WITH just seven days to go until the Torfaen Race for Life women are being urged to continue their hard training beyond the event.

The Sports Council for Wales, which is a co-sponsor of the race along with the Argus and supermarket giant Tesco, wants women and girls to 'Get Out and Do It' as part of its Fit In campaign launched last month.

And the suggestion has the support of Julie Knight, one of the 400-plus runners taking part in the 5km event for Cancer Research UK at the Northfields Recreation Ground, Cwmbran next Sunday.

The Torfaen Race for Life is one of many being organised around the UK this year to raise much-needed funds for treating and preventing cancers that affect women.

Mrs Knight, 35, of Upper Cwmbran, entered the race in Cardiff last year after a relative had a mastectomy because of cancer.

Mrs Knight, who has a three-year-old daughter, said: "There were 4,000 people there and I thought Cwmbran needed more support and that's why I'm doing it here this year."

Mrs Knight said until a year ago she used to train up to five times a week in a local gym to keep fit. This year the full-time speech and language student at Coleg Gwent's Newport 'Nash' campus has found the exertion of running up and down the mountain above Cwmbran is sufficient to keep fit. She said: "That's all I have been doing. That's enough."

Despite the tough training, Mrs Knight said she is looking forward to the race and intends continuing her fitness training.

She said: "My course finishes in two weeks' time and I will be back to the gym. I would encourage other women to do the same. If you do the run next year training throughout the year makes life so much easier."

Huw Jones, chief executive of the Sports Council for Wales, said: "Every year thousands of women train hard in the months leading up to the Race for Life and once they've crossed the finishing line don't bother picking up their trainers until it's time to start training for next year.

"If you've been training with a group of friends, set a date to meet up each week and run or walk the course again.

"Or contact your local running club to see if there are any sessions that would be suitable for you."