TTC 2010

There are a few people that still owe for the Trossachs Training Camp, can you please get the remaining balance to me by the 15th August (this year).

You can drop it off at the shop or post it to me at;
ATHelite, 58 Cadzow St. Hamilton. ML3 6DS.

The TTC is full however it is not unknow to have cancellations so, if you are keen in attending let me know and I can start a waiting list.

Many thanks.

Tour of Fife: Mid-Term Report

Unlikely as it may seem, one of the Harriers is in the process of doubling or maybe even tripling his race participation for the year by competing in the 6-race Tour of Fife race series this week. George Stewart's half way report follows:

Here's my diary........
Sunday 25th - 5 mile road at Giffordtown
When I left EK it was dull and threatening rain. However, when I got there my biggest obstacle was the heat, even got my shoulders burned during my 35.07 outing. Basically a country road out and back with a loop in the middle. Quite pleased, no sprint finish as no-one close enough in front or behind.

Monday 26th - 6.5 trail at Lochore
I was looking forward to a nice "Glen type" run, but I was a bit disappointed to be faced with a loch that resembled Strathy Park.......twice round!! Nothing worse and a dull windy night as well. You didn't actually see much water as they take you off up and down a few hills as you go round. Had the unavoidable tired legs at the start, but once your there you just need to get on with it. As I left the fast guys were all in the loch, not a bad idea when you think about it. Time 47.05.

Tuesday 27th - 4 hill close to Falkland
What's this all about I wondered? You find your own route up and come down between the tape. Anyway, we're all corralled in a dip in the ground ready to start, up and over the grass, and start the climb to a mound in the distance....looked a bit like Paddy's Mile Stone. Breathing hard after about 10 paces. Most was hard packed stone until you finally got to the grassy mound, then everyone as far as I could see was walking. You were actually on your hands and knees at some parts, just so steep and no path. Once you arrive at the top you find your legs again and keep running down the other side, but there are too many ruts and mounds of grass to really push it. You do hit hard packed stone which allows you to pick it up without risk of injury ....there's still about 2 miles to go though, so you can't maintain top speed forever! Time 38.59 (about 23 out and 16 back). One not to be forgotten.

Wednesday 28th - A day of rest!!

Thursday 29th - 4 beach at St Andrews

Friday 30th - 2.25k TT (off in two's 30 sec intervals) 750ft hill

Saturday 31st - 5.5 road Strathmiglo

Well done George and looking forward to a successful conclusion to the report in a few days time.

Should set you up nicely for the Tour of Clydeside next week; you don't have a race on Sunday afterall!

Alan

Girvan Half Marathon

Ian Hughes has been in half marathon action again, this time finding a less extreme event than usual to take part in. Thanks to Ian for the following race report:

On a day that started really wet and with strong winds I finished in 6th place. The time was 1:22:26 and 1st Vet. The rain had stopped in time for the race but it was still windy, even slowing the same winner from last year by 3mins. The race had a field of 116. I was 6mins quicker this time round for the race. A well organized race.

July Auldhouse Time Trial

Fourteen Harriers and various time keepers turned out in windy conditions for the monthly Auldhouse 5k time trial. It was always going to be difficult to match the times set in perfect conditions during the June event but some did manage. Fastest time of the day was Ian Hughes setting a new course best of 18:11, some 5 seconds faster than his June time. Michael Daly set a new pb of 23:37, a 2 second improvement whilst Colin Banks had his fastest run of the season finishing in 22:51. Alan Cullie was first across the line, improving his seasons best to 18:44. In his first appearance of the season, Charlie MacDougall set an impressive mark of 18:29. With Mary Goldsmith gradually recovering from her recent marathon, she set her first hard-run time of the season achieving 23:39. Scot and Stuart Hill set times of 20:03 and 27:35 but Stephen Reilly was comfortably ahead in 19:39. George Stewart admitted to really going for it all the way this time but somehow ended up with a time of 21:22, 16 seconds slower than last time. Stuart Waugh, Andy Henderson and David Herbertson were all nursing injuries so cruised round in 20:48, 21:14 and 22:58 respectively. Meanwhile Richard Lawton kept up this week's tradition of falling during the run and completed the course in 24:22 with his knees and elbow dripping with blood having tripped on the run out through the glen!

Well done to all and thanks to Russell, Eddie and Frances for helping with the timing.

Chatelherault Times July 5th

Another good turn out on Monday but unfortunately some casualties who are hopefully on the way to recovery already. Could you please record your times using this form. See previous times here. This Thursday is the July edition of the Auldhouse Time Trial so please be at the club for a 7:30 start. If you are going to be late or are going direct to the start then please leave a comment here or send me an e-mail so the start list can be prepared in advance.

Alan

Chris Moon Half Marathon Photos

Thanks to Andy Henderson for passing on photos from the Chris Moon Half Marathon up at Whitelee Windfarm on 6th June. All the pictures are here.

Alan

Further Trail Race Photos

Further photos taken by Frances from out on the course are available here. The results blog post from earlier in the week contains a link to more photos.

Alan

Vertical Mile & Grand Prix Final Results

A Long Report on a Short Race

LADIES' TIMES CORRECTED!

The Grand Prix and Club Championship series were decided in the traditional fashion last night with the hill that must be respected, the Vertical Mile. Although the winners of the ladies and Men's Club Championship titles were already decided, there were still men's Grand Prix podium and age category positions to be won in this the 16th race in the 2009-2010 series. Despite many Harriers already away on holiday we still had a field of 13 men and 3 women plus copious eager volunteers to help with the timing, sweeping-up, crowd control, VIP hospitality and all the other important jobs that made it worth sacrificing the chance to ascend this vertically challenging mile at full pelt.

Pre-race, the psychological battle was lead by Russell Couper who tried gamely to convince anyone who would listen (which to be fair, wasn't many) that he still had a chance of taking the Grand Prix title from the long-term leader, David Wardrope, if only he could finish in the first four. With David on holiday, there were clearly multiple arithmetic scenarios in which Russell's long term dream could be realised. However, by introducing the concept of probability to the evaluation, even the most amateur of mathematicians could conclude that the answer was CHANCE = NANE. David could (and probably did) rest easy on the beach.

On to Auchentiber where the race started uphill and into a headwind. As always on this course, the finishing order was established early on with Ian Hughes stretching away from an undoubtedly (Half Ironman) fatigued Colin Freeman. In only his second attempt at the event, Ian won in a time of 6:31, a couple of seconds outside his previous best. Colin improved on last year by 8 seconds to finish in second (6:43). Finishing third in 6:54, Alan Cullie joined Russell Couper as the only Harriers to complete all 16 races in the season, a remarkable feat given the juggling of shifts and family that Alan in particular somehow manages. Just reward for Alan was victory in the inaugural Club Scratch Championship running over the same 16 races in parallel to the Grand Prix.

Charlie MacDougall last ran the Vertical Mile before he was a vet! Time clearly dims the memory and now at the age of 61 Charlie thought it was time for another go. This he accomplished in an impressive 7:03 in 4th place. Multiple Grand Prix winner and Mr Consistent, Jim Holmes was next in more or less his usual time of 7:07. This secured Jim 3rd position in the Club Championship. Brian "son of" MacDougall wasn't far behind his dad in this his debut Vertical Mile in a time of 7:10. This race was surprisingly not too long for George Stewart who even more surprisingly was asking for a re-run after a lonely ascent between packs to finish in 7:40. Graham Ramage was also a first-timer and set a benchmark of 8:12 which he will definitely improve on. Absent injured for many months, forget David Herbertson at your peril. Mindful of his injury, David ascended in a cautious 8:23 and in the process displaced Alan Cullie from 3rd place in the Grand Prix. Andy Henderson is also treading cautiously these days and finished in a sedate (by his standards) 8:38. Having never raced in his life before last week, Michael Daly has now completed two races in the space of a week, following his Trail Race performance with a 9:03 in the Vertical Mile, closely tracked by Colin Banks (9:05). And then Russell Couper who did not achieve his top four ambition but still improved on last year by 30 seconds to finish in 9:27. This gave Russell a well deserved 2nd place in the Grand Prix. Well done to all for keeping the competitive spirit going right to the end of the Grand Prix.

Closest finish of the evening came in the ladies' race. Although Frances Maxwell has been unchallenged throughout the Grand Prix series (the nearest rival having completed 2 races to Frances' 13), she was certainly challenged tonight with Genevieve Freeman swapping Ironman endurance for sprinting power over the final 20m, closing a 10m gap to virtually nothing on the line. The multiple judges on the rather imaginary finish line concluded that Frances just held on by a whisker (next thing for Genevieve's wish list, whiskers!). Both recorded a time of 7:56, certainly a pb for Genevieve (by 18 seconds) and most probably also for Frances (subject to trawling through the old results). First timer Laura McConnell was encouraged all the way by sweeper Eddie Reid to finish in 10:38. Of course Frances deservedly wins the inaugural Club Scratch Championship. Congratulations to David Wardrope on winning the men's Grand Prix at his first attempt. The early season coaching (on the Grand Prix scoring system) received from Russell Couper may not however be on offer next year!

Thanks to lead bike Malcolm Buchanan (technically, he should probably have started with the runners rather than 10 minutes beforehand from half way up the course), results recorder Stuart Waugh, course traffic management Graham Allan and starter/sweeper/finisher Eddie Reid who maintained his second place in the Club Championship.

All the final scores and positions are available using the usual Grand Prix links on the left.

(PS Could Andy B get the Vertical Mile trophy/plate back to the club please so we can present it to Ian. Thanks Alan)

Alan