³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

We've got just over a week to go before pre-season begins and I've left myself no other option but to pound the treadmill every day until next Thursday.

I say every day but I'll maybe give myself Sunday off; after all, it will be my last weekend off for almost a year!

Our pre-season schedule has been finalised, in terms of matches, to get us ready for the kick-off on 24 July when we visit Stenhousemuir in the Alba Challenge Cup.

We have six games in two weeks and the programme has been designed to be deliberately tough for the players to ensure we're ready for the season ahead.

We face a couple of local fixtures against Dalbeattie and Penrith before four tougher games against Queen of the South, Dumbarton, Ayr and Airdrie.

It's a very difficult schedule on paper but one that will test us to the full before the real action gets under way.

As usual, we start with two cup games and with our poor form in the cup competitions - last year's Alba run apart - the draws haven't been too kind to us this year.

After our visit to Stenhousemuir
It's a great tie for the club as I'm sure Thistle will bring a large following down the road. Hopefully, we'll have a decent crowd.

On the other hand it's about as difficult a tie as the players could have asked for but I'm sure we'll be in good shape come the game and we'll make it difficult for the First Division side.

I've deliberately done my blog over two days this week because I wanted to see if I actually did start my own training before the real stuff begins next week.

I'm happy to report that I have.

Although I was feeling a bit under the weather, I dragged myself in to work early to hit the gym and do a wee bit before I started.

I would normally do a 30-minute run but couldn't quite manage that because of how I was feeling so I made do with some work on the bike along with some core exercises.

It wasn't what I had planned but it's a start and I'm off and running, so to speak, and I'll build things up again on Thursday.

and I'm really looking forward to the tournament, particularly this weekend's games.

As I've mentioned this will be my last weekend off, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some sunshine in Dumfries so I can enjoy the opening games with an ice cold beer.

It's been so disappointing to hear of the players that are already out of the tournament and the others that may still be struggling to make it.

There was a team listed in the newspaper on Wednesday morning and some of the big names included were incredible.

I think the biggest risks at the moment are still and ; although the latest injury update on the pair seems to be positive.

I'm sure I'm not the only one hoping they both make it because there are far too many big names missing already.

In particular, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Robben as I have put a wee bet on the Dutch to win the tournament.

I think he is crucial to their hopes of doing well in the tournament and to my hopes of winning a few quid!