Mark Martin 10K Training Blog (26th March 2010)

Hey guys,

Welcome to my second weekly blog in preparation for the Men’s Health Forum Scotland 10K in 3 months time.

What a week it’s been, I think I have fallen off the healthy eating regime quite spectacularly this week!

Monday consisted of a chip roll before another decent goalkeeping and midfield performance at Real Radio 5’s though this week my running wasn’t up to much with a horrible taste of potato every time I stopped to grab a breath! I don’t think I’ll be chippying (is that even a word?) before a game again. Lesson learned! Monday into Tuesday’s show was a bit of a struggle after the evening of sport, again, was it down to the grease laden chip roll?

Tuesday of this week was my birthday and I had a lovely day despite being another year closer to 30! I’m now the grand old age of 26, only 4 years left to get an 18-30 holiday in there haha!

My day consisted of getting up at lunchtime with a beautiful jam croissant for breakfast before a fun time opening my presents. I was lucky enough to receive a new watch (good for the run timekeeping), a new wallet and “Dancing on Ice” for the Nintendo Wii. Now, before we go any further, I have already admitted my love for the show (nothing to do with the Mrs.) and to receive the game was not only a surprise but a new addiction!

Within seconds of opening the box, the game was in the console and I was playing, dancing with pro skater Molly Moenkhoff who is well worth a Google if you get the chance lads!

This game involves you dancing around your living room, unlocking routines and competing just like the show! I managed to get the hang of the game fairly quickly but I tell you, I broke into a serious sweat; the kind Tony Mowbray had at New St Mirren Park on Wednesday! (Sorry Tone, all the best and all that!)

Following my near elimination in show 5 of the game (that virtual Phillip Schofield had me worried for a second), it was time to put the controller down and head to my Gran’s house for some home made soup and a catch up.

The soup had everything in it, potato, pieces of chicken, the usual home made concoction your relatives come up with and you have no idea what you are eating but as per usual, it was gorgeous and most importantly healthy!

The evening consisted of a surprise dinner for to celebrate my oldness at Orroco Pier in South Queensferry where I ate a beautiful chicken dish with a haggis risotto base, it was just pure heaven!

Other than my DOI earlier in the day, I officially did no exercise on Tuesday and I felt strangely lethargic on the drive to Real later that night. It’s the whole endorphins thing again but at the same time I can’t train or play sport every day of the week, what was going on?

Looking back, it was maybe just the excitement of my birthday and all that went with it or maybe I’m just getting too old haha!

Wednesday was a good day but again, I let myself down on the food front! I have to admit (which I wasn’t’ going to do) but I had my second chippy of the week!

You know when you just get the taste for something, you’ve just got to have it; I had to have a haggis supper for a lunch come dinner! If I really think about it, I’ve broken my one “treat meal” rule this week which has really annoyed me although I only have myself to blame! Feeling under the weather isn’t really a good excuse is it?

To counter balance my pure greed of Wednesday, I had to put in a performance at my usual 7 a side match in Edinburgh which I in turn did. I conceded one goal in 60 minutes of high octane, total football (a bit like how Hearts pummelled Hibs last weekend – well done my boys – sorry Hibs fans!)

I made a few (Craig Gordon-esque) saves that I was more than happy with, stretching my body and literally keeping me on my toes! I felt my performance made up for my gluttony earlier in the day and on the way home I managed to down a litre bottle of water so I must have done something right!

I haven’t mentioned this before but I am a big water drinker; I have a sip or two before bed, before I leave the house, after sport and anytime I fancy in between! Don’t get me wrong, I love my cola and cream soda but I do feel the soft drinks I drink every so often balance out and keep my belly at a decent size. 

Just a quick one on my little pot belly, I like to tell people that “I have a great six-pack which I’m covering up really well and I don’t need to conform to what society says I should look like!” If anyone ever takes the micky about that general area, use that line right back at them and it shuts them up quicker than Usain Bolt running for a bus!

Thursday afternoon was a day of meetings here at Real Radio, we get these one to one meetings every so often and you have to listen back to your show which, trust me, can be a major cringe!

I did though have a nice healthy lunch in the shape of a chicken sandwich topped with tuna (random I know!) It may seem like a weird combination but it is actually majestic!

Although I didn’t play any sport on Thursday, I did take a bottle of water for a half hour walk around Glasgow Fort to spend some vouchers I received for my 26th earlier in the week.

The weather was rotten as it was really misty but I found the walk a good head clearing experience after taking in various bits of information in my meetings.

When I left the Fort, I found myself in a relaxed frame of mind which set me up for a evening watching Katie Price’s reality show! Despite it being the girlfriend’s choice to watch and I find Katie Price-Reid (Bradford, Bingley, whatever she calls herself nowadays!) quite annoying but there is something strangely compelling about watching her on telly!

As I type right now, it’s Friday morning and I have a plan for the weekend which I will definitely stick to thought out already!

I will be going for a run tomorrow come rain or shine, nothing too strenuous (build it up and all that) then may take in a junior football game in the afternoon, maybe Linlithgow Rose or Livi Juniors then I have a night out planned for Saturday night where I will be staying off the beer!

I believe red wine is better for you so I will report back my findings next week – all in the name of research and all that (that is my excuse and I’m sticking to it!)

Sunday, after a good lie-in, I think I will go for a nice walk and take in some of the scenery (roundabouts) in my current location of Livingston.

I am dangerously low on supplies for Sunday’s “Dancing on Ice final” so I will go for a walk to my local shops and grab some (healthy) munchies for the show (c’mon Hayley by the way!)

I am determined to stick to my build my fitness gradually regime as I still have 3 months to get fit for the 10K – there is no point trying to be like Rocky overnight, I don’t have to look like him to run the course anyway!

I hope YOUR training is going well, keep at it, build it up over time, be good and have fun!

Thanks again for taking the time out today to give my shenanigans a peek.

Fancy catching up in the place next week? Go on then, blog you here next Friday, have a good week!