Scottish Masters XC Championships - Kirkcaldy

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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