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 8 - Week beginning 23/02/09

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

Yes, although I’m a week behind the programme schedule.

Have you done more or less than expected? Explain.

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

Moving on to 15 mins running, one minute break then another 15 mins running was not too bad the first night, but the second time the excruciating pain in my lower legs cam e back - must have been the cold, or perhaps I was doing too much as I was running for three consecutive days so took a break for a couple of days and the last run of the week was no problem. A lot of ups and downs and moments when I just wanted to pack the whole thing in.

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

Breathing is so much easier, but keeping the pace down other wise would not be able to complete the longer runs.

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

In the village during the week, an extra run about Wick river one day, then in Borgie Forest on Sunday.

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

My son has come with me in the evenings and my daughter at the weekend. During the week a pal and I went out at lunchtime along the riverside at Wick, just a 15 minute run.

Any injuries?

No injuries although my lower legs were in agony one evening during the week, but I really don’t know what caused the pain which lasted for about half an hour after running. Is it the impact from running on the road or something to do with warming up or cooling down? Help and advice required!!!

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

Definitely now can see the benefits of the last few weeks. I feel healthier. Still avoiding gobbling biscuits, cake, chocolate, pastry, pudding of any kind, crisps etc and stuff like mayonnaise. Cheese, except for low fat tasteless triangles, is more or less out the window too now but my efforts to give up bread were in vain - seriously, who could live long and prosper without toast and marmalade on a Sunday morning and the occasional banana sandwich?

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

I go to the gym a few lunchtimes a week when possible.

Any other observations?

Caithness Mental Health Support Group is setting up a page on the justgiving website. When that is up and running anyone can set up their own webpage on justgiving and select that charity as the recipient for sponsorship they raise. It’s a way of raising money and knowing it will be used for the benefit people in Caithness and north Sutherland and I’ll be setting up a sponsorship page as soon as that is in place. I’ve already had a few offers of sponsorship for the Mey10k and a cash donation from someone who shall remain anonymous and assured me 'you CAN do it !!' That, and other words of encouragement, really helped keep up the spirits and determination to carry on at moments when I’d had enough of this blasted running and all I wanted to do was turn round and go home. Encouragement can be very powerful indeed.