeling it). Got to say, I don't think having to sit it a library till 2am is great for your legs post-run. Ah the joys of being a student... I ended up going to sprint sessions instead (ouch but awesome), where coach told me he wants a 45min 10k this time, no excuses. Oh dear. Sprints covered 2.5miles (1 mile warm up, 200mx13 reps = just over1.5 miles).

Wednesday was an appalling run- only 4 club members showed, I was so so stiff and I kept getting frustrated cause I could talk completely normally (ie breathing was A OK) but not run any faster cause' my legs weren't up for it. We ended up doing 5 miles or just over. In the rain. And Thursday morning I was SORE. So I had a rest day.

I know I said I'd blog on Sundays, but I'm doing so early this week cause' I'm off to FUERTEVENTURA today with the athletics club (they call us Hares and Hounds the 'giraffes' ha ha, because we are all tall and skinny) to do some sprint training and, if I'm honest, to bask in the sun. I'm so excited for sun! And training, obv :-D.

Fiona McG

Raising money for Yorkhill

Huge thank you to Mhairi Duffy for kick starting my fundraising by offering to donate £100 to Yorkhill for my Womens 10k Lanch Hoody.

So I have now set up a just giving page in order to collect sponcers :)

Anyone who would like to donate can do via the link.

Thank you very much in advance.

Ice Ice Baby

Firstly really enjoyed the launch of the 2011 10k on Monday, was a good laugh and amusing to see the funny looks we were getting from people above wondering why we were running on the spot at the top of the concert hall :)

Was also excited to find out we were in the Evening Times (see picture) and the metro :)

As a Snowsports fan I genually love the winter and snow hoever currently the one thing I stronly dislike is the ice !!

So I was ready for starting traing yesterday and got all motivated for a run however the paths around cumbernauld at the moment have sheets of ice that could put george square at christmas time to shame.

Seriously not only the paths but the side streets and even the edge of the roads have thick layres of slush which make it an impossible task. The only way I could have had a decent run would have been to go in the middle of the road and leap over the coming cars - which for obvious reasons I decided wasn't the best idea ! So I went for a walk and ended that plan there.

Training will comence at some point but if this ice dosen't start to disappear it may have to begin in the gym for a while ....

first blog for me

Guilt! I start the build up to the Women’s 10K with guilt for not keeping my trotting up and letting the snow and ice be a good excuse. I call it trotting, as my speed can not be considered a jog or a run. However I am still pleased with myself for trotting any distance. I started running 6 years ago, completing my first Women’s 10K with my friends Ali and Mads. Ali kept Mads and myself going by telling stories and we made it. My time is always around 70mins but I do keep jogging even up hill. I have exercise-induced asthma, so its all a bit of an effort. Each year I need an incentive to make sure I do not give up training and this year it’s as an online face for the race. So I started jogging again last week, round the Milngavie reservoir - 35 mins to complete just under 5 K. Got to improve. Keep on with my yoga as its good for running but our yoga teacher has been poorly, so we all got together in the church hall and quietly did our practice together in our heads hearing Jos voice, was great but not quite the same. Went to the gym tonight and trotted on the treadmill for 25mins (only 3K). Got a bit to go…….

Great Winter Run - hard going!

Hi there,
This is my first blog since being asked to be one of the featured runners on the Women's 10k site. I'm not the fastest of runners - but I really enjoy it. I've been running for a few years and have done several 10ks and did my first half last year. 2010 was my first time doing the Women's 10k and I loved it - it's a great race and there is so much support on the day.
I'm really excited about being asked to be part of the race and hope I can encourage others to take up the challenge.
I signed up to do the Great Winter Run a few months ago - and as a bit of hill work is involved I wanted to keep training over the festive season. However, despite the best of intentions of keeping running throughout December I really struggled to get out during the snow and ice. I'm not very sure footed so had to miss out on my usual road runs - I did manage to do a few track sessions at Kelvin Hall with Glasgow Running Network. The weather picked up but then I got flu and a chesty cough so my fiance wouldn't let me go out in case I made myself worse - probably a wise man! I went for a run on Thursday nite with the network but really struggled - so was dreading the race on Saturday. To add to my woes - the snow came back on Friday night and was particularly bad in the east.
The race went ahead on a contingency course - which was an out and back rather than the usual loop round Arthur's Seat. It was pretty slushy and slidy underfoot (and still a bit of a hill to contend with) - but I managed to finish in 33.02.
It was a great atmosphere though - Liz McColgan started the race and there was a great turnout and lots of supporters out for the runners. Thanks to my friend Sam who stood about in the cold waiting for me. We treated ourselves to a nice lunch after the race.
So that's the first race of the season done - out with the network on Tuesday night. Hopefully the ice will be gone by then!!
Pamela May xx

Fiona: First Post!

Hi Everyone,

My name is Fiona McG and I'm one of this years' Runner-Up Face of the Race applicants. Glasgow Life kindly asked me to blog about my training too, so you can all share the ups and downs (and believe me, in rainy Glasgow there are some downs). I'll try to update weekly on a Sunday with what I've been up to.

I've run the race twice before and I love the Girl Power atmosphere at it. My best time is 54.15 on this race but this year I'm faster than that (I hope!), so I'm aiming for a personal best. My current PB was set on the GSR 10K.

Now its officially 2011 and there are exactly four months to go, and I'm getting down to some hardcore training. This year I will be doing a variety of 5Ks, 10Ks, Half Marathons, parkruns and university events (since I run with the Glasgow University Hares and Hounds team) so there's no slacking for me!

So far this year I've been heading out on the odd cheeky 6 miler, but its easy to slack when the team isn't in training. There has been a lot of random activity- today for example I was at a Total Body Workout class, which was sore. The trainer is definitely some sort of closet sadist, considering how lovely she is when you chat to her!

Fiona McG