Week 10 and my Couch to 10k in 10 weeks training is now complete and as I sit writing this on the day before the race, I am full of mixed emotion. Nervous at the prospect of the challenge before me tomorrow, excited to be involved in it and proud of my achievements both a personal level and from a fund raising perspective for the charity.
According to the official Great Scottish Run website, the final week of training should be a "Taper Down" in activity to allow the body to get ready for the challenge so the plan for we was to do the 5k Glasgow Parkrun on Saturday, a 9k on Monday (final distance run) and another 5k on Wednesday (final speed run).
The park run on Saturday was another double achievement for me. Firstly, I managed to complete it without slowing to a walk (I can do 5k runs but not on this course for some reason!) and this helped be break the 30 min milestone with a 29:34 Personal Best. A great start to the week and a huge confidence boost.
Monday's 9k was another challenge against time and unfortunately time for me ran out. With daylight fading and no lighting round Alexandra Park, I decided to call it in at 8k. I was a reasonable run out though and set my expectations of time for the 10k. It is not looking great for the sub 60 min target as at an average pace of 6:30 per km, I will come in just over however, I am training on hills and my colleagues assure me that the atmosphere on the day and the crown cheering us on will give a boost. If I can do a high 50's then I will be happy.
Wednesday's 5k speed run was an altogether different story though, with a 29:15, telling me that I have the pace over the 5k and over hills so depending on the hills on the race, the high 50's is definitely achievable.
The graph shows my 10 week progress. From a struggling to complete 4k in just under 30 minutes, to a 9k in 55. Looking at the individual km times, you can really see the difference in performance as the training has gone on.
Over the 10 weeks, I have ran 135km in a total time of 13 hrs and 7 minutes and looking back at it - if someone had told me 10 weeks ago that this was remotely achievable, I would have laughed in their face!
Final weight loss was 0.3kg to get me in 99.9 Kg (15st 10) which according to the Wii Fit still makes be overweight but it assessed my age as that of a 31 year old this morning, so I will take that for the win!
Fundraising is going superbly. The Ceridian Payback Foundation Runners have managed to raise £581 (before gift aid) at the time of writing this post and we have been joined by an champion fundraiser in the form one of the Team's 7 year old son who will also be completing the 10k and has managed to raise a staggering £400 so far as well. Therefore, my picture of the week has to be that of the young and inspiring Jacob Muirhead with the Ceridian Payback Runners, who between them will raise well in excess of £1000 for the charity.
In the picture (back) Ross Moffat, Sonia Diez, Wendy Muirhead, Katie Wilkie, Robert Wright, (middle) - Ashleigh Evans, Dianne Turpin and Jacob Evans at the front.
So it's big well done for everyone's efforts and a huge thank you to everyone who has supported my blog and particularly those who have sponsored the team - we have raised an excellent amount for a very deserving charity.
If you still would like to donate can do so here through the just giving site or by texting PAYB99 3 to 70070 to donate the price of a pint for disadvantaged children!
Thank You!
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