The Gym

The start of my training coincided with a cold spell.  There is no way I'm running on icy pavements so I've joined our local gym - JD Gyms in Doncaster.  £21.99 per month seems a reasonable fee and I can cancel anytime.

First visit to the gym: 

Learn how to get in (and out) - it's all apps, QR code and pins these days.  

Find the changing rooms and try to padlock the locker - my suitcase lock is a bit small - bigger lock required.

Learn how to use the treadmill and get it to show what I want according to my training plan.  If I use the pre-set 5k distance why does it show how many miles I've run!  I asked one of the assistants to show me how to change the distance run to km rather than miles and she tried to google it but gave up and got someone else to do it.  After a bit of a work around it got sorted out but sometimes it's easier just convert the km distance to miles.

Nice hot shower afterwards, saving on electric costs at home - win win.

Training Programme

I've been given a couple of books by relatives who have run marathons in the past.  The training programme I've chosen is taken from the book Marathon! by Jeff Galloway, its even a signed copy!  Various programmes are outlined in the book and the one I've chosen is the "To Finish" Programme which requires running 3 times per week.  For me, that means doing one 5k at the gym on the treadmill, one 5k parkrun and one long slow run each week.  I've also had to extend the programme to meet my 57.2km goal rather than a marathon goal of 42.195km.  

    Original "To Finish" Programme

My Programme: