Hidden Glen 10k Race Report

So back in September/October I think it was Kirsty who said on facebook that the hidden glen 10k would be open for entry soon and you would have to be quick to get a space. I remembered seeing a photo of Sandy and Kirsty after the last one in the sunshine with a beer and thinking that looks good so I set an alarm to remind me to get on the computer for the race places opening up.
When it came to making arrangements to drive up there I started thinking why did I enter a race so far away. Google maps said it was a 90 minute drive - generally if a race is over 40 minutes away I class it as too far!!
Race day came and Davie W and Sandy met me at mine nice and early at 9am to set off for the race. Kirsty had warned us it was a long, slow, windy road in. We got there nice and early about 10.30ish for the 12pm race start. This gave us plenty of time to collect our t-shirts, warm up etc. We met Callum, Kirsty, Kirsty's parents and Winston the dog as soon as we got into the barn. Me, Kirsty and Sandy were all pleased with the race t-shirt colour - pink. Davie was pleased that he had opted not to pay the extra for it.
We also met Phil & Liz and Paul & Tanya before the race started.
The race went off in waves, the first wave being under 45 minutes. We tried to talk Callum into going in that wave but he wasn't having it. The next wave was under 55 minutes and me, Kirsty, Davie & Callum all set off in that wave. Sandy had made a last minute trip to the toilet and ended up in the last wave due to the queue.
I decided just to try and stick quite close to Kirsty and Davie. The first 2k is out and back along an undulating road, the first 1k more up than down and opposite on the way back. On the way back I came past Davie on a downhill section as I've been learning to let myself go and not hold back too much on the downhill.
The next 4k was pretty much uphill, you had to run through a pretty wide stream so after that I decided there was no point in running round puddles just to go straight through them sticking to the middle, tho there was one puddle which was knee deep that I avoided on the way back. I managed to overtake a few people who were going round the puddles and best of all I managed to pull away from the heavy breather who grunted with every breath.
I could see Kirsty ahead of me on the long drag up and I was slowly catching her, I had to walk at one point but ran again when it flattened out before it went up again. Tehre was a piper at the turning point and it was a welcome sound to hear him and know there wasn't much more of the hill left. I caught Kirsty at the turning point and pushed on down the hill. The last 4k was pretty much all downhill and I really loved running down it to the finish.  This section really made the first 6k worth it. I finished in 45th position (15th female), in a time of 51:11.
Callum was first harrier home in a brilliant 21st position in a time of 47:25, next home was me (Alison), quickly followed by Kirsty in 52:02, and Paul not long after in a time of 54:12, Davie was next home (his marathons finally catching up with him) in a time of 58:35 and then Sandy, although with Sandy starting at the back she had a quicker chip time of 57:51. Phil and his wife Liz ran round together and both finished in a time of 82:00. Pauls wife Tanya also ran and finished in 72:37.
Everybody was pretty wet and freezing so we all got changed and got our free pint/juice before heading off.
Overall it was a well organised event - worth the drive and I would do it again. The route started and finished on the road with the middle section on forest road. I was glad I opted for trail over road shoes. There was 409 finishers and the winner was Matthew Sutherland from Central AC who finished in a time of 36:05 almost 4 minutes clear of 2nd place!
Thanks to Kirsty parents for coming to support and stand waiting in the pouring rain for us all to finish.

Alison

GRAND PRIX VICTORIA PARK

As I wont be at Victoria Park this weekend will someone who is going take note of any jokers that are played and pass them to me so I can collate the total together after all the runs are completed over the next 3 weekends.

Russell

MEMBERSHIP FEES

We are now approaching the end of April and many Harriers have paid all their fees or are making regular payments through the bank.
Unfortunately there are many who have paid very little or nothing towards their fees and I would ask that those in that position bring their membership up to date in the next few weeks.
Anyone who is having difficulty with this then please speak to me directly as im sure we can work out a plan to bring you up to date. I have no desire to embarrass anyone by asking so please speak to me if theres a problem.

Russell

Grand Prix - Victoria Park parkrun Expanded!

So I contacted the organisers of that wee race down in London on Sunday 28th April to see if they were up for moving it to another weekend as we had a Grand Prix event at Victoria Park parkrun the day before and one of our key Grand Prix challengers was not able to do both. Anyway, that was a negative, so instead, I have added a third weekend of Victoria Park options. As before, only one of these parkruns will count towards the GP and it will be the first one you do that counts a), b) or c).

The options are:
a) 27th April
b) 4th May
c) 11th May

Alan

Wooed and Seduced – again!

Yir man Mearns should be a politician – defo!

You’ll remember in my last journaled ramblings of how he’d enticed me in to running (well at entering, at least) a marathon – well he’s been at it again, all for a good cause I must mention.

A good while back he’d asked me if I wanted “a wee role” at our Trail Running Festival. I quite like stuff like that so aye, I replied, I’d be up for that. How about taking on a race – no problem.

Facebook Messenger da da da!

“Morning everyone, how about a wee Trail Committee meeting Saturday 20th, 10am.”

The night before;

“Evening Martin, how do you fancy a Parkrun ahead of our Trail meeting.”

“Funny I was just thinking the same thing – yip good for that but come pick me up, having a barby, there’ll be drinking involved.”

“See you at 9”

Going about my morning pre-run routine a bit blurred and with a nagging thump in my frontal lobe, t’was a good barby, nine o’clock crept up on me from nowhere. Jim at the door, we gingerly made our way to the Strathclyde Parkrun, getting there with no time to spare to give any warm-up a slice of respect. 

Lining up at the front like the elites we are, it was good to see a few other of our Harriers there too. Davie Wardrope, there with his daughter Rachel, Richard Lawton, Kay Conneff primed like a coiled spring for her upcoming marathon, Stuart Gibson, fresh from his track 10k at Crownpoint the night before, Stephen Phimister (aw naw – that means trouble), hill and fell runner extraordinaire, Mark Wheeler, my old mate and marathon legend Ian Birch and a few other running pals all out on a beautiful morning to take on the Lochside paths and the clouds of flying insects, a mouthful of which would have surely choked you!

Bang went the gun (or rather, the guy in charge shouted GO) and we were away like the Greyhounds at Shawfield chasing a tin of Chum, albeit momentarily. Jim went off so quickly he soon disappeared in the masses of sprint starters – ooft, I thought, the Pinot Noir has finally caught up with me.

“Morning auld yin” surely not directed at me? Phimi was alongside me, cheeky so and so!

The pace was blistering, Jim was leading our bunch, I looked at the watch, 5.40 m/m it told me, this is ridiculous, bloody hell never knew my Saucony’s were able to go that fast – far less with me in them!

Neck and neck me and SP were jockeying for position – don’t see that very often, he lied! Through 1k, we saw Jim walking at the side of the course “Felt a twinge” he hollered and waved us on our way. He has a busy season of big events lined up and so sprinting off at a Parkrun was probably not the wisest thing to have contemplated. Anyway, as it transpired his morning wasn’t a write off by any means.

Round by the trees, a mile done (6.10), the pace beginning to feel alien to me (you need to remember all of the Marathon training prep – I never done!) so speed only happens to me when I’m driving my car these days. SP is keeping the pressure on, I need a break, he’s relentless, I still need a break – that’s it, I’m coming off the gas, I’ll crash and burn if I try to keep this going. Half thinking that Phimi would take the opportunity to catch a breather too he swooshed past me, me conceding it was to be his day.

Approaching the turn, I saw the front runners heading back with Stuart in third place and looking very comfortable – almost effortless in fact. He went on to complete in third with a time of 16.28.

I stoated on trying to keep the speed up but the felt the pace slipping and the splits really back that up; 6.12, 6.24, 6.47. All starting with 6 all the same so not slouching too much.

As you all know the run in to the end at Strathclyde feels like it goes on for 50 miles. The finish line starts as a dot on the distant horizon. They’ve even moved it back a bit further these days. Trying to stay motivated, blawin’ oot yir bahooky is sometimes a big ask and especially when you’ve a wee whipper snapper breathing over your shoulder.

Anyway, the finish line beckoned and I crossed it, stopped the watch and it read 19.59.9. YES, sub 20! On the back of all that Marathon training I didn’t do.

Nah – no such fortune, Connect rounded me up to 20.00.00. Bloody hell – mind games or what! Going in the right direction though.

Phimi did manage to prevail on the day coming home in an impressive 19.32, edging his recent other 5k outing at the Scally (19.46) and looking good for an impressive season. He and I, it turns out, have the exact same PB on this course of 19.00.00. Long season it is though and old adversaries will for sure be on the hunt! Wonder who that could be?

Then me and then next home the previously seen “walking it” Jim Mearns. Somehow, he managed to administer some swift rubbing action to the sore bit and get on his way again not least passing three of the aforementioned runners in the process to come home in a really solid 21.22. No bad for having stopped off for cheese sandwich and a glass of apple juice!
Next home was Davie Wardrope looking steady and familiarly unfazed in a brilliant time of 21.42, less than a minute away from his course PB and an admirable burst of pacy running given that he has been concentrating on the long stuff this year. Rachel, his daughter ran home in an impressive 24.15, again less than a minute away from her PB.

Then a battle to the line between Kay and Richard with Kay prevailing at 21.50 with Richard literally two paces behind and crossing in 21.52 only 9 seconds behind his course record – I’d blame the heat and the beasties Richard!

Mark Wheeler was just behind me at 20.07 and looking strong and Marathon Man, Ian Birch was ahead of me and running to a new 4-year course PB of 19.42.

Strathclyde Parkrun, when I first started going about 4 years ago had a regular 250 weekly runners. Today there were 457 registered finishers and I believe both Pollok and Victoria are reporting similar growth. Great for our wee past-time but massive pressure on the teams of volunteers that turn up week after week in all weathers to provide this absolutely brilliant event free of charge and without overly prohibitive rules and regulations – I take my hat off to them.
Martin

JUST A GENTLE CLIMB!

On Saturday I took a little trip down to Castle Douglas at the borders for the Screel Hill race. After a lovely drive optimism was high, despite the recent time off ill. The race was just outside a small, I mean very small village called Palnackie. It made Auldhouse seem like a giant town. Once arrived, parked and the usual administration of race numbers and safety pins I took a little course preview out to discover there was rather a lot of climbing. Warm-up complete, I was exhausted wondering how I was going to raise the game for the race. Screel Hill race is usually a rather insignificant race in the Scottish hill racing calendar with a year on year attendance of around 40-50 bit this year was different it was hosting the west district hill championships. As faces gathered for the start I was multiplying that 50 by 4. As the gun fired 290 souls hared up around the first bend and up the landrover track like it was the last 50m of an Olympic final.

Crossing a road before climbing steadily up a gravel trail to a pine forestry at this point I was surprised how well I was climbing through the forestry and up to a crag section, the power walking soon began followed by a short scramble to the summit top. Just as I thought the painful climb was over there was sure more to come. A bog trot followed to the summit of Screel Hill. A brief moment to catch breath before what I thought was the defend to the finish. A technical loose rock descend followed before rejoining the forestry track. I told myself before the race ‘ be careful and whatever you do don’t fall’ and so far this was going to plan. Next a sharp left bend and the shock of a sheer rock climb back to reach the thin ledge under Screel summit. As in the words of the man behind me 'oh crap’.

A steady descend followed back through the pine forestry to the trail leading to the finish. Exhausted, but still in one piece I crossed the finish line in 37.05. Winner was Alexander Cheplin of Edinburgh University H and H’s in a new course record of 26.47. Now I realise just how much the illness had taken out of me and the improvement that still needs to be made. I finished in 89th place out of 287 finishers, not too bad for a relative hill racing novice. I would certainly only recommend  the race if you have prior hill experience as first timers could find the spectacle daunting. I certainly enjoyed the race thoroughly and will be racing on the hills regularly hoping to improve further. Recovery was spent in the village of Palnackie, a great fish and chips from the Glen Isle inn and we weren’t the only hill runners there that day.

Chris

GOOD TIMES HAD BY ALL IN GRANGEMOUTH

A recreation of the  2018-19 Grand Prix's possibly defining moment

Today was the Round The Houses 10k in Grangemouth. With a few Harriers having to call off we had 5 Ladies and 6 Men turn up to run. a bit of a scare as the Jokers were declared as Alison Lessells let me know she may not run as she suspects she may have broke a toe and would decide after a warm up. She went to the Physio that they had at registration who suggested it was just badly bruised and strapped it up.

The mass start - spot the Harriers

Before the 10k we had another event, the 2k with Ben and Sophie Buchanan lining up. I don't have official times but Ben ran about 7 mins with Sophie running about 10 mins. That's another couple of Juniors too fast for me. Well done Ben and Sophie.

Andy paces the start well.

So onto the 10k and we all lined up on the start and we were soon off. My plan was to try and have a flyer as my last hard run before London. Andy Buchanan started in front of me with Julie Beveridge, Richard Lawton, Ian Hughes and Jim Holmes alongside me, Off round the track and I made no attempt to stay with them but still running fast for me. As we left the track Alison came past then Lorraine Buchanan. This takes us down the long straight parallel to the old start and into the little wind there was. It wasn't too bad as Grangemouth over the years has sometimes been very windy but I would say it had a small effect. Left turn and heading towards town and along here is where the course changes from old as you take another left up a street into a park just after 2 miles. At this point Lorraine was about 30 metres in front of me as I was still pushing hard and it would remain this way till we got to the side of the stadium at 7k then the wheels came off a bit but not too much. Down the long straight again into the wind to the turning point and when you get to see whos chasing you. Oh no Julie Thomson and Morgan Beaton are about 10 mts behind me and theres Gordon McInally about another 20mts back and im hurting.

Julie stretches Ian.

Got about half way back up the straight to the stadium and Morgan and Julie come past. Must try and stick with them but alas I couldn't but not falling away rapidly so got to keep it strong as Gordon is coming. Back to the stadium and the other change to the old course as you turn away into the park at the back of the stadium and thru 9k.

Morgan just past 6k on the way to a PB

As you turn for the last time to head back I caught Gordon out the corner of my eye about 15 mts behind so big push needed as Lorraine, Morgan and Julie are also still in sight. Going round the outside path of the track with about 200 mts to go and Gordons passing me. Im not havin it and push again to pull away and onto the track in front. Ive made my push has Gordon got any more alas he has and he duly passed me on the track. I crossed the line in 50.28 (chip time as will all the others be) and my fastest 10k since 2010 so pleased with that. Andrew was first Harrier home today and a better run than he had at the Tom Scott running 38.51. Ian Hughes had a good run too with 40.33 and not far in front of our first Lady Julie Beveridge in 40.42. Bit of a gap before our closest finish of the day with Richard and Jim crossing the line together in the same chip and gun time. Down to the stewards to separate them so over to the van and Richard first to see with 45.01 and 271st, then Jim's turn 45.01 and 272nd (Richard wins).

Give me 5 Mum! Lorraine brings her own supporters

Alison with definitely not a broken toe must have had them in sight crossing the line in 45.30. Next in was Lorraine with a new PB and 8.10 faster than last years time with 49.26 then Morgan also with a new PB and first sub 50 min in 49.55. Julie Thomson had let Morgan get away from her in the end crossing the line in 50.04 and a new PB by 33secs. Although Gordon and I finished close his chip time was 12 secs faster than me with 50.16. Almost perfect weather today and a well organised event. Thanks to Frances and Alan for coming along to support and take pictures its much appreciated.
I'm sure pictures will be added when available.

The photo albums from Frances and Alan.

Another Calderglen grandstand finish!