Burgundy Bound

I’m off to France today to support Mark Cooper in his epic challenge of running 50 marathons in 56 days.  Mark left Amsterdam four weeks ago and has now run 25 of the 50 runs, on his way to Barcelona. 

I’m flying out to Lyon and then heading to the delightful town of Tournous, on the River Saône, in the south-east corner of Burgundy.  I’m looking forward to supporting Mark, getting some running in myself, seeing some of France and enjoying some of their renowned food and wine over the next seven days.

Polaroid Clydebank 10k

I headed along to Clydebank this evening to take some photos of the annual Clydebank 10k road race.  Some fine performances from the Eritreans as usual with Shettleston Harrier  Tsegezab Tewelde winning the race ahead of his club mate Amanuel Hagos and Robel Negash of Bellahouston Harriers who placed third. 

In the women's race, Alison Docherty of Central AC was a clear winner, followed by Jill Knowles and then Lesley Chisholm.  With Nicola May and Jennifer Telford also doing well it looked like the Scottish Prison Service would lift the female team prize for the second week in a row.

A special mention is due to Louise Hill Stirling of Ayr Seaforth who followed up her success at the Land o’ Burns 10k by winning the junior women’s races on two consecutive nights.

Photos here

Results here 

Turning Back the Clock

I headed down to Seafield Pavillion in Ayr on Wednesday 26th May to take part in the inaugural "The Land o’ Burns 10k Road race". It’s been more than three months since I ran that far and it’s been some 36 years since I was last at the Seafield Pavillion. I was a 17 year old youth then playing rugby for Kilmarnock Academy against the town of my birth. I remember it well as I played out my skin, tackling anything that was moving to the cheers of the travelling support and the consternation of the locals.

This time my challenge was much less, merely to get around the 10k route without causing too much damage to my ankle.

There was a great turnout from Kilmarnock Harriers and a good turnout from Irvine too. There were a few other clubs represented and a significant number of unattached runners and even Tommy the Clown. In fact the numbers registering on the evening were so large that the start had to be delayed by five minutes.

We set off in the gorgeous Ayrshire sun and headed towards the seafront, a left turn took us into the wind and along the promenade, where Kenneth Philips shouted my name. It was then over a pedestrian bridge, across a field and around a housing estate. Back to the bridge and the much needed water station, a right turn along a shaded narrow path beside a burn and then onto a main road. I had started fairly quick with a 6:53 first mile but had consciously slowed significantly and was running at about 7:27 min/mile pace. There was a lassie with platinum blonde hair who must have slowed too as I caught up with her and passed her.

I was also now in untried territory, having ran more than the 3.9 miles which I had run recently at Strathclyde Park for MND Scotland. The marshal directed us up a hill to our left and we were soon running past the scenic Burns Cottage and the 8k mark. My left lace had become loose, despite having double tied them, so I had to stop briefly opposite Rozelle Estate to tie it.

When I set off again, I couldn’t see anyone ahead of me and I couldn’t hear anyone behind me. I reached the 9k mark and for some reason thought that the last 1k would be downhill, it wasn’t, it was slightly upward. The next marshal directed me off to my left, informing me that it was “through the gate and a couple of steps”. I heard him repeat the phrase and realised that someone was close behind me. I was running straight into the sunshine and was thankful that I had decided to run with my sun glasses on. I saw the first woman home, Joasia Zakrzewski on her bike, and she encouraged me as I sprinted towards the gate. I managed to clear the two steps into the park unharmed and looked to my right expecting to see the finish line. However it wasn’t there and as I made my way along the shingle path the platinum blond lass (Ainslie Mul), running on the grass, overtook me. I could hear loads of shouts for me as, presumably the Killie lads who had already finished, cheered me to the finish line.

Results show that I had taken 45:11 to complete the course, which was far from a PB (42:19) but not that bad considering my injury and lack of training, in fact it was quicker than my Great Scottish Run of last September (45:17) and not that far off my last 10k outing, the Jack Crawford in February which I completed in 44:14. I placed 61st out of 208 and 11th m50.

All in all a good race, a scenic and varied course, a great t-shirt, a medal, a mars bar, bottle of water and banana, changing and shower facilities (dated and limited) and all for £5 for SAL members! With first place prizes of £100 and numerous other prizes all being presented by the local Provost, Toni McIntosh providing free massages and the option of buying food from the local hot dog van, it seems to me that many other races could learn a thing a thing or two from Ayr Seaforth. The Land o’ Burns 10k Road race is definitely one to be added to the diary for next year.

I headed along to the Golf Inn at Prestwick to see my neice, grabbed a single fish (two lovely breaded fillets)from the take away next door and then back up the road to Glasgow for a well deserved glass or two of vin rouge.
 
Pics courtsey of Kenneth Phillips

Edinburgh Marathon Madness!

One dead, eight hospitalised and 242 runners treated by medical personnel. These were the sad statistics as once again the Edinburgh Marathon attracted the warmest day of the year. Although this year wasn’t effected by the lack of drinking water that blighted last year’s events, the situation was not helped as the starting time of the Marathon was pushed back to allow a Half Marathon to take place, before the main event. This meant that even the elite runners, who started at 9:50 would be out running in the mid day sun. The masses would need to cope with the sun at it’s hottest for much of the race!


Whilst Monday’s television coverage was welcome and did show the leader pulling up a few hundred metres from the finish and then agonisingly force his body, step by step to the line, it did not show the thousand upon thousand of other runners who found themselves unable to run much further back.

I was supporting at around the 12 and 23 mile points and although the majority of runners looked fine on their way out, this was not the case as they walked back. Ambulance staff beside me set up an impromptu water station, others handed out oranges and jelly babies. The competitors were so appreciative of the support that we gave them that many made an effort to put on a brave face, as they smiled for the camera, others made one more attempt to run another few metres. Some shook my hand, ‘high fived’ me or gave me an emotional hug before continuing on their way to overcome the final two miles or so. Every one of them deserves the medal which they received and they all deserve our admiration and respect.

I know from bitter personal experience that this is at least the third year in a row when the event has been held on the warmest day of they year. In any other country in the world the event would be held in the cooler early morning or late evening not the scorching mid day sun. The organisers should pause and have a long hard look at them selves before announcing the final details of next year’s ‘Marathon Festival.’


Loads of photos of the Half and Full Marathon, taken with my new Canon DSLR, here, please feel free to use them.

parkrun Standard

Wee mention for me and a plug for the parkruns in the famous Kilmarnock Standard this week where Lizzie Struthers reported:

At the Glasgow parkrun, Alasdair Murray ran just under 21 minutes as he continues to recover from his recent fine run at the Lochaber Marathon which placed him well up the field of over 300 runners.

At the fairly new Strathclyde parkrun two Harriers were in the field. Murray McDonald showed his recent training with the seniors was starting to pay off as he clocked 20.05, for an excellent sixth place, while Ian Goudie was 15th in 21.46 and first in his age group.
Both parkruns are free to enter weekly 5k races which are open to all abilities, and anyone fancying a Saturday morning workout could do worse than take the short trip to either event.

MND Scotland Four Mile Fun Run for Christine Goudie

I was informed at Strathclyde Park on Saturday that there was a couple of Fun Runs being held on Sunday by MND Scotland, the Charity which supports people with Motor Neurone Disease in Scotland.


I watched my little sister Christine, the runner in the family, fade away and die of the terrible disease and made a mental note to support it in future years. However when I awoke on Sunday I had a quick look at the MND web site and noticed that the race started at 10.00am and you could register on the day. I got my things together stopped at an ATM to get race fee funds and headed out towards Strathclyde Park, in the car this time. I got there at about 9:50 but soon discovered that the races commenced at 11.00am and it was registration that started at 10.00!

Because of my injury I decided to register for the four mile run, rather than the six mile one. I met up with Graeme Aitken and later Karen Quinn, Francis Thompson and Andrew Scott and his running partner. Graeme had also opted for the shorter run but most others including Scott Hastings, were doing the six miler. Graeme has been a regular at this event and filled me in with regards to the course and the standard of participants. The vast majority of which were wearing white MND t-shirts, many with pictures of lost loved ones pinned to them.

My Run

Both runs started together and I lined up with 630 others alongside Scott Hastings and just in front of Graeme. As the whistle sounded a group of runners, including a number of over keen youngsters sprinted off. I wasn’t that far behind them but I had decided to run n the grass as far as possible to protect my ankle. However it wasn’t long until I had caught a few of the youngsters as we made our way along the sunny loch side. I was a bit surprised when the first marshal directed us away from the loch and around the football pitches, where a group of runners (jog Scotland?) were training. As my Garmin bleeped to indicate the first mile, in 7:07, Graeme overtook me. I hung on behind him but the culmination of my sore ankle; a lack of training; yesterday’s race and cycle and last night’s alcohol was taking its toll, I was therefore more than pleasantly surprised to run the second mile in 7:02. However I was aware of a woman running behind me and I wasn’t too surprised when her she, wearing her Hamilton AC vest, overtook me just before the water station. I noticed that neither she nor Graeme took any water but I had my sensible head on and decided that taking the time to have a drink of water wouldn’t spoil my run. Unfortunately not long after this, despite ensuring that I had double knotted them, one of my laces came loose. I stopped at a bench and retied it before making my way up the only real hill on the course. It was then down hill, along past the beach, onto the road and along to the left in front of the Water sports Centre to the finish line. I was making some ground on Lindz but Graeme was finishing really strongly. To the cheers of well wishers I crossed the line in a time of 28:08. Garmin revealed that the third mile had taking 7:36 and the final one 6:23! My GPS also pointed out that the last ‘mile’ was only 0.89 long. I had finished in seventh place and first MV50+, although there wasn’t any official times or a prize for me, the winners on the day were all of those who had taken part and MND Scotland for the fantastic work that they do for such a well deserving cause.

No Pain No Gain?
I and a runner from East Kilbride Rugby Club were the first finishers to take up the ‘kind’ offer of a free post race massage. He obviously doesn’t practice yoga and he screamed his poor little eyes out as the masseuse went to work on him. I just about survived without screaming.

Sunday Brunch

After the usual post race banter, I gave Graeme a lift back to Glasgow before heading home with the Sunday paper for a well deserved brunch and siesta.

 

Running pics courtesy of the MND Scotland web site

25 Mile Cycle to Strathclyde Park and Back, Stopping to Race the parkrun

I decided on Friday that it would be a good idea to combine some cycling with a short run over the weekend. The Glasgow parkrun with its many hills and turns really worked my injured ankle last week so I ruled that out and instead plumped to do the less winding and flatter Strathclyde parkrun. It’s been on my radar since it commenced on 10 April. A quick text to Susan Clark and she agreed to join me in the venture and we arranged to meet up at 8.00 on Saturday morning to give us plenty of time to cycle the 13+ miles from Shawlands to Strathclyde park. We arrived in loads of time, the journey taking 60 minutes and chatted with the Race Director, Ally Robb, and her band of merry volunteers and fellow runners, including Kirkintilloch’s Ada Stewart, Hamilton’s Jim Breen, Killie’s Murray McDonald and Strathaven’s Andrew Scott and his cycling partner.


Strathclyde parkrun #6
At 9.30 we were off heading along the grass and then the tarmac path along the loch side. There was a bit of a shower just as we started but that soon died out. I had started near the front but as we reached the first marshal, who directed us slightly away from the lochside at about one mile, the field had already spread out. I overtook a couple of guys just before the turning point. The course is needle shaped and as the next marshal directed us back along the loch side, I could feel the strong head wind and wished that I had someone to run behind. Unfortunately there was a good gap in front of me to the next two guys and then a further gap to the group in front of them and then the leaders spread out ahead. Unlike the Glasgow event, at Strathclyde you can see the tent at the finish line straight after the turn, which makes it a long 2.5k finish. You can also see, through the bushes, some other runners making their way out towards the turning point. I spied Ada there and then not too far behind her Susan.

At the 4k marker I had caught up with the two in front but didn’t have enough energy to overtake them, in fact it took me a lot of effort to stay with them. With about 500 metres to go I increased the pace and overtook both of them, however in the last 200 metres or so the faster of the two (Derek Shand SM30-34) caught me and left me for pace as he sprinted over the line.

I Won !!  (My Age Cat)
I placed 15th overall with a time of 21:46 and was the first MV50-54, with a WAVA of 68.64%. One of my goals this year was to finish first in my age group and I had achieved it! Ada finished second woman and Susan fifth.

Full Results

Post Race
I rewarded myself with a well deserved coffee and bacon roll in the Waterfront Café, neither of which matched the high standards of the Burrell Café, and some good banter with Susan, Ada and Miller Barbour. Ally and her volunteers provided some excellent home baking though and informed us that the event, which has been attracting just over 80 runners, had achieved 100 runners for the first time.

Arabs, Staggies and Free Pies
It was then back on the bikes and up though Hamilton and a heavy rain shower before meeting up with the Scottish Cup Final supporters of both Dundee United and Ross County as they made their way to Hampden Park. We made our way to Queens Park and the Farmers Market for some friendly chat, tasters and some purchases too. A big thank you to the Ayrshire butcher who gave me a free steak pie so that I could compare it with the famous Killie Pie produced by his county butcher rival Wales.

Pics
Photo courtesy of Vikki Hare.  More here