Calling all the ladies (and men)!

At GSR HQ we have noticed (as many of you folks probably have to) the campaign by Cancer Research’s Race for Life event to drum up participants. It’s a real shame that such a worthy event, and some other races in general, are struggling to get participants when they do so much for so many people.

While the GSR isn’t just about fundraising, helping charities has always been and always will be a big part of why we are here. As many of you will know, our event raises in excess of £1.5m for charities each year thanks to the blood, sweat and (sometimes!) tears of our entrants. This year alone thousands have already signed up and committed to run for various charities – from over 300 Bank of Scotland colleagues running for Save the Children to several hundred individual British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Erskine Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis, Macmillan and Yorkhill Hospital, and hundreds of other smaller but no less important charities.

Taking part in the GSR is a fantastic way to do your bit for good causes close to your heart. So if you’ve always thought about doing something but never got round to it, or have seen the recent Cancer Research adverts and think this June is a bit too soon, maybe the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run is just the challenge for you…

22 days to early bird ends!

Here at GSR HQ we are focusing on the end of early bird, which is just 22 days away on 25th June, and putting together much of the detail for race day. A massive amount of planning goes in to delivering the event and much of what we are doing now is geared towards race day in September! Entries are coming in thick and fast and if you haven't signed up already, don't hang around. Discounted early-bird prices end 25th June so sign up today at www.runglasgow.org

Thanks to everyone who voted on facebook to pick the race t-shirt for 2010. We really like it and while the voting was really close, we think everyone will be proud to wear their t-shirt on race or during training.

We will be publishing route details very soon so keep your eyes peeled on the race website or on our facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bank-of-Scotland-Great-Scottish-Run/309385763024) for more details.

Planning is also well under way for our Bank of Scotland Junior Great Scottish Run events on Saturday 4th September. Youngsters from 9 to 17 years of age can compete in our 1.5k and 3k events at Glasgow Green and experience the thrill of road racing. Entry is just six pounds and for that they get an official race t-shirt, finishers medal, personalised finishers certificate and a goody bag stuffed with cool freebies!

If you are already in training for the race in September, well done. Signing up and getting started training is half the battle and the more training and prep you do, the more enjoyable race day will be.

Good luck and see you on the start line!

16 Weeks to Go!

Well that’s my second week of GSR training over…and I didn’t quite get as much training done as I would have liked, but at least I’ve still a good number of weeks left!

I ended my blog last week saying that I was going to Spin class that night, I have to admit that as the day went on, my legs (and rest of me!) got more and more tired, and so I cancelled and went home for a bath instead!

I tried to make up for it on Tuesday, and so went out for a 5k run. Did it in 28 mins 13 seconds, which was an average pace of 10.6kph. Not bad, but my fastest ever time is 26mins 16 secs, and I’d like to be back running at that pace! One thing I’ve found over the last year or so, is that I don’t really run in kilometres or miles, but average speed! I like to believe this is what makes me a runner and not a jogger, but in reality I think it just makes me a geek!

Anyway, I didn’t manage to get out running the next couple of nights, but had Spin class on Friday night. It was a good workout, Friday night spin definitely sets you up for the weekend!

I got out for another run on Saturday, and this time ran 6.5k in 36m 33s averaging 10.7kph. That is around 56min 10k pace, closer to where I want to be but still not fast enough! In order to achieve my aim of a sub 55min 10k, I really need to be running at a pace of over 11kph, I can do that over a shorter distance of say 2miles but need to get my body used to running faster for longer!!
I seemed to have planned it over the next couple of weeks that I am either out most nights or have people over, so not sure how much training I will get to do, but will try my best to get at least a couple of runs in so I have something to write about!

New trainers tried and tested!!

Hi everyone, over the next few weeks I will share with you all my training schedule for the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon, yes I'm attempting the half this year, I managed to finish the 10k last year in 1hr4mins and have set myself a harder challenge for 2010. Hoping to complete it in 2hours.

My friend and colleague talked me into taking part in the 10k last year and now I'm hooked. I started jogging myself 2-3times per week and decided to join a local jogscotland running club and go out twice a week running distances ranging from 4.5-8miles, which has helped me massively. Now the weather is changing for the better, we are trying out tougher and longer distances which I am enjoying. I also go out for a 6-7mile run at the weekend. I will need to start running longer distances from June onwards to prepare myself and work up to the half marathon.

I ran the Ignis 10k on Sunday which is a brilliant event with such terrific support, will definitely take part in this run each year. Lots of girls having fun running with their friends, family and colleagues for all different reasons. The route was good with a couple of hills for those runners who are looking for a little challenge along the way but not too tough for non-runners either who were taking part just for the fun of it and to raise money for friends, family and colleagues.

Going out for a run on Thursday night and will let you know how it goes.

The Bowie at Breakfast team's Great Scottish Run training is underway with me (Adele) doing the Women's 10K yesterday. I managed the run in 1 hour and 36 seconds; I delighted with the time although I wish it could have been under an hour. At least I now have a time to beat at the Great Scottish Run in September!

George and Des haven't been doing much running, Des has had too much on with his wedding but now he is back from his honeymoon he can start pounding the streets of Glasgow.

George had a boxing match last week and is fairly fit already so I am sure the half marathon won't be a problem for him!

17 Weeks to Go!

Hello and welcome to my Great Scottish Run 10k blog! Over the next 17 weeks I will be detailing my weekly training as I aim to set a new PB of under 55mins!

I took up jogging about 3 years ago, and somehow over the months seemed to change from being a jogger to a runner! I think the main difference is starting to care about how fast you run and keeping a note of average times etc! It’s gone from being a hobby to a way of life!

My best 10k time so far is 56mins 30secs in the Woman’s 10k last May, I had aimed for under 55mins in September. However I got my pacing wrong for the first mile then spent the second mile trying too hard to make up time. In future I will stick to a steady more even pace. A lesson learned!!

So far this year I haven’t had much time to dedicate to training, due to getting married 3 weeks ago! I did the Woman’s 10k yesterday, mainly for fun rather than for a specific target time and am pleasantly surprised that I crossed the finish line just seconds over the hour mark!

Well, I was pleasantly surprised for about an hour or so then started getting frustrated with myself for not running that bit faster and getting under an hour! But considering my last month of training consisted of a 6k over 3 weeks ago, a 5k 2 weeks ago, a stop-start 7k last Monday, and pretty much nothing else, I think I did ok! My plan is to now step up the training and aim once again for under 55mins in September!

As well as running I also go to spin classes at Glasgow Club Easterhouse a couple of times a week, in fact I am booked in for spin tonight (the day after a 10k….I must be mad!)

See you next week!

Congrats to everyone who took part in the Women's 10k yesterday. It was a fantastic event and you all did really well! It was a very exciting and important day in the build up to the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run this September.

A massive amount of organisation goes in to hosting a major road race event like the Women's 10k or the Great Scottish Run. And with all things, the more practice you get, the better it becomes and this is no different!

Despite it being a very successful event there are always things we can do a little bit better so we will taking away the feedback from the weekend and will hopefully be able to put that in to practice to make the race in September event better. Remember you can do 10k in September (you don't just have to do the big half marathon!) so once the stiff muscles and the aches ease off this week, get signed back up for September and don't put all your hard work to waste!

www.runglasgow.org/GSR-2010