2014 in 2014

One of my goals this year was to run as many kilometres as there are years in the date, so I joined in with others aiming to run 2014k in 2014.  Today, 25th September, I've managed to reach my goal.

Achievable targets provide something to focus on when the going gets tough, if you're a runner, they can help motivate you to overcome negative thoughts and the challenges of the weather, they can also help you, quite literally, go that extra mile.  Despite injury and illness, with support from friends and running buddies, I've managed to fulfil this particular challenge, there's still plenty of time for you to reach yours.

Honest Race - Ayr parkrun #1

It was with great pleasure that I learned that the parkrun family in Scotland was extending to my home town of Ayr.  However due to illness, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to participate in the inaugural event but my doctor helped me to overcome my doubts and encouraged me to keep up my running. There are so many health benefits to be gained from the sport and there is also a social side too.  It was good to see so many friends and running buddies among the 140 particapants at the first ever Ayr parkrun and within the ranks of the volunteers too.

pic by BlickingBlackCat

I had checked the Rozelle Park course on line and the organisers explained it in more detail prior to the 9:30 Start. The route was entirely on narrow trails, commencing near the Rugby pitch, we had a couple of sharp turns, before running around the pond and back along the trail.  There were a few tree roots underfoot, as we twisted and turned through the trees and nettles, skirting round the perimeter of the park.  I exchanged support with the other runners as we passed ourselves going in opposite directions along the 5k route.  As I headed down to the pond for the second time, I caught sight of Kilmarnock's Gordon Reid and Hamilton's Neil Robbins running towards me as they led the faster runners.

Fast finish with David Lowdon- pic by Barry Davie

Once round the pond, it was uphill and through the trails adjacent to the pavillion before turning a sharp right, out of the woods, and sprinting along the open track.

 Although Kilmarnock Harriers' David Lowdon pipped me on the line, I was happy enough with my race, placing 26th, with a time of 22:59.  Not a fast time but it isn't a fast course, that said, I was still a bit surprised that Run Britain gave the race an SSS of 4.5 and my performance a -0.2, which is a technical way of saying that I had a decent race. (See here for an explanation of SSS etc).

I enjoyed some post race conversation and cheering on the other runners, before completing my warm down and continuing the banter over coffee and fruit scones in the excellent Rozelle Tea Room.

The biggest club representation on the day had been from Bellahouston Harriers but others had came from further afield, including Cambridge, St Andrews, Dundee, Dunfermline and Linlithgow it was good to see them all enjoying the beautiful Ayrshire countryside.

Thanks to all the organisers, volunteers and racers for making the first Ayr parkrun so special, I'll be back!

Results

Photos here and here 

Strathclyde Confidence Booster

My friend, Maggie, has been injured for months but is back running now, so I thought it would be a, no pressure, confidence booster for her to do a parkrun that she hasn't run before. She would be guaranteed a, post race, email advising her that she had run a PB and wouldn't be comparing her time with previous ones. So we headed towards Motherwell to do Strathclyde parkun #223.  As for myself, this would be my 15th outing at the Lanarkshire event but I wasn't sure if I would run around with Maggie or just do my own thing, as a result, I wasn't wearing my club vest. 

There wasn't enough time for a decent warm up and stretch before the 9:30am Start and there wasn't anyone that I could see that I wanted to race against, so I set off looking for a decent, if not spectacular, run. 4:16 at the 1k mark was fine by me, as was 10:50 at the half way point, where for me, the race really started as I overtook someone at the turn and set off trying to reel in some of the others in front. I had a bit of a race going on, playing leap frog with a guy in a yellow top, before managing to loose him and cross the line in 31st place, with a time of 21:34. I was, initially a bit disappointed with my time but later realised that this was my third fastest time ever at Strathclyde parkrun and fastest since 2nd July 2011! Maggie done well, running a decent time and, of course, getting that course PB.

After our warm down, we ventured to the other side of the park to Guiseppe's Coffee Shop in the MD Theme park, rather than the usual Waterfront Cafe, for the usual post race, coffee, bacon roll and banter.

Thanks to all the volunteers for a great event and to Andrew Scott for the race selfie.

Around Chapeltoun Road Race - Forty Years On!

Around Chapeltoun Route

My first road race had been a local one in Stewarton, starting at the Centre on Standalane, the route headed along past my school on Kilwinning Road, past Rigghead on the right hand side and then the woods on the left hand side before turning left along, the scenic, Chapeltoun Road, past Chapeltoun House, over the River Annick and on to the  Irvine Road, where the course turned left and headed back to Stewarton along the B759, passing Lochridge, Lainshaw Farm Battery Hen Houses  and the Gerry Helmet before turning left, over the Annick and under the viaduct, along Lainshaw Street and another left, back on to Standalane and the Finish Line outside the Centre.  I ran the race two or three times but have no idea what time it took me, what distance it was, or how many other runners took part.  I'm guessing that I last ran it around 1973, more than forty years ago!

Chapeltoun Road

I've searched the internet for any references to the, Bonnet Guild organised, event but to no avail.

I don't know when the race was first held, or last held, and I'm told that the race is unlikely ever to be held again but I changed all that last Friday night when I returned to the land of my youth, parked the car outside of the, sadly closed, Centre and took part in my own 'Around Chapeltoun Road Race'.

Entering Stewarton from the Irvine Road

Every step brought back childhood memories and although my legs were still tired from my Gateside Gallop, I loved every minute of it.  For the record the distance was 4.32 miles, or 7k,  I did get some strange looks from the locals and motorists along the way and there was no buffet or medal at the end but that didn't matter.  A wee warm down took me through Ravenscraig, down the Chooky Brae, along Dunlop Road to the Cross, turning right along Main Street and back to Standalane and the Centre brought back further memories as did a wee drive through the Camp. Back up Kilwinning Road, Lothian Road, Crusader Crescent and David Dale Avenue before driving through the Bonnet Toun and up the Cutstraw Road, on to the A77 and back to Glasgow.

As I said, it's unlikely that the race will ever be staged again but I might pop down and do it again from time to time.

Gateside Galloping Gourmet

Multi Terrain 4 Mile Race 

I found myself with some unexpected free time, so I looked for potential races that I could run and discovered the Gateside Gallop. Now in its fourth year the race, established to raise funds to maintain the Fife village's local hall, has grown from strength to strength, attracting runners from many of the surrounding clubs as well as some locals and fun runners too.  Some 61 had completed the course in 2011, 76 in 2012 and 88 in 2013.  I recognised a few of the names of some of the club runners and their finishing times gave me some indication of hard the race would be.

East Lomond Hill

I arrived in plenty of time to register, get changed and do my warm up, which included running the length of the village to the Race Start behind the local school. I discovered that the race finished with an uphill run and a lap of the local park, even with its freshly cut grass, it was going to be an energy sapping final strait.  I chatted with the other runners and marshals who explained the route, providing further indications of how hard and hilly the course would be.  My legs were already tired and sore after a training session in Glasgow's Sherbrook hills on Monday and a deep tissue massage on Tuesday but I wasn't chasing a particular time tonight, I just wanted to enjoy the experience and scenery.  

The Bonnet Stane

Following the pre race announcement and warnings, Sue Whisler sent 119 of us down a congested Station Road and over the River Eden, where the route started its ascent, up past Nether Urquhart and right onto Dryside Road. We kept on the road until the 2k point where we turned left and onto the steep trail which took us up through Drumdreel Wood towards East Lomond Hill.  It was tough going, dodgy underfoot, narrow and a couple of testing turns thrown in for good measure for the next 1.7k but when we came out of the trees we were greeted to an open field and a downward stretch.  With the Bonnet Stane on our right hand side we stretched our legs on the way down but it didn't last too long before we were running in the deep ruts of a farm track, with nettles stinging our legs, until we reached Station Road.  We continued down the tarmac, over the river bridge and up the last hill, where we were greeted with screaming kids and others cheering us along.  I managed to catch a runner just before turning left along the path to the park.

Around the park I chased after a couple of runners in front and managed to out sprint them on the grass finish, crossing the line in a time of 32:36 to place 61st.  I was shattered but delighted, as I took a few moments to get my breath back before congratulating my fellow runners and quenching my thirst with the water supplied.  

I cheered on some of the other runners before warming down through the village, past the sadly closed down inn, to the hall where the volunteers cheered us and rewarded us with home made lemonade, fresh coffee and a mouth watering array of assorted sandwiches, cakes and biscuits.  After feasting myself and chatting with some old and new running buddies, I headed homewards.

Well done to the Sue and the other locals in Gateside for putting on such a great wee race, I loved it.

Race Profile

Photos by Gordon Donnachie, album here

More photos here

Results here