NATIONAL XC (Callendar Park Falkirk)

This years National XC will take place on 23rd Feb in Falkirk.
Ladies race starts at 1.25pm with the Gents at 2.30pm.
Cost is £5 per head, 8k for Ladies and 12k for Gents
This is the next Grand Prix event.
Those wanting entered should leave their names HERE or see me at the club.
Those already entered are listed HERE
Names required by Wednesday 30th Jan.

Russell

Sunshine & Showers at Strathclyde Park

Billy Buchanan heads for the sharp end of the loch

Now updated with official times and positions!
The weather threw everything at the assembled field of runners for the Scottish Masters Road Relay Championships in Strathclyde Park this morning.Torrential overnight showers were replaced with glorious sunshine only for the showers, hail and blustery winds to return by the time the last leg runners were off. In these conditions the club tent earned its crust, providing a touch of comfort, shelter for the Harriers and nicely enclosing a park picnic table and benches.

Eddie Reid sets off on the last leg

Calderglen were represented by two M50 teams of 4 and one and a quarter M35 teams. First leg duty went to Davie Watt (M50A), Hugh Simpson (M50B), Alan Derrick (M35C) and Russell Couper (M35D). Although not having raced for a long time, Davie got off to a flyer, finishing a close second in the M50 event and inside the top ten overall. Furthermore, Davie now has a watch and could report his finishing time to be an excellent 21:08. In fact, officially he was 21:05 and second fastest M50 of the day, only 6 seconds behind David Thom of Cambuslang. I was a couple of places behind Davie and struggling to maintain form, especially into the wind, but was happy enough with a finishing time of 21:31. Hugh Simpson is only just getting back to training after many interruptions so struggled with his breathing (28:32) but still ran well and has taken a big step back towards hard training with this race. Russell Couper struggled on the second half of the lap and was not at all happy with his run (34:13) but has missed a few sessions recently.

Andy Henderson was on leg 2 for the M50 A team and is another one coming back from a few weeks of illness, so it was a big ask to hang onto the 2nd position established by Davie. Andy slipped back to 5th in a time of 24:51, still a great time. David Herbertson had taken over from me and passed Andy but with his usual timeless elegance, did not record a time, so we shall wait for the official results to advise (23:36, a course best!). Billy Buchanan had just arrived back from warm weather "training" in the Canaries so could have been excused if he was at all jaded. This was not reflected in his performance though, finishing in an excellent 25:21 for the B team. On leg 3, Stuart Waugh had the challenge of improving on 5th position for the A team. Stuart did exactly as he was told and passed the 4th place Carnegie runner, handing over in a fantastic 24:23. Richard Lawton represented the C team on the 3rd leg, covering the 3.6 mile lap in 27:59. Gerry Mullen chased down 5 or 6 people on his leg to finish in 25:04. After a possibly too swift full lap warm-up, Eddie Reid made it back just in time to take over from Stuart, knowing who he had to catch to get into the medals. Eddie ran strongly as always and crossed the line in 5th position in a time of 23:28, someone else having sneaked past un-noticed on either Stuart or Eddie's leg. A commendable performance for the club in a national championship. Kenny Leinster was on last leg duty for the M50 B team and rounded out a very evenly matched team with a 25:30. Gerry Connelly made his first appearance in a newly purchased Calderglen vest and experienced the loneliness of the last leg relay runner. Gerry ran a well paced 25:44. I see a well matched training pack forming there!

Well done to all and a big thanks to Andy and Gerry for bringing the club tent down.
Alan

Masters Road Relay Teams 2013

The teams and running order for tomorrow's road relay in Strathclyde Park are listed here. If anyone cannot now make it then please leave a comment on this post or contact Russell or me as soon as possible as we must declare the teams, age groups and running order before the start of the race.

Please be at the water sports centre/gym in Strathclyde Park by around 10am ready to distribute numbers and warm-up for the 11am start. We should have the club tent at the start line for shelter. For those needing a lift, a group will be leaving the Sports Club at 9:45.

We have two spare places now due to injury/illness, so if anyone else wants a run, please let Russell or I know as soon as you can.

Under these weather conditions, there is a risk of cancellation due to ice on the course but we will keep you posted via this blog.

Alan

Devil's Burden Teams - the time of reckoning!

After much deliberation, some coaxing and much ignoring of excuses, the two Calderglen teams for the Devil's Burden Hill Relay on 9th February have been selected and are listed here. Note that legs 2 and 4 are paired legs and both runners must run together. Full body cover, maps, compass and wits must be carried by everyone individually (i.e. the pairs must each carry their own set of safety equipment and maps in case they get separated some how). The A team will be entered for the later start time and the B team for the earlier start time. Further details and briefings will take place nearer the time to make sure that everyone knows what they are doing.
Alan

MASTERS ROAD RELAY

The SVHC Road Relay is next Sunday 27th Jan.
Start time is 11am.
We have entered 2 M50 and 2 M35 teams Alan will select the running order next week.
Those entered are
R Couper (m35) A Derrick (m35) D Herbertson (m35) R Lawton (m35) G Connelly (m35).
C Steven (m50) S Waugh (m50) E Reid (m50) M Duthie (m50) D Watt (m50) B Buchanan (m50).
A Henderson (m50) H Simpson (m50) K Leinster (m50).

Can those that have still to pay £3 entry please do so at the club this week.

Remember the M50 entrants can run in a M35 team.
We have 14 runners listed here but have entered 16 runners so reserves have been entered so if any of the following want a run please let us know but these 2 places will be first come first served.

J McBride (m50) S Hill (m35) J Holmes (m35) I Hughes (m35) G Lindsay (m35) P Marshall (m50).
A McCaffery (m35) B McDougall (m35) C McDougall (m50) J Mearns (m35) G Mullen (m50).
S Phimister (m35) I Rae (m35) G Ramage (m35) M Saez (m35) G Stewart (m50) D Wardrope (m35).
D Searil (m50) J McGregor (m35) G Maynard (m50) B Matthew (m35) C Banks (m35).

Russell

The Devil's in the Detail! - Devil's Burden Recce

Nine Harriers made an early start today and headed for the hills, the Lomond Hills in Fife to be more precise, to recce legs 2, 3 and 4 of the forthcoming Devil's Burden Hill Relay (leg 1 was deemed too easy to recce). If all went to plan this would give us about 16 miles and 2500 feet of climbing. Kenny Leinster had planned the day to perfection providing maps, detailed knowledge of the routes and told us where to place the cars at the start in Strathmiglo and finish in Falkland. So how on earth did we end up starting in California!

The first leg (leg 2 of the relay) was a challenge to say the least and definitely the most difficult of the day. Although no more than 6 miles it took in two major ascents, the first of which was way too steep to run up. Near the summit we split into two packs (plus  lone trail blazer George) to compare the direct, straight up approach to the summit of West Lomond and the indirect, corkscrew path to the top. The corkscrew won and even allowed a little bit of running over the final few hundred metres. The ground was frozen on top and so were we, therefore we quickly started the descent into the glen and then climbed again to the Devil's Burden and onward to the second summit, Bishop Hill (fortunately a local runner directed us onto the best path up, saving some time). A brief (due to the extreme wind chill) lunch stop below the summit and we were off again, still on our first leg.

We took a slight short-cut by not going to the change over point down in Scotlandwell (as we would only have to climb straight back up again) but instead stayed up top and picked up leg 3. This was an altogether easier leg on downhill trail and then farm roads taking us to a reservoir for the final changeover. Here we were into severe mud due to forest felling operations and the final climb to East Lomond. This started off easyish across fields and moorland but the final ascent was as steep as the first one. After suffering the embarrassment of the entire club contingent being beaten to the top by a 12 year old girl who was just out for a walk with her parents, we gathered for the final high level photos at the trig point in the form of a convenient coffee bar table. The descent to the finish was very, very steep and only for the mountain goats but at least it was all down hill to the finish.

It was just as well we did this recce as it was an eye opener and at least we now know what legs those who were not able to attend the recce will be doing in the race! A big thanks to Kenny for keeping us on track (20+km, 1000m climbing and 4 hours in motion) and well done to all for the company and the usual Harriers "where do you want us to run to; aye nae bother" spirit. More photos from Billy and I here.
Alan

Today's Route Profile 

Today's GPS Track

Masters xc championship

The Scottish Athletics Masters XC Championship will take place in Forres on Sat 2nd Feb.
Males and Females 35+
Cost is £5 per head
For those members of the SVHC this is part of this years run and become race series.
I need names by Monday 14th Jan
If you wish entered for this please leave your name here.
Those already entered are listed here.

SVHC Road Relays

The SVHC Road Relays will take place on Sunday 27th Jan starting at 11am.
Females 35+                3 to a team
Males 35+ and 50+      4 to a team
cost is £3 per head
I need names by Monday 14th Jan.
If you want entered for this race please leave your name here.
Those entered so far are listed here

Callander Crags Race - A Balmy Winter's Day

Not only was this one of the warmest winter Crags Races but it was also far and away the largest field. Having remained as a wee, local event for the past 30 or more years, with up to 50 or so runners in a good year, everyone was taken by surprise today when well over 150 runners of all ages turned up, causing a 15 minute delay to the start whilst numbers were issued. The Harriers contributed to the record-breaking turnout with 5 lining up; George Stewart, David Herbertson, Kenny Leinster and Billy Buchanan joining me as the token local. As the course starts at the foot of the 800 foot climb up a narrow, winding forest path, a good start was going to be essential to avoid being boxed in on the ascent. Unfortunately this meant an uphill sprint over the first 50 metres; not the most efficient way to start a tortuous climb for a mile but it had to be done. I kept it going reasonably well, losing a few places here and there on the ascent and maybe getting to the summit in the top dozen where I had time for New Year handshake with some friends marshalling at the cairn before the masses poured past me on the rough descent as usual. The course was exceptionally muddy but that did not really slow me down. I picked a few places back on the road but in the end continued my fall from form of the past half year to finish in 28:57, over 2 minutes slower than the June 2012 edition of this event. George had led the following Harriers' pack part of the way up, whilst David Herbertson got a little boxed in. Billy thought it best to learn from the hill running experience of Kenny and to follow him up, expecting that Kenny would then stretch away on the descent. But Billy had a flyer whilst Kenny had a small fall on the descent. The finishing order was Billy (31:28), David (31:37 estimated) and Kenny (31:43) with George (34ish) rounding off the Harriers participation. Harriers' performance of the day was from Billy who scooped the very practical M60 prize of a couple of pairs of sports socks and a sachet of skin revitaliser! The race was won by local hill running champion Prasad Prasad who recorded a fantastic 21:31, winning by almost 4 minutes whilst his wife won the ladies prize (26 minutes or so).

Well done to all for excellent performances on a very tough course.
Alan

Devil's Burden Relay Recce

A recce of the more difficult legs of the Devil's Burden relay is proposed for Saturday 12th January. It is likely to be a whole day as we will be covering about 16 miles, allowing adequate time to absorb the routes and any places where it is possible to go off course (not that anyone from our club would get themselves lost). It is suggested that those who can come wear hill running shoes and carry a small rucksack with some spare clothes, food and a hot drink. Kenny is going to organise maps and will lead the trip.

Happy New Year!
Alan