Sunday 8th August was a fine day for the Achilles Heel Bella 5k race, with the sun making a pleasant appearance for the first time in a while.152 runners took part in the event, 35 from the host club Bella Road Runners. Achilies Heel Bella 5k Results 2010Winning the mens race in fine style was Paul Sorrie from Shettleston Harriers in an excellent time of 14:59, a new course record. Eilis McKechanie from HBT won the womens’ race in an equally impressive time of 18 mins. Paul was followed by David Millar, Irvine AC who took the M40 prize and third was Bella’s own Kenny Richmond. In the ladies race Garscube Harriers runners Lesley Chisholm and Kirsty Husband took second and third place respectively and Lesley first FV35.First Male Team prize went to Bella Road Runners: Kenny Richmond, Ciaran Dougherty and Craig Ross. First Female Team was Garscube: Lesley Chisholm, Kirsty Husband and Jill O’Neil.A fine selection of food was on offer after the race in the Palace of Art for runners and helpers to savour and enjoy the excellent sunshine. Many thanks to all of the volunteers who helped provide such excellent support to the event. Photos will follow soon. Thanks to Gerry Scullion for the race report!
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Brendan sent in another great race report from yesterday’s Lairig Ghru hill race: The 2010 Lairig Ghru race took place yesterday (Sunday 28/6/10). The race runs from Braemar to Aviemore across the Cairngorms and the Lairig Ghru pass. The route starts with a gentle rise out of Braemar along quiet road towards the stunning Mar Lodge, from there its on to landrover tracks for a few miles until you get to Derry lodge which is about 9 miles in. At this point you get on to a good mountain path which rises up and over the Lairig Ghru pass, its about another 7 miles before you get to the top of the pass and the boulder fields. The boulder field feels like it is massive, it stretches for about 2 miles, it has rocks that are considerably bigger than Jane Simpson, which was quite amusing, especially when she started to do a great impression of Muttley, couldn’t see her, could just hear her “shuggin, fuggin, stupid rocks, boulder field ar$e”. The rocks are also quite violent and frequently “jump” anyone that stops paying attention for any length of time… Cue a comedy fall where I end up headfirst down a banking on my back looking like a turtle trying to get myself the right way up. After the boulder field it’s a technical rocky downhill path for about. 2 miles to the top of the forest at Rothiemurchus, no sooner had we entered the forest than I got jumped by possibly the smallest bit of tree root in the Cairngorms, Jane did well to stifle her laughs as i face planted on the forest paths… thanks. Through the forest and on to Coylumbridge where you rejoin the main road and head for Aviemore police station and the finish. We had a nice strong finish averaging just over 7 mins a mile for the last 6 of the 28. We both finished in 4:35:38 (ish) More details of the route can be found at http://www.deesiderunners.com/dp/node/10, and the map at http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/Graphics/Maps/RA-0067-main.jpg A cracking race, stunning views of the cairngorms and really good mixed running ( although road shoes are fine for it). Well done to Jane on completing her first marathon somewhere in amongst the 28 miles that we covered yesterday. Special thanks to Peter Diender for the picture, and permission to use. Check out his other pictures from the event here.
We are very pleased to launch this years achilles heel Bella 5K. The race takes place in Bellahouston Park on Sunday 8th August starting at 11am. All the details are on the events page here. We are very pleased to launch this years achilles heel Bella 5K. The race takes place in Bellahouston Park on Sunday 8th August starting at 11am. All the details are on the events page here.
A massive shout out and very well done to our very own Tracey Murphy who completed the Marathon Des Sables at the weekend. Tracey finished the 6 day, 151 mile race in 204th position overall, and 12th female. Described as the toughest footrace on earth, competitors have to carry everything they will need for the duration (except tent) on their backs. Mid day temperatures reach 120°F and the running or walking is on uneven rocky, stony ground as well as 15-20% of the distance being in sand dunes! Tracey was raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease charity.
Congratulations to Kenny Richmond who broke two club records at recent races. At the Balloch To Clydebank Half Marathon Kenny improved his PB and the club record at that distance finishing in a time of 1:10:27. Following on from that, Kenny also broke the club record and set another PB for 10 miles at the Tom Scott Memorial Road Race at Strathclyde Park finishing in a time of 53:06. Well done Kenny, any more to come we wonder?
Well done to the Bellahouston Road Runners Men’s team who finished in 7th place in the National Road Relay’s held in Livingston on Saturday 3rd April. This was an improvement of two places from the previous year. The Bella ‘A’ Team was made up of Alasdair McLeod, Mark Johnston, Matt Williamson, Russell Whittington, Scott Kennedy and Colin McGill. Well done boys.
The club has – as usual – been asked to provide start area marshals for the forthcoming Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10k on 9th May, 2010. Gent’s from the club, and ladies who aren’t running, can sign up to help out on the club forum. The MHFS 10k for men, on 20th June is also on the lookout for volunteers. The event – the only men-only 10k in the country – is run by a small charity, so is dependent on lots of volunteers coming forward. Find out more, and sign up, on their website. This year all members wishing to complete the club’s championship criteria need to volunteer at at least one running event.
Well done to everyone who ran at the National Cross Country Championships at Callendar Park, Falkirk today. We managed to find the coldest place in the park for changing but it didn’t rain and the sun shone. Underfoot it was frosty limiting the amount of mud on the challenging Falkirk course. Bellahouston Road Runners emerged in 7th place overall in the Senior Men’s race, up one place up from last year. Well done boys! In the Senior Ladies race the girls team finished in 14th place. Many of the team were running at the National’s for the first time so well done to you, and everyone else. Full Results Here
Training Camp will be at Dunolly House in Aberfeldy, on the weekend of 5th, 6th and 7th March 2010. Cost £50.00, please bring along a £20 non-refundable deposit to the club to reserve a place!There will be a range of runs catering for all levels, and is great fun, and a great chance to get to know your fellow club members!
Well done to the men and the ladies teams for winning gold medals at the Renfrewshire AAA Road Race at Battery Park, Greenock. There was a great turnout from the club with the purple vest dominating the senior races. Individual medals went to Shona Donnelly for 3rd lady overall, and Linda Kennedy for 1st vet. Well done everyone!
Bellahouston Road Runners were well represented at the Scottish 4K Cross Country Championships taking place on our home turf of Bellahouston Park on Sunday 31st January. In terms of entries we had the highest number of runners entered of all clubs in the senior races. On the day numbers were slightly down due to illness and injury but we still faired well. We’re all looking forward to our next cross country challenge at the Scottish National Championships in Falkirk on Saturday 20th February when the club should have 30 plus athletes out in force.
Bellahouston Road Runners sent seven full teams (a total of 42 runners!) to the Devil’s Burdens Relay Race on Saturday 23rd January. The top male team and the top female team both scooped 2nd open prize. Well done all! Another success for us road runners up on the hills!
We’ve had a number of enquiries about whether the club is meeting in the current cold conditions. We can confirm that the club is meeting as usual: sessions take full account of the conditions and are always enjoyable! More details on the club forum. If you don’t have an account, please get in touch. See the forum tab for more information on getting an account.
A little rain, a bit of mud and autumn leaves blowing around the park made for excellent cross country conditions today at Pollok Park for the Renfrewshire Cross Country Relays hosted by Bellahouston Harriers. Both captains had a stress free day with all runners reporting for duty as requested. In an exciting climax to the Ladies race our girls were in with a shout of a medal right to the very end, finishing in 4th place, only 6 seconds behind the 3rd place team. The boys on the other hand weren’t so close, finishing in 5th place, but less than a minute from the medal positions in the end. The course was a little shorter than advertised but that just meant the fun was over a wee bit quicker. Thanks to the numerous supporters and all the runners. I hope you all had a good day. Roll on the nationals next week…