Theresas training

Name: Theresa Leslie
Age: 27
Time Running: 3 years
Average Weekly Mileage: 18 miles and rising!

I joined Dunbar Running Club in June 2004, following
what was for me, a poor performance in Glasgow
Britannic Asset Management 10k.

I used to live near West Calder, West Lothian and
moved to Dunbar in March 2004. Between October 2003
and March 2004 I was living in rented accommodation
and due to circumstances couldn’t really fit a lot of
running in (circumstances being - big huge dogs that
followed me whenever I tried to go for a run, then
would run off to chase rabbits, get lost and get me
into trouble with their owners). My average weekly
mileage dipped to an all time low of about 7 miles, as
I had to drive somewhere suitable (ie no dogs) before
being able to go for a run. My motivation was
diminishing rapidly along with my fitness and stamina.
The Britannic Asset Management 10k in May 2004 showed
how low my motivation was going – without really
needing to I had my first walk break at 4k and had
regular walk breaks from then on. I ran through what
I thought was the finish line just over an hour after
starting, to tell my mum at the sidelines how
knackered I was, and how hot it was etc etc, when she
then told me I hadn’t even finished yet! Anyone that
ran that one will remember the big balloon arch about
300m before the finish – fooled a lot of people into
thinking they had finished I think. Official race
time – 1hr 03 mins 17 secs. I was really disappointed
with myself for walking so frequently.

After a quick internet search I found Dunbar running
club and sent an email to find out more – along the
lines of “not a fast runner – approx 1hr for a 10k” as
I was really apprehensive of turning up to a club
where all the runners are super fast whippets who run
off and leave me panting at the back unable to
continue after half a mile. Stuart Hay came back with
a friendly and reassuring response advising that the
club is full of all levels of runners and everyone is
welcome, detailing that in summer the club does a lot
of nice runs through John Muir Country Park and along
the other side of the A1. (Although the club does
also have a few whippets!) To say after that I never
looked back would be a lie though….the first couple of
club nights were tough. I guess it’s a bit like new
girl in class syndrome, many years after you expect to
go through that again. The women were all nice and
friendly, although they could chat easily all the way
round the routes whereas it was taking me all my
effort to keep breathing! After a few weeks I settled
into a pattern, generally running at the back of the
pack, with the two Sheila’s (Morrison and Kerr) and
meeting up with them to run Thursdays and weekends
also.

Now I am so glad I kept it up – I’ve made some good
friends (well I think I would call them that, but not
always so sure at mile 9 of a very hilly 10 mile run
that I was promised was quite flat), improved my
fitness, my times, have learned some fantastic and
beautiful runs around Dunbar, my motivation has grown
massively and although I still moan plenty when out
running the pain is short lived. My weekly mileage
has probably doubled since I’ve joined, I’ve completed
my first half marathon (longest run previous to
joining would have been 7 or so miles), I’ve reduced
my average 10k time from about an hour to about 56
mins, my 5k time is around or just under 25 mins. I
did my first 10 mile run this year too – Sheila
Morrison told me that the hills at the Lasswade 10
“aren’t that bad” (have nearly forgiven her now!) The
best benefit so far must be that I now have the
ability to talk and run…..
Welcome to my online training diary!

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# posted by user : 2:53 PM