Alloa Half - depression run

My original intention was to make Alloa my main race of the year but getting called up from the waiting list for both of the energy sapping Strathaven Half Marathon and Hillbilly Cross Country races had put that in doubt, on top of this a recent calf strain had derailed my training plan. In the end it was a last minute decision to run the race.

I’ve also been unwell for over six months now, during which time my weight has continued to decrease. I’m now less than 12 stone for the first time in memory.  Last Wednesday. my Doctor doubled my Temazepam dosage and the week before she upped my Venlafaxine, so it’s perhaps not too surprising with these chemicals running around my brain that things didn’t go quite to plan.  Which was now just to get round the 13.1 miles without too much damage.

It was  good to catch up with loads of running friends prior to the race, including Toni McIntosh who was making her running comeback.  The weather conditions were almost ideal for racing  and, stupidly, I lost focus and started way too quickly, running the first mile in 7:02 and the second in 7:03!  My PB is 96mins, which equates to 7:20 pace.

The hill at mile three helped to slow me down and the next two miles took 7:45 and 7:25 respectively but by now mydepression was now kicking in and I was mentally struggling and seriously thinking of pulling out of the race.  I convinced myself that if I could keep going to mile six, that would be almost half way and I would then need to finish the race. Miles five and six took 7:08 and 7:24. 

I knew that I was still running well but my mind was playing tricks with me and I continued to battle against the demons but, at least, I’d now passed the half way point.

However things were put into perspective around the seven mile mark, where the route goes out and back. As we turned left, I saw a fellow runner being treated by the medical staff and clearly heard one saying “he’s stopped breathing”.  I’m glad to say that, Dr Allie Chong, realised that the man was having a heart attack, and stopped to give him CPR before the ambulance arrived (hospitalised now but reportedly doing fine).

The Course

I kind of lost it over the next few miles, negative thoughts were flooding my mind and a my focus was now on getting to the tenth mile, when I’d only have 5k to go.

I continued to struggle, whilst a number of friends and running buddies overtook me. The field this year was a lot bigger than my last outing in 2010, when some 977 completed the course, this year 1661 finished. (Although I’m sure the commentator said that 3,200 had registered). I did try to hang on to other runners and it worked for a while but then I’d suddenly realise that they were no longer visible.

I was glad to get the tenth mile under my belt but I knew that the most physically challenging part of the race was still to come as we turned left up the Menstrie Brae to Tullibody.

I’m afraid that I resorted to walking a few steps up the hill and again a bit later. I’m pleased to say that the other racers encouraged me to keep on running.  By this stage my legs were also starting to stiffing up and my calf was hurting, so I knew that it wasn’t all in my mind.

Really Struggling….. pic by Gordon Donnachie

The last 5k seemed to go on for ever but I convinced myself to keep going, no matter how slowly.  From somewhere, I found enough strength to sprint along the final strait.

Final Sprint

I crossed the Finish Line and, all of a sudden, I felt my legs turning to rubber as I collapsed in a heap. The medical team took care of me.

I hadn’t stopped my Garmin and I had to wait for the results to be published before realising that I had placed 428th out of 1661 finishers, with a time of 98:42. Not a PB but the second fastest of the seventeen Half Marathons that I’ve done. Let’s hope that the eighteenth one is less eventful than the previous two.

On a more positive note, it was great to see so many friends,  thebefore, during and after the race.  Although I didn’t hang around too long at the end.

As usual, many thanks to everyone associated with the event, not least of all the medical teams.

Mucho Mass Bellas as Bernie Bolts to Victory

Some of the 49 Bella Harriers at Pollok parkrun

Jack Arnold

As luck would have it both Bellahouston running clubs had a 'mass' parkrun at Pollok Park on Saturday. The 49 Harriers and 24 Road Runners, helped to squell the ranks to 451 participants, one of the largest ever. 

 Whilst there were no records broken, there were some decent runs in both the men's and women's races. Cambuslang's Gordon Robertson crossed the line first, with a time of 16:24, ahead of Bellahouston Harrier Jack Arnold in 16:37 and Bella Road Runner Ciaran Dougherty in 17:00.

Bernie O'neil

In the women's race, it was a clean sweep for the Harriers, who not only placed 1,2, 3 but also 4,5,and 6 as well. Bernie O'neil led the female Harriers home with a huge PB of 20:21, just ahead of Jennifer Clark (also 20:21), Susan MacRitchie (20:40) placed 3rd, Erica Christie (21:26) 4th, Caroline Cochran (21:43) 5^th and Janine Dickie 6^th with a PB of 21:49.

For my part, I wan't feeling great and had set myself the task of having a steady run, however when Erica Christie overtook me, I immediately increased the pace and returned the compliment, we played leap frog a total of four times before Erica broke away at the 4k point. My strong finish just wasn't quite good enough to catch her for the fifth time and she crossed the line one place and one second ahead of me.  I was happy enough to place 71^st in 21:47, my second fastest time since May 2011 and my eighth fastest time, out of 115 at Pollok.  I also managed a rare victory over Road Runner Keith Gibb for only the fourth time this decade¬

Erica in hot pursuit 

Once again many thanks to all my fellow runners and the volunteers too for making my Saturday morning run a little more fun. A special mention to Bellahouston Harrier Christopher Steward who completed his century of parkruns on Saturday and Dan Maher who ran his 250^th!

Full Results Here

Pics by Brian Douglas

I had a black dog, his name was depression..................................

and the follow up living with a black dog

Super Volunteers Ensure Victoria parkrun 62 Takes Place

Runners listen carefully to an explanation of the amended route

It was 50/50 as to whether Victoria parkrun would take place on the last day of January. The ice had taken its toll on the course, particulary on the route through the floral gardens. However the volunteers excelled themselves by not only braving the cold weather but quickly amending the Start and Finish and rerouting the course along the side of the pond, rather than through the gardens. They even managed to grit some of the worst parts of the path before 176 runners descended on the west end park. Whilst the conditions may have deterred a few regular runners, a number of others had made their way westward from the cancelled Pollok parkrun.

After the route changes had been explained to us and we had been warned of the icy undefoot conditions, we reassembled at the amended Start and were set on our way at 9:36am. It wasn't a day for PBs so I settled into a steady pace. I still had to work hard, particularly in the long sections which ran into the Arctic headwind. After three laps, I sprinted down the rerouted final strait, overtaking, sub 20min runner, Chris Furse to cross the line in 21:14, although this was 30secs slower than my PB but I did manage to place 27^th, my highest ever at Victoria park. I was happy enough with my race in two days, considering the conditions. However one person who performed even better was my fellow Bellahouson Harrier, Derek Shand who ran a PB of 21:00 to place 23^rd.

Results

Up front, Stewarton's Andy McGhee completed the 5k in a time of 18:00 to take Gold, ahead of Keith Wall (18:18) and Iain Littler (18:22).

Antrim's Jo Patterson

In the women's race, Antrim's Jo Patterson ran to glory in a time of 20:16, ahead of Garscube's Aileen Wilson (21:07) and Westerland's Karine Salin (21:46).

In the Super Veteran Category, John Gilhooly's time of 18:28 was enough to beat his Bellahouston RR club mate Al MacLachlan (18:49) with myself (Ian Goudie) placing third.

In the women's 50+ Cat, it was Maggie McKeith who took the honours with a time of 25:30, ahead of Elaine Chellew (26:24) and Jane Scullion (26:35).

Well done to all runners and huge thanks to the volunteers who braved the elements to allow us to run.

Pics by Mary Senior and Ian Goudie Photography

Full Results here  

1,2,3 on the icy Green

1,2,3 for 123 year old Bellahouston Harriers

The inclement weather, which comes with January in Scotland, has made running difficult over the last few weeks and has led to the cancellation, or re-routing, of a number of races, including parkruns. It was no surprise then, that there were concerns as to whether or not the first 3k on the Green of 2015 would take place on the last Friday of the month.

Snow and ice had affected much of Glasgow on the run up to Friday 30^th January but a 9:30am inspection of the 3k course stated: The course is quite icy. The parts that have seen the sun are OK. Turnaround is OK as it's mostly mud and sticks preventing any sliding. Looks like it should mostly clear up for the 12:30 Start of the race. The decision was taken and the race was on!

A number of Bellahouston Harriers had made arrangements, in order to allow them to participate, some for the first time, in the 3k race. They and the others were pleased to get the opportunity to get a race, although a couple of runners decided not to risk the course.

Brrrrr.........

Some 61 runners assembled under the McLellan Arch on Glagow Green and after being reminded that they “run at their own risk” were set on their way at the allotted time.

These were not the conditions for going for a PB, the main target was to get around the course in a reasonable time, without being injured. With a number of runners taking more than 30 seconds longer than usual to negotiate their way around the course, I was happy enough to cross the line in a time of 12:09 and place 29^th. That said, I did have to fight off a strong challenge from the real John Cunningham, particularly around the turning point. I also managed to beat Cambuslang's Eddie Carr for the first time ever.

Up front, Eddie's club mate Shaun Butler placed first with a time of 9:29, ahead of Garscube's Christopher Devine (9:32) and Bellahouston RR Craig Reid (9:40). 

In the women's race, it was 1, 2, 3 for Bellahouston Harriers, with Bernie O'neill, on her debut, taking the honours in a time of 11:44. Fellow debutante, Clare Macaulay, earned Silver with her time of 12:03, with Caroline Cochrane, ensuring a clean sweep for the 123 year old club, with a time of 12:19.

Well done to all the other runners and volunteers for making the event such a success. So much so, that the Herald had it listed as one of the Top 10 things to do this Weekend.

Pics by Darren Murray here

Full Results here

First Again! This time at a wind swept Tollcross parkrun

Victories are like buses you wait for ages then two come along one after another. I had waited 155 parkruns to win my first age category last week at Ayr and then I repeated my success today at Tollcross.

I hadn't done a hill session for a while, so I decided to return to the hilly east end of Glasgow parkrun for the first time since May 2014. I ran a course PB of 22:18 in my last outing and was hoping to do the same today but the elements were against me. Gale force winds and rain hadn't helped my insomnia and the signs, were quite literally ominous with Transport Scotland warning of snow as I made my way along the M74.

Tollcross Bandstand

I was aware that a number of parkruns had been cancelled due to the weather but thankfully Tollcross was on, although there were a couple of slight detours across the grass, to avoid large piles of earth on the path. It was good to see some old friends both volunteering and running and to exchange New Year greetings with them before the race. Most people were sheltering from the wind and snow in the bandstand before Christopher McKiddie sent us on our way into the hills and the strong wind. 

 It was tough going and I was working hard, I found myself playing leap frog with a younger runner in a blue top for the first 3k but then pulled away from him and caught a couple of other runners in the last 2k.

A sprint over the grass on the final strait took me over the line in 14^th place, with a time of 22:26. No PB but only eight seconds off of it, many runners were well over a minute off their PBs today, so I was happy with that and I don't think I could have performed much better in the conditions. The icing on the cake was when I received the results to see that I had, for the second week in succession, placed first in my age group category and second in the overall Age Grade score with a WAVA of 69.69%, only being beaten by the event winner Shaun Butler, who crossed the line in a time of 18:22 and a WAVA of 70.60%.

Fellow Bellahouston Harrier, Darren Murray placed 11^th with a time of 21:54.

Lesley McArdle won the women's race, placing 23^rd overall, in 24:05.

A total of 79 runners braved the elements in this the 89^th Tollcross parkrun, well done to all of them and also to the volunteers who made the event happen.

Full results here

Post Race Note

Great to see that Saturday's performance  was good enough to take my handicap down from 9.0 to 8,9.  The race was given an SSS of 4.0 and my time earned a vSSS of -0.6.  Early 2015 progress.

First Footing and First in Age Groups at Ayr parkrun

Ayr parkrun

My first race of 2015 was the Ayr parkrun on Saturday 3^rd January. We arrived in Prestwick very late on Friday night from Spain to be welcomed by the wind and the rain. We had left our car at friends in Ayr who also kindly picked us up and gave us a bed for the night. Whilst the wind and the rain had abated by Saturday morning it was still very chilly and the race director pointed out that the course, which is entirely run on trail paths and grass, was heavy going, with a number of puddles and lots of lovely mud.

A decent turnout of 59 runners had made their way to Rozelle Park for the 17^th Ayr parkrun, including Ayrshire based Bellahouston Harrier, Ruairidh Macdonald, and Ayr Seaforth's Toni McIntosh.

Both Maggie and I had particpipated in the inaugural Ayr parkrun, when our race preperation and conditions on the day had been more favourable, neither of us would be chasing a PB today.

As the race started, I found myself in sixth position until the first kilometre when Toni passed me. I could feel myself tiring and wasn't surprised when another couple of runners overtook me. I tried to keep at least one runner in sight over the next 3k and was pleased, when we returned to the pond to see the two runners close to each other ahead. I injected a bit of pace and managed to catch both of them at once. I could spy Toni in front and my task was to try to finish as close to her as possible, whilst ensuring that no-one overtook me. The final kilometre seemed to go on for ages but I was pleased to sprint along the grass and over the line to place 7^th with a time of 23:38. Whilst this was 39 seconds over my previous Ayr outing, I was happy enough with my parformance. One I recovered my breath, I shared mutual congratulations with those around me befor cheering Maggie along the final strait.

First in my Age Category

The winner - Alasdair Marshall

As it happens, the two guys that I caught were both in my age group and, possibly for the first time ever, after 155 parkruns, I placed first in my age grade category. Al Maclachlan and/or John Gilhooly normally depriving me. I was also second in the overall Age Grade score, only being beaten by the event winner, Southampton based, Alasdair Marshall, who crossed the line in a time of 20:13.

Toni placed first in the Women's Race, sixth overall,with a time of 23:25 and Maggie also placed first in her age category, 5^th female and 25^th overall, with a time of 28:37

How hard?

The difficult conditions on the day were relected in Runbritain awarding the event an SSS of 5.0! My vSSS being 0.6. Explanation of this here

Many Thanks to the volunteers

We are very grateful to the volunteers who made this event happen: James Andrew, Stewart Bailey, Jason Bell, Euan Bell, Eilidh Cotter, Jenny Ellis, Nicola Fraser, Gayle Glandinning, Gillian Hornby, Kirstie MacKenzie, Faye Murfet, Katherine Paisley, Elaine Sykes and Deborah Telfer.

Thanks also to the staff at the Rozelle Tea Room for the lovely warm fruit scones.

Full Results

Review of 2014

After missing the first half of 2013, due to illness, my main aim for 2014 was to get back running regularly but I did give myself a few goals, such as running 2014k in the year. Despite falling ill again in September, not only did I achieve this but I ended up running more miles in 2014 than in any other year, 1625 of them, or 2616k (my previous record being 1539 miles/ 2476k).

I also past a number of other milestones, including: clocking up 10,000 miles and 330 races since turning 50 and running my 150^th parkrun.

Whilst quantity was my main priority for this year, I was hopeful that I would get some decent performances too. A couple of sub 44 minute 10ks, a couple of sub 21 minute 5ks and a couple of sub 12 minute 3ks, including a 3k PB of 11:49, will do me fine.  My performances were reflected in my Runbritain Handicap, which came down from 10.7 to 9.0 over the 12 months.

All in all a decent year in the running stakes and a further 700 miles done on the bike, just to freshen up things, of course!

Running Crazy in Barcelona on Hogmanay

I first heard about the Running Crazy organised trip to the San Silvestre 10k, held in Barcelona on Hogmanay, some four years ago when a friend wrote a blog about it. It seemed like a good race, a good way to spend New Year and a good excuse to visit Barcelona.

With the company taking care of all the organising, all we had to do was book a flight from Prestwick to Girona and catch the bus to Barcelona, where we were met by Malcolm. He showed us to our accomodation, the Hotel Del Mar in Barceloneta.

Maggie and Gaudi

Although I've been to Barcelona about ten times, this was my first time staying near the waterfront and exploring the many restaurants, tapas bars, shops and intimate cafes in the lanes and back alleys of the area. With Borne, the Gothic Quarter and the Ramblas only a short walk away it was an ideal base for our stay. The area is also well served by the Metro and buses, including the tourist buses.

Maggie and Goudie

We spent two days of sight seeing and eating and drinking too much – some would say not the best way to prepare for a 10k. Running Crazy had arranged a pre race briefing and had collected our race numbers, chips and goody bags, which they distributed at our welcoming party. I managed a post lunch nap prior to meeting up with the other runners and Malcolm who took us, by way of the Metro, to the race Start and looked after our kit as we joined the 10,000 other runners on Carrer de la Selva de Mar.

I had agreed to pace Maggie and help her to a PB, however I lost her as I did my warm up and couldn't see her in the ranks of the 10,000 assembling at the race Start. I made my way along to our colour coded race pen and was thinking that I would need to actually race the 10k when she appeared.

With Spanish renditions of various Christmas and New Year songs being played over the tannoy we were set off at 5:30pm along the Cursa dels Nassos or Course of the Noses*

The race was extremely busy and it was evident that a lot of runners in front of us were in the wrong pen as we negotiated our way through the field. A sharp right turn took us onto Passeig de Garcia Faria and towards the Poblenou Cemetry and the first kilmotre marker. A sharp left, immediately followed by a sharp right and we were heading along Carrer de Salvador Espriu, around the 3k point the road becomes Carrer del Doctor Aiguader and it was already dark as we turned right onto Pla de Palau and past our hotel, at 4k. A right turn took us onto Passeig d'Isabel II and past the Estacio de Franca. At Park de la Ciutadella, we turned left along Passeig de Picasso and saw the faster runners racing down the other side of the road, a u-turn and we were following them again and running past the 5k marker. 

 We veered left, along Passeig de Circumvallicio and past the World Trade Centre, through Parc de Carles I and the water station, past the 6k mark and left along Carrer de la Marina and the 7k mark. A right turn along Carrer de Pallars, a left, along Carrer d'Alaba and a right along Carrer de Bolivia and we were passing the 8k point. A left and a right took us on to Avinguda Diagnol, one of the main roads in Barcelona, past the 9k point and onwards back to Carrer de la Selva de Mar and the Finish line. Maggie's pace dropped a little in the middle of the race but she picked it up again in the last two kilometres. 

She was working hard and was on schedule to achieve a PB but unfotunately Garmin flashed 10k some 230m before the Finish line! 

Final Kilometre

She crossed the line in an official time of 51:33, outside of her PB of 50:51, achieved at the easier River Ness 10k, but she had gone through the 10k point at 50:25. The long course and the lack of medal and food at the end of the race were the only negatives in a great event. We joined the others and changed into warm clothes before heading back to our hotel and then out for a meal and Hogmanay celebrations with our new running buddies.

We would recommend the race and the services of Running Crazy to anyone wanting to celebrate the New Year with a race and/or a trip to Barcelona, we might even do it all again next year ourselves.

Photos provided by Running Crazy Ltd, more here

Full Results here

*La Cursa dels Nassos name is inspired by the Catalan new years tradition of "L'home dels nassos," which means  "Noses man." The legend of the Noses man is, that he is a man with many noses who walks the streets of Barcelona on New Year's Day. He has as many noses on his face, as there are days left in the year. Many children think that the Noses man has 365 noses, but of course, New Years Day is the last day of the year, so he only has one nose! 

Déjà vu ... ish at Victoria and Pollok parkruns

At the Coo's Tail

There was a bit of déjà vu on the 27^th December, as I made a mad dash from the cancelled Victoria parkrun to Pollok Park. Two weeks earlier it had been Pollok that had been cancelled and I made my way to Victoria Park. I wasn't chasing a PB but I did want to get another parkrun under my belt and to give my Kilmarnock FC 125 year retro top a rare airing.

Super Killie 125

I thought that I had missed the Start at Pollok as the road was deserted but, after I parked the car, a marshal informed me that today's event was starting on the grass. I could see the runners heading towards the Burrell and I caught the tail runners as they headed up the hill and into the woods. It was extremely congested as I made my way up through the field, taking the time to give encouragement to some of the slower runners.

I realised that didn't even have time to remove my jacket before joining the race and handed it to a marshal at the end of the first lap. By the end of the undulating 5k, I had managed to overtake 208 fellow runners and was content to place 75^th, (66^th male) in a time of 23:56 and get parkrun 154 in the bag.  

After retrieving my jacket I enjoyed post run coffee and chat in the Burrell Cafe, where I learned that a few other runners had made their way from Victoria to Pollok Park before the Start. 

As usual, huge thanks to all the parkrun volunteers.

Pics by Brian Douglas

Results here