With less than a month to go until the Experian Robin Hood

Festival of Running, training and stress levels across Notts

have stepped up a notch. In May, a group of people of different

ages, from different backgrounds, met at the annual Maid Marian

relay with one common target – to run the Robin Hood

half-marathon on September 14. As part of the Evening Post and

Sports Nottinghamshire campaign, Shape Up Notts, they were all

given a New Balance running kit and training programmes to help

them on their way. They told DELIA MONK how they are getting

on, how long they are running for, and how they are feeling as

the challenge gets closer

Name: Hugh Barnett

Age: 47

Lives: South Normanton in Derbyshire, a member of Mansfield

Triathlon Club.

Target time: 2h 30m (although he is secretly hoping to do it

in 2h 15m).

Hugh is running three times a week, swimming and cycling.

The hardest thing is the heat.

"Choosing the right time of day to run so as not to overheat

has been very important," he said.

"I've tried 8.45 in the morning and 7.30 at night – and so

far the night-time slot wins out."

Hugh has stuck to the training plan that he was given and

feels much stronger than he did two months ago.

He said: "I am seeing improvements in my normal running

pace, I can hold a higher pace for longer – and I'm now working

on the time I can run for."

He started running to complete a triathlon but he found it

much harder than cycling and swimming.

"I now run for three reasons: to complete the half-marathon

is number one; to make me a stronger and fitter athlete is

number two; and number three is to give me that boost up the

results table in my triathlon races."

* Follow Hugh's incredible story from realising he was

overweight to running the half marathon. From today read his

blog online at www.thisisnottingham.co.uk

Name: Jennifer Bewlex

Age: 26

Lives: Long Eaton

Target time: 2h30m... but she fears she may have slowed

down.

At the moment Jennifer is running 12 to15 miles a week but

will soon be doing 20 miles.

She said: "The hardest thing about running at the moment is

the heat.

"I find it really hard to run when it is hot, and find I

start to overheat on the run and have to have a mini-walk to

cool down before I start up again.

"This is frustrating as it is something out of my control,

and my legs and fitness are not getting pushed as hard as I

like."

She has just got back from a two-week holiday and said:

"Just before holiday I feel I was losing motivation a bit.

"Since getting back, knowing there isn't much time until the

race is real motivation to get out there."

Name: Craig Favill

Age: 35

Lives: Mansfield

Target time: "I would like to have completed the

half-marathon in two hours, however at the moment I just want

to finish it."

Craig has tried to include some sprint work in his schedule

and is running 15-18 miles a week.

His main problem is finding the time to run and he added: "

I was doing well with my schedule.

"But I have suffered with a cold for the past three

weeks.

"With my asthma this makes it hard to breath, so my training

has come to a halt until it improves."

Name: Kath Johnson

Age: 42

Lives: Sherwood

Target time: "I would like to complete the half-marathon in

just under two hours, even if it is just by one minute."

Kath is running about four times a week and is covering

about 16 to 18 miles in that time.

And at the moment she is finding the weather the biggest

challenge.

She said: "There doesn't appear to be any happy medium with

the weather, it has either been too hot or chucking it down

with rain.

"I have also had a lot of social events on lately and am

finding it difficult to say no to a party and a few beers!"

She feels like she should be doing more but struggles to

find the time.

She added: "Being in the team has definitely kept me on the

straight and narrow and it is nice to keep in touch.

"It would be good if the team could get together a bit more

but it is really difficult for us all to juggle other

commitments."

Kath added:

"My incentive is to raise money for charity in memory of

loved ones who have died.

"I also do it for my own personal achievement and for my

daughter who said I inspire her."