10k training: 8 weeks to go

I feel sad as I write this post. I started writing it a while ago and promptly found myself hovering over the delete button. The truth is, I feel like a complete fraud talking about exercise. Time and time again I’ve announced my intentions on this blog to turn my life around, to become the runner/gym-bunny/swimmer/yogi that I always ‘knew’ was lurking inside. A couple of half-hearted attempts later and I’m off the wagon (usually clutching a spoon and a tub of ice-cream), forgetting that I ever had a plan to lose weight or get fit. I never seem to be able to see my plans through.

I was always an active child, spending endless balmy summer evenings riding my bike up and down the street, strapping on my roller blades, going horse-riding or climbing trees. In secondary school I played hockey for my school team and even the county. I competed on my horse most weekends. So what went wrong? I got lazy I suppose. I got a career, a boyfriend, a social life, a flat. I stopped prioritising exercise, my metabolism slowed and before I knew it the dial on the scales started creeping up. And up. And up. And…

Next year I get married. And without wanting to make another abandoned pledge, I really, REALLY want to get fit and healthy. I need a wholesale lifestyle change. I want to change my life. So I’ve signed up to my first 10k. And I’ll run it if it kills me. I also want to do yoga more frequently to strengthen my back and feel myself becoming more limber and balanced. I want to swim more, because it makes my arm muscles feel warm and tingly, and I like the feeling of propelling myself through the cool water. I want to run, and feel myself getting stronger, and faster, and fitter.

On Saturday 21 September I will run at Richmond Running Festival: a 10k route at Kew Gardens. Right now I can’t even run for a couple of minutes without stopping. I have 8 weeks. Here’s the week ahead...

Monday
Run to work (4.2k)
Swim 50 lengths

Tuesday
Yoga (20 mins)
Running club (5k)

Wednesday
Yoga (20 mins)

Thursday
Run to work (4.2k)

Friday
Yoga (20 mins)
Swim 50 lengths

Saturday
Run (5k)

Sunday
Yoga/pilates (60 mins)

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