Training begins

My previous half marathon training has involved running with the Active Virgins, and just following our brave and fearless leader, Adrienne, where ever she decided to take me. This meant running distances of between 6km and 8km about 3 times per week. I would also squeeze in a 15km race - my reasoning being: if you can run 10km you can run 15km, and if you can do 15km then you can do 21km.

My new friend and China Chum, Megan, comes with a very clever husband called Alan. Alan is quite a boffin when it comes to this exercising lark, and so he has tried to explain the merits of running to my heart rate, and has set a good cross training programme for me.

Last Monday was the first day of my training, which involves running for 20 minutes without stopping, and keeping my heart rate between 140 and 150 beats per minute. Now this is easier said than done, as my natural (I use this term loosely as there is nothing natural about me and running) inclination is to run comfortably at around 154 - 156. And so the first couple of days of this were no fun at all. But Alan promised that I would get used to running at this pace and it would benefit me in the long run - all the technical reasoning is beyond me! I've decided to just do as I'm told because he clearly knows more than I do.

I have even managed to drag my dear husband, Kevin, along on a few of these runs. He has to be dragged along by our hound, Louie, who has a tendency to decorate every tree along the route, and then scream off again to try and get ahead of me - Louie has following issues!

In between the running, Alan has decided that cycling is a good thing, and so Megan and I also have to hit the hills every few days. This involves an early 5.30am start and about 5km of mountain biking, mostly with my eyes closed, because I am terrified most of the time. On the days I don't head for the mountain with Megan, I cycle along the very up and down Gold Creek Road, passing quarantined pigs, English phone booths, and a microwave along the route.