2010 Progress Entrant - Ewan Mackenzie

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

Report 8 - Week beginning 01/03/10

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

No still on my own programme doing approx 3 runs a week but on advice from Sophie and my wife I have cut my mileage a bit and now trying to concentrate on improving my pace.

Have you done more or less than expected? Explain.

As it is now 8 weeks since I started training I am a long way ahead of where I ever imagined I would be at this stage.

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

No lows although my knee continues to irritate me. My highs were all 3 runs I did this week.

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

Starting to cope better with hills and not so badly affected by the wind and now trying to improve my pace.

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

On Tuesday I went along to join in with the runners at Sophie's training session in Thurso. It was a little daunting going along to join in with ''seasoned runners'' but I braved it and really enjoyed the session. After our warm up we then did 3 minute sessions at 10k pace with 90 second recovery each time followed by five 1 minute runs at a faster pace with the same 90 second recovery interval and we finished with a warm down. Everyone makes you feel very welcome and I am really looking forward to going back this Tuesday. On Thursday I did a 4 mile run in Thurso and managed to do it at a slightly faster pace than before and I also picked a route that was slightly more undulating. On Saturday morning Sandra and I went out with some of the runners from Tuesday night and did a 10k course out near Mey. It was a pleasant morning but this was a bit of a wake up call in my preparation for the big run in May, It was a very undulating course which seemed to have far more up hills than down hills in it but we managed our way round and it has prepared me better for the run. My legs remain sore after every run and I got some advice from one or two of the more experienced runners on Tue and Sat to sit in a cold bath after each session for anything between 3 and 10 minutes. This I tried when I returned home on Saturday morning and I must confess it certainly eased the soreness in my legs the only downside is other parts of my body virtually disappeared in the freezing water and seem unwilling to return quickly!

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

Twice with other people and once on my own. As I have previously said I much prefer training with people.

Any injuries?

My knee is still giving me a little grief.

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

More weight lost and continuing to feel the all-round benefits.

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

Went to the gym a couple of times spent a bit of time on the cross trainer and the bike I felt this helped my knee as well as my fitness.

Any other observations?

Last week was a good one for me with a good variation in the training and felt good all week.