Islay Half Marathon 2013 - Whisky Galore

Most of the 2013 Calderglen Team. You can never round them all up!

A massive team of Harriers spent a fantastic August Bank Holiday weekend on Islay for the Half Marathon and various other very enjoyable pursuits. Throughout Friday the Harriers arrived on the island and settled into our very luxurious accommodation in the Bowmore Distillery Cottages. We had booked out the cottages a year in advance such is their popularity with 14 of us in a very smart, 3-floor "cottage" with top floor observatory and the others split between even more luxurious 4 place cottages complete with jacuzzis. Its a long time since we spent the Islay weekend camped out in a van or spread across the masonic lodge hall floor!

Support team outside "Oor Hoose"

On Saturday morning we stepped out into a very windy but warm day with 25mph winds forecast, giving us a cross wind on the way out and perhaps a slight tailwind on the way back.  A record field of 182 had entered the race of which 169 turned up on the day. A fantastic field considering the remote location. Before the start the many Harriers attracted a lot of attention with comments such as "Look at all the Bumble Bees!". The uphill start quickly spread the field out and soon it was the familiar uphill slog for most of the first 6 miles. Ian Hughes and Davy Watt stretched away with the lead pack whilst I struggled along back in around 10th place very much on my own. The wind was slightly into our face but mainly a cross wind so not too much of a problem. However on turning downhill just before halfway we felt the full force of the wind in our face and at that point two runners powered past me. Turning onto the airport straight, the wind was again mainly a cross wind but there was a little bit of a push in the back too which was very welcome. After a few more miles a squally shower moved through for about 5 minutes providing some welcome cooling. Then the sun was back out and burning all the way to the finish.

There are so many Harriers to mention that I shall leave it to the official results list to present the times. Davy Watt was first Harrier to finish in 3rd overall (2nd M50) followed by Ian Hughes who not only gets faster every year but also gets younger as the official results did not list him as a veteran (he was last year!). Next in was me who was only saved from a personal worst by the fact that I did a half marathon in California last November after two months out with injury and absolutely no training and hence was a minute slower than at Islay (makes me wonder if its worth training if it only gets me a minute faster!). Eddie Reid ran a controlled race, except for the last 50m where he was involved in the closest sprint finish of the race and helped secure the team prize for Calderglen's men (4 to count). Julie Beveridge was our first lady to finish (2nd overall) and dragged Billy Buchanan around to our only age group champion of the day, Billy winning the M60 category. Not far behind was Jim Holmes who had the whole family over for the weekend. Joanne McEvoy was next across the line (5th lady) with a totally controlled, stress free run.

Graham Ramage continues to make steady progress back to form whilst John McBride continues to have a fantastic year with yet another pb. Colin Banks is another who is making a good, steady recovery from injury and ran a fine time on his first attempt at Islay. Frances Maxwell wasn't even sure she would start due to a recurring injury but was fine for most of the race and finished hand in hand with Jim Mearns, also making his Islay debut. Geo Ferguson made a rare race appearance but finished in good form despite realising after 3 miles that he was wearing the wrong shoes! At least they were not brogues! David Searil stepped down considerably in distance so had no problems whatsoever in completing one lap of the half marathon course. Ruth Kelly continues to improve and set pb's in every race and this was no exception and finished feeling better than she has ever done after a half marathon. Ruth completed the winning ladies team. Russell Couper was fearing the worst before the race but actually finished well ahead of his prediction and was relatively pain free too which is always a bonus.

Russell races himself to the line (first time that time lapse photography has been used for a photo finish! Only joking Russell)

Ruth makes a showbix style finish. I have no idea how Google turned this into a movie!

After a quick swim in the pool, it was off to the prize giving where the sponsor, Ardbeg, excelled themselves again with the biggest spread of prizes you are ever likely to see at any race, of which Calderglen once again walked away with a significant portion.

The Calderglen Prize Haul (and Russell)

Before we knew it, it was time for our dinner appointment at the Lochside Hotel (table for 24 please!) where the food and drink were well received. A few hours later and we were off to the ceilidh where stiff legs and sore feet were tested to the limit in the best Islay ceilidh for many years. The hall and dance floor were packed. Russell and Davy had a particularly enjoyable evening on finding out that the sponsor's product was still available for free and displayed some very nifty footwork navigating the dance floor and the road back to the cottage later on.

As we were staying to the Monday this year, Sunday was a very relaxed day with some beach time (the beautiful Saligo Bay) and some fire raizing (aka barbecuing) back at the cottages. The beach was fantastic and it was not long before the wet suited surfers were joined by the toughest of the tough in trunks (Davy Searil and John McBride). It could have been California!

Back at the cottages a team of Harriers launched themselves into the task of preparing for the barby with many experts looking on and offering advice. After much deliberation about where to site the barby, a position was chosen beneath the cottage propane gas store (well it looked like an electrical cabinet, not a gas store. They should have put a bigger "no naked flames" label on it!), Eddie was head chef and coped admirably with the combination of apparently fire-proof Co-op disposable barbies combined with half a cow's worth of burgers and 70 chicken breasts (supplied by the absent Hugh Simpson). Everyone survived. What more do you want!

Usually there is no smoke without fire but there is
 always an exception to the rule!

The day ended with a spectacular sunset across the bay and was a perfect end to a perfect weekend. On Monday morning those of us on the earlier ferry departed after breakfast whilst the lucky few stayed on for a Bowmore distillery tour and an afternoon departure.

Thanks to all for making this a wonderful weekend. We are hoping to do the same next year but unfortunately the accommodation will be different as the Bowmore Cottages are already booked out. Still its the people that make the weekend.

Some of my photos from the weekend are here (thanks to Sandra for expertly managing the photography whilst I was trying to run the race and to our enthusiastic supporters - Maud and Stuart Waugh, Dot McBride, Sandra Reid, Jean Buchanan and Alison Searil). More photos will be added as and when they are received.

Davy and Alison's photos are now available here.

Alan