There are just nine weeks to go before this year’s Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10K – so get those trainers on now...

Today, the Evening Times – media partners of the event, which takes place on May 9 – publishes our beginner’s training plan which aims to have you comfortably completing the distance even if you have never run a step before.

Councillor Anne McTaggart, spokeswoman for race organiser Culture and Sport Glasgow, said: “Spring has officially sprung and after all that snow everyone is desperate to get out into the fresh air. The Women’s 10K is the perfect motivation to get moving again and with 10 weeks to go the distance is achievable for all.”

With a little bit of dedication, anyone can do the 10K – but it’s not just about hard work.

The women’s 10K is all about having great fun – and if you are in any doubt, just ask Glasgow’s dance darlings, The Kennedy Cupcakes.

This show-stopping dance troupe, inspired by the hits of the 1940s and 50s, will be adding a touch of glamour to the day by performing at the start AND taking part in the run.

“Some of us are runners, some of us are not, but we’re hoping all that dancing will stand us in good stead,” said Lisa Kennedy, who founded the group last March.

“It’s a fabulous event, and we’re delighted to be involved.”

The girls – Lisa, 27, her sister Emma Dunlop, 22, Carol McLean, 24, Julieann Crannie, 26, Evette Sheehan, 28, Katrina Noble, 25 and Linzi Slamin, 24 – have had a busy year since Lisa came up with the idea.

“I love the 1940s and 50s – I love the fashion, the music, the way women looked and sang – it’s fabulous,” she explains. “I come from quite a musical family, and Emma and I have always loved dressing up and performing.

“We had no idea how popular it would be when we first started but we have had an incredible year, performing at charity balls, big hotels, you name it.”

The girls are all backing the Evening Times Glas-goals campaign too, which aims to encourage everyone to live healthier lives. Find out more at www.eveningtimes.co.uk

“Running the 10K is a great goal to set yourself and will put you well on the way to feeling fitter and healthier,” said Lisa, who works with everyone from nursery school tots to pensioners, running dance classes and events. “Doing the 10K will hopefully set us up for another busy year ahead!”

Behind the fun and glamour, however, Lisa and her husband Robert have had to face up to a heartbreaking double tragedy in recent years.

Robert’s best friend Stephen Ferguson was killed while serving with the army in Iraq in 2007 – and the man who was given a bravery medal for trying to save him was then murdered while at home on leave near Glasgow.

“Stephen was only 31 – he was a lovely guy, and it was so sad,” explained Lisa. “He’d been best friends with Robert since school, so it was really hard on him. But we were so shocked to hear that Paul, who had tried to save Stephen, had been killed.”

Stephen, who served with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, died after the armoured vehicle he was driving on patrol outside Basra slid into a canal.

Fellow Scots Guardsman Paul McGee, 28, was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery after risking his own life to save his friend.

But the young soldier was murdered after an incident in the street outside his mother’s home in Lochwinnoch.

“It was really tragic – we had got to know Paul quite well after we learned that he had tried to save Stephen,” said Lisa.

“It really made us all think about the sacrifices our armed forces make for us, and we decided to hold our own charity event in aid of the charity Help for Heroes.”

The event will take place in the Alona Hotel in Strathclyde Park on Friday, April 23.

The Kennedy Cupcakes will headline alongside swing band That Swing Sensation, and there will be other entertainment on the night.

Tickets cost £10 – for more information, e-mail Lisa on thekennedycupcakes@yahoo.co.uk

SUZIE McGUIRE’S DIARY...

Suzie McGuire, who presents the afternoon show on Clyde One FM, is doing her first ever 10k this year – and we will be with her every step of the way! The 35-year-old from Eaglesham will be filling us in each week on her training triumphs and terrors. Here, she shares her trepidation as the training plan gets underway…

I’ve been wanting to do the women’s 10k for years – the first time I planned to do it, I had to give up halfway through training as I was pregnant!

This year, I’ve decided it’s time to stop talking about doing it, and actually do it, but I’ll be honest with you, I’m a complete novice, and I’m a bit nervous about it.

I have two wee girls, Milly, 5, and Daisy, 3, so I don’t have time to get out pounding the pavements all the time. Most of my training will be done on my treadmill at home – and a few weeks ago I fell off it and broke my toe.

That didn’t help my progress! Still, I’m back on track now, and I have a personal trainer coming in to work with me three times a week, which is great.

He has taken me out running too, but generally what happens is he sprints off and I end up bent double, leaning on a lamp-post, praying for him to slow down. I’m sure it will get easier...

HOW TO ENTER

Enter online at www.runglasgow.org. The website provides information on charities, beginner, intermediate and advanced training plans and training podcasts and information on Glasgow’s Running Network.

Sign up now and take advantage of early bird discounts - it costs £19 to enter before March 19, a saving of up to £7. The Glasgow Running Network’s annual 5k fun run - which is open to men and women - takes place on March 28 in Bellahouston Park. Entry costs from £9 - for more details call 0141 287 5079 or visit www.runglasgow.org

BEGINNERS 10k TRAINING GUIDE

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

WEEK 9: MONDAY MARCH 8 - SUNDAY MARCH 14

MONDAY: Jog for 3 mins, walk for 2 mins, 5 times

TUESDAY: Rest

WEDNESDAY: Jog for 3 mins, walk for 2 mins, 5 times

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 4 mins, walk for 2 mins, 4 times SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: Brisk 15 mins alternate walk/jog

WEEK 8: MONDAY MARCH 15 - SUNDAY MARCH 21

MONDAY: Jog for 5 mins, walk for 2 mins, 4 times

TUESDAY: Rest

WEDNESDAY: Jog for 5 mins, walk for 2 mins, four times

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 7 mins, walk for 2 mins, three times

SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: Brisk 20 mins walk/jog

WEEK 7: MONDAY MARCH 22 - SUNDAY MARCH 28

MONDAY: Jog for 7 mins, walk for 2 mins, three 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 minute walk/jog

WEEK 6: MONDAY MARCH 29 - SUNDAY APRIL 4

MONDAY: Jog for 15 mins

TUESDAY: Rest

WEDNESDAY: 17 min jog

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 20 mins

SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: 25-30 mins of alternate walk/jog

WEEK 5: MONDAY APRIL 5 - SUNDAY APRIL 11

MONDAY: Jog for 20 mins

TUESDAY: Jog for 10 mins

WEDNESDAY: Jog for 25 mins

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 20 mins

SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: 35-40 mins alternate walk/jog

WEEK 4: MONDAY APRIL 12 - SUNDAY APRIL 18

MONDAY: Jog for 20 mins

TUESDAY: Jog for 15 mins

WEDNESDAY: Jog for 30 mins

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 35 mins

SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: 40-45 min walk/jog

WEEK 3: MONDAY APRIL 19 - SUNDAY APRIL 25

MONDAY: Jog for 25 mins

TUESDAY: Jog for 20 mins

WEDNESDAY: Jog for 30 mins

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 35 mins

SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: 40-45 mins alternate jog/walk

WEEK 2: MONDAY APRIL 26 - SUNDAY MAY 2

MONDAY: Jog for 20 mins

TUESDAY: Jog for 15 mins

WEDNESDAY: Jog for 40 mins

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 30 mins

SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: 60 mins of jog/walk

WEEK 1: MONDAY MAY 3 - SUNDAY MAY 9

MONDAY: Jog for 10 mins

TUESDAY: Jog for 20 mins

WEDNESDAY: Jog for 25 mins

THURSDAY: Rest

FRIDAY: Jog for 10 mins

SATURDAY: Rest

SUNDAY: RACE DAY!