Day 3: Friday, 23/02/07

I return to the gym determined to improve my stamina. I decide that the best way to do this would be for me to just focus on the running – as this is what I will have to do on the day – and stick to the treadmill. I run for 2.5km (or roughly 1.5 miles, for those of you who still work in imperial measurements) in a time of 22 minutes 30 seconds, through a mixture of running and walking.

The time is slightly worrying, as it means that if I double the distance I covered, to get the full 5km that I will have to run on the day, and the time accordingly it comes to 45 minutes – 15 minutes over my goal of half an hour. It is also quite possible that on the actual day this could increase even further, the more tired I become.

On the plus side, the whole of today’s training took place on an incline of “three” (so the monitor on the treadmill informs me). I am not exactly sure what the number refers to – maybe somebody in the know could enlighten me? But on the actual day, a good half of the course is downhill, which should in theory make it easier for me to make up time. I console myself with this thought.

Before I leave I forget to weigh myself, so do it when I return instead. I am still eight stone in weight – exactly the same as before. Perhaps it is too early to see any real difference.