SPORTS CLUB AGM

At the recent  sports club AGM it was agreed by a majority vote that the members of each section would require to purchase a bar credit of £30 payable before the end of March. This was supported by an overwhelming majority of voting members and was seen as a way of raising some funds to resolve a cash flow problem.

This will apply to senior membets only and not to juniors. If you have a family membership with 2 adults each adult would pay £15. 

Each club member can pay Russell and the money will be added to your existing bar card. If you do not have a bar card you will be issued with one.

We are aware that some members do not use the bar. If you do not intend to use the bar credit we do not want you to be out of pocket. If this is the case speak to Russell and we will work out a way of ensuring your not out of pocket.

Kenny

Scottish Masters' XC - A proper cross-country course

Stuart Waugh in the pack entering one of the slippier parts of the course

01 Feb 2017 - Updated with more photos taken by Marion here.

If I was asked to choose a weekend to make a weather prediction for at any time of the year, I would choose the weekend of the Scottish Masters' Cross Country Championships as 90% of the time the weather is atrocious for that event; whether its Kilmarnock, Forres and who can forget Hawick a couple of years ago, you can rely on there being freezing rain at best and possibly a few cases of hypothermia. So as I drove up the A9 towards Dundee in thickening sleet I was thinking "not again!". I don't run well in cold conditions, having a bit of a reaction to breathing cold air.

Only four of us were competing in the event at Camperdown Park in Dundee. Stuart Waugh competing in the over 65 race whilst Gordon McInally, Russell Couper and myself competed in the 40+ race over 8km. I parked at the ice rink (thought I might pop in there after the race to warm up!) and jogged a kilometer across a field and into the park to start my course recce and warm-up proper. As I had not been feeling great since before Christmas, I intended to run this in trail shoes rather than spikes and take it relatively steady. However, although the parkland parts of the course were firm under foot, the recce confirmed that the field and woodland paths (see photo above) were very muddy and slippy and I was wasting a lot of energy trying to make forward progress with trail shoes. So I changed to spikes for the race despite one of the paths on the route being quite stony and hard.

Meanwhile, the women and M65+ race was underway (6km) and Stuart Waugh was well up and maintaining his place in a very strong field. Stuart finished in 30:03, in an excellent 7th overall and 6th M65.

A field of 300 lined up for the M40+ race and I took a position on the front line way over to the right (see the Scottish Athletics photo on Facebook) to keep out of the way of the usual pushing and shoving. This would place me on the outside for the first corner but on the inside for the next corner, a 180 degree turn at the top of the first hill. I went pretty fast for the first, flat 100m and then, as expected was on the inside for the climb to the second turn, being pushed along and doing a bit of pushing myself as the field compressed into the tight 180 degree turn. We then descended and turned right again for a long, gradual climb to the far end of the park where another tight U-turn brought us onto the stony path along the edge of the wood. It was quite congested here with limited visibility of the ground meaning that the spikes took a pounding on the stony surface. We ran all the way back along the length of the park on this path and then descended into a field where we followed a narrow, muddy path through the clumpy grass into another woodland path. This was also very muddy and slippy with tree roots to avoid but the main problem was that it was about 1km uphill. I'm usually strong on hills but not today and I went backwards here and more or less decided it was going to be a training run from then on as I was dead on my feet. We emerged from the climb back into the park and completed two sides of the park to bring us to the end of the 4km lap from which point we were away again for another one! Familiarity with the course and the fact that I had taken my foot off the gas made the second lap a bit more enjoyable and it seemed to pass more quickly (although it was slower). As we emerged into the park for the final time, I had a few familiar runners around me and made a bit of an effort over the final 1.5km to hold them off (well it was downhill!), crossing the line in 32:04, making the maths very easy to determine that it was 4 minutes per km for the accurate 8km course. This was a disappointing 93rd overall in an event that I finished 9th overall in only a handful of years ago so pretty disappointing. I'm not going to even count how far back I was in the M50 race but needless to say it was a lot further back than I was in my races last Autumn. The freezing rain was now beginning to turn to sleet here too so it was back to the communal "club tree" to change into many layers of gear. Gordon was next in (39:12) and thankfully his strained hamstring gave him no bother at all. One of the benefits of cross country training and racing is that it is relatively low impact and is unlikely to cause injury. Russell finished a short while later (45:43) and despite very tired legs from the start was happy with the solid effort he put in.

.... and one of the less muddy parts of the course!

This was not weather for spectating but there were plenty out in force on a great course to see the action. We had both Maud and Marion out there cheering us on and along with Stuart, the shouts of encouragement were heard and appreciated. Thanks to Russell for arriving early to pick up the numbers from registration. Thanks also to Dundee Hawkhill Harriers for a brilliantly organised event and a superb course. Pity about the weather though!
Alan

MASTERS XC ( DUNDEE )

Saturdays race times are 1pm for over 65 and 1.45pm for over 40.
I will pick up the numbers from noon and be at the course after this.
only 4 of us going so if anyone cant make it let me know.

Russell

Fifties Flying in the Frost

The Harriers were well represented at the Scottish Veteran Harriers Club Road Relay Championship on a cold but windless Sunday morning in Strathclyde Park. Twenty Harriers formed two complete ladies teams, two M50+ teams, one M35+ team and one half team of two M50+ runners. The age profile of the male section of the club is certainly heading upwards!

It is a rare occasion for us to field two complete ladies teams and it was particularly pleasing to see four of our Tuesday night training members forming two thirds of our contingent. Our ladies A team was led off by the very much in form Julie Beveridge who flew around the course in 8th fastest time of the day to record a time of 22:58 for the 5.9km lap of Strathclyde Loch. This placed the ladies in 4th. Frances Ferguson is gradually getting back to form and ran a steady 27:09 on leg 2, finishing in 9th position. It was then up to Sharon Gregg in her first relay for the club to pull the club back up a place, finishing in 26:49. Our second ladies team was comprised entirely of relative newcomers to competitive running, all from our Tuesday night section. This would also be the first road relay for most. Lorraine Buchanan was on leg 1, finishing in 32:34, handing over to Julie Thomson. Julie ran a fine 31:02 and left it all for Alison Johnston to do on the last leg. Alison finished in 33:32. Well done to all the ladies. Relays often end up being individual time trials with the field usually very spaced out  after the first leg making pace judgement very difficult.

Davy Watt towards the front

On paper, we had our strongest possible M50 team out for the first time in many years. There is usually one or all of us ill or injured at this time of year. Strongest of all was Davy Watt on leg 1, who pretty much dead heated for first place in the M50 race and was 8th overall amongst all the much younger runners to finish in a fantastic 20:49. Eddie Reid was making a welcome return to first team duty after several years of injury. However, despite the appropriate venue, his return was not plain sailing as he succumbed to a cold earlier in the week and was definitely not firing on all cylinders. Nonetheless, Eddie ran a respectable 24:09, placing us about 5th or 6th in the M50 race. Martin Duthie would find this a little cold, his last race having been in tropical heat in Thailand before Christmas. However, Martin always responds to a challenge and stormed around in 22:15 to put us 5th. Martin was happy with his form given the heavy miles he had been putting in for the Half Ironman in Thailand and now in training for the London Marathon. I took over on the 4th leg with the possibility of making up two places at best, first and second being well away. I caught the first within about 1km to move up to 4th and passed the next one a few hundred metres later at the top of the loch to move up to third. Thereafter it was a pretty lonely run with nobody in sight ahead and nobody passing me. I had one verbal altercation with some members of the public who were completely blocking the path (a record, there are usually more confrontations with dugs, prams, weans and extendable leads per lap) but was feeling pretty heavy legged from start to finish so the second half was a bit of a struggle.

I got a slight boost on crossing the line when another runner asked me what time I had run. I could not read the small print on my watch so showed it to him to read and he said 21:14 which was way faster than it felt. I was happy with that. However, when I downloaded the watch to Garmin Connect at home, I saw that the time was in fact 21:41; right numbers, wrong order, which was pretty disappointing (I ran only 4 seconds slower last year having run the Devils Burden Hill Relay the day before) but not surprising. Lesson - don't trust any veteran athlete to have any better eye sight than your own! They usually don't. However, we did finish 3rd M50 team and picked up the prize for that. Its a few years since we have managed that.

Part of the 3rd place M50 team - Alan Derrick, Eddie Reid, Martin Duthie

Our second M50 team was pretty much an M60 team with all but Allan McLellan in that age category (and Allan will soon be). So this was a trial run for our future M60 team - a very talented team. Andy Henderson set off on leg 1 and finished in a fine 25:01. One of Calderglen's finest runners from the past, Allan McLellan was making his first serious race appearance after being out of running for the best part of 20 years. Naturally this was a nerve wracking occasion for Allan but the old racing head kicked in and despite a very spread out field, Allan ran a well paced 24:08. Stuart Waugh tackled leg 3 completing in a pretty much individual time trial time of 26:20. Finally, Charlie McDougall returned from a series of recent injuries and infections only to be thwarted by a lack of marshalls at the far side of the course, going off course for a while but still recording a fine 24:12.

Our M35+ team was led off by another returning from injuries and missed training with Martin Howell recording a fine 23:45. This is comparable to his time last year when he was less troubled by injuries so very encouraging. Richard Lawton was frozen on leg 2 and only just warmed up when he crossed the line in 26:44. Gordon McInally was one of our intrepid Devils Burden Hill relay participants on Saturday and could not have been fresh on leg 3. Unfortunately this was confirmed when his hamstring pinged a few hundred yards into the race. Gordon did it for the team and hobbled round in a still fine 26:32 to hand over to John Boyd making his relay debut. John then went on to record a fantastic 25:12. He is obviously made for this sort of event!

Russell Couper led off our 4th (half) team and takes every opportunity to get the miles in as he builds towards the London Marathon. The miles are making a difference and Russell, despite not feeling great, ran his best time here for years, finishing in 30:42, Billy Buchanan had a serious chest infection at the tail end of last year and was under strict instructions from family and friends to treat this as an easy training run and not to push. This Billy gladly agreed to do and cruised round in a comfortable 28:50.

A big thanks to all the Harriers and especially our supporters who braved freezing conditions to cheer us on (Kevan, Neil, Mandy, Jim, Mark and daughter to name a few). It is much appreciated.
Alan

Run/Sports Club AGM Thursday

Correction AGM is at 7pm according to EKSC web site.
It is the Sports Club AGM this Thursday, starting at 7:00 pm. For those who want to run and attend the AGM, there will be some coming up to run at 6pm (I won't be there as I will still be at work at that time). Others are coming up for the usual run at 7:30 and others are going to the AGM and not running. So you have choices. For those going out at 7:30, the run on Thursday will be the 4 hills. For those running at 6pm or for those racing at the Masters XC on Saturday,  do about 4 miles easy only.
Alan

The Devil's Burden

The Harriers again headed over to Falkland in Fife for this hill race relay which is becoming a regular feature in the club calendar. We travelled to Fife through thick fog which brought back a few memories. It was still down to ground level as we approached the Lomond Hills. We registered and collected our number, Team 13. Why did it have to be that? We then listened to the pre-race briefing where it was firmly stated that if you get lost out there, don’t phone the police!

We have definitely left our mark on this race!



Sandy was on first leg duty which is a 7.5 km trail from Falkland to Strathmiglo. Despite a lingering cold which has interrupted her training, Sandy made a good job of this coming home in 41 minutes, just slightly down on her time from last year.



Myself and Gordon were waiting in the freezing mist at Strathmiglo and were glad to get started on Leg 2. This is 10 km with 680 m of climb over West Lomond and Bishop Hill. We warmed up quickly running the first mile after which this leg becomes a fast hill walk, which is ideal for multiple Munroist, Gordon. At check point 3 I noticed the sun coming out. I looked back and realised we had actually climbed out of the mist. It was a temperature inversion and we were treated to fantastic views over the cloud with peaks in the distance poking through. I know it is a race but I had to get the camera out. A hugely enjoyable run in the sun took us back down into the mist at Kinnesswood in 1 hour 29 minutes.

Kenny and Kay took over for Leg 3, 11.5 km and 420 m of climb to Maspie Den. After a really stiff climb to the gate at Bishop Hill they managed a good bit of running. Kenny recorded mile splits of 19 minutes and 7.03 minutes which give an idea of the terrain which could be described as “undulating”. Kay enjoyed her debut on this race, despite a head first fall into a bog! They handed over to Chas after 1 hour 11 mins.


Leg 4 is 5.5 km and 380 m of climb which is basically straight up and down East Lomond. Chas has done this leg several times and enjoyed his run, bringing the team home in a total time of 4 hours 23 minutes.



So Team 13 made it round with no dramas and finished in 99th place out of a record entry of 147.

SVHC ROAD RELAYS

Teams and running order for tomorrow are listed here.

The race starts at 11am and is one loop of the park each.

The following are entered and should arrive no later than 10.30am

L Buchanan, S Gregg, J Beveridge, J Thomson, A Johnston, F Ferguson.

R Couper, A Derrick, R Lawton, G McInally, S Waugh, A Henderson, J Boyd, M Duthie, K Leinster, E Reid, M Howell, C McDougall, D Watt, A McLellan.

We have 2 ladies teams entered and 4 male teams one of which is M50.

If anyone is no longer able to make it please leave a comment or contact Alan or myself direct.

There is also still 2 places available in the mens teams if anyone not listed above wants to run.

Teams and running order will appear later when Alan selects them.

A Future Date for your Diary - TTC 2017

As I mentioned on Monday, much to the surprise of both me and the management at Leny Estate, they suddenly sold out all their accommodation through the entire month of September up to Sunday 1st October inclusive. Weddings, parties, hen weekends, Trossachs Jazz Festival etc. So I had to move fast and book the next available weekend, which is Friday 6th October to Sunday 8th October. I have now checked as far as is possible if this clashes with any regular races. The Glasgow Half Marathon is on Sunday 1st October. I contacted Kilbarchan AAC regarding the George Cummings Road Relay at Houston. They had a committee meeting last night and decided that this would be on Saturday 30th September. Therefore, chances are that the planned TTC weekend is a free weekend in our usual race calendar with the West XC Relays coming the weekend after.

We won't be taking TTC bookings for some time but please do note these dates in your diary if you have any plans to participate in TTC and just ask if you have any questions.
Alan

A BIG EVENT AT MEADOWBANK SPORTS CENTRE

Hi, my name is William, I’m director for events at The Fitness Expo, www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk.

I wanted to let you know that The Fitness Expo will be coming to Edinburgh 25th, 26th, 27th Aug at Meadowbank Sports Centre.  We have a full weekend of events planned in Edinburgh during our expo, apart from all the great fitness, health and wellbeing exhibitors at the event, we have a full schedule of workshops, classes and competitive events planned.

We have a wide range of workshops, events and exhibitors that are dedicated to the running community, the fitness expo have recently merged with The Running Show and offers a specific set of workshops and events for the running community over the weekend.

Meadowbank has an amazing history, having hosted the Commonwealth Games twice, we plan to recreate some amazing running events during the fitness expo weekend.  We would love you to share the news about the expo, with your runners, friends and family, and encourage participation.  Ticket sales are now open for the event www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk and registration for competitive events will be opening soon.  Currently we have planned a 1600, 800, 400 and 100 meter competitions, there will be more coming online shortly.

Below is a list of just some of the workshops and events taking place, please explore our website for full details, www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk 

Many thanks

The Fitness Expo

p: 020 3290 2271

www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk 

Details of events happening at the fitness expo.

Our Workshops Include:

- StrengthFirst

- Olympic Weightlifting

- Krav Maga Self Defence

- The Running Clinic

- Mindfull Running

- Desert Running

- PreHab / ReHab Clinic

- Trail Running

- Elite Body Coaching

- Footwear and Clothing

- Obstacle Course Running

- Nutrition For Training

- Callisthenics Body Weight Training

- MMA

- Parkour

- PT Hub

- My Yoga Coach

- Russian Kettlebell Training

- Fitness Career Hub

See website for a full list of workshops, www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk 

Group Events Include:

- HIIT BOX

- Groove Fitness

- Combat Fitness

- Fashion Show

- SpinNBurn

- Yoga

See website for a full list of workshops, www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk

 

Competitive Events:

- Battle Of The Bars Callisthenics - WCO

- Ultimate Ninja Warrior

- Ninja Warrior Kids

- Naturally Fit Body Show

- The Strong Man

- The Power Games

- The Throwdown

- Powerlifting

- The Jeep Pull

- Big Tyre Flip

- 1600 meter run

- 800 meter run

- 400 meter run

- 100 meter run

See website for a full list of workshops, www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk 

 

The After Party

As part of the final day, we will be hosting the fittest party in Edinburgh, we have invited Electric Festival www.electricfestival.co.uk who will be part a great event from 8pm till late, they have great DJ’s and some live artist planned for this event.  

See website for a full list of workshops, www.thefitnessexpo.co.uk

 

The Next Batch of Grand Prix Races

A few more of the Grand Prix race dates have now been set. See the list here.

Updated Details for Tuesday Nights

Revised membership fees for the Tuesday nights have now been set. See the poster or web site for details.

South Lanarkshire Sport & Leisure Strength and Conditioning Workshop

Kenny has passed on details of this workshop being held at the John Wright Sports Centre on 28th January (note this is the same day as the Masters XC for those doing that). If you are interested in going, please leave your name on this form (responses here). I understand that there has been limited interest in general but that SLC may reschedule an endurance running specific version of the workshop at an alternative time if there is sufficient interest. Note that as we are part of the Sports Hub, we will get the 50% discount making the cost £10 per person. The intention is that we will gather a list and pass this on to SLC rather than all phoning individually.

At the end of this month we have an excellent Club Development and Training opportunity in the town that very much fits in with the New Year Fitness craze!
This Strength and Conditioning workshop will look at the use of strength and conditioning programmes to enhance sporting performance. Learn about the exercises and programmes that can be used to develop a sports person’s power, strength, speed and agility.
Date                                                          Time                                      
Saturday 28th January 2017             10.00am- 1.00pm
John Wright Sports Centre                   Cost £20

This course offers a 50% discount for hub clubs (making the cost for this course £10 per person) and courses  can be booked by calling the following number;

Weekdays: 9.00am – 4.15pm 01698 476262.
Many thanks and I will be in contact soon with more hub opportunities. Of course if you require any support or have any questions about the workshop please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Kindest Regards,
Christopher McKenna
Community Sport Hub Programme Development Officer
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture
North Stand
Cadzow Avenue
Hamilton
ML3 0LX

DEVILS BURDEN RECCE

We now have a full team for the Devils Burden which is as follows.
Leg 1 Sandy Hayden
Leg 2 Jim Holmes / Kenny Leinster
Leg 3 Billy Buchanan / Gordon McInally
Leg 4 Chas Steven.

There will be a recce this Saturday 14th leaving the club at 8am

All welcome to come along even those not taking part in the event.

THE RESCHEDULED GLASGOW UNI 5 MILE ROAD RACE

Dear Clubs

The postponed Glasgow University 5 Mile Road Race will now be held on Saturday the 18th February 2017 at Garscube Sports Complex, with the race now starting at 11am. 

Please note the altered start time, with the race now being held in the morning instead of the the afternoon. Registration will be inside the Sports Complex from 9.30 - 10.40am. Changing facilities / showers are available.

Entries have now been reopened at entrycentral.com/5mileroadrace till the 15th February. Entries will also be available at registration on the day subject to the race limit of 300 entrants. Entry is £7 for SA members, £9 unaffiliated. Participants must be 16 years or older on the day of the race.

All existing entries for the postponed November race will be automatically transferred to the new date. The existing entries will not appear on EntryCentral, however please be assured all entrants to the postponed race are still entered in the race. Alternatively, all entrants to the postponed race are entitled to request a refund instead. Anyone wishing to receive a refund and withdraw from the race should contact: treasurer-handh@gusa.gla.ac.uk

The course follows an undulating 2 lap course around Garscube and the surrounding area. The course has been officially measured as 5 miles. A course map along with previous results is available at haresandhounds.com/race

Following the race the prizegiving will be held within the Sports Complex. Tea, Coffee and cakes will also be on offer.

It would be greatly appreciated If you could promote the race within your club. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me.

Many thanks,

Alastair Thurlbeck,
Club Captain

Glasgow University Hares and Hounds
Stevenson Building, Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8LT
haresandhounds.com

SVHC ROAD RELAYS (STRATHCLYDE PARK)

This years Masters road relay will be held on Sunday 22nd Jan in Strathclyde Park.
This is for Men and Women 35+ and is one lap of the loch each.
Start time is 11.00 am
Cost is £5 per head and should be paid in advance.
I need names by Thursday 12th Jan.
If you wish entered in this please leave your name HERE.
Those already registered are listed HERE.

DEVILS BURDEN ( FALKLAND FIFE )

WE STILL REQUIRE 2 MORE TO COMPLETE A TEAM (REQUIRED TONIGHT)
This years Devils Burden relay will be held on Saturday 21st Jan.
4 legs over 35k with 2 legs run in pairs (6 per team )
Cost is £7 per head and should be paid in advance.
I need names by Thursday 12th Jan.
If you wish entered please leave your name HERE.
Those already registered are listed HERE.

MASTERS XC CHAMPIONSHIP (DUNDEE)

The Masters XC championship will be held in Dundee on Saturday 28th Jan.
Women 40+ and Men 65+ will race over 6K with Men 40+ racing over 8K.
Start times are Women and M65 at 13.00 and M40+ at 13.45.
Cost is £6.50 and should be paid in advance.
I need names by Thursday 12th Jan.
If you wish entered please leave your name HERE.
Those already registered are listed HERE.

Probably Golf Course Tonight

Looks like there may be enough snowcover and a near full moon for the golf course tonight. Bring road and off road footwear just in case.
Alan

Richard Lawton hits 50

....and no this is not my age or new age category. I completed my 50th Parkrun on Saturday 7th January at Strathclyde Park in a time of 22:49. My parkrun stats show I have done 23 at Pollok Park, 17 at Strathclyde Park, 8 at Victoria Park and 2 at Tollcross Park. So now need to wait to claim my 50th Parkrun t-shirt.  I am now in the 50 Parkrun club with Julie Beveridge but a long way to go to catch up with John McBride and Russell Couper who are in the 100 Parkrun club.

Richard

Training Monday 9th January

The session tomorrow is on the road. As noted in the original Bramcumhall post, the first session was on 26th September and fortnightly thereafter unless advised otherwise, so we are sticking to that schedule until the National XC in Falkirk. Mark it in your calendars!
Alan

Sports Massage Therapy Price Increase

Grant McLullich, sports massage therapist at the Treatment Hub in Hamilton, has been in touch to advise that there is a price increase with immediate effect.

Standard price: £35/session
Calderglen Harriers member price: £30/session.

Alan

Callander Crags Race

Geo Ferguson starts to descend

After several years of very complex forestry work to clear up the devastation of one of our all too frequent storms, the first Callander Crags Race since 2013 took place on Hogmany. This was the 30th running of the Winter race in its current format (although the history of the race goes back even further in less formal terms and I certainly ran the race several times as a schoolboy which was definitely more than 30 years ago!).

In a funny sort of way I had missed the race over the past 3 years and even more so the regular training runs up the Crags which develop a certain physical and mental strength. However, having jogged down to the start in heavy rain with the top of the Crags invisible in the low cloud, I could see this race far enough. I was pleased to see that Frances and Geo had made it through to run and also that one of our juniors, Kai Wheeler was also there, all looking a lot more enthusiastic than I felt (all first timers for this route whereas I knew all too well what was to come!).

Soon there were over 100 runners of all ages lined up at the end of the path leading to the hill 50m further on. Race organiser, Alistair Johnston, made his usual comedy briefing from atop a fence post, casually waving his starter's pistol around for effect, emphasising that the main aim was to enjoy ourselves and then fired the gun to set us off. I had squeezed up to the front as it narrows to a single file path after the first 50m and climbs very steeply indeed. There were many young, specialised hill runners here and so I had no thoughts of going with them but did want to have a clear run on the hill. As always some went too fast at the start and I passed them one by one throughout the first three quarters of the 800 foot climb. In the final quarter of the ascent, the hill becomes more exposed and was extremely cut up and muddy with bigger step ups which did not suit my short legs and weak ankles and I lost a few places here heading towards the cairn. I usually expect to be strong to the cairn at the top but to lose out over the next quqrter mile descent across very rough and steep moorland. This turned out to be so and I lost a few more places as I did my best impression of an accident waiting to happen on the rough descent. However, I knew that when we hit the tarmac road and the forest trail for the final mile and a half descent I would fly again.

Alan reaching the top with a target to catch

As soon as I jumped onto the road, I took off and quickly passed many. When we turned sharp right into the forest, only the leading lady was still visible (she had passed me on the rough bit) and catchable, providing a good target. I felt fantastic flying through the forest and was soon ahead and clear. My Garmin shows that I was running at sub-3 minutes per km throughout the descent which was why it felt so exhilarating. There's nothing like a bit of gravity assistance to make you feel fast again! I crossed the line in 28:55, only 2 seconds faster than 3 years ago although many, many minutes down on my fastest times over the past 30 years. I was 12th overall but only 5th M50 in the provisional results (although that could change in the final results as the rain was causing severe problems for the recorders; Geo was shown as being ahead of me in the first set of very, very provisional results). Next Harrier in, having thoroughly enjoyed himself was Geo, crossing the line in 37:45. Frances had accompanied young Kai all the way around and in the true Harriers' spirit, he sprinted away from her in the final 50m to cross the line in 40:50 with Frances just behind in 40:51.

Kai leads Frances

Geo and I then jogged the mile to the sports centre for the free showers and copious cakes, sandwiches and sherry at the prize giving. This was a thoroughly enjoyable return to an old favourite, despite the weather. There most likely will be a summer edition some Wednesday evening in June, so watch this space. There are no guarantees that the weather will be better in June though; welcome to the Callander micro-climate!

Photos of most of the field at the top of the climb are here.

Alan

Frances at the top