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-

Report 13 - Week beginning 30/03/09

Have you stuck to the training programme? If not any reasons why?

The only hope I have of being ready for the 10k is by sticking to the programme.

Have you done more or less than expected? Explain.

Well, on Sunday the programme was to run 5 miles 'easy' so I went to Borgie and ran (with a few very short breaks to catch my breath) what I'd guessed was two miles more than the 3 miles we'd marked out. Checked the mileage later and it was 4.9 miles.

How did you feel during training this week? What were the highs and lows?

Loads of people have said it's the first mile or so that's the hardest and aint that true. Sometimes for the first bit I can hardly take a breath, gasping for air, then gradually everything settles down and I feel as if I could run to Durness and back. Unfortunately that feeling doesn't last long but a high nonetheless.

Are you seeing improvements; in speed, distance, breathing?

Nearly a mile up on last week so that's an improvement, but honestly, none of it is easy. Doable, but I'd hate to give the impression that it's anything but tough. I've nothing but respect for people who do this all the time and even derive pleasure from it.

Where are you walking/running; gym, beach, roads, forests?

Armadale beach for the 'speed' training; it's a bit softer underfoot. Then Armadale road, Borgie forest and the forest again on Sunday. The great weather all week really helped. On Saturday a pal and I went check out the Mey 10k route and ran a very short section. It's a long, long way round. Are we going to be ready in time??

Are you training alone/with someone else/mixture? How does this affect your training?

Apart from the short run at Mey it was just me and the dog chugging along together all week. She went for a swim in a burn at the half way mark in Borgie to cool off, then ran ahead of me all the way back, stopping occasionally to slurp a drink out of the muddy pools at the side of the track.

Any injuries?

None.

Are you feeling any benefits away from training as a result of the training; health, toning up, more energetic?

Went smoking up Armadale Brae on the bike without stopping - its about 2 miles mostly uphill. Usually takes a few weeks of grind to get to that stage so was well chuffed.

Are you doing any other forms of exercise; swimming, cycling, yoga, pilates?

Just cycling, which is so easy compared to running.

Any other observations?

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