Run with Maryann: Week 7

I love running in the mountains/forest. You can smell the trees and often hear birds, and after a long day at work, it just feels so fresh and healthy. It was really hard work though, especially during the last stretch when we went uphill.

Not everyone has access to such beautiful places to run. I know how spoilt I am in Cape Town.

I feel that now is when the headwork should start. I would love to know more about how to tell yourself to keep going when you are struggling etc. I can imagine that thinking positively and telling yourself to go on when it is hard becomes more and more important as you try and increase distance and speed.

On Wednesday and Thursday, our runs were straight road runs, with a warm-up 5 min. run, then 3 x 10 minute runs. We still did a couple of minutes walking between running.

I climbed Table Mountain on Sunday, which will certainly have helped to build leg strength. Three hours up, and up, steps and clambering over rocks. Awesome views, and a cable car trip down! – (Maryann Shaw)

Read more about Maryann's journey on the 2007 Old Mutual Two Oceans Superstars page.

Follow our online programme to run 10km in 11 weeks. Here is week 7.

Don't forget to stretch. Here are the 12 best stretches.