Lucozade Sport Super Six: keep going lass

Introducing the fifth member of our Lucozade Sport Super Six… keep going lass, you can do it.

She might not have run a half-marathon before (and admits the idea scares her to death) but her recent 10K time indicates she's right to set her sights on a sub-2:15 finish this autumn.

Steve Smythe will coach keep going lass directly on this thread and she’ll also be posting her training progress here on a regular basis. She’ll also feedback the fuel and hydration advice given to her by the team of sports scientists at Lucozade Sport so make sure you check back regularly to find out she gets on.

Feel free to ask questions and post messages of support, but please try not to hijack the thread.

You can read more about keep going lass - and the rest of the team - by clicking on the article link at the top of this thread.

Otherwise, settle back and enjoy!

Congratulations KGL!!!

Enjoy the next few weeks and good luck!!!

See you there!

XXXX

Congratulations KGL!

Steve is a great coach and will give lots of sound advice.  I look forward to reading your training blog and I bet with all the training and advice you'll receive that you'll easily get your goal.

Well it's finally out ..... What a relief!    

The last two weeks have been hectic to say the least.   With all the phone calls, interviews, stuff arriving in the post - I feel like I've run a half marathon already!   I've been so excited that I have wanted to shout it from the roof tops,  but really nervous about  it the same time because GNR is no longer a distant dream - it'll be here before I know it!  

I pride myself on my drive and determination and can be somewhat obsessive so I  have found it diffcult to take a rest from running to give my niggles time to heal, but I'm glad I did because the day before my scheduled first "post niggle"  run, I got the email confirming that I had been selected!  

That 1st run, after two weeks abstention was only 2.6 miles and I was gasping by the end of it but I have persevered and ran my second 10K race yesterday in 59:43, improving my first time by almost 3 minutes and with no ill effect on my legs today ..... Here's a picture of me trying to stretch my stiff calves after my warm up.... I don't look very happy do I!

More importantly it has given my confidence a boost, showing that even with a little time "on the bench", I have still improved, and I didn't hide in the toilets this time!  Thanks RW for sharing that little gem with the world!   

 Looking ahead, my first challenge will be to increase from 2 runs a week to 4 and my 1st training session from Steve's programme is tomorrow - speedwork   - goody ... start with the hard stuff and it should only get easier!!    Will report back on how I get on..........

This is a fantastic and unique opportunity for the 6 of us that have been lucky enough to be selected and I hope we can do it justice by sharing our  experiences, and maybe inspiring some of you along the way to "keep going" and enjoy the ride, ..........I certainly intend to.   I have a great  opportunity to be the best I can be .......and if I can do it , anyone can! 

Happy running everyone 

KGL, I get the impression that it'll be some time before you stop grinning. You sound so happy and optimistic I'm grinning with you.

Keep Going my running twin, I'll try & keep up

Hi Tracy,

Congratulations to you too.  I have been so excited over the past two weeks, fit to burst but now it's a reality I must admit to being a little scared.

I have just got back from my first scheduled run which was a 55 mintues easy, we have changed this weeks schedule slightly as I shall be running a 5k race tommorrow evening - Help. I'll let you know how I get on.

It's great surprise to have been chosen to be part of the team with so many worthy pitches for a place but I am determined to make the most of this fantastic opportunity as I know we all will.

I look forward to chatting on the forum over the next ten weeks and meeting you at the Great Yorkshire Run in September.

Speak Soon

Oh, there's a point  - I havent received anything in the post yet so I'd better chase that up.

Well done & congrats KGL

  Hope to see/meet you & other 5 on Oct. 5th

I Will be on the front grid as well ( as an ever present ). Will be watching your progress with interest

good luck

Well done, I'm impressed at how you kept it a secret.  I really am very pleased for you. So we'll be keeping an eye on you now. Enjoy your training with the stars and hope to see you on the day.

Tony (Tonystoon)

I was really tired this morning after all the nerves and excitement of yesterday and my plan is giving me a speed session for today,

I decided to do it on the treadmill so that I could maintain the discipline of both the time and speed, so after some ginger marmalade on toast, (tip - did you know that ginger is an anti-inflammatory?), off I trot to the gym.....

I  spent 8 minutes gently peddling on the bike to wake my legs up before I ventured onto the treadmill,  just as well, as it took me that long to convert the speed from miles per minute to kilometeres per hour - the last thing I wanted to do was cock up the first session because I can't add up!

10 minutes easy the schedule said, so I set the speed at 7.5 km ph.  At the end of the 10 mins, I upped the speed to 9.6km (10 minute miles) "this is easier than I thought it was going to be", I said to myself ...... until the first half mile was over, then I changed my mind!  

Mile completed, and 3 minutes recovery next, so I slowed down to walking pace and used the opportunity to dry off and take plenty of fluid.  By the time I'd done that, pace needed to go up again!   Why is it that the recovery time passes so much quicker than the speed??

For the second speed mile, I took the gradient off (!!) and that mile came and went ,followed by another hard earned 3 minutes walking. 

My legs were well warmed up, I had established a good rhythm and my heart rate was still recovering during the recovery - always a good sign ....and I'm enjoying  it.!   Speed back up to 9.6, for the final mile which strangely seemed slower and a final 3 minutes recovery before I "jogged home"  for the last 10 minutes at a comfortable 7.5 kph, finishing on 59 minutes, 5 miles and 790 calories - JOB DONE!

My watch showed that my pace during the speed miles was 9:50 so it either needs recalibrating or the treadmill was inaccurate.  Either way, I ran the speed miles at at least 10 minute miles so that's one I can tick off, if I ran it faster, it's a bonus!  

Lesson learned today -   The 10 minute easy runs are essential in this kind of session.  I've never done that before and it made a big difference to how my legs settled into coping with the speed and in particular how they recovered afterwards.  I could feel my leg muscles stretching in different directions during the last 10 minutes and the aches melting away, unless of course it was the ginger doing its work!  . 

I've done CV work for 3 consecutive days now and  have a tempo session to do on Thursday so although I am scheduled to do an easy  50 minutes tomorrow, it seems sensible to swap it to Friday's rest day.    I'll do some core and weights tomorrow instead (got to keep ahead of Jason on the press ups haven't I! ) ,  before heading off for a girlie shopping trip in Birmingham - my reward and celebration for a good session today and besides, I've got some spare calories in the bank to spend!  

Goodness - that was a long one wasn't it?  I might not be able to run a half marathon yet, but I can write a half marathon blog  .    Hope your own training has gone well today, I'm off to take the dog for a walk now!   Cheerio!  

well done KGL, well deserved

Congratulations KGL.

Your thread is great. I will have to get some tips. Looking forward to meeting you and the team.

Looking at your programme and the other team members I owe Steve a pint for breaking me in gently.

All the best with the training and I am looking forward to your next update.

Take care Dump Truck (Guy)

Well done - good session - encouraging after that excellent 10K as that would have affected you a little.

 Where possible I have tried to give to similar elements in the schedules to all the runners. A sense of community maybe but I also believe that once you have a background of fitness that runners of different speeds can still do similar sessions, albeit just at a different pace.

Last night my track training group numbered 35 ranging from sub-5 milers to nearer 10, but they were all doing approx 3 minute reps with two minute recoveries last night, though the faster ones were doing 1000m, and others were varying distances down to 600m and everyone started at the same time.

Thanks Steve,

I was a bit dubious about the speed session being my first, particularly after the weekend race but I did enjoy it and I have suffered no ill effects from it.  Reference your comments to Bryan -  I have been working hard on my base fitness since the new year and done lots of explosive and core and strength work and it has been very  beneficial but I have come to realise that  I must respect the distance I am seeking to run.   

To do it justice and remain injury free, I now need to give running priority over the other forms of exercise and use cross training to complement running rather than run as an "add on".   After all, it will be no use to me being able to throw a good punch or pedal for my life come 5th October will it!  .

That said, I enjoyed my weights session this morning and put in some good endurance training at Birmingham Bull Ring - otherwise known as shopping! 

I am looking forward to getting out tomorrow to tick off another session.