WEST HIGHLAND WAY 2011

The West Highland Way weekend this year is Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th June.
Limited places are available and will be on a first come first served basis.
Again we will start the weekend with an early morning pick-up on the minibus and head to Milngavie to start. Everyone will get a section to run and optionally can run extra sections.
On arrival in Fort William we will go to the Ben Nevis Hotel for refreshments or a swim then Dinner bed and breakfast. Sunday will be along the lines of previous years (tbc) where we will have a relaxing day before heading back to East Kilbride for approx 6pm.
The cost for the weekend is £60 and a deposit is required of £20 to secure your place.
Please see Frances or Russell with your Deposit to secure your place.
The balance will be due by 10th May
Any questions please leave a comment on this Blog or speak to Frances at the club
ALL PLACES GONE BUT WE WILL START A RESERVE LIST

Grand Prix Updated

Frances stretches clear in both the GP and scratch championship after the National. In the men's competitions, Eddie Reid now leads both. 10 races into the series and 5 men have done them all and earned a further bonus joker (and had their season max jokers increased by one too). It is still all to play for.

The next race in the Grand Prix series is the Jack Crawford, Springburn Cup 10k on Saturday 12th March, Bishopbriggs. Details on Scottish Athletics web site.

Alan

National XC - Another Mud Bath

Frances on one of the less muddy parts of the course (photo from K Phillips)

Driech does not begin to describe the conditions that greeted us on arrival at Callendar Park in Falkirk this afternoon for the 114th National Cross Country Championship. Our young athletes had set the ball rolling earlier in the day, churning up nicely the first few km's of the familiar course. By the time Frances Maxwell lined up as our lone representative in the senior ladies race the rain had eased off a little but the underfoot conditions were very heavy indeed. Frances had two big laps to cover, totalling 8km. The first 500m climbed up a firm, grassy slope before doubling back down the hill into the first section of mud-plugging. A sharp, slippery left turn around a tree took us along the side of the pond and then onto a stony path down the other side of the pond. Now it went from too soft to too firm as spikes met stones. But not for long. After about 1.5k we turned off the path and up the biggest, muddiest climb on the course, rising 60 feet through the trees. This seemed to be the most popular spectator location on the course for some reason! By 2k we had descended again through another severely muddy section and were on a relatively flat, firm section parallel to the deep ditch (Antonine Wall) running through the park. Inevitably the course plunged down into this ditch (which was full of water this year) and up the steep bank on the other side (what were the Roman's thinking if they thought this was going to keep the Caledonians at bay!). Then a flat run back to the main arena in front of Callendar House and the long steady ascent to the avenue of pine trees running parallel to the main road. This was mainly good running except on the way back, where the last 200m before rejoining the red blaze drive was another mud-fest. So down the drive and on to the start of another 4k lap, one more for the ladies and two more for the men.

Frances kept her position throughout the race and responded to our vocal support in the final 100m to make up a further place at the line, finishing in 107th positon out of 201 finishers in a time of 37:21. Once again, Frances thoroughly enjoyed the cross country experience.

Me starting Lap 2 or 3 (photo: K Phillips)

A very large field (451) formed for the senior men's race. I usually get muscled out in the initial cavalry charge but this time I found a good line on the outside and tracked two of Cambuslang's vets through the first km. Lap 2 was uneventful except for an unplanned, one legged pirouette trying to take the muddy left turn on the approach to the pond. By the last lap I was running strongly and more or less in the same position that I had established on lap 1. In the final 2k I was able to pick up the pace and moved ahead of a few more and then launched a sustained acceleration down the finishing straight to catch and pass another couple, finishing 94th in 45:41. Probably the fittest (but not the fastest!) I have been for a National for many years. As this was Martin Duthie's fourth Scottish championship race in 3 successive weekends, he must have been less than fresh. But still Martin ran his usual strong race, despite a fall and powered home in 47:31. Eddie Reid maintained his relaxed style and good form (he was trying, Sandra, honest) to finish in a fine 51:57. Scot Hill is getting himself back to good shape and surprised himself by coming in 4th Harrier in a time of 53:42. Kenny Leinster put in another outstanding "debut" performance, not having run a cross-country race for 37 years but revelling in the conditions to finish in 54:00.Kenny, Ian Rae and Stuart Waugh swapped positions in the final part of the race with Ian coming in ahead of Stuart in 54:02 and Stuart in 54:06. Jim Holmes is usually in the mix with Stuart and Ian but was out of sorts today and was disappointed with his position and time of 54:58.

Martin in the pack (Photo: Andy Henderson)

Next home was Gerry Mullen (56:42) who was unaware that he was being caught by George Stewart (57:12) on the last lap until the point that Gerry heard George shout to the Harriers' supporters "does Gerry know I'm behind him?". What better motivation can you get? Even so George was pleased with his improving form, claiming the race was not long enough for him and also delighted to be ahead of a runner who previously beat George 6 days in a row on the Tour of Fife. David Herbertson injured his hip adductor several weeks ago on a weekend training run and that flared up during the race meaning he could only go for completion today rather than a time (59:55). To top it all, George Stewart's recently developed physiotherapy skills were not on offer to David post-race for some reason. Maybe that's a good thing. David Wardrope was under severe psychological pressure from Russell in the week leading up to the race but held his nerve to finish ahead in 63:59. Russell continued his gradual return to form with a time of 68:37, being the only Harrier to improve on last year when the underfoot conditions were better. Everyone else was at least a couple of minutes down.

We had plenty of support and photographers on course with the injured Andy Henderson appearing all over the course somehow and Frances, Sandra and Maud very vocal in their support. Many thanks to all. An album of Kenny Phillips' and Andy Henderson's photos is here. Plenty of Harriers evident in the photo album from Roadrunningpics.com. More photos to follow.

A special mention for former Harrier Stuart Gibson who finished an outstanding 9th in 40:21, a staggering 75 or so positions higher than he has ever finished before. He should win it next year if this progress continues!

Alan

Monday Training - Not at Brancumhall!

As our cross country season ended with today's National, so the Brancumhall cross country sessions are over for this season. Back to normal road sessions every Monday from now on. In those cross country races where I have been able to watch Harriers competing this year and in particular at the National, it appears that the Brancumhall sessions have proved worthwhile with everyone finishing very strongly compared to those around them. Well done!

Alan

NATIONAL XC (FALKIRK)

This weekend sees the National Cross Country taking place at Callender Park in Falkirk again.
I will be there early again this year and pick up the numbers from registration and will be at the course in and around the start/finish area. Please arrive in plenty of time to get your number from me. The start times are :-Ladies 1:25, Gents 2:30.

Those entered are:-R COUPER(pd), D HERBERTSON, A DERRICK(pd), E REID(pd), D WARDROPE, I RAE(pd), C STEVEN, S HILL(pd), J HOLMES (pd), A HENDERSON (pd), C BAIN (pd), G STEWART, S WAUGH (pd), C FREEMAN, M DUTHIE (pd), K LEINSTER(pd), G MULLEN (pd), F MAXWELL (pd), J McEVOY (pd), M GOLDSMITH(pd).

Could those that have still to pay (£4.50)please do so.
Arrangements will be made on thursday at training for travel arrangements.
If anyone cant make it can you let myself or Alan Know.

Cars will be leaving the sports club at 11:15 if you want to travel as a group.

Russell

For Junior entries see young athletes blog with the link on the left

National Indoor Masters Championships - Kelvin Hall

A fantastic double success for prolific indoor track champion Martin Duthie at the Kelvin Hall today. Martin had elected to go for the 3000m and 1500m double, his favoured event, the 3000m, coming first. This gave Martin the possibility to go for it in the 3000m and then just do what he had to do in the 1500m without worrying too much about it. And go for it he did. In a tight, race long battle with Fife's John Thompson, Martin eased ahead to win the M45 title in an excellent 9:47 and to finish 3rd overall. The race was won by Kevin Downie in 9:26. Then came the 1500m in which Martin was not going for a time (in fact, he doesn't know his time but thinks around 4:40ish) but did enough to also win M45 gold in that too. Well done to Martin on another excellent performance.

Alan

Trail Race 2011

This year's trail races take place on the evening of Friday 24th June. Harriers, the club needs you to keep this evening free and to volunteer to help with the organisation of this very successful annual event. Speak to Russell to confirm your availability.

Non-Harriers, you can see full details of the Trail Races on our web site www.calderglenharriers.org.uk or you can use the links below to directly download the flyer and entry form or to see the entry list so far.

Download Flyer
Download Entry Form
Entry List

This year you can also enter on-line at www.entrycentral.com.

Harriers web site problem

Monday 14th Feb 2011 Update: Calderglen web site now back on-line.
Saturday 12th Feb 2011 Update: It transpires that the company hosting our web site has been bought out by another web hosting company. Our web site should have transferred over but it hasn't. I am presently in a dialogue with them to find out what on earth is going on and how to get our web site back. I have a complete back up on my PC, so I can always restore from scratch once we get a new web hosting space. The main concern is if they have given up or lost our domain name www.calderglenharriers.org.uk.

We are presently experiencing a server outage with our web site host. I will investigate when I am back in the UK at the weekend. In the mean time, DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SETS!
Alan

Scottish Masters XC Championships - Kirkcaldy

More great photos on roadrunpics.com.
A true cross country course greeted 5 hardy Harriers on the edge of Kirkcaldy today. Ploughed fields, long, steep hills, muddy trails, it was all there but made even more difficult by a steep section on a farm track which was too rocky for spikes. So rubber studs were the order of the day and they were not too effective in the  mud that covered most of the course.

Frances Maxwell was our sole representative in the ladies 6k race which covered one big lap of the course (it was great not to be running laps for a change). The race started in a sticky, flooded field before ascending 150 feet in a mile and entering a second, clumpy, cow field with a pond (or it might have been another big puddle), then climbing an embankment to join the route of a long abandoned railway line. This was the only flat bit of the course although it was still muddy.  After about 1km of this, the route plunged off the south edge of the embankment dropping 50 feet on a very steep, slippy path before doubling back parallel to the embankment. The going was much better here and wind assisted, the clumpy grass being fairly firm under foot. 1km of this was followed by the inevitable sharp 50 foot ascent back up the embankment and into the cow field.

Thankfully we got the final descent on a tarmac farm road before turning right into the field pictured left for a 1 mile straight drag in very heavy mud to the finish line (Frances is visible with the aid of a microscope in the distance in the picture). Frances ran a creditable 29:07 and finished 15th in an incredibly strong F45 age group (2 of the first 3 were F45) and 36th overall out of 76 saying it was the toughest race she has ever done. Frances no doubt then made her cold worse by standing in the massive puddle in the middle of the field to wash her legs!

The men had an 8k course (actually 8.7k on my GPS). The extra distance was achieved by sending us around the first field twice at the start which meant two times up the 150 foot climb in the first 4k! Then we followed the route described above but made worse by the fact that driving, sleety rain started towards the end of the race. There were exactly 200 in the men's race and all the big guns were there. Bobby Quinn won the race overall and the M45 category in 31:03. I battled strongly throughout the race despite struggling on the second 150 foot climb but re-gathering momentum as the race progressed. Covering the final mile in exactly 5:30, I was pleased to finish 13th (33:49) ahead of some regular rivals but ultimately disappointed to find that I was 4th M45 and had just missed a medal. Martin Duthie wrecked a new pair of spikes (the colour scheme needed toning down anyway) finishing as 9th M45 in 35:17 proving that Calderglen has one of the strongest M45 teams in the country when we are all fit. Hopefully Martin can get those spikes clean for next weekends Masters Indoors Championships at the Kelvin Hall. After the course recce Stuart Waugh was not looking forward to this one but was an excellent 5th in the M60 category in a time of 41:53 and must be encouraged to keep this form going for the forthcoming National in Falkirk. Russell Couper was delighted with how well he felt through the race and the fact that he was making up places at the end. Russell finished in a time of 50:10. Full results here or from the Scottish Athletics web site.

Its years since I have done such a hard, agricultural cross country but I have to say that I enjoyed it more than I used to and this seemed to be the feeling of all the Harriers. The race was well organised and had many cheery marshals at all the turns. Thanks to Maud for standing in atrocious conditions to support us and to the many running friends who shouted encouragement around the course. Finally, a few Harriers who had entered could not make it today and most unfortunate of all was Andy Henderson who hurt himself quite badly (broken ribs) in a fall on the Thursday club run. Here's wishing Andy a speedy return to speedy running.
Further photos of the Harriers in action here, thanks to Frances.
Alan

Thank You Card

I recieved a Thank You card this week which reads.
At the West District XC we were passed a copy of your "25 years and still running" book. What a great wee publication. Loads of great info and pics. Someone has obviously spent a lot of time on this. Im in the process of passing it round all the Motherwell AC members, Thanks for giving us a mention. Heres to another 25 years and we'll see you for the Trail Races in June.
Kindest regards Clare Barr (on behalf of Motherwell AC)

I will post the card on the Club notice board this week

The Road to Recovery

Frances Steven would like to thank everyone at the club for the flowers and cards sent to her while in Hairmyres Hospital . After a fall two weeks ago ,while out walking the dog , Frances broke her wrist and ankle (both left side) . She is now recovering at home . Special thanks to Irene Hill for taking time to visit Frances at Hairmyres.

She hope to see you all soon.