Chatelherault World Championship 2015 - Harriers of Steel

The Harriers have been training at Chatelherault fortnightly during the summer months for almost 20 years, but despite it often seeming like a race, last Monday was in fact the first time it has been a race. Short of a race for the Grand Prix, it seemed only logical to turn one of our regular and popular training sessions into a race. Furthermore, why not make it a World Championship but with strict qualifying criteria; you had to be a member of Calderglen Harriers but could come from any country in the World! Malcolm, where was Team New Zealand?

Around 24 Harriers assembled at the start (some were not racing as it was pre-West Highland Way race week for Davy Searil and his support crew and some were injured but there to support) in near perfect conditions; mild, calm and relatively midge free. After the obligatory team photo we lined up about 6 deep at the narrow archway which signifies the start/finish line for the 7 mile lap.

Then we were off! Davy Watt, Andy Buchanan and I started off at what I could already tell was a suicidal pace for me along the first half mile of flat trail. By all accounts, similar errors of judgement were being made throughout the field behind. At the first steep climb I knew I had already blown any chance of a well paced run as the quads were screaming. Davy and Andy pulled away and opened a gap on this climb and shortly after I could see Andy easing away from Davy. Thereafter it was a lonely and painful run, always on the limit and with Davy always in sight about 20 to 30 seconds in front. My strong point is usually the log jam and here I closed right up on Davy only for him to pull away again once we were over the top. Eddie and Kenny (both injured) were at the top of the log jam offering words of encouragement and taking photos. The second half of the lap is easier and faster than the first half and a more sustained, even effort was possible. Every so often the trail straightened out enough to see Davy ahead but I was making no headway on closing the gap. The pace picked up again on the descent from Chatelherault House and from there I was on the limit for the final, tough mile hoping to close in on Davy.

The feeling of speed as I twisted through that last mile of darker forest was exhilarating before I sprinted though the archway to see Andy and Davy dripping with sweat leaning over the bridge. First question was what time in-form and exponentially improving Andy Buchanan had managed. The answer, a barely credible 42:49, certainly the fastest time since records began (April 2010 I see from the spreadsheet). Davy was no less impressive and is definitely on the way back, recording 45:59. I stopped the clock in 46:23, which I subsequently noted was 1 second slower than my fastest time set in 2011. I was happy enough to be running as fast 4 years on.

Behind me course bests were being set by many. Stephen Phimister was fourth across the line in 53:09 but has run faster this season already, suffering from a fast start. Jim Holmes crossed the line in 54:24, closing in on the Grand Prix lead and commented "Hard work from start to finish, but I would expect nothing less in a World Championship! Over committed in the first half and hanging on all the way back. Glad to see that bridge". Well done Jim on a season's best and fastest time for a few years.

David Herbertson is rapidly coming back to form and chased Jim home in a time of 54:40ish, a great time and his first Chatelherault of the year. Charlie McDougall continues to knock lumps out of his time on each visit to Chatelherault this year and took 3 minutes off his time from a fortnight ago to finish in a fantastic 56:41. It is great to see the enthusiasm which such an experienced and high quality runner brings to training and shares with all those around him. Charlie commented "Well I'm getting better!!!!! NOT near PB's but I'm happy with my running!!!". Billy Buchanan surprised himself by running a great time of 56:56. The surprise was due to the fact that he has been injured recently and spent the entire preceding week not running but kayaking in the Outer Hebrides, camping, walking up hills, eating vegetarian food, drinking beer, getting heavier and allegedly acquiring more woolen hats than a man could possibly need for personal use.  Billy commented "So this is what running a World championship is all about. Hard work as not been running much recently so well pleased with time.Trust Eddie to pick log jam to take photos I am sure we will all be looking our best!!" Frances Maxwell and Andy Henderson worked together to pace each other round. Ever the gentleman, Andy made sure that Frances crossed the line one second in front of him in a time of 58:14. This was a season's best for Frances whilst Andy was happy to get around injury free. Jim Mearns was in post (multiple) marathon/pre-West Highland Way support mode, so cruised around in 58:49, tantalisingly in sight of Andy and Frances. Richard Lawton seems to have solved his injury problems (now a serial stretcher, as we all should be!) and set his second best time ever of 59:38, only 10 seconds behind his best from 2013.

Hugh Simpson maintained his Grand Prix lead with a steady (unknown time) run of around the hour. Ian McKenzie was unaware that the run was a race, so was thrown in at the deep end on his way back to fitness. Ian completed the lap in around 65 minutes. Finally, still running with a calf injury (!!), Russell Couper completed the lap in around 1:30. Geo Ferguson was not feeling right from the start, so sensibly dropped out part way around and kept Sandy Hayden company as this was only Sandy's second time at Chatelherault and she did not know the way around the lap. Davy Searil continued his taper for the WHW by running a reverse lap with support crew member Ruth Kelly. Meanwhile recovering from injuries, Eddie Reid and Kenny Leinster ran in reverse to the toughest climb of the course at the log jam to record our pain in pictures. Fortunately the conditions were too dark for Eddie's iPhone so the blurred images partially hide our suffering!

I wonder if this World Championship is on an annual, bi-annual or four year cycle?
All Eddie's photos are here.
Alan