Harriers on DVD

Barry Cockburn has once again compiled a DVD of the 2009 Trail Races. The new one has 6 minutes highlights of the 1 k and 3 k races and features many Calderglen Harriers. I will bring them along this Thursday if anybody wants a copy.

Great Scottish Junior Run - Saturday 5 September

The GSR's start at 10 am just outside the People's Palace in Glasgow Green. Will all parents/carers of the club's young athletes who have entered either the 3k or 1.5 k race pleas eensure you arrive no later than 30 minutes before the start time. A busy day is expected and parking will be a problem so try and be there early. We will all try and meet up near the race start line but given previous years experiences this may be difficult.

Best of luck to all our young athletes who will be takng part .

One More Chatelherault

Just a reminder that this Monday will be the last Chatelherault training session of the year and that we will start a half hour earlier than usual due to failing daylight. Please be at the Sports Club at 6:30pm if you need a lift or at Chatelherault for 7pm ready to run.

Alan

TTC 09

One place has just come available!!!

Anyone interested please email me

Unfortunately Liz has fractured her elbow and has had to drop out. We all wish you a speedy recovery. Go easy on the cake!

Relay for Life (June 2009)

The final total raised by the Harriers is :-

Cash -£2820

Donation Bags -£12840

Grand Total -£15660

Well Done to Everyone!!!!

25 Anniversary Photo Treasure Trove!

Davy Watt has put together a selection of some of his photo collection gathered over the past 25 years. As well as reminding us of the incredible achievements of Davy in the mid-80's, representing the club at international level at Marathon and Half Marathon, there are also some of the now legendary club events captured on film. For example:

• the 1986 club sailing trip to Arran and club president Norman McKenzie's car problem
• the infamous 1989 National Cross Country at Hawick
• 24 hour charity relay around the Peace Mile
• the Jimmy Moore 15km
• 1990 trip to Islay Half Marathon in Jimmy Stewart's van.
• photoshoot for Calderglen article in Scotland's Runner magazine

Download the file containing all the photos from here (best to save to your PC as it is a big file before viewing). The individual pictures will be transferred to the Flickr archive over the next week or so.

Enjoy!

Alan

Great Scottish Run - Saturday 5 September 2009

Will the parents / carers of all young athletes who have entered the above race please let the coaches know at this Wednesday's training and I will let you know the meeting arrangements for the event as soon as possible.

Mansfield - British Masters Cross Country Relays

(See change to proposed travel arrangements in red)

As announced at the club, the intention is to enter a variety of age group teams in the above national championship event to be held at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire on Saturday 3rd October. Having sent an M40 and a W35 team down last year, we now have a better idea of what is involved in the event and the travelling. This is good publicity for the club and this year I know of at least one other Scottish club who are sending a team (Clydesdale Harriers).

A pool of names and the team categories has to be submitted by 21st September. Could all those interested in participating, please either leave a comment on this posting or speak to me at the club (be aware that I will be away with work a lot over the coming weeks, so to be absolutely sure that I know you are interested, please leave a comment here).

As it is a championship event at which we have the potential to do well across several age groups, we will be holding a trial for the final team places to make sure that we assemble the best teams possible out of those interested. The trial event will be the Houston Road Relay, one week before the championship event.

The various teams that we could enter are:

W35+ (3 stages), W45+ (3 stages) or W55+ (3 stages)

M35+ (4 stages), M40+ (6 stages), M50+ (4 stages), M60+ (3 stages)

Each stage is 4km (2 x 2km of a mixed terrain lap, partly on grass, partly on a trail rather like Calderglen)

Unlike last year, the provisional plan is to share cars to drive down rather than taking a minibus. This will give people the flexibility to go down on Friday evening and stay in or near Mansfield or early on Saturday morning, whichever they prefer. As it is a short, sharp race, it is vital that adequate time for a proper warm up is allowed. To make the trip economical, we shall attempt to take as few cars as possible, sharing the fuel costs.

The first race is at 12:30 (W35, W45, W55, M60, M70). The second race starts at 1:30pm (M35, M40, M50). After the event there will be a choice of either driving all the way back home or stopping off for an overnight B&B at a nice country Inn we discovered on the way back last year (details to be announced).

Looking forward to an enthusiastic response.

Alan

TTC 09

The TTC is completely full.

Just waiting for the following peoples menu selection; Malcolm, Russell, Stuart W and Cari

Knockhill Road Race

Being on holiday this week provided a great opportunity to try out a Thursday night race that would normally be too far away to get to straight from work. This was the 6th year of the Carnegie Harriers 3.9 mile road race held at the Fife motor racing circuit in memory of their former club president.

A more exposed, wind swept, undulating and wet motor racing circuit it is hard to imagine but these were the conditions that greeted the field of 224 runners who turned up to compete over the 3 lap course of the racing circuit on Thursday evening. It's a great change to do a big race where I could only recognise one or two runners in the field, such is the strength of road running in the East.

I lined up on the front row of the grid beside Knockhill's own version of the Stig (complete with white crash helmet, full fireproof suit and driving shoes; he only lasted 100m!). The racing line was nicely rubbered in following the weekend's British Touring Car Championship races but even so I found myself dropped off the back of the first pack of around 20 runners on the initial 200m acceleration towards the first corner. The track them drops incredibly steeply to the right over a further 100m, so steeply that it actually wastes a lot of effort applying the brakes so as not to over rev the (old) engine. However, I did over do it on that first descent trying to get back in the pack and paid for it over the next half of that first lap, making no real progress through the field until reaching the steady, wind assisted climb up the home straight. Several people mentioned to me before the start that the entire lap was up-hill and they were not wrong; that one down hill section was too steep to get any benefit from and the rest of the back section and home straight was up-hill. However, there are so many twists, turns and blind crests on this course and a variety of slopes (all up hill though) that the circuit was not the monotonous, wide stretch of tarmac that I had imagined it would be before the race.

Laps 2 and 3 were much better. With the new racing shoes nicely up to optimum operating temperature and having adjusted the pacing strategy to the revised aerodynamics package (hair cut in the morning), I started to quickly close the gaps and catch the stragglers coming back off the lead pack. In fact no one passed me after that first 200m and I felt quite good (by recent standards anyway) for the remainder of the race. It all could have gone pear shaped on the last lap though. Having just caught a young Glasgow University Hare & Hound on the blind crest of the chicane, he experienced a sudden fluid leakage and I took a wind assisted gob right in the coupon, temporarily impairing my vision. However, I kept it on track, went passed him (he did apologise on the way past) and continued my pursuit of the next pack. At the end I was 14th overall in a time of 21:15. The race was won by Mike Carrol of Perth Strathtay in a course record of 19:07 and the quality of veteran running in the Fife clubs is so high that I wasn't even in with a shout in the vets competition, there being at least one M40 and maybe 2 x M50's in front of me.

For an entry fee of only £4, we were all presented with a Mars bar, a bottle of water and a can of Red Bull on crossing the line (could have done with that before the race maybe). If that wasn't enough, Carnegie's members and friends put on a huge, free buffet of sandwiches, home baking, teas and coffees to more than adequately feed the hundreds of people who waited for the prize giving. Running is still a really great value sport at the grass roots level, so if you get a chance, find a race organised by a little club somewhere and go and support it!

Further photos of the event here and here.

TTC 09

Me again.....can everyone who is coming on the Trossachs Training camp please submit your most recent Chatelherault times so we can put you in suitable packs. I know on the sheet you put 5k/10k times however some people are running better and some worse (due to injuries) from 5 months ago when you signed up for the camp!!

Many thanks, Genevieve

email me

TTC 09 Menu Selection

Just waiting for the last few to give me their meal choice.....

Malcolm, Russell, Frances, Geo, Ian R, Stuart W, Claire B, Cari

http://www.calderglenharriers.org.uk/2or3CourseMenu.pdf

email me your order thanks.

Brampton to Carlisle 10 Miles Road Race

As a number of you have been asking I have found out that this years race will take place on Saturday 21 st November with a start time of 12.30 am . Entry forms are now available on the Border Harriers web site. Further details will be published on this blog as soon as possible.

SVHC "Glasgow 800" 10k Road Race

Three Harriers welcomed the Sunday afternoon sunshine (but not the strong winds) to compete in the Scottish Veteran Harriers 10k Road Race in Pollok Park today. Run over a two and a bit lap course taking in the reasonably flat perimeter road of the park and a stretch on Haggs Road, the conditions certainly could have been a lot worse, so we shouldn't complain. Starting outside Lochinch, the field spanning all the veteran age groups from 35 to 70+ was soon stretched out all around the course, dodging the many pedestrians, cyclists, prams and drivers who were making the most of the good weather. As a final test, the home straight and finish line incorporated an untintentional traffic jam slalom but all negotiated this unscathed.

M50, Jeff Farqhar from Pitreavie was the class act, leading from start to finish to win in 33:54. Alan Derrick pursued closely for the first few kilometers but was not really in shape to maintain the pace so faded to a comfortable second place and a season's best 10k time of 35:00. Eddie Reid was next Harrier to finish in around 39:30 (time to be confirmed) but was disappointed given that he ran around 1:30 faster on the same course back in May. Although Jim Holmes' training is severely hindered by work just now, he was pleased to record a time of 41:18, well under his target of 42.

However, it was a clean sweep of medals for the 3 Harriers with Alan winning the M40 gold, Eddie the M45 silver and Jim the M40 bronze. This was a significant landmark for Jim as it is the first "place" medal he has ever won in his running life. Well done to Jim, there should be many more to come. The 3 racers enjoyed the welcome support of Sandra and Frances around the course, who had run all the way to the race from East Kilbride. For some reason they were not intending to run back though! For their efforts, Sandra and Frances were rewarded with SVHC membership forms to allow them to compete in the many and varied future events.

TTC 09

Can the remaining few people please pay their TTC 09 money.

Also thanks for the rapid response in menu selection - can the rest of you email me this week....yes, I've brought the date forward.

email me your menu selection. I need to know your requirements for Friday night and Saturday night.
Lunch will be a buffet as per last year. Please let me know if you have any special dietary requirements.
Click here to view or print the menu

Also available on the menu is Macaroni Cheese and Chips, Penne Pasta with a Tomato Sauce and/or Wild Mushroom Risotto (from the Main Menu both with Chips if required).

Tour of Clydeside

Stephen Phimister and David Herbertson took the challenge of the Tour of Clydeside this year with its tough schedule of four races in five nights. Judging what pace to run in each race is essential if you are to manage to complete the series.

The Kilbarchan Klassic on Monday was a 5.4 mile trail race which saw the weeks only rain, a brief squall halfway through the race which did nothing to slow up race winner Chris Upson (Westerlands) who finished in 30 mins 29. Our Stephen came home in 35:25 with David on 36:19. On to the canal race at Clydebank on Tuesday night for a 4.8 miles race won by Chris Devenney of Kilbarchan AAC in 26:18. Stephen came home 15^th on 30:24 with David 18^th in 31:20.

Wednesday’s rest night was gratefully received before moving on to Dawsholm Park for a “multi-terrain” trail type race of 5km including three laps with some severe hill climbing going on. Entitled the Garscube Gallop it was won by Chris Devenney again in 18 mins 10. “Phimi” finished this race in 19^th with 21:19 followed home by “Herbie” at 27^th in a time of 22:15.

Our intrepid duo moved on to the final race last night (Friday) – the Bellahouston Belter (2 laps in and around Pollock park, just over 10k) – to finish the tour taking their now heavy legs with them. Won by Daniel Bradford of Glasgow University Hare & Hounds, this race had almost 100 entrants. Stephen came home in 41:18 with David Herbertson stopping the clock on 42:26.

A total time of 2hrs 8mins and 26 seconds gave Stephen 11^th place overall in the tour with David 15^th recording 2hrs 12mins and 20 seconds.

Hard work though it is both recommend the event next year as the variety of events and intensive work required is a great boost to the training – even if its murder on the legs…

Well done to Herbie and Phimi for maintaining excellent form throughout this tough event and thanks to David for the report.

Alan

Scottish National 3000m Championships

Ewan Murray took part in these championships at Pitreavie track on 19 July. In his first season as an Under 17 athlete Ewan came 7 th in his age group final in a time of 10.04.54 and is the first Calderglen Harriers young athlete to reach a national final . Hopefully with so many yougsters now at the club in the future there will be more of this type of event to report on. Well done to Ewan for achieving this standard .

TTC 09 Menu!!

The menu has arrived!!

Can I ask that you email me your menu selection no later than Monday 27th August.
Obviously I need to know your requirements for Friday night and Saturday night.

Lunch will be a buffet as per last year. Please let me know if you have any special dietary requirements.

Click here to view or print the menu

UPDATE - Also available on the menu is Macaroni Cheese and Chips, Penne Pasta with a Tomato Sauce and/or Wild Mushroom Risotto (from the Main Menu both with Chips if required).

August Auldhouse TT

Quality rather than quantity was the theme for last night's Auldhouse 5k TT with only 12 Harriers available to run. However, the midges more than made up the numbers. The biggest improver was full time athlete Andy Henderson, taking 1:14 off his previous course best to finish in 20:19. Graham Allan continued his welcome return to form by taking another big chunk off his time (37 seconds) to finish in 21:25. Alison Crooks was not far behind in the improvement stakes, finishing in 24:16 (34 second improvement). Sandra Reid improved by 24 seconds to 23:02 while Don Kennedy took 1 second off his pb to finish in 23:49. Grant Maynard made his Auldhouse and 5k debut in a time of 22:39. There is certainly a lot more to come once he gets a feel for the pacing. Alan Cullie was fastest time of the night (19:08) and getting close to his best time of last year. Brian McDougall was disappointed not to break the 20 minute mark, finishing in 20:07, not quite a pb but still consolidating his dramatic performance improvement this year. John McBride was only slightly outside his pb finishing in 23:36, whilst the returning from injury Frances Maxwell (22:30) and Russell Couper (25:25) were happy enough with their performances. Meanwhile, the returning from holiday Colin Banks (23:43) could have done with a few more people to pace him round. Thanks to Eddie for helping with the timing.

(Note for those thinking of a parkrun 5k this Saturday, there is not one due to the Pollok Park Family Fair).

Alan

Donkey Brae

Another Harriers day trip took them to Aberdour to take part in the Donkey Brae 7 mile race. The club bus arrived early enough for them to walk around the stalls and tents which were all part of the local festival. Early on the strong winds suggested that the race would be more of a struggle, but as they lined up on the start line the wind died and the sun came out.

The first to finish was Davy Watt, who was 4th overall and 1st vet, in a time of 40:24. Next to finish was Eddie Reid 45:08. On his way back from injury Stephen Reilly finished in 47:36 and Scot Hill came in at 48:09, having just returned from holiday. Gerry Mullen crossed the line in 48:39 and Graham Lindsay finished in 49:59. Sandra Reid and Frances Maxwell finished in 53:51 and 53:52 respectively. Rounding off the Harriers was Russell Couper in a time of 1:09:43.

To keep with tradition, the day was capped off with a swim in the nearby Silver Sands Beach.