Waiting for her at the finish line two years ago was boyfriend Dale Plant – and a proposal of marriage.

Thankfully, Louise said 'yes' and the 29-year-old from Bishopbriggs is now Mrs Plant.

Louise will be joining 10,000 other runners on Sunday May 12 for this year's Bupa Great Women's Run, of which the Evening Times is media partner.

Louise, who works in financial services, has already started training as she is determined to beat her time from 2011.

"It wasn't a real time because my friends – who were all in on the secret – kept holding me back so I got to the finish line at the right time," she smiles.

"I was frustrated at the time but then it all became clear. I want to beat the hour mark and do 57 minutes... hopefully there won't be any more surprises waiting for me."

She adds with a laugh: "I will never forget seeing Dale standing on top of that podium, with a huge banner with my photo on it – I was absolutely gobsmacked.

"I had no idea he had planned any of it so it was such a shock. When he got down on one knee and gave me the ring it was so lovely."

Louise and Dale, 31, who is a police officer, now live in Colchester in Essex but they were married in The Piping Centre in Glasgow.

"It was a full Scottish affair – the whole works," smiles Louise.

"We went to Dubai on honeymoon and we are heading back there on holiday later this year too – so it really is a time for revisiting all my wedding memories."

Louise and Dale train together.

"I'd like to say we support each other but we are really competitive," she laughs – and Dale will be travelling to Glasgow to support his wife by cheering her on from the sidelines.

"The women's 10k is a great event – there is such a good atmosphere," says Louise. "It was a really miserable day last time so I'm hoping it will be drier this time."

Since they started running fun runs together, the couple have raised more than £13,000 for Macmillan, in memory of relatives who died after battling cancer.

"The Glasgow run is the first 10k I've done since 2011 – I bottled out of doing any more in case anything else happened," jokes Louise.

"I train in the gym, mostly, in the colder weather, but we're hoping to get outside soon."

And Louise admits she got her own back on her husband last year, when he turned 30.

"I had planned a Challenge Dale day, in league with all of his friends," she smiles.

"He had to dress up in a jumpsuit, like Anneka Rice, and follow clues all round Colchester to carry out different tasks, picking up groups of friends along the way. It was such a lot of fun and he was a good sport."

She groans: "But I am a bit worried about what he'll have in store for me when I turn 30 later in the year. Maybe I should be worried about the women's 10k after all..."

The Evening Times is delighted to be media partner of the Bupa Great Women's 10k – which is Britain's biggest women-only road race – once more.

Over the coming weeks we will be bringing you news, features, training advice and more as we head towards race day.

Each week we will print part of our training plan, which is ideally suited for beginners.

You don't need to run the 10k – walking is fine and many participants dress up and raise money for their favourite charity.

You can also get help at www.greatruntraining.org

The Bupa Great Women's 10k, organised by Nova International and Glasgow Life, takes place on May 12 on the South Side of the city.

More than 10,000 runners are expected to sign up.

The 2013 run will mark the 20th anniversary of the event. The Evening Times has been media partner for more than 15 years and more than £1 million is raised each year for charity.

ann.fotheringham@ eveningtimes.co.uk

HOW TO ENTER

Online entry is now available for the Bupa Great Women's 10k at www.greatrun.org/womens10k

It costs £25 including a T-shirt, medal, finisher's pack and accurate chip timing.

This easy plan should take you from being a complete novice to comfortably completing the 10K in 10 weeks.

Monday: Jog for 7 mins, walk for 2 mins, 3 times

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: Jog for 10 mins, walk for 2 mins, twice

Thursday: Rest

Friday: Jog for 15 mins

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: Brisk 25 mins walk/jog