Thursday's run is a short easy run starting at 7pm to be back in time for the AGM at 8:15. The run is down the lane past Collonsay field, Mull, High Common Rd, St Leonards Rd, turning right into Tewkesbury Rd and following that road all the way around as it becomes Bosworth Rd and eventually joins on to Maxwellton Rd again. Turn right up to Calderwood Square. At Calderwood Square turn left and run back to the club past the John Wright.
Alan
Continuing the easy, recovery week, Thursday's run is a medium length run at an easy pace. The route is Strathaven Rd to Churchill Avenue and along West Mains Rd as far as Stewartfield Rd. Up the lane parallel to Stewartfield Rd and then turn right at the top along Stewartfield Crescent. Turn right at the roundabout at the Heritage Loch along to the Kingsgate and back up the Kingsway via the Whirlies to the club. Keep the pace easy throughout.
Alan
Not surprisingly, after an impressive turn out from the Harriers at Brampton, Monday is a post-race recovery run. These recovery runs are important to ease off the muscles and make the return to training easier next week (this week will be only easy runs).
The run is Queensway, West Mains Rd, past the railway station, Lidl and up Churchill Avenue back to the club. Nice and conversational.
Alan
After a lot of work from others the West District XC league is about to start.
Details are still a bit sketchy like all things new and i cant tell you how it scores or details like that. There will be 3 races the first of which is this Saturday 19th November. I know a lot of us are going to Brampton this weekend but for those not running Brampton if you want a XC race on Saturday heres the details.
Everyone from the club wears the same number (17) and will be followed by a Suffix (M) or (F) so 17M or 17F. We have to supply our own numbers and with the short notice we dont have these yet so you will have to use a blank back of an old number and mark clearly with a marker pen 17M or 17F. No need to pre register you just turn up and run with the club number on.
One rule that must be adhered to is you must be a member of Scottish Athletics.
This Saturdays race is at Kirkland park in Strathaven and is just over 7k.
Start time is 14.00 and Male and Female race together.
Any questions i will be glad to try and answer so drop me a message.
Russell
This week is a taper towards Brampton. It is not possible to make yourself fitter for Brampton at this late stage but it is possible to blow it by burning yourself out working too hard. Therefore pay very careful attention to the session pace.
The session is 8 x 400m with 2 minutes recovery at Langlands Place. The 400's should be at 10k pace which is only very slightly faster than 10 mile race pace. Enough Harriers have run 10k's recently to know very accurately what your current 10k pace is, so do try to pace accurately and consistently.
Warm-up and cool-down via the usual Strathaven Rd/Sainsbury's route.
Alan
Thursday's session is another threshold but less structured than Monday's session. It is the session we did 4 weeks ago using the 4 Hills course and making a threshold effort up the hills (Market Hill, Glenburn Rd, Dunedin, Westwood Hill, Lickprivick) and running easy to steady between the hills. Particularly in the latter few miles of Brampton, there are a few testing hills for which the strength and confidence to hold your race pace whilst going up them will take you away from those around you.
Alan
(Scottish Athletics videos added at the end of the post)
Every year it seems that championship cross country races in Scotland have record entries, a fact that is reflected in the steady stream of Scottish athletes who are excelling on the international scene, all of whom have competed as juniors and seniors in these championships in years gone by. The future continues to look bright for Scottish Athletics as this year once again saw record fields in the men's and ladies' 4km races in Kirkcaldy. Despite the heavy rain during the morning, conditions remained dry for the senior races and this relatively flat, parkland course held up well to the hundreds of feet pounding it through the various age group races. The Harriers had a good representation in both the ladies' and men's events, with several first timers and even a prodigal son returning to the amber and black stripes.
The gaps between the Harriers were just as close in the men's race. Behind Andrew, Duncan McKellar again demonstrated strong cross-country form, finishing in 15:02, closely followed by Gerry Connelly, who had been the leading Harrier on the first lap, in 15:04. As far as I can tell, this was Gerry's first Grand Prix race in a Harriers' vest since the Grangemouth 10k in March 2013, having been working in Stornaway for a decade or so. Welcome back! Kevin Farmer had another well paced race, finishing in 15:24. After a bit of a gap, another closely contested Harriers' battle was won by Jim Holmes in 17:03, with Jason Grant on his tail in 17:22. The rapidly improving Gordon McInally was another twenty or so seconds behind in 17:47, which made this Gordon's fastest paced cross-country race ever. Then we had David Wardrope in 18:15 and Kenny Leinster in 18:43. Both David and Kenny's training is restricted due to injuries but this relatively benign course should not have made those injuries worse, I hope. Finally, Russell Couper finished in 20:54, making this his fasters XC race of the season by a long way.
After all of that, Duncan McKellar hangs on to a slender lead in both the Grand Prix and the Club Championship. Well done to all on some very fine racing.
Photos of all the Harriers in action are in this album.
Scottish Athletics videos:
Senior Women (Harriers to the fore at 1:50 and 6:50)
Senior Men (Harriers prominent 15 seconds in and sporadically throughout)
Alan
As mentioned in Russell's post below, the Harriers Christmas Dinner will be on 7th January at Carrigans. To give an indication of numbers, please leave your name and expected number of guests using this form.
At least 2 weeks before the dinner, please make your menu choice using this form. Refer to this menu for details of each course (on completing the menu choice form, you will automatically be e-mailed your choice).
Eddie can provide further details.
Alan
Christmas Fun run: Sunday 11th December. Seniors starting at 11am. Fancy dress is the order of the day for this one. A run of just under 4 miles. The better the fancy dress the better your handicap
Christmas pub run will take place on Friday 30th December starting at 6pm. A social run taking in some of our local pubs with a drink in each one ( doesnt have to be alcoholic ) with a wee trip to Auldhouse so a light would be handy. Finishing at the Sports club where we can relax the night away.
Christmas Party night to take place on Saturday 7th January 2023. This will be a 3 course meal at Carrigans. The cost will be £21.00 p/h. £10.00 deposit to secure place ( please pay to Eddie ). The venue is booked for 50 people. Eddie to supply menu for choices later and choices to be made in advance.
Tomorrows race in Kirkcaldy starts at 13.30 for the Ladies and 14.00 for the Men.
Some are leaving from the club at 11.00 for anyone wishing to car share.
I would like everyone there for 12.30 so we can get the tent up and distribute the numbers before warm ups and the ladies race.
I will collect all the numbers so if anyone is not going to make it let me know as soon as possible.
Those running are J Pechlof, A Lessells, J Thomson, L Buchanan, F Ferguson, R Couper, J Grant, A Buchanan, D Wardrope, G McInally, D McKellar, K Farmer, K Leinster, G Connelly and J Holmes.
Russell
This years West district xc will take place in Kilmarnock on Saturday 3rd December.
Ladies start at 13.15 and men at 14.15. 8.5k straight race
Cost is £8 each and should be paid in advance.
Please make sure your Scottish Athletics membership is up to date.
I need names by Monday 14th November
If you wish entered please leave your name HERE. Those already registered are HERE.
Thursday's session is a lighter sharpener ahead of the weekend race. The session is at Langlands Place and consists of 2 sets of 4 x 300m at 3k race pace with 100m jog recovery after each rep (i.e. jog to the end of the 400m straight) and 300m jog between sets (i.e. turn around and jog back to where you started the 4th rep.
Take the usual warm-up to and cool down from Langlands Place, via Strathaven Rd and Sainsburys.
Alan
