Countdown to the Great Manchester 10K Run – 9 weeks to go

Keith Trinnaman running on the treadmill

In the second instalment in his series of articles charting his progress as he prepares for the Great Manchester Run, Rotary club member Keith Trinnaman tells us his training is going very well.

"I am now up to 60 minutes running in the gym and a distance of 9.5k. I mentioned last time I was changing my running strategy for the gym in an effort to build up my stamina, I’ll tell you what I do now. Remember I train 3 times a week - on the Monday I have been setting the treadmill at an incline of 1 or 2% but taking it at a steady pace of 8.5/9 km per hour.

"On the Wednesday I’ve been doing interval running, that is an alternate one minute at a very fast walking pace then one minute at a fast running pace.

"Then on the Friday I just run on the level aiming to increase the duration by at least 5 minutes each week. As far as the running time is concerned I use the time I ran on the previous Friday as the goal for the week.

"Training to this program has helped me over the last 2 weeks and I feel that my stamina has increased. Over the next 2 weeks I want to get to at least 10k, and also start going out on the road to get acclimatized to the different running conditions that the elements throw at you.

"I’ll tell you more about what motivates me to keep running next time; you do need something otherwise boredom kicks in.

"I am glad to say that I am now officially registered for the run, having had the details through by email from Macmillan, then registering online and submitting the £30 entry fee. So there’s no turning back now. I have also asked for iron-on letters for the shirt, so if you see someone running around the course with TRINNI on the shirt give me a big encouraging cheer, please.

"Not everything has gone well for me over the last 2 weeks! I had bit of a blip with my weight, we had a couple of social occasions the weekend before last, added to which my weekly Rotary meeting with Middleton Rotary Club where we have a 3 course meal! resulted in a rise in weight. (If you want to know more about my Rotary club we have a web site on Rochdale Online, so please have a look.)

"At the peak in the 2 weeks I went up to 13st 5lbs, so last week out came the dreaded soup diet! This soup is made up of onions, celery, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes and chicken stock (sounds great doesn’t it?). It did the trick because I ended up back to 13st, basically at the top limit of my target, I’ll tell you more about this, and my, diet next time.

"At the moment I am off alcohol, as I always give this up during lent but will probably limit alcohol until after the run – it’s not so much the drink that puts the weight on but all the nibbles I feel compelled to have after a few drinks! Anyway whatever I am doing it seems to be working as so far I’ve lost 1st 2lb.

"As you will remember I am running to raise funds for Macmillan cancer support, who do such a wonderful job in comforting those that are suffering with cancer. The inspiration for this being my sister, Joy, who has an inoperable tumour on the brain but is remaining very strong and positive about the future. When I am running and start to feel I’ve done enough, which may be way short of what I targeted, I think of Joy and her suffering this spurs me on to complete what I set out to do, I call it the ‘Joy factor’.

"Joy lives in Canada (Vancouver), I speak to her every week and I am glad to say when I spoke to her last she sounded really good. I still find it hard to come to terms with her illness because she has led a good lifestyle – hasn’t smoked, didn’t drink, kept herself fairly fit so you can’t help but keep questioning why has this happened?

"So far my fund raising for Macmillan is up to over £700, my target is at least £1000. I am so grateful to those that have sponsored so far, especially Diane Berry Kitchens who did a wonderful job fitting our kitchen a few years back and clearly have charitable heart as well. It would be great if you could add to this, which can be done by visiting:

www.justgiving.com/keithtrinnaman

"My two concerns over the next 2 weeks are firstly chocolate at Easter time (can I resist?) and secondly the fact that it is school holidays may affect my training pattern. I’ll tell you how I get on next time.

"Thanks for reading, and keep thinking exercise (it is good for you)."

Trinni