2010 Progress Entrant - Iola Wilson

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

Report 3 - Week beginning 25/01/10

The X-ercise Files - Diary of a 'wannabe better' long distance runner

Week 3 has been a busy one. Apart from running I have started a three day a week job in the hospital and had a wee trip to South Ronaldsay, Orkney to visit a friend.

I was quite nervous of running after my bad experience on Sunday. Monday was timetabled to be a day off from running, and was my first day at work. Despite this I managed my pilates workout before heading out the door just after 8. I've done fairly well with early mornings this week and managed to fit some pilates in four times.

Tuesday was a scheduled run day, and I was dreading it! I had thought of many excuses not to go... But when Neil nipped home at lunchtime saying he'd look after Finlay while I ran the excuses fell on deaf ears and I was ushered out the door (after taking my inhaler!). I ran for half an hour and was delighted that it felt great. Although this was an easy-paced run it felt easier and I did it a minute faster than previously.

On Wednesday I ran after work. As I hadn't made it to the Harriers endurance session on Tuesday night I decided to try some intervals with my forerunner (my most precious piece of kit!). I ran a mile to warm up, then did 6x400m fast with 400m recoveries in between and a mile warm down after. My total workout was about 5 miles and I was really pleased that I managed to keep the fast interval pace pretty steady throughout the reps. Thursday and Friday were rest days again. On Friday I went across to South Ronaldsay to visit a friend. We had a walk of about 2 miles, in bracing wind and some very stingy hail! I stayed overnight and had an early morning run of about 4 miles, alone as I couldn't persuade anyone to come with me! It had snowed overnight, the cold was biting, and I had forgotten to pack my long skins so I really felt it. But the surroundings made up for it, it was really inspiring. I could see back across to the mainland, over to Stroma and a beautifully snow-covered Hoy. I saw lots of geese, a few pheasants and watched the ferry making its way across to Gills. It reminded me of what I love so much about living in the north of Scotland.

There had been a decent snowfall overnight on Saturday and I can't say I was feeling too enthusiastic about my Sunday run but now that I'm running outdoors again I was even less enthusiastic about a long run on a treadmill. I layered up, put on an old pair of trainers and headed out. Within about a minute I'd had my first incredulous stare and comment - 'you're running in this?', and a little further up the street shouted from across the road 'are you MAD?' Some people just stared, others smirked and I'm convinced the drivers in their cars were laughing as they passed me! I ran just over 5 miles around Wick taking in the views at the harbour and into the town from the river, beautiful in the snow. By the time I got home my trainers were really heavy on account of the small pond in each one and my legs felt tired from the effort of running through so much snow and slush, but I felt pleased with myself. My speed is coming back and I am starting to feel the joy again... roll on next week!