Victoria Park parkrun test event

I popped along to Victoria Park on Saturday morning to record the test even for the latest addition to the parkrun family.  The weather was kind and the test seemed to go to plan.  Of course it's hard to predict how many people will attend the event once it's launched on 12th October but I'll be there some weeks and, with the number of other runners that I saw both within the park and in the neighbouring streets, it could well prove to be very successful.  

The route is flat and scenic and includes three loops of the park and its pond.  I hope the pics give you a flavour of the event.

  You can see all my photos of the event here


All photos are copyrighted but available for purchase.

Feeling Green at the 3k in Glasgow

August 2013

Friday was the local September weekend holiday, I remember when it seemed that the whole of Glasgow would converge on Blackpool for the weekend.  These days I'm not sure how many head to the North of England resort for a fun packed weekend but I'm certain that there's no longer a mass exodus from the 'dear green place'.   In fact I'm not sure how many people working in Glasgow actually get the holiday as Globlisation doesn't tend to respect local cultures and traditions.  Friday was also the last Friday of the month, which is the usual date for the monthly 3k race on the Green.  A couple of people had contacted me, inquiring to whether or not the event would be on, a quick check on their web site revealed that not only would it be on but this month's race would mark the second anniversary of Al Murray taking the reigns from the previous organiser Mel, who went off on Maternity Leave.

The Kilmarnock Harrier and his colleagues from the Clydesdale Bank have one a great job in organising the Friday lunch time races and and also raised over £3,000 for a variety of charities, which is very impressive when the the entrance fee is only £2 and runners get a race number, a post run bottle of water and a choice of mini chocolate bars etc.  £1,690 being raised from race entry fees the majority of which, when donated to Help the Hospices, has been matched by Clydesdale Bank as its charity partner.

Al and his colleagues give up their time to ensure a smooth registration process, good timekeeping and an efficient results service.  Kevin Brydon has set up and manages the race web presence www.3konthegreen.com

Al and Ken occasionally get the opportunity to run as well but more often they ensure that others get the opportunity to enjoy a lunch time race.

Sadly illness, injury and work commitments has meant that I've not been able to run the race for a while, although I have helped out, supported the runners and taken a few photos on occasion too.
A message on Facebook on the morning of the 27th Sept, from a running buddy, indicating that despite being hungover and over weight that he would still be running in the 3k was enough to convince me to join him.  I shared these handicaps and I'm also been suffering from a torn calf muscle.  As I made my way to Glasgow Green, I could feel the tightness in my left leg and wasn't sure if I would be able to race or not.

However after a warm up and much chatting with friends old and new, just befor 12:30, I lined up with some 53 others under the  McLennan Arch.   Al provided an update on the last two years and the runners expressed their appreciation, in the usual manner, before we set off on the 3k race, initially following the Clyde upstream.  I had set my goals to try to beat my old sparring partners Tom Keenan and Graeme Aitken.  Although both have, like me, experienced a dip in form, their recent results have shown a lot of improvement and I knew that I would need to work hard to beat them.

I started shoulder to shoulder with Tom but at the first opportunity I broke away and was happy with a time of 4:13 for the first kilometre.  That said, I was feeling rough and I couldn't keep up with the runners around me.  Once again, I found myself running on my own, with a gap between those in front and no sound of anyone being close behind me.  There's a sharp turn, just ater the half way point, and I had a quick glance to my right and saw that a number of runners were not far behind, including Graeme and then Tom.   The path is a bit narrow at this stage and you have to be careful as there are some tree roots breaking through.  I was really disappointed with my second kilometre time of 4:46 as I felt that I was working hard.  I tried to keep positive though and tried to concentrate on those in front of me.  I might even have over taking a couple of runners in the second half of the race.  I do know that no-one caught me and spurred on by Gordon Gallagher and others, I sprinted down the final strait to complete the course in a time of 12:53.

I took a little time to recover from my exertions before exchanging congratulations with the other runners and enjoying my bottle of water.  There was cake available to mark the occassion but I was feeling more like throwing up, rather than scoffing anything down.

I had placed 37th with Graeme two places behind in a time of 13:00 and Tom 41st in 13:05.  Up front Cambuslang's Gordon Robertson had won the race in a time of 9:22, with Shettleston's Claire McArthur placing first women (17th overall) in 11:06.

We chatted a little more before the runners and organisers made their way back to their workplaces or to enjoy the rest of their holiday, I joined Tom and Carol Keenan, who had ran another PB, in some post race conversation and coffee in the Winter Gardens by which tim I was able to enjoy a fruit scone and jam.

I was happy enough with my work rate and race time but disappointed to later discover that this had been my slowest ever 3k on the Green.  However, on a more positive note, it was my best race performance since November 2012. 

I was a bit shocked to see that the last time that I'd raced in the 3k on the Green was July 2012!  I'll do my best to make sure that I don't miss it as often in the future.  I'll maybe see you there on Friday 25th October.

Bellahouston Harriers Results
25 Gordon Gallacher Veteran M 00:11:35
37 Ian Goudie Super Veteran M 00:12:53
41 Tom Keenan Super Veteran M 00:13:05
47 Gael McCallum Veteran F 00:14:03
49 Carol Keenan Super Veteran F 00:14:44

Full Results

Glasgow parkrun 238 -Tom's 100th parkrun

Tom in action for the 100th time!

I tore a calf muscle last week which has resulted in me taking a week off of the running, which is a real shame as I'd only recently achieved the level of training that I was aspiring to, namely 35miles per week, with a long run of 16miles.  Never mind, I had wanted to add some cycling back into my training/commuting and managed to cycle over 100k in the last week, which is probably more than I've ever cycled in a week.

Robert wins the men's race

Marina wins the women's race

Although tempted, I decided not to run Saturday's Glasgow parkrun but to help Tom Keenan commemorate his 100th parkrun by taking a few photos for him and others who were participating in the weekly 5k event.

It was also good to see a lot of running buddies and to introduce some of them to each other, who despite participating in the same races over the years, had never met each other. 

Kenny Richmond

Sheila happy with her PB

Robert Quinn won the race in a time of 16:26 ahead of Kenny Richmond in 16:59 with Marina McCallum winning the women's 5k in 21:00 and Sheila Lewis placing second with a PB of 21:14.

Tom ran well and achieved a season's best, with his wife Carol getting another PB it was a good day for the Keenan household.

The Perts seemed to enjoy their run too with Graeme helping Hazel towards a PB.

Photos here

Results here

Model Shoot at Chatelherault Country Park

I had a recent model shoot in Hamilton's Chatelherault Country Park with Sylwia and Angelina with assistance provided by Hamish from Kinning Park Camera Club.

Sylwia

Angelina

More photographs here

The Times They Are a-Changin'

As chance would have it I recently took photographs of two very different timepieces.  An Edinburgh clock tower and a macro photo of a pocket watch taken in the studio.

It was the Fleming that didn't go to Kilmarnock Academy that is credited as being the 'Father of Standard Time. ' Sir Sandford Fleming was born in Kirkaldy and emigrated to Canada in 1845 at the age of seventeen. Sir Sandford Fleming first worked as a surveyor and later became a railway engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The Canadian Scot advocated the adoption of a standard time or mean time and hourly variations from that according to established time zones. He was instrumental in convening the 1884 International Prime Meridian Conference in Washington, at which the system of international standard time that we use today was first adopted.

A couple of double takes in Auld Reekie

I took my camera to a recent meeting in the Scottish Parliament and had the chance to take a couple of photos between the Parliament and Railway Station.  I thought these were similar but different. Changing times?

and these two too.

Album here

Bothwell 10k

Another 10k in the bag - pic by Gareth Rees

I've stepped up my training considerably in the last two weeks, upping both my milage and my pace.  I clocked up 38 miles last week, including a 14miler and this week achieved 34. I wasn't surprised then to find my legs a bit tired when I lined up on Sunday morning for the Bothwell 10k fun run.  Local athlete Robert Gilroy and a couple of other club runners from Hamilton and Clydesdale were also there as well as a number of local runners, some of them in fancy dress, as the event formed part of the local Scarecrow Festival.  Organised by the Rotary Club of Bothwell and Uddingston and sponsored by W Livingstone Ltd garage and car sales, the event offered prizes not just for the best runners but also for the best fancy dressed.

The route

Starting at Bothwell Primary School, the, accurately measured, route took us along the undulating Castle Avenue to Uddingston Church, then right into a headwind on Main street up to Bothwell Medical Centre, where the Marshal directed us onto an old railway path and up hill, returning to the school via Blantyre Rd and Blantyre Mill Rd for the 5k event and then repeat for those of us doing the 10k.

The numbers were low and I figured that I must have been in 8th position for most of the first lap but caught a runner on the railway path and another two around the 6k point.  I was then on my own, working hard to build a gap between myself and those that I'd overtaken and hoping to close the gap on the rare glimpses that I had of those ahead of me.  I worked hard to place 5th and was happy with my performance, particularly in the second lap.  The pain in my legs confirmed that it had been a hard run.  It being a 'fun run' there were no official times recorded but I would have liked to have run faster but it was a good exercise and I'm sure I'll see the benefit of my increased training in the months ahead, I appreciate that these things take time. 

I exchanged congratulations with my fellow runners before joining them for a few photos for the local paper, the Bellshill Speaker.  After my warm down I took the time to thank the volunteers and in particular Race Director Gareth Rees for organising such a great wee event.  I hope that it's on again next year.

event web site

Let Them Eat Cake !

Linda and her cake

After the Burrell Cafe refused to let Laurie Ritchie celebrate her recent 100th parkrun by sharing a cake with her fellow runners, she complained and received the following positive reply:

Dear Ms Ritchie

Thank you for bringing your concerns regarding your recent visit to the Burrell to our attention. We recently had a spate of visitors to the museum bringing their own food into the café by way of packed lunches and we had told everyone to instruct anyone bringing in their own food that this was not permissible. Unfortunately this was being enforced literally.

We are more than happy for customers using our locations for a celebratory event to provide a cake as part of their catering requirements serviced by ourselves. This is the case for Weddings, Birthdays, anniversaries etc. If you have occasion to have a similar celebration in the future, if you could contact Leone Veitch, the Manager, on 632 3910 or 287 2557 to advise this is the case, then we can arrange to provide napkins and side plates and possible portion the cake on your behalf.

I apologise for any embarrassment caused and can I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your 100th run achievement

Kind Regards

Guida
Guida Torretti MSc
Linguistics and Events Manager

Centurions Richard and Ted

Christopher

The timing was perfect to allow a number of regular parkrunners to celebrate their achievements this week,  including Christopher Steward and Linda Kennedy who both clocked up their 50th runs and Richard Leyton and Ted Gourley who reached 100 parkruns.

Catriona Gourley looks forward to some cake

Where's my cake?

There was coffee and cake a plenty for all of us as we shared in their celebrations. Well done to them and a special mention to the Burrell Cafe staff who excelled themselves today.