Belter of a Race at Bella

I decided to rest my camera on Friday and to put my hamstring through another painful experience instead.  I headed down to Pollok Park for the Bella Belter 10k road race, which is the final race in the annual Tour of Clydeside four race series.  I did the whole series last year and included the Dundonald 10k, in the rest day, to make it even more challenging.  This year I had to content myself with just the Dundonald and the Bella races, I hadn’t even trained since last Sunday as my hamstring was so tight.

Start of Lap Two - I'm in my yellow Scottish Vets Vest

Anyway after the usual pre race warm up and chatting, I lined up with the strong field to head clockwise around Pollok Park.  There was a feeling of déjà vu as I had earlier this year run the same course in the Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k.  In my 47^th race of 2011, I decided to change tactics a little.  I had noticed that, when racing 10ks, my first kilometre was always about 4:13 but then dropped significantly.  My intention tonight was to start slower and maintain my pace for the first 5k and then hopefully up the pace.  I started cautiously and was running behind Kilbarchan's Jim McMillan but when Maryhill’s Caroline Jones past me after about 700m, I decided to chase after her. The result being that my 1^st k took me 4:15!  Well I can still ensure that I don’t slow down by following her round, I thought.  She opened a gap of about 200m on me but I managed to keep in touch with her for the first lap, aided by the fact that I knew that Jim wasn’t too far behind me. 

Getting Closer

 I was feeling positive and, unusual for me, never at any moment thought about pulling out of the race.  I slowed to a walk at the water station and took a drink, poured the remainder of the small cup of water over me and set off to complete the second lap.  Unfortunately there wasn’t the spark in my legs that I was looking for but there was a gradual increase in my pace.  I didn’t seem to be getting any closer to Caroline but I was catching other runners, including one in the claret and amber of Motherwell AC.  However as I ran past Lochinch, a fly caught in the back of my throat, always a danger if you breath with your mouth as I tend to do, see my photos!  I wouldn’t have minded if I’d swallowed the creature but it just lodged itself in my throat.  I coughed and spluttered as I ran along and then told myself just to ignore it and concentrate on my race.  I refocused and as I ran up the hill past Pollok House I managed to catch Caroline.  She kindly congratulated me as I overtook her but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep ahead of her as there was still 3.5k to go.  I was running strong, though, and I almost immediately caught the next runner, a guy in a white top.  The next target was another guy but in a blue top.  I chased after him, though the remainder of the park and then along Pollokshaws Road.  I caught him and looked ahead to see who my next target would be but there was no one else in sight.  I guess it’s me against the clock then, I thought and kept pushing myself as I made my way along Haggs Road.  I heard, race winner, Stuart Gibson shouting encouragement as he warmed down along the other side of the road.  He must be used to this type of running, I thought, as when he’s leading there’s no-one for him to focus on.  

I was working hard and I was feeling good. However I then started to feel physically sick, ‘don’t you dare you lazy bugger’ I shouted in my mind. ‘Keep pushing, there’s not long to go now, you must be working hard, you can be sick after you finish.’

Running Strong at the End

A quick left off of Haggs Road and another, saw me sprinting along the rugby club’s driveway and over the line.  I was shattered and I made my way on to the grass for a brief lie down.  I looked at my Garmin expecting to see a great time but was disappointed when it revealed 44:14. (Official time 44:15 and, in a strong field, I placed 59th out of 107).
I had run a great race but not in a great time.  I took a drink of water and joined the faster runners and volunteers in cheering the other runners home before heading over to my car to collect my bag.  I vomited a little before heading for a shower and change of clothes.

Bellahouston Harriers had put on a decent spread but I was wary of testing my stomach too much and settled for a pint of Best from John Gilhooly instead.  Caroline, Jim and others congratulated me on my run and in particular my great negative split.  Caroline didn’t know it at the time but she had earned the third FS prize in the Tour.  Her Ayrshire born husband Stephen was awarded a special prize, a bottle of wine, for beating his wife, in a running sense of course!

I stopped off at Sammy Dow’s on the way home where my energetic dancing only served to amplify how sore my hamstring was.  Another great night in Glasgow’s sou’side. 

Pics by Kenny Phillips and Chris Craig. 

Full Results 

Great Scott Photos

Garscube Gallop

Garscube Gallop, a photo by Heilster Hieroglyphics on Flickr.

The third Tour of Clydeside Race is the Garscube Gallop, multi terrain race through Dawsholm Park in the north of Glasgow.  It's a hard race to run and it's a hard race to photograph, with my tight hamstring, I chose to do the latter.


Photos here

Clydebank Canal Bank Canter

Canal Canter 005, a photo by Heilster Hieroglyphics on Flickr.

Unfortunately I'm not able to run this year's Tour of Clydeside. I did manage a 15 mile, steady paced, run on Sunday but my hamstring is causing me some concern so I've decided on a few days of rest and ice. I did however pop along, on Tuesday 2nd August, to the second of the four race event, the Canal Bank Canter, to take some photos.

At least it gave me a chance to see the runners that are usually way out in front of me.

Photos here 

Tour of Clydeside Final Results and Review

Final results for the 2010 Tour of Clydeside


Total Results Here

and here:
Place Name/cat Kilbarchan Clydebank Garscube Bella Total
1 Adam Lee/MS 29:55 26:41 18:34 34:23 1:49:33
2 Alan Derrick/MV40 31:11 27:24 18:57 35:51 1:53:23
3 Gerry Montgomery/M50 31:28 28:05 20:21 36:44 1:56:38
4 Robert Rogerson/MV40 32:16 28:43 20:04 37:04 1:58:07
5 Chris Upson/MV40 32:42 28:30 20:03 37:06 1:58:21
6 Andy McMahon/MV40 33:41 29:51 20:42 38:39 2:02:53
7 Eilis McKechnie/FS 33:57 30:32 20:52 38:39 2:04:00
8 Andrew McKechnie/MS 36:21 31:09 21:08 39:59 2:08:37
9 Gordon Gallacher/MV40 34:39 31:19 21:49 41:27 2:09:14
10 Pamela McCrossan/FV40 35:40 31:53 22:42 40:57 2:11:12
11 Ellie Homewood/FS 36:29 32:23 22:01 41:18 2:12:11
12 Steven Hards/MV40 36:34 32:36 22:24 40:57 2:12:31
13 Robert Shaw/MV50 35:57 32:14 22:26 42:04 2:12:41
14 Gordon Howat /MS 36:58 31:51 22:11 42:18 2:13:18
15 Andrew Clugston/MS 37:01 32:41 22:30 42:55 2:15:07
16 Joanne McEvoy/FS 37:05 32:46 22:28 43:31 2:15:50
17 Ian Goudie/MV50 37:33 32:53 25:11 43:10 2:18:47
18 Robert Young/MV60 37:30 33:30 23:46 44:02 2:18:48
19 Erica Christie/FV50 38:23 33:07 23:38 43:44 2:18:52
20 James McMillan/MV60 38:15 33:55 23:26 44:52 2:20:28
21 Steve Cole/MS 36:28 32:52 23:17 48:40 2:21:17
22 Richard Darroch/MS 40:04 34:48 24:25 45:18 2:24:35
23 Ian Currie/MS 40:28 35:27 24:08 45:46 2:25:49
24 Paula Cowan/FV40 41:37 36:29 25:25 48:02 2:31:33
25 Mark Turnbull/MV50 40:35 36:07 25:44 49:18 2:31:44
26 Jim McKenzie/MV40 40:44 37:04 26:08 48:46 2:32:42
27 Patricia McLaughlinFV50 46:49 40:40 28:57 54:31 2:50:57
28 Marianne Grover/FV50 52:58 50:44 37:26 1:07:02 3:28:10

Review
My original intention was to use the ‘tour’ as a replacement for my training and not to ‘race’ it as such. However at 7:30pm on Monday 2nd August in Kilbarchan, when the ‘Start’ sounded, I knew that I was in a race, or more accurate a series of races.

I finished the ‘tour’ in 17th out of 28 places and third MV50. Despite my exertions at the Dundonald 10k on Wednesday, the official ‘rest’ day, which took their toll in Garscube the next night, I think that I performed as well as I could have.  I would have to have been almost three minutes quicker to have overtaken Joanne McEvoy, who placed one ahead of me in 16th spot.

Joanne had run the Land o’ Burns 10k this year in 40:52; Robert Young, who placed one behind me, is a fair bit older than me and is one of the doyens of the running scene in Scotland. However he is still a good athlete and ran this year’s Clydebank 10k in 39:28. I placed two places ahead of Erica Christie, who needs no introduction to the running community. She was the fastest marathon runner in the UK in her category in 2007, with a time of 3:08:00 and ran last year’s Clydebank 10k in a time of 40:19. These 10k times are well ahead of my PB of 43:04 (42:19 at the Irvine 10k which has been described as ‘short’).

After the final race, the Bella Belter 10k, Erica was kind enough to say that I definitely now have the capability to be a 40 minute 10k runner. Only time will tell if she is to be proved right.

Congratulations to the 28 hardy runners who competed the 'tour' and to the many others who joined us for a race or two during the week.  It was a fun, camaraderie filled, testing and enjoyable week.

Belter of a Run to end Five Race Week

Here we go again - lap 2

The Tour of Clydeside fourth and final event: The Bella Belter/Brian Goodwin Memorial 10k Road Race, was to prove to be a hell of a lot more enjoyable than the previous night’s disaster at the Garscube Gallop.

I noticed my ex neighbour and recent Bellahouston Harrier recruit, Angela Campbell, making her way towards Pollok Park and stopped to give her a lift.  I’m sure she will benefit from her training with Bella and go from strength to strength.   When we arrived at the race HQ, Cartha/Queen’s Park Rugby Club, the car park was already very busy and the race was set for a bumper turnout. 

After the usual pre race chit chat and wee warm up, we lined up on the road in Pollok Park, facing anti-clockwise.  The race previously has been run in the opposite direction but I pointed out last year the folly of having so many runners setting off down the busy Dumbreck Road and give the organisers credit for responding so positively.  Host club runners and parkrunners help to swell the ranks to over 100, although I did notice that fellow Killie Harrier David Mitchell was not amongst them. 

I found Erica lined up at the front of the runners and tucked in just behind her.  As we set off at 7:32pm, the class athletes shot off ahead of us and I set the pace ahead of her.  We were two minutes into the race when I found myself already running on my own.  I briefly though about going with the pack ahead of me but I knew that the runners in it, including Ellie Homewood and Alan Dempster,  were faster than me, so I decided to run at my own pace.  As I approached Pollok House for the first time David Mitchell was there and commented that I was running well.  I was feeling pretty good but I knew that there was a long way to go.  Garmin informed me that I had run the first mile in 6:46.  If only I could keep that up for six miles, I’d be a happy runner.  The route climbs slightly at this point until the junction for The Burrell and then goes downhill slightly and through the gate onto Pollokshaws Road.  I could tell by the cries of the host club’s marshals that Erica was right behind me as I made my way along the course.  The second mile had taken a disappointingly 7:11 to complete.  I was surprised at that pace to be leading Erica. 

We made our way along the outside of the park on Dumbreck Road, I had to avoid a few overhanging branches but kept my determination and completed the third mile in a slightly improved time of 7:08.  “She’s catching you” shouted Bella’s Iain Burke and I knew that Erica was still on my shoulder.  Back into Pollok Park and lap two commenced.  I knew that there would be no surprises and tried to widen the gap between us.  The fourth mile took me 7:02 and I was now concentrating more in catching the runners in front of me than worrying about those behind me.  I’ve been running negative splits recently and grow in confidence after the half way point in races.  I had passed a few runners but the guy in front had a good running technique and I wasn’t sure if I could catch him.  Instead I focussed on the person in front, Joanne McEvoy, who had beaten me in the previous three races in the Tour.  I managed to catch both of them at the five mile mark and although I passed Joanne the guy wasn’t for letting me past.  The fifth mile had taken 7:03.  I ran immediately behind the guy (Thomas Brown of PwC Panters) but he was soon out pacing me.  However I thought I could see Alan Dempster up ahead and focussed on him instead.  He was a good bit ahead of me and the race was nearing completion but at least I could try and finish as close to him as possible.   I completed the sixth mile in 6:57 and now had him in my sights.  I wasn’t sure if I would be able to out sprint Alan so I decided to go for it at the first opportunity.  Out to the right I stepped and all of a sudden I felt as if I was flying, I’ve no idea where that turn of speed came from but I managed to complete the race with a pace of 5:59 and a maximum of 4:41! 

Sprint Finish

I was slightly disappointed with my time of 43:10, it was 49 seconds faster than last year but I would have preferred to get below the 43 barrier. However it was my third fastest 10k out of a total of 49 and given the fact that it was my fifth race in five days the disappointment didn’t last for long.  I had completed the Tour of Clydeside and had done relatively well achieving PBs at three of the events and a SB tonight by almost minute. 

Loads of mutual congratulations took place among the runners, especially those of us that had bonded over the four races.  Angela dipped below the 50min mark for the first time as she raced home in 49:48, slightly ahead of Susan Clark who finished with a strong sprint.  After a shower we celebrated with a barbecue and a couple of pints before the skies opened up and we retired inside for the presentation of prizes. 

Adam Lee (Shettleston) won first men’s prize with Alan Derrick (Calderglen) in second with Gerry Montgomery (Clydesdale) earning third and first MV50 prizes and Bobby Young collecting the MV60 prize.  I liked Bobby’s remark to me when he said “Aye you’re quick but you’re just not old enough!”
Eilis McKechanie (HBT) won the women’s Tour, with Pamela McCrossan (Clydesdale) runner up.  Westie’s Ellie Homewood earned third spot, with her shocked club mate Paula Cowan collecting the FV40 prize and Erica the F50 prize.

The Course

Huge thanks of appreciation are due to organisers: Stewart Irvine and Colin Shields; the host clubs of: Kilbarchan AAC; Clydesdale Harriers; Garscube Harriers and Bellahouston Harriers and of course all of those that took part.

Results

Pics by Kenneth Phillips

Garcube Gallop Big Hill Walk

Early Start (pic by K Phillips)

My 170th race in recent years was to prove to be one of the toughest. My legs were still tired and stiff from the previous three nights’ exertions and the hills in Dawsholm Park were just too much for me on the night.


A healthy turnout from host club, Garscube Harriers, swelled the ranks which lined up in the park to take part in the third Tour of Clydeside event, the Garscube Gallop Multi Terrain Race. I was surprised to see that Westie’s Chris Upson and Ellie Homewood weren’t there as the organisers sent us on our way at 7:25pm.

The start of the three mile trail race lures you into a false sense of security as it is slightly down hill on a tarmac road in the middle of the park. However it wasn’t long until the excellent marshals sent us up the steep trails to our right. A sharp left turn and a right turn took us along the edge of the park, with outstanding views over the city. I was already feeling tired, as my Tour competitors: Erica Christie; Bob Young and Jim McMillan all increased the gap in front of me. I just didn’t have the energy to keep with them. The course then took us down hill a little, where we veered left, along a narrow trail, before a sharp right took us back onto the tarmac road. A sharp left took us back onto the trail and down our first set of steps. Further down we went, another set of steps and a quick right took us along beside a stream. Slightly uphill we ran before a very tight left turn took us up a recently built set of steps. The Garscube Harriers kids section and their coaches were here, shouting support to their club mates in front and behind of me. Off to our left we ran as the trail started to get steeper. The race organisers had kindly painted ‘big hill’ on the ground and a little later ‘puff and pant’. I resorted to walking a few steps here to try to get my breadth back and my heart rate down. I wasn’t the only one though and as we crossed the tarmac road, the supporters and marshals encouraged us to run. We were now back at the point where we had initially joined the trail and made our way up the remainder of the hill walk/running. At the top I managed to increase the pace again but unfortunately as I ran down hill my lace came loose and I had to stop to tie it. Around the course we ran again. As I approached the ‘big hill’ I was surprised at this stage in the race to hear someone running fast behind me. However all was revealed when Chris Upson overtook me. He had obviously missed the start of the race. This time I only walked a few steps on the ‘big hill’, as I chased after the tall ‘Westie’ in front of me. As we ran along the highest point of the course, I wasn’t surprised to be overtaken by Ellie Homewood, who usually travels with Chris. I did manage to increase my pace a little to catch the ‘Westie’ (Paula Cowan) and to have a decent enough finish on the tarmac road.

Late Finish (pic by K Phillips)

My total time was 25:11 and my splits were: 8:12, 9:07 and 7:52. I was shattered but I had completed my fourth race in four days. I congratulated the other runners and confirmed with Ellie that the race had indeed started a few minutes early. After my cup of water I headed homeward for a long ice bath before heading out, still frozen, for a few pints of a well known Irish stout.

I was pleasantly surprised to later discover that, although my wava was only 58%, I was the first Fetchie to finish and had in fact earned a new PB!

Results Here

Course Route - supplied by Chris Upson

Canal Bank Canter

Race two of the Tour of Clydeside saw us heading over to Clydebank for the 4.8 mile Canal Bank Canter. It seemed so good to be heading for a race in Clydebank which did not include the boring business park. Instead the course followed the canal tow path from the large metal bicycle eastwards for 2.4 miles before turning around and following the same course back. There were a few undulations in this one (30 feet at the highest point) and the numerous locks we passed on the way out confirmed that we were indeed climbing. The paths were mainly dirt tracks with about two miles of tarmac/shingle at the start/finish.

With my incognito vest from last year’s Grangemouth 10k on, I lined up with Erica and we headed off at 7:30pm. We shared the work for the first mile, taking turns each at leading and running shoulder to shoulder, whenever we could. We completed the first mile in 6:44, quite a lot faster than last night’s race. Knowing that I had a hard race on Wednesday to look forward to, I decided to slow my pace a little and dropped back, completing the second mile, which was more undulating and twisty, in 7:02. Four tenths of a mile later we ran around Peter Rudzinski, doing a fine impersonation of a bollard, and headed back. Erica must have slowed too, as she wasn’t that far ahead of me. With the confidence that I had from beating her last night, I caught up with her and looked for an opportunity to overtake her, however she wasn’t for giving in so easy tonight and I had to make several attempts before passing her around the 3 mile mark, the third mile having taken us 7:05. I pushed hard to ensure that she didn’t overtake me and concentrated on closing the gap on the, far travelled, Moray Road Runner ahead of me.

Graeme Aitken (aka Sputnik) cheered me on as I chased after the Moray runner with Erica in hot pursuit of me.

Moray Road Runner caught in the final strait.  (pic by Kenneth Phillips)

My fourth mile at 6:43 was the fastest of the week, so far, but I was still a fair bit behind the two runners ahead of me. The final 0.8 miles seemed to go on for ever and ever.
I kept expecting to see the finish line around the next corner but it took a while before it appeared. With the end in sight, I made one final attempt and managed to catch the Moray Road Runner, Jim MacGregor, in the final strait, to finish in 29th place with a time of 32:53.  A new PB, another 70+% wava (73) and third overall in my age group at the half way point in the Tour.

Erica finished about 15 seconds later and complimented me on my race, commenting that I was running much stronger than last year. I put it down to my marathon training schedule and pointed out that, unlike her, I hadn’t run a half marathon on the Sunday previous. Bobby Young, who I had failed to catch on Monday, finished saying that he had me in his sights but just couldn’t close the gap.

Full Results 

Huge thanks to the organisers for staging the event. Wednesday’s a rest day for them and the Tour runners but for me it’s a Kilmarnock Harriers’ Championship Race at the very challenging Dundonald 10k.

 

Kilbarchan Klassic

After my day on the bike, it was off of the saddle and back on with the running shoes on Monday. I’ve decided to give my marathon training a miss this week and to run in the Tour of Clydeside Race Series instead. I ran the Bella Belter last year, the final run of the series, but have never run any of the others never mind all of them.

Smiling at the Start (pic by Kenneth Phillips)

I made my way out to the cycle path in Kilbarchan where I joined with 48 other runners and the organisers. It was good to see Chris Upson back from his adventures and many other weel kent faces, some of which had actually run in Sunday’s Helensburgh Half. After the usual chit chat and pre race warm up, we lined up on the cycle path heading west towards Lochwinnoch. Alan F commented on my Scottish Veterans’ vest suggesting that I had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus!

Slacker Runner asked me what time I was after and I replied that I was only using the race as a training run and would be doing about 8 min/miles. However as the race started I found myself running behind Erica Christie and decided to tag on behind her and see how I fared.

The race is advertised as a trail run but is, in fact, an easy run along a relatively flat section of the N7 cycle path. The route takes you out 2.75 miles before turning around a bollard and heading back to the start/finish. We ran the first mile in 6:54 and I was feeling comfortable. Another runner, Eileen Masson, sat on my shoulder for a bit before deciding to overtake Erica and I. I was finding the pace OK and thought about following her but I’m all too aware that my erratic pacing in the past has resulted in Erica overtaking me later on, in more races than I care to remember. I did however share some of the work and took my turn at running beside her and then slightly in front. We completed the second mile in 7:02. I sensed that she was slowing a little and decided to take the lead and push on. The route turns around a bollard at the half way point, which allows you to see where the other runners are in the race. Eileen Masson had already established a significant lead in front of me but I could see that Slacker Runner was within catching distance. The third mile also took me 7:02. With the prospect of catching Slacker and the fear of being caught by Erica I pushed on. With a brief “Hi John” I passed Slacker. The pack in front was a good distance ahead and I had little chance of catching them, in fact at one point I couldn’t see anyone ahead, nevertheless I continued to work hard to close the gap as much as possible and to keep Slacker, Erica and whoever else may be chasing me at bay. The fourth mile passed in 6:43. I could now see that the pack ahead had split up and I concentrated my efforts on catching the tail runner, Kilbarchan’s Jim McMillan, who I remember beating me so well at last year’s Bella Belter. I caught him and chased after the next runner but the finish line was approaching and I was just too late to catch Clydesdale’s super vet, Bobby Young, with Eileen just one place ahead of him.

Hard Finish (pic by Kenneth Phillips)

I had finished in 31st place in a time of 37:33 and was happy with my race. A new PB and a 70+% wava ( 73).  I shared congratulations with the other runners over a cup of water before heading for my warm down and heading homeward.

I spotted Bella Harrier Michael Freshour standing at a bus stop, still dressed in his running gear, and gave him a lift to his Paisley home before completing my journey.

Results Here