2009 Progress Entrant - Anna MacConnell

Contents:- -Intro- Report -1 & 2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- -13- -14- -15- -16- -17- -Final-

Introduction

My name is Anna MacConnell and I work as the Co-ordinator for Caithness Partnership based in Wick.

Although my job takes me out and about a bit, a lot of my time is spent at the computer or the phone and I usually drive an hour each way to work every day, so spend a lot of time in a sedentary mode.

At home we have a few sheep that call for a bit of attention now and then so I get an occasional walk to the hill. Otherwise, all the exercise I get is few walks a week, depending on the weather, and as soon as the nights are brighter I might get a chance to get out on my bike now and then.

Where I live in Armadale there are hills whichever direction you go with the bike so you get a good workout very quickly!

I agreed to do the run in a weak (and wildly optimistic) moment and have only just started training using the advice for beginners provided by the organizers of the Mey 10k.

I've arranged a meeting of some of the beginners so that we can get some advice from a physiotherapist about avoiding injury and what kind of trainers are best etc. I'm also cutting various items from my diet as I know that if I eat more healthily in tandem with the training I'll find it easier to complete the run.

My 14 year old son has been very encouraging and has come out with me in the dark evenings riding ahead on his bike with the lights on so I don't have to carry a torch as I jog down the road. I declined his offer of a backpack full of stones.

I'm taking it one day at a time, going to the gym at lunchtime when I can, and looking forward to being fitter.

This is a great opportunity to do something to improve my general health.