WHW Pick-Up Arrangements

The times and locations for the minibus pickups on Saturday morning (yes, these times are in the morning, not the afternoon) are as follows. Please be there bright and breezy on time and let us know on Friday evening if there are any problems.

D.Watt 4:05 [house]
Russell 4:10 [ house]
George 4:12 [roundabout]
Frances 4:16 [Debenhams bus stop]
Billy + Kenny 4:20 [ kwik-fit]
Jim 4:25 [end off road]
Colin 4:25 [ high com rd bus stop]
Alan + Jim+Ruth 4:30 [St Leonards Rd bus stop at junction with Brancumhall Rd]

Alan

Mull of Kintyre 2013 1k and Half Marathon

Well it was a family affair this weekend at the MOK.

The race is in its 8th year, I have only missed it once due to injury. Its just getting bigger and better each year. If your looking for a race with fantastic scenery,  a challenging beach run along Westport beach and a warm welcome, then you won't find a better race.

Evan ran on Saturday as they have made it a 2 day event. He did the junior 1k and came charging to the finish in 2nd place with an impressive time of 3mins 50.

On Sunday it was the 10k and the half. The weather at the start wasn't great but training in EK its something I'm used to!  The only downside of the race is that both distances start together, so you set off at a fast pace. The distances then split. This left 5 runners up front. I left them to it I didn't want to struggle like last year in the 2nd half. I reached the 10 mile marker in 62.30. I then just gave it everything and managed a strong sprint finish giving me a time of 1.21.44. This earned me 6th place and 1st Male Vet. The winner was local with a time of 1hr 16.

The race is well marshalled with mile markers well placed and a great goody bag. What to watch out for are the slower 10k runners I had to come out the coned off area to pass them.

Thanks to Ian for the report and well done on another great performance (Bronze M40 performance standard; Ian, you are still M40 aren't you and not M45?).
Alan

Harriers 25th Anniversary Book Still Available

A bit of investigation prompted by Bobby Stewart's request for a further copy of the Harriers' 25th Anniversary book has revealed that we can still individually order copies of the book direct from the publisher's web site. Here is the link to the book http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/1662323-celebrating-25-years-running?redirect=true

For those who missed it first time around, it is definitely worth having.
Alan

WHW - times from previous years to whet your appetite.

In eager anticipation of the West Highland Way Relay weekend, here are the legs and times from recent years to remind you of what is in store.

2012

2011

Hopefully we get last year's weather too!

Alan

New Arch Rivals at Inaugural National Trail Race Championships

John McBride and George Stewart post-race

In complete contrast to last weekend's weather, a field of almost 150 women and men gathered in sweltering heat in Falkland, Fife for the inaugural National Trail Race Championships. We had no ladies racing today so that left it to 5 Harriers' men to line up for the 15km race. Russell Couper had the honour of being race number "1" with the remaining Harriers numbered in sequence behind him. We were warned by Russell that we had to finish in numerical order but we soon decided that reverse numerical order would be best for all concerned. The ladies' 10k race was first and all we were hearing after the finish were tales of how tough the course was, confirming that a cautious start would be prudent. However, when the hooter went for the start of the men's race, the downhill start was anything but cautious, the first km from Falkland House flying by on estate roads and farm tracks before turning onto a narrow forest path where the legs promptly fell off as the course started the first of several sharp climbs. The forest path emerged onto a high level forest road on which we descended back towards the start for the first 5km loop. The second time around the pace was naturally a bit slower, especially on the forest path ascent. At the top of the ascent we emerged onto the forest road again but this time turned right, away from the start. The forest road was never flat, always climbing or descending. At the furthest point from the start, the road dropped steeply and curved back on itself in the valley floor before we were directed up a very steep path through the forest which climbed back up to the high level forest road. The final 10 metres of this were not runnable (for me at least), however a rhythm was soon re-established on the forest road and I finally managed to regain some pace and a single place. A fairly gentle descent over 2km took us back to Falkland House and a final 150m, uphill to the finish line. In my case there was no one near me so thankfully I did not have to try to sprint up this hill. I finished in 1:02:12, well down the field having struggled from the start (the course was about 14.3km, so a little short but I am not complaining as the finish could not come soon enough). Andy Henderson finished clear of his nearest rivals in 1:07:41 and also struggled for the first 25 minutes. Harriers' race of the day was between new arch rivals George Stewart and John McBride with George establishing an early lead before a well paced effort by John consigned George to John's back pocket. John's time was 1:14:48 with George following in 1:15:38. Finally Russell Couper had a ding dong heavyweight battle with an Anster Haddie; a contest which Russell eventually won comfortably and added some interest to his race. Russell's time was 1:35:51.

Russell inside the final 100m

Needless to say, being a Fife AC hosted race, there were copious quantities of tea and cake in the village hall at the end of this very well organised and scenic race. Hopefully this will become a permanent fixture on the calendar and we can get more Harriers entered next year. Well done to the Harriers team.
Alan

Callander Crags Race

(web link fixed) For those looking forward to hammering your lungs and quads on the summer edition of the Crags Race, unfortunately the organisers have informed me that for a variety of reasons the race is not on. However, if you really need to run up a hill in Callander, then there is the first ever Ben Ledi race on 1st June. Details at skidaddle.org.uk.
Alan

Bathgate & West Lothian Highland Games Hill Race

This annual fixture is part of the SVHC Run & Become Grand Prix series and is not so much a traditional hill race through muck and heather but more of an out and back 6 mile road race up a very steep hill with the final 250m of the ascent on a rutted farm track. So very runnable in road shoes (or flippers given the weather today).

Russell Couper, Stuart Waugh and I had committed to doing the race on Thursday night (in my case only if it wasn't raining due to a succession of colds and infections over the past 3 months). On Saturday morning, I left Callander in 18 degrees and hazy sunshine thinking the conditions were perfect. By the time I got to Stirling the skies were dark and the temperature had dropped by 5 degrees! By the time I got to Bathgate the rain was pelting down and it was 10 degrees. As I drove into the very muddy parking field, thinking how on earth am I going to get the car out of here in a couple of hours time, Stuart drew up beside me with the same look of dread on his face as me. We sat in the car for a while hoping the rain might ease before eventually venturing across to the games park to register. Unfortunately the key man had gone home to change out of his wet clothes and the pavilion where registration and changing were supposed to take place remained locked for a further half hour. Fortunately Stuart had a large umbrella. In the meantime, the Pipe Band Championships had been cancelled without a puff having been blown nor a bag squeezed and the only events still functioning seemed to be the heavy events and the beer tent. What a shame for the highland games organising committee who no doubt worked all year for this.

Eventually about 30 of us registered and were led out to the start line on the games park beside the weight for height throwing event. Its amazing how many people you can get under a 3m x 3m awning (that wasn't one of the events, just what passed for a warm up). Then we were off across the sodden grass and out the games park into Bathgate main street where we were directed across the road and through various residential streets before emerging onto a B road which climbed out of Bathgate. This was a 2.5 mile ascent with only one little downhill section which I noted with some dismay would become an uphill near the finish on the way back! This was a steep climb. Think Lickprivick for 2.5 miles. I had established a top 10 position but was going nowhere fast. Finally we turned off the road for a 250m run up that uniquely Scottish hydrological feature of the perfectly parallel streams (a tractor track on any other day) to a radio mast where we ran around a marshal (just the once) and then followed the same route back to the games park. I gave a wave to Stuart and Russell who were both running strongly on the ascent as I descended and tried only to keep the pace up (I didn't really succeed). One guy flew past me but apart from that it was a lonely descent. The traffic was stopped for us to cross the main street and then it was a case of aquaplaning back into the games park where Maud and grandson were enthusiastically cheering, which was much appreciated as always. I finished in 8th or 9th in 39:30 with Stuart equally drookit crossing the line in 45 something and Russell, who had opened a gap on several people on the ascent, finishing in 57:44. Lets just call it a good strength session with a bit of a leg speed workout thrown in. Definitely a race of two halves. Good value at £3 entry fee which included a T-shirt and a goody bag. Hopefully Stuart and Russell secured  the SVHC grand prix points they were seeking and hopefully I avoided a chest infection.

A big thanks to the SVHC officials for organising this one in atrocious Summer weather and the Highland Games officials, volunteers, motorcyclists and many police officers who cheerfully controlled the many road crossings and junctions in the race.
Alan

By Popular Request...................

................the Grand Prix and Scratch Championships have been updated (following Tom Scott).

Alan

Performance Standard Achievements Updated

I have updated this season's performance standards achieved so far. I have mainly captured Grand Prix races or races for which we have had a blog report with results confirmed. Please check to determine if I have missed any since this season started on 1st October 2012.
Alan

WEST HIGHLAND WAY

With the West Highland Way weekend fast approaching Frances is looking for the balance of payment. Total cost is £66 but you should already have paid a deposit.
If anyone still wishes to go there is space on the bus, although the hotel is booked we can try and get another room.

Auldhouse Time Trial May 2013

The season opener around the Auldhouse 5k circuit saw a very small turnout from the club with only 13 starting. A recently re-surfaced road made for a smooth downhill start and the light winds were in a  favourable direction for all but the final 1km; certainly far from the worst conditions we have experienced around here over the past 5 years.

The only PB of the day went to John McGregor who was clearly none the worse for his two, back-to-back marathons (Paris and Lochaber a week apart), setting a time of 20:41, a good 40+ seconds faster than last year. Fastest time of the day went to a fired up Ian Hughes who chased the field round in 18:35, not a pb but faster than any of his times in 2012 and an M40 Bronze standard. Although very familiar with the route, Allan McLellan had never run the time trial before and has now put a time on the board of 21:59. Surprisingly, this was Allan's first sustained effort since the Christmas Handicap in 2011, so Allan will certainly knock lumps out of that as the summer progresses. Joanne McEvoy was our only lady running and got the season off to a good start with a 21:31. Stuart Waugh joined Ian Hughes in setting a club standard, achieving an  M60 bronze time of 21:30, a mark that he will demolish as he continues his return from a long injury.

The times for all 13 runners and all past years are available using the link on the menu to the left. Well done to all. These time trials are not races, they are part of the training and monitoring of the training and are just a hard effort to give a guide as to how the speed endurance training is coming along. Everyone sets off individually so that it does not become a race and so the pressure is off. Lets try for a better turnout next time around.
Alan

LETS GO RACING

Calderglen Harriers has a history of being a competitive racing club but recently our numbers competing at races has dropped off. Im sure there are many reasons for this but it would be great if we could get as many Harriers as possible racing again over the many local races that are happening over the next couple of months a couple of which are Grand Prix races.
There are plenty of us to spread ourselves about.
Here is a list that Harriers should try to get to and if theres any more please let me know.
16/05 Helensburgh 10k part of the Poloroid series.
18/05 Bathgate Hill race. (vets race) 6miles approx. 3 up then back down this is part of West Lothian Highland Games with entry on the day.
19/05 Monklands Half Marathon
23/05 Clydebank 10k part of the Poloroid series.
25/05 Scottish Trail Championships entries now closed.
29/05 Land of Burns 10k (Ayr) Part of our Grand Prix series.
30/05 Dumbarton 10k part of the Poloroid series.
02/06 Carluke 5m for those not away on the West Highland Way.
09/06 Dechmont Law 10k Trail race. Part of our Grand Prix.
13/06 Giffnock North 10k. This is a new flatter course and right on our doorstep.
20/06 Kirkintilloch 10k. This is held partly along the Forth & Clyde Canal and a very good race to take part in.
21/06 Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k (Pollock Park).
26/06 SVHC 5k (Clydebank) vets race entry on the night.

This is a long list of races and im sure theres at least one for everyone in there.

NATIONAL TRAIL RACE CHAMPIONSHIP

This year Scottish Athletics have introduced a new race the Trail Race Championship.
It will take place on Sat 25th May at the Falkland Estate (Fife).
Males will race over 15K and Ladies 10K.
Start times are noon for Men and 1pm for Ladies.
This is a pre entry event and the cost is £5 per head.
I need names by Thursday 9th May.
If you want entered please leave your name HERE.
Those already registered are listed HERE.

Navigation will not be required for this one.

Russell

Race Report As Requested

After being at the Sports Clubs Race Night on the Saturday evening I was up on Sunday morning feeling rather sleepy but thought give it a couple of hours and I will be wide awake. Alas as it came time to leave the house I could quite happily have gone back to my bed. Arriving at Cartha Rugby club the walk from the car to registration felt like an effort so knew it would be one of those days after running not too bad the last couple of weeks. 50 runners lined up for the start which had been moved to add on about 200m after a remeasurment in preparation for the BMAF 10k in August.
Off we went taking it very easy as I knew that come the 2nd lap fatigue would set in, as it was it set in half way round the first lap and the comparison from Wednesdays nights run was very clear. Those that had finished around me from the middle of the first lap started to pass and move away. It was a warm muggy day which just added to the world conspiring against me. It could have been worse I might have got lapped but managed to miss that with a few minutes to spare. Stuart Waugh is continuing his return to form with another steady run in 42.56 and 1st m60 across the line compared to my time of 57.59 but recent form should have got me around 52 to 53 mins. Also taking part for his 2nd run on the roads in a week was past member Scot Hill and again keeping a safe steady pace 44.42. Maybe he will be able to get back to full training with the club soon.

SVHC Walter Ross Memorial 10k

Thanks to Gillian Scott for forwarding this photo from Sunday's SVHC Walter Ross 10k in Pollok Park. Although a picture can tell 1000 words, this does not excuse Russell from writing a race report! Both Russell Couper and Stuart Waugh participated and Stuart stretches his lead in the M60 Run & Become Series whilst Russell maintains a watching brief in third place in the defense of his M45 SVHC title.
Next race in the SVHC series is the Bathgate Hill Race on the18th May.
Alan

Tiree Half Marathon

TIREE HALF MARATHON A SERIES OF FIRSTS

The very first Tiree half marathon took place on Sat 04 May. They have had a 10k run since 2006 but this was the first half marathon. Myself , Caroline and Ruby our dog made the trip along with some friends who are originally from Tiree.

It was our first trip to Tiree which is a spectacular Island with no real hills to speak of (good for running) and numerous golden sandy beaches.

The pre race briefing summed the course up with the organisers describing the route as challenging. There is a 1 k start and finish on the beach and a short off road section in the middle of the half.

It is a great event and the 10k and half start at the same time. Caroline and Ruby lined up for the 10k and I got myself to the front line (Russell taught me well) for the half. I was a bit concerned as there were only 70 runners doing the half. .Both races follow the same route and the half splits off about 3 mile mark. Too say it was windy is an understatement (30mph) . It was dry but we were sand blasted at the start and finish and I was literally blown off my feet at one exposed part!

I finished as first (ok only) harrier home in 1:40 : 30, overall 12^th place, which I was pleased with due to the windy conditions. Our friend’s daughter Catherine Stewart of Kilbarchan Running Club came home in 1:35:57 and was first lady home!

The mens event was won by Michael Deason of Shettleston Harriers in an incredible 1: 13 : 28. (he said this is slow for him)

Ruby and Caroline walked the route and I think this is the first harriers pet to complete a 10k. (A new mascot perhaps)

Like other Island events the atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming with the locals out in force cheering you on even in the most remote parts of the route. 

It finishes off with a ceilidh to help the tired legs. All in all a brilliant event,  heres to next year and maybe some more Harriers taking part.

 

Thanks to Graham for the report

Snowballs in May

Unusually, the weather on Wednesday evening in Coatbridge was not at all suitable for snowballs with the sun shining and blue skies. However, there were Lees Snowballs a plenty for all competitors at the end of the annual SVHC Snowball 4.8 mile road race around and about Drumpellier Park. A field of around 70 lined up on the park drive and headed off briskly downhill under the railway bridge and on through the park for a mile or so to exit onto the main road at the loch car park. Then it was an undulating anticlockwise circuit of the main roads all the way around to Coatbridge again before the final, tough climb to the main entrance to the park and a 100m downhill sprint to the finish line.

The Harriers were represented by several on the come back trail. First to finish was Alan Derrick in a tired 28:17 in 8th position in his first proper race for a while followed by Stuart Waugh in his first race since February in 33:23 (first M60). Graham Lindsay was having a pre-Tiree Half Marathon race so was not out to push himself to the limit and ran a steady 33:44, whilst Scot Hill was making the biggest comeback of anyone after a 10 month injury, finishing in 33:44. Finally Russell Couper admitted to struggling around in 40:53. However Russell moves to third M45 in the Run and Become age graded points championship whilst Stuart Waugh is first M60 in the championship. Well done to all.

The next race in the SVHC series is the Walter Ross 10km road race at 1:30pm in Pollok Park this Sunday 5th May which is open to any male or female over 35 years of age and not just SVHC members.

Alan