St Andrew's Hospice 18k

Strathclyde Park was the venue today for St Andrew’s Hospice Put Your Foot Down

charity runs covering distances of 6k, 12k or 18k. As there was registration on the day myself and Mark Saez decided we give it a go. It was a cracking day with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze but as the morning wore on perhaps just the wrong side of 20 degrees for us!

I’ve ran their race before when it was a straight 10k and numbers seemed to be down slightly which is a bit of a shame for such a worthwhile cause. Many of the Hospice volunteers are the same faces that you have seen at their events stretching back over many years.

Most of you will be familiar with the route having run many races at this venue but for us it was the first time we had ran anti-clockwise. Its a pretty flat course round the loch with just a few undulations on the far side.

We had decided on the 18k as a good training run being more than a 10 miler but less than a half marathon. The target was to see how close we were to half marathon pace with the Great Scottish half looming (and the torture of the TTC just round the corner).

It was a fast start for a couple of K then settled to something more sensible, the 18k race field being a bit strung out by the first 6k lap. By the time we completed another 6k the sun was blazing, both of us taking on water 4 times in a relatively short race gives you an idea of the heat.  We both struggled in the closing lap, falling from something near 10 mile pace to outside half marathon pace. Let’s blame the warm weather although lack of fast miles might be nearer the mark!

It was a chipped race but the results aren't out yet so going by watch times :

Stephen - 76 mins

Mark - 77 mins

Will update on positions etc when the results are published.

It was a good test to see where we were with a lot of running coming up. Finishing medal, water and more importantly tea, coffee and biscuits. Its probably more fun run than serious race but a couple of good club runners (plus me and Mark) thrown in for good measure.  A really enjoyable race and just what we both needed to judge the fitness levels. 

Stephen 

Thanks to Stephen for the report. Well done both using your initiative to use this race to support a great cause and get race fit. Looking forward to a race report from our Paisley 10k "buddies".
Alan

Harriers on Ice - Take 3

George, Sandra and Billy acclimatise for winter training.
Alan

Club President on Ice

Some Presidents are not excused! Frances takes on the Ice Bucket Challenge. Those lucky persons nominated by Frances to be next in line should already know who they are!

Alan

IMPORTANT MEETING THURSDAY 21ST AUG

Regretfully I have to ask all members to attend a specially convened meeting this Thursday after training. Unfortunately this may mean training being cut short but its important that you are all at the meeting. Therefore your attendance is asked for 9pm prompt. Apologies for the short notice but we cant delay.

Russell

The John Lucas Memorial 50m Relay

I was just thinking (always dangerous) that, owing to the remoteness of the course, as a minimum,

each  runner should carry their mobile ‘phone and have the numbers of both the preceding and
succeeding runners. This will enable an early warning of breakdowns/traffic problems which might
see one or more of us carrying on beyond a changeover point until relieved (a la Davie Watt on the
WHW,  although hopefully not that far!) or of injury/illness out on the course. Always remembering
that there will be more than a few signal blackspots out there.

As Russell suggested we can make transport arrangements, swap numbers, etc. on Thursday night but if you won’t be at the club then please endeavour to obtain the numbers you need. It would also greatly help planning if all runners, apart from leg 5 (obviously), estimate their expected running time. 

Davie

PS If you are not able to make Thursday night please add your estimated time as a comment below along with any other thoughts/suggestions/brainwaves for the day.

SOUTH LANARKSHIRE ATHLETICS PARTNERSHIP (SLAP)

SLAP will be having an AGM on 3rd Sept at the Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds and we require a volunteer to attend. We are also looking for 2 representative from the club to attend another 1 meeting this year and between 2 and 4 meetings next year including the AGM. Its important that we stay actively involved in these groups to keep up to date with all relevant developments and its not a lot to commit to up to 4 meetings a year. I need names by 14th August so either contact me direct as im not at the club this week or ask Andy or Frances to pass your name to me.

Thanks in advance

Russell

REQUEST FOR A GUIDE RUNNER

We have had a request about a visually impaired adult who wishes to return to running but would require a guide runner. If anyone is interested in this as a new challenge training will be available. If your not sure but would like more information then speak to myself or Richard and we will get the answers you need. Time is short on this because if we cant help this gent we will look to see if another club in South Lanarkshire can help.

Russell

TTC Dinner Choices and Other Updates

With only one month to go, final preparations for the TTC are well in hand. This also means that final payment is now due for those paying by installments (or in one go). Please see Eddie with your payment. The good news is that the Trossachs Backpackers Hostel have confirmed that there is space for 30 this year, so those presently on the shortlist and possibly one or two others can attend. We will keep taking names for another week.

The Lade Inn menu for Friday and Saturday dinner is now in. Please see here. Could everyone who has registered, including those on the shortlist, please fill in the menu choice form on-line here. Note that the TTC fee of £70 includes 2 course per dinner (main plus either starter or dessert). A third course can be added to either or both nights for £3.50 per course. Please select "none" in either the starter or dessert options if you are having only two courses. We need to have all the menu choices gathered by 4th September to allow the Lade Inn to stock up. It takes time to prepare Haggis Balls!

Any questions, then please let me know or leave a comment with your name on this blog post.
Alan

cross country dates this winter

Note a date change for the National CC. It is now Sunday 22nd February. Thanks to Richard for pointing this out.
Just so everyone knows the dates well in advance these are the cross country dates coming up.
There will be posts nearer the times of each event detailing times, costs and entry deadlines.
Please keep an eye out for these on the blog as there are often short windows to enter.

West District relays ( Port Glasgow )   11th Oct
National Relays ( Cumbernauld )         25th Oct
National Short Course ( Bellahouston )  9th Nov
West District ( Linwood )                      6th Dec
National Masters ( Kilmarnock )          31st Jan
National CC   ( Falkirk )                       21st Feb

ROUND STRATHAVEN RELAY TEAMS

Below are the teams and running order for next Sundays 17th relay.
I would suggest all runners have a quick meeting after training on Thursday to arrange drop off points and pick ups. The race starts at 9am. The legs are
STRATHAVEN TO DRUMCLOG CHURCH      10.8 M
DRUMCLOG CHURCH TO SANDFORD VILLAGE HALL 8.3 M
SANDFORD VILLAGE HALL TO STONEHOUSE CROSS 6.3 M
STONEHOUSE CROSS TO AULDHOUSE ARMS 14.7 M
AULDHOUSE ARMS TO STRATHAVEN 9.7 M

Parking in Strathaven is just off George Allan Place and this has been designated for the event so please don't park elsewhere. Registration is in Kirkland primary school and only the lead runner needs to register the team and will be issued with a wrist band which must be handed on at the end of each leg.
PARKING   http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/492550792
STAGE 1 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/344136231
STAGE 2 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/344212885
STAGE 3 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/344213745
STAGE 4 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/344217623
STAGE 5 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/344216063

ACCESS 1 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/467922614
ACCESS 2 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/467934392
ACCESS 3 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/492504796
ACCESS 4 http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/492511294

Teams and running order are
JINGS CRIVENS HELP MA BOAG
G FERGUSON, C STEVEN, R COUPER, P MARSHALL, H SIMPSON.

SPEED OF LITE
D HERBERTSON, B BUCHANAN, M SAEZ, J MACGREGOR, E REID.

THE MIGHTY MIDGES
J MEARNS, F MAXWELL, A LESSELLS, D SEARIL, M HOWELL.

Please study your leg.

Russell

When Eddie Met Bolt (nearly)

Many of you may have caught a glimpse of our very own Eddie Reid on the BBC coverage of the Commonwealth athletics on Saturday night. The video at the following link shows Eddie valiantly pushing small children aside to get Usain Bolt's signature on a Calderglen vest, alas to no avail. Eddie appears at about 2 minutes 43 seconds into the 3 minute video.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/commonwealth-games/28626764 (note that this video will not be accessible outside of the UK due to BBC licensing restrictions).

Thanks to Richard for the link.
Alan

Islay Half 2014 in Pictures

Although a smaller team than in recent years, the Harriers "delivered" on Islay this past weekend. A full race report will follow once the official results are published and the hands have steadied. In the meantime, here are some of the photos from the weekend. The report will contain tales of fine Harriers performances, battles against the elements, mystery tours to the furthest corners of Bowmore in search of B&B, feats of endurance on bar stools, TV repair, memory loss, a car chase culminating in a dramatic road-block and the obligatory open water swim.

Alan

Strathaven Striders Run with the Wind half marathon

Just wanted to bring to your attention a new local race for next year on Sunday the 22nd February. See Entry Central for details.