21,000 Thanks to You!

I took the decision last year to add a counter to my Blog and, perhaps, an even bigger decision to set it so it didn’t include my visits to the site. I had no idea how many visits to expect but I do know that I am delighted to have received 21000 hits over the past 365 days!


For some reason my visitors don’t tend to leave comments, either positive or negative, on this site. However quite a lot of people do leave comments and ‘likes’ on Facebook and/or when they meet me in person, usually at various races.

My thanks to each and every one of you, I hope to continue to ‘entertain’ you for many years to come!



I had to laugh the other night when, live on BBC Radio 6, Marc Riley read out an email from me and said 'That's not your real name, is it, Jimmi?"

It's All About the Bikes

I've not been doing as much cycling as last year but I've still managed to chalk up 1000k so far, primarilly in commuting to and from work.  I'll set myself a wee target of 2011k for the year and see how that pans out.  It's always good to have an achievable target to aim at.

Top Tens at Two Mile TT

BELLA HARRIERS TIME TRIAL RESULTS TOP TEN 

 

Robert Dips Below Ten Minutes

MEN  

Robert Gilroy 9.59/ Cambus.

Tommy McDonald 10.15/Bella H.

Mark Patterson 10.59/Bella H.

Brian Douglas 11.04/Bella H.

Craig Reid 11.06/ BRR.

Gerard Scullion 11.15/ BRR V40

Shaheed Akeem 11.19/ Unatt.

Jim Breen 11.21/ Hamilton V40

Brian French 11.24/Bella H

Mekanon 11.51/Bella H (Junior)

 

WOMEN

Suzanne McMahon 12.26/Bella H V40

Erica Christie 12.56/ Bella H V50

Yvonne Winchester 14.07/Bella H V40

Jayne McNamara 14.09/Bella H

Elaine Mair 14.55/Bella H

Lorraine Fenion 15..04/Bella H V40

Suzanne Boyle 15.05/Bella H

Kathleen McLeod 15.38/ Bella H V50 

Fiona Ross 16.20/Bella H.

Laura Todd 16.35/Bella H.

Pic by Angela Campbell

Bellahouston Harriers Two Mile Time Trial - 7 July 2011

Having run a fairly testing interval session on Wednesday, I wasn’t really up to a two mile race on Thursday, however I had a ‘three mile easy run’ scheduled and decided to combine them both.


I headed down to the home of Bellahouston Harriers and ‘warmed up’ by running along the puddle strewn road in a heavy rain shower. As the rain abated, I lined up with the other runners for the start of the two mile time trial. The numbers were down from the June event, probably as a result of the weather, and there was no-one evident that I could focus on for a race. I wasn’t too disappointed through, as I really wasn’t psychologically or physically prepared for a race.

Nearly Finished

At 6:58pm we were set off on our way through Pollok Park, running from Cartha Rugby Club towards Pollok House. I never rely on Garmin within Pollok Park but post race analysis would indicate that the first k took me just under 4 minutes (3:56) before I settled down to a 4:26 pace for the next two kilometres. If I hadn’t had a few people breathing down my neck, I would have probably slowed down a bit in the hilly second half of the race. I was therefore not at all concerned when first Alan Dempster and then Richard Leyton overtook me. It’s good to see both of them finding a bit of form. I did give myself a kick up the bahookey and increased the pace for the last wee bit of the race, to take me over the line in a time of 13:24.

Post Race Banter

17 seconds slower than on 9 June. I wasn’t surprised at my time as I wasn’t really in race mode and in this game you don’t improve on your performances unless you work hard.

Not Fit to Run a Taxi Firm Let Alone a Media Empire

Of course my lack of effort didn’t stop me enjoying in the post race repartee, accompanied with some rather fine home made soup and rolls, before ‘rewarding’ myself with a pint or two of the black stuff and heading home to catch Question Time and the debate about the outrageous activities of the Murdoch Empire. 


Once again thanks to all concerned with the friendly event.

Pics by Angela Campbell
Results to follow.

Bellahouston Harriers 2 Mile Time Trial 9 June 2011 - Full Results

Men's Race

Pos’n Name Club Time
1 Robert Gilroy Cambuslang 10:00
2 Tommy McDonald Bella Harriers 10:22
3 Andy Campbell Bella Harriers 10:43
4 Kenny McCoy VP/CoG 10:47
5 Steve Prentice Bella Harriers 10:55
6 Mark Paterson Bella Harriers 11:09
7 Matthew Brown Bella Harriers 11:16
8 Brian Douglas Bella Harriers 11:17
9 Brian French Bella Harriers 11:18
10 James Breen Hamilton 11:25
11 Al Mclauchlan Bella RR 11:38
12 George Adams Bella Harriers 12:06
13 Graeme Gemmel Bella Harriers 12:17
14 Sandy Eaglesham Cambuslang 12:18
15 Keith Gibb Bella RR 12:48
16 David Mooney Bella Harriers 12:50
17 David Boyle Bella RR 13:07
18 Ian Goudie Kilmarnock 13:07
19 Brian Barr Bella Harriers 13:13
20 Richard Leyton Bella RR 13:21
21 Mark McGoldrick Bella RR 13:23
22 Howard Scott Bella Harriers 13:30
23 Alan Dempster Unattached 13:35
24 James McMillan Kilbarchan 13:44
25 Tom Henery Bella Harriers 13:47
26 William McAllister Bella Harriers 14:02
27 Ian Mcleod Bella Harriers 14:15
28 Tom Keenan Bella Harriers 14:18
29 Jim Byres 14:46
30 James 14:52


Women's Race
Pos’n Name Club Time
1 Suzanne McMahon Bella Harriers 12:21
2 Erica Christie Bella Harriers 13:08
3 Elaine Mair Bella Harriers 14:12
4 Jennifer Clark Bella Harriers 14:44
5 Pauline McGonigal Bella Harriers 14:57
6 Suzanne Boyle Bella Harriers 15:05
7 Jessica Gorman Bella Harriers 15:07
8 Eleanor O’Rourke Bella Harriers 15:10
9 Kathleen Mcleod Bella Harriers 15:51
10 Liz Gordon Bella Harriers 16:47
11 Diane Mayes Bella Harriers 16:48
12 Gillian Armour Unattached 16:59
13 Carol Keenan Unattached 17:00
14 Fiona Ross Bella Harriers 17:10
15 Allison McBeth Bella Harriers 17:12
16 Linda Mclean Bella Harriers 17:46
17 Fiona Gauld Bella Harriers 17:50
18 Emily Gilleece Bella Harriers 17:52

Elementry My Dear Watson

I've been spending some time in getting to know a little bit more about post photograph editing techniques. I have Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 but, probably like most people, I tend to stick to two or three techniques which I am familiar with.

Here's a couple of examples of how photographs can easily be enhanced:

Emma Before

Emma After



A77 Before



A77 After



Ninety-Nine Not Out

My Wine about the By-Election
I stayed up late on Thursday night, watching the Inverclyde By-Election and drinking copious amounts of vin rouge.  I must admit that, with an election of such significance, I thiought that the standard of candicates would have been higher.  Likewise the turnout, at only 45%, is a sad reflection of the state of politics in Scotland.

Back to Running
Now that the Polaroid Series of 10k road races is over, I’ve started a Half Marathon training schedule aimed at the Glasgow race on September 4. The schedule had me running 28 miles during the week but had a ‘rest day’ on the Friday. Just when I needed to sweat out the vino! I had hoped that I would be OK on Saturday but instead, after a restless but sober night, I awoke with a second day hangover. The sun was already shining brightly as I donned my new Polaroid Sport shades and headed out towards Motherwell for the Strathclyde parkrun.


I remembered that the new motorway extension was now open but didn’t know where the access roads to it were. However I had participated in the 14k run along the motorway a few weeks ago and made my way to where that race had started. A few minutes later, I was driving eastwards along a very quiet motorway. It seemed strange to think that, the last time that I was here, I was accompanied by thousands of runners and cyclists.


It didn’t take long for me to reach the shores of Strathclyde Loch and meet up with the regular band of happy volunteers, who make the event such fun. A welcome addition to the team is Anthony Butler, who introduced himself to me and quipped that he read my blog ‘religiously’. As well as the usual turnout of Lanarkshire Club runners and joggers, there was also a large presence of Bellahouston Road Runners, who had included today’s race in their Club Championship. Although there was no Mark McGoldrick today, David Boyle and Keith Gibb would, once again, be joining me at the Start line.


Twenty One Pace Setter
Jammy Jo asked me if I would act as a pace setter and I changed my 50 parkrun vest for one with 21 emblazoned on the back. After my warm up and with sweat already dripping from my forehead, I passed on some tips to first time Strathclyde runners on how to manage the, physiologically testing, long return stretch of the out-and-back course.

Strathclyde parkrun #63
I lined up with the other 129 runners and, after exchanging well wishes with those around me, we set off at 9:30am, along the west side of the Loch.


There was a strong field, particularly from Bella Road Runners and Motherwell AC, and it didn’t take long for Chris Black, Craig Ross and Bruce Carse to establish an early lead. As usual, Keith Gibb and David Boyle had shot off from the Start and I was left behind them but I was far from disappointed when Garmin revealed that I had taken 3:59 for the first kilometre. If anything, I had started a bit too fast for a 21 minute pacer but there was no cause for concern as my heavy legs and the beating sun ensured that my pace soon slowed.

Caught You...........

Just before the first mile, the route leaves the shore, narrows and heads slightly in land. By this point the field had spread out and I had settled into a pace. I could see David Boyle ahead and despite slowing, I knew that I was closing the gap on him.

Pacing in the Sun - pic by Alistair Cox

The second kilometre took me 4:17 and, with some quick mental arithmetic, I worked out that this would be fine for a 21min pacer. Around the halfway point I caught David and another four or five runners and, rather than settling into the pack and taking the easy option, I decided to run on the grass and overtake them all. I was now in front of the pack and maintaining my pace. I could feel the other runners on my shoulder and hear their footsteps but I wasn’t fazed at all. I was the pacesetter and this is what I was expecting to be doing.



I had to work hard to maintain the 4:17 pace as I made my way around the return leg of the route but it seemed to be working as I caught a few more runners before reaching the 4k marker. At this point the guy on my shoulder overtook me and I was kind of relieved to see that it was Strathaven Strider, Ian Devoy, rather than David Boyle.

Excellent Result?
After what seemed like an eternity but was actually another 4:17, I crossed the line in 21:07 and received congratulations from the timekeeper and then Ian – who had finished in 21:01 - for my “excellent pace setting”. Of course, I would have preferred to be 7 or 8 seconds faster. I collected my barcode and turned to see Garry Henderson, William Buchanan and then Mary Senior – running a PB – all finish behind me. A number of other runners thanked me for pacing but said that they just couldn’t keep up with me in the heat. David Boyle had faded to finish in 22:29, whilst Keith had run a superb PB of 19:35!

Post Race Coffee
After chatting with a few more running buddies, I decided that, rather than head to the Waterfront Café, I would make my way back to the Burrell for my post race coffee and chat. The new motorway took me all the way from Strathclyde Park to Pollok Park and a few minutes later I was chatting away with the usual suspects at Glasgow, who, initially, seemed a wee bit confused before I explained the situation.

My 99th 5k Result
The published results confirmed my time as 21:07, the second fastest that I’ve run at Strathclyde. Whilst updating Fetch, I realised that I had completed my 99th 5k. I now need to give some consideration to where I’ll do my 100th.

Full Results

Photos