All the nines.................and a new plan too...

It was all the nines last week as I completed my ninth week of Marathon training.  I ran my 99th parkrun and I ran my longest run, 19miles.  I should also have ran 9miles at race pace on Friday but work interfered with my training plans and I forgot to check my schedule before doing my10mile run at race pace instead.

99th parkrun

Despite the temptation to get involved in a race, I managed to discipline myself and kept my 99th parkrun pace steady throughout the undulating 5k.  It was still good for the confidence though, as a number of those around me faded in the latter part of the event, resulting in me placing 72nd out of 363 finishers, in a time of 22:24.  It would have been a good day to race, with perfect conditiions and lots of runners about my level too.  It was a successful day for Pamela Joss and Sarah Whalen, who both celebrated their 50th parkruns by achieving PBs.  Well done to both of you.  Alexander Laughlan also clocked up his 50th parkrun but no PB.

I'll be doing my 100th on Saturday and I won't be chasing a PB, that can wait for another day.  However there'll be cake and chocolates at the Burrell Cafe after the run, so please feel free to come and join me.

Full Results


Nineteen Miles

I managed my longest run, in a long, long time when I ran around Pollok and Bellahouston Parks three times on Sunday morning.  19miles in all.  I met a few running buddies on the way and enjoyed the company of my new cordless Sony Walkman too.  I've never ran with an MP3, i-pod, tape or even a stereogram but I thought it might keep my mind from wandering off into negative thoughts.  It may have worked but even with my energy drink and in good spirits, I'm afraid that there was no convincing my old legs that everything was fine and they became more tired, stiff and sore as I took on the latter miles.

My legs were still stiff and sore as I put them through a 10mile run on Monday, albeit on the treadmill, before cycling along to Embody for my, now weekly, massage.  Is there such a thing as good pain?


Nine Weeks to Go
With the previous nine weeks having taken their toll on my legs and on my enthusiasm for running, it was time to review my training schedule, which although I had been sticking to it rigidly, just wasn't working for me.

New Plan
I've therefore decided to replace it with another plan which has a rest day after the long run and which even includes the parkrun as an option on some Saturdays.  Unfortunately not this week though.  A three mile run in 27mins is the schedule and yes, of course, I'll run the parkrun instead, just even slower than usual.
Let's hope that the refreshing of my training will help me through the next few weeks and bring back some of the love that I have for the sport.  Of course you can help too by making a donation to charity in memory of my sister who died of Motor Neurone Disease.


May All Your Miles be Happy Ones!

Glasgow parkrun #161 Slideshow

Glasgow parkrun #161 Slideshow

Historic Saturday..... in more ways than one!

My VLM training schedule for last week included:

Monday: 8miles

Tuesday: 4miles

Wednesday: Track Session 6x800m @Bella Velodrome

Thursday: Rest

Friday: 3miles

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: Half Marathon @Steady State Pace

Stuart MacDougall Leads From the Front

This was the first Saturday that I’ve not run since November, although I still popped along to Pollok Park to take some photos of the local parkrun and to see Claire Couper win her third race in successive weeks in the west of Scotland, a happy hunting ground for her indeed.  Claire ran a course PB of 19:11 and placed 10^th overall.  A determined Stuart MacDougall, celebrated his 50^th parkrun by leading from the start, to win the men's race in a time of 17:57.

Winning Wave

Full Results

My Pics

 I celebrated Kilmarnock FC’s historic victory at Ibrox with a couple of glasses of wine on Saturday night and I admit that I had difficulty in finding my mojo on Sunday morning.  I eventually made my way to Pollok Park at around 11:30 and after a wee warm up I increased my pace and ran through Pollok Park anti clockwise.  I had thought about running in the Kinloss to Lossiemouth Half Marathon, where apparently a tail wind helped the runners to good times.  Instead I settled for a similar route to last week and completed a couple of extended laps around Pollok and Bellahouston Parks.  I struggled to reach my targeted pace and slowed a bit near the end but all in all my time of 1:44:45 was about right for a Steady State training schedule.  As a reward, my schedule increased my Monday run from 8 to 9miles.  A sports massage on those sore legs of mine was well overdue, it’s been years since my last one, so I cycled along to Embody for an hour of painful treatment before heading home in the dark, wet and rain.   

10 Done...10 to Go.......

I was a wee bit suprised to discover that my training schedule rewarded my 16.2 mile long run last Sunday with an 8mile run on the Monday!  I was expecting a wee 3mile recovery run!!  I did get a wee 4mile one on Tuesday though; a 30min Tempo run on Wednesday and a rest on Thursday.  Another 8mile run on Friday and I was ready for my 4mile run on Saturday.  

My 10th Strathclyde parkrun

When the gorgeous Couper Twins, Claire and Louise, told me that they were coming down to Hamilton on Saturday and would be taking in the Strathclyde parkrun I, of course, agreed to join them.  I was feeling good as I made my way to the lochside location and, after a warm up, I joined with 150 others for the free 5k.  



Claire Couper

With little if any adieu the bumper turnout were set on our way at 9:30am.  It was cold and a bit windy too but I decided to run with just my shorts and a vest on.  I settled into my pace as Claire shot off towards the front of the pack.  I was a bit surprised to find that, regular Edinburgh parkrunner, John McGlynn was on my shoulder.  I glanced at my Garmin as we reached the 1k marker to discover that we were running at 4:12min/k.  I was happy enough with thatnbut noticed that John dropped off the pace a bit, perhaps saving something for his testing 12.5k race on Sunday.  A beep of my Garmin, indicating 6:52, confused me until I remembered that I changed the laps from kilometres to miles.  The organisers had chosen to use the alternative route this week and I kept to my task until reaching the turn around point, where I increased the pace a little.  A caught a runner after a few metres but then found that there was someone pushing me on.  It took him a while but a gut in a yellow top eventually overtook me and slowly opened up a gap.  Garmin beeped to reveal a 7:08min/mile. "Not good enough" I thought and I made chase after 'yellow vest' (Iain Crawford).  I managed to catch him and was happy to sit in just behind him for a while but I noticed that he was slowing, so with about half a mile to go, I overtook him and, keeping up my pace, caught another runner (Pat Smith) before crosing the line in 29th place with an, initially dissapointing, time of 21:54.

I say dissapointing because I know that I could run faster but I was holding myself back for my planned 17mile run on Sunday.  I was hoping to get a Seasonal Best though and I did, by some 22secs.  After a warmdown back to the cafe and a quick change, I joined the Coupers and a few of the regulars for a coffee and a bacon roll, courtesy of the women's race runner.  Claire had run a new course PB of 18:23 and had placed 4th overall.  Julie Beveridge also ran a PB to place 2nd in the women's race in 20:09, with Jill Logan placing 3rd in 20:51.  In the men's race, Steven Lawley was streets ahead finishing 102 seconds in front of his nearest challenger, in a new PB of 16:32.  Anthony Edgar beat his brothers, sisters, father and almost everyone else to place second in 18:14, with Hamilton's Neil Robbins completing his 40th parkrun in a time of 18:19, to place 3rd.

Louise had placed 9th in the women's event in 23:45.

Although it was only my 10th Strathclyde parkrun, the regulars always make me feel very much at home and I always enjoy participating in the event.  The free coffee and bacon roll, was just the icing in the cake.

I'll Drink to Running





NDA @Sammies

As the hours passed away, I started to think about my regular Saturday nights out which I had missed for a few weeks now as training took precedence.  However a quick poll on Facebook showed that there was significant support for me going to the pub AND doing my long run.  I enjoyed my night at Sammies, there was a new band and a few new faces too.  A good night's sleep, a bowl of porridge and I was rteady for my long run.  With my Garmin playing up, I had sketched out a route of three figure of eights around Pollok and Bellahouston Parks, which meat that I could park at Cartha RFC and have regular access to my supply of sports drinks and jelly babies without having to carry them.   I saw Carole Spy and her friends entering Pollok Park as I parked my car.  Jimmy Irvine was doing his usual run on the grass to protect his joints as I started off along Dumbreck Road. I continued onto Haggs Road and towards Pollokshaws Road.  I met Eleanor O'Rourke running in the opposite direction. "Didn't you go to the pub then" she asked.  "I did indeed" I replied.  Although "I'm Proud to be an Ayrshire Atheist"   the Calvanist in the Scottish Psyche required me to pay for last night's sins.......

I continued along on to Pollokshaws Road, where a right turn took me into Pollok Park, along the riverside walk, past the House and Lochinch and I was soon running past my car, a couple of left turns and I was making my way along Mosspark Boulevard.  A right turn down Corkerhill Road took me onto Paisley Road West, where I headed east and then took a right back onto Dumbreck Road and back to the car for a refuel.

It was a good morning for a run. I ran the second lap anti clockwise to freshen things up a little.  The slow release carbohydrates from the porridge, boosted by the sports drink and jelly babies kept me both physically and mentally strong but there was no getting away from the fact that my legs were beginning to tire and ache.  However I kept to my task and completed my run, with a slightly faster pace than last week's.  A warmdown walk back to the car, some stretches and a recovery drink and I was on my way back home for a cold bath, a hot meal and a lie infront of the box watching the rugby.

Summary - 10 Weeks to Go

I had run my 10th Strathclyde parkrun with an SB and clocked up my 98th parkrun overall;  I had completed my 8th week of my VLM training schedule and although my legs are still sore and tired, there is still another 10weeks of training to get them ready for the big day.  Remember you can keep me motivated by sponsoring me here:

Strathclye parkrun results

Long and Icy Run, Week 7 and parkrun 97

My VLM training schedule stepped up a level last week, consisting of:

Monday - 8miles;
Tuesday -- 4miles
Wednesday - 5xhills (4.2miles)
Thursday – Rest
Friday – 8miles @race pace
Saturday – 3miles
Sunday – 16miles

I was feeling quite good after last Sunday’s race and enjoyed my training until Friday came along and I was feeling tired. I hoped to squeeze my run in at lunch time but my morning meeting lasted longer than I had expected. By the close of business I had a bit of a headache, it was cold and I was lacking in motivation, however after a power nap, I was running through the streets of south Glasgow with a spring in my step. I did look at my Garmin every time it beeped, to indicate that I had completed another kilometre, but I was still a little surprised when I finished my session to discover that I had run it at precisely the time that I was looking for, to the second !

Parkrun 97
As usual, I combined my 3mile recovery run with a parkrun, although this time I kept my discipline and refused to get into a race with anyone, completing the undulating and icy Glasgow course in 26:14, just one second ahead of my friend Jennifer Healey, who was making her first return to the 5k event since August 2011. Despite the absence of a lot of regular club runners, due to the afternoon’s Scottish Masters’ Cross Country Races at Kilmarnock and the Renfrewshire 5mile race at Greenock. That said, there were still almost 300 runners taking part. Congratulations to Neil Ash, who completed his 50th parkrun, which meant that there was some free cake with our post race coffee back in the Burrell.


A Long Icy Run
A quiet night in ensued that I was up bright and early for my pre-run porridge before making my way over to Strathclyde Park to join some of the local parkrunners for a longish run. Ally Robb decided that the icy conditions were too dangerous and headed home to her treadmill, whilst I joined with Anthony Butler, Troy Morgan and Neil Robbins on the path towards Chatelherault Country Park.

There was a bit of ice on the paths but nothing too bad, the trails in the park were fine as well but as they started to get more undulating, I decided that it was best to return to the flatter paths and roads and joined in with Hamilton’s David Hay as he retuned to Strathclyde Park and along the road above the loch and past Scotland’s Theme park. With David having only one mile of his 18mile run to do and I with another eight, I bid him farewell and tuned left towards the loch. A mile later, I was back at my car. A quick energy drink and I continued anti clockwise around the loch. Beyond the beach, the path became more and more icy and by the time I had joined the local parkrun route, I had to revert to running on the grass. Back to the car, for another drink and I briefly met the lads who had completed their runs for the day. About turn and I ran clockwise around the much less icy path and then leftwards around the football parks. Back towards the car parks and onto the road, along past the beach and then another about turn. As I approached car park 3, Garmin beeped to in form me that I completed my 26k run and I walked back to the car, where a recovery drink was waiting for me. A few stretches and a quick change of clothes and I was taking my aching legs back to old Glasgow toun for a soak in the bath and a hard earned brunch.

My records revealed that my 16.16mile run was the longest that I’ve run in over two years and my sore legs confirmed this.

Week 7 of my schedule completed, only another 11 to go! Remember you can help keep me motivated and support a worthwhile cause by sponsoring me here, many thanks to those that have already donated.

3k Race on the Green - Results for 27 January 2012

Posn Runner Category M/F Club Race Time
1 Russell Whittington Veteran M Bellahouston Roadrunners 00:09:31
2 Darran Muir Senior M Unattached 00:09:33
3 Niall McAlinden Senior M Westerlands 00:09:35
4 Craig Reid Senior M Bellahouston Roadrunners 00:09:39
5 Matthew Sogbanmu Senior M Glasgow University 00:09:40
6 John Denovan Senior M Westerlands 00:09:59
7 Elen McLean Martin Senior F Bjelland IL, Norway 00:10:06
8 Crispin Walsh Veteran M Bellahouston Harriers 00:10:13
9 Shazad Hakeem Senior M Ronhill Cambuslang 00:10:23
10 Robert Rossborough Senior M Ronhill Cambuslang 00:10:25
11 Andrew McCaffery Veteran M Calderglen harriers 00:10:27
12 Robert MacFarlane Senior M Kelvin Runners 00:10:28
13 Mark Ashby Super Veteran M Victoria Park 00:10:45
14 Alastair MacLachlan Super Veteran M Bellahouston Roadrunners 00:10:46
15 Bryan Burnett Veteran M Bellahouston Roadrunners 00:10:48
16 Derek Reid Veteran M North Ayrshire AC 00:10:57
17 Derek Leitch Super Veteran M East Kilbride AC 00:11:20
18 Stewart Robertson Senior M Bellahouston Roadrunners 00:11:35
19 Paul Viola Veteran M Unattached 00:11:38
20 Tony Judge Senior M Unattached 00:11:43
21 Mark Alexander Senior M Kilmarnock Harriers 00:11:44
22 Cameron Ferguson Super Veteran M Unattached 00:11:45
23 Stewart Tacchi Senior M Unattached 00:11:45
24 Conor McEllean Senior M Unattached 00:11:53
25 Juliane Foss McLean Senior F Bjelland IL, Norway 00:12:01
26 Neil McTavish Veteran M Unattached 00:12:19
27 Paul Walker Super Veteran M Unattached 00:12:41
28 David Edelman Super Veteran M Unattached 00:12:59
29 Tom Keenan Super Veteran M Bellahouston Harriers 00:13:02
30 Sofie Perby Senior F Unattached 00:14:03
31 Danielle Pieroni Senior F Unattached 00:14:07
32 Robbie Wishart Super Veteran M Levin Runners 00:14:14
33 Alan Sim Super Veteran M Unattached 00:14:16
34 Peter McGillion Veteran M Unattached 00:15:07
35 Alison McCall Super Veteran F Unattached 00:15:09