The Hour

Michelle McManus, presenter of The Hour, is taking on one of the biggest challenges she’s faced so far – running the 2010 Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run 10K in September.

Michelle has openly admitted time and time again that she is not a natural runner, but she wants to give it her very best go, and fitness experts Stella Bartram and Ros Elrick are behind her every step of the way, to help her achieve the goal.

Stella’s first challenge to Michelle was to see if she could run for one minute and walk for one minute, continuously for 20 minutes - and Michelle was excited to get started.

“OK, the big day has finally arrived. After all the months of talking about the 10K, I’m actually going to start training for it today. It’s in September, I’ve only got six weeks to go and Stella has come on board to help me, and she’s et me a challenge. Today’s challenge is to walk for a minute, run for a minute continuously. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Well I’m about to find out.”

Michelle set off, and at first thought her challenge seemed as easy as a walk in the park. But three-quarters of the way in and the presenter was starting to really feel the strain.

“Fifteen minutes in and my speed walking has turned into a drag. I’m not in a happy place just now. Stella you made this sound so easy. Look at this face, look at it!,” Michelle said.

She added: “Scotland you are looking at a broken woman. I’m not going to lie, all joking aside, I found that very difficult, which gives you a measure of my fitness levels. I was fine up until about 11-12 minutes, but after that it was just a nightmare.”

Well if she thought that was bad, Michelle’s next challenge will make her last one look like a fun day out. Fitness guru Stella has organised for Michelle to undergo a military-style run, where she will well and truly be put to the test.

“As you know, military fitness retimes are among the toughest but most effective in the world. The 1.5 mile run is the standard military fitness test, and you’re going to do it,” fitness expert Stella told Michelle.

This exercise plan is set up to test Michelle’s endurance levels. She’ll start off with a half-mile run/walk, and then take on the mile-and-a-half run on a course that has been set by Stella.

“You’ve done really well so far Michelle but for this challenge you’re going to need to dig deep, work hard and keep going and I’m with you every step of the way,” Stella told the presenter.

But will she manage to train military style? Keep checking back on stv.tv/thehour and The Hour’s special pages dedicated to the Great Scottish Run to find out how she gets on.