To distract myself from missing out on marathon running this year, and enticed by the thought of doing less weekly mileage, I reckoned I’d have a go at the exact opposite: track racing. Unfortunately it turns out it’s every bit as tough as road running, just more intensely tough for a shorter period of time. And the first session I tried of 10x200m (with 60s recoveries) looked like an absolute doddle on paper, but trying to do the reps in 30s soon took its toll – stinging lungs and a tweaked left hamstring. This was going to tougher than I thought. An early ‘tester’ race in the 800m was another eye-opener. After a slightly keen 64s first lap I well and truly paid the price on the second lap, with lungs that felt like I was breathing fire and spritely legs suddenly turning to lead. One of the toughest training sessions has to be 4 x (200/400/200) with 200 at 800m pace (i.e. flat out) straight into 400 at mile pace, then straight into a final 200 at 800m pace. Try it sometime. After the first one-and-a-half of these you’ll be ready for an early bath. Seriously, I would rather do 10 Sherbrooke loops than that session again! Despite the training being brutal, the taper for this 1500m race had gone well and the legs were feeling good. And it was to be a rare chance to run on THE track used from the Commonwealth Games (which had been taken up and moved to Grangemouth) it was all looking good. At registration I was told that I had to be at the ‘call room’ at least 20 mins before my event, which was all starting to sound a little bit serious! But that aside there was a friendly atmosphere and a few familiar faces from the road racing world. After 2-mile warm up jog, plus some strides and drills (I hope coach Paterson is reading this…) and we were ready to head out to the track for some nervous chit-chat at the start line, and everyone asking everyone else what age category they were in and trying to work out who was racing who. And before we knew it…. BANG! The first 300m were fine, I got there in 51s. The next lap was OK too, although a seriously dry mouth was making it hard to breathe, but was there in 2.04, so still on course…until… Uh-oh, the dreaded 3rd lap, and this is where things are starting to tighten up a bit. With the leader opening a decent gap ahead of me, there was nowhere to hide on the back straight into the headwind (which to be fair wasn’t that strong) and I was starting to struggle. I made the classic mistake and eased off slightly, thinking “I’ll just save my energy and run the last lap extra fast”. No. No you won’t. Come the bell for the last lap all those thoughts of a Mo Farah-esque 59s blast […]
Racing
11 Bellas took the trip down the coast to Girvan for this Club Championship Half Marathon today. The race was well organised and marshalled so a big thank you to Girvan Athletic Club for putting this on. It was a productive afternoon with Bruce Carmichael and Debs Gray 1st Male and 1st Female respectively and the ladies team prize went to Debs, Hayley McCrorie and Maree Shepherd. Congratulations and well done team! Well done to everyone who took part and congratulations to those who PB’d on a challenging course. Results below:
It was a 6am kick-off on Sunday morning as Robbie Hayman and I made 2 and half hour journey north to Braemar for the start of Lairig Ghru race.As I left the house it was Glasgow liquid sunshine! The rain was bouncing off my car. The weather for the race was to be cloudy with sunny spells, but this was hard to believe as the rain didn’t stop for the full journey. We reached Braemar just before 9am and headed along to the Village Hall to register for the race and I spotted the first bit of blue sky, this was looking good. Once registered Robbie and I headed back to the car to collect our running gear where we bumped into David Stakes who was also doing the race. All 3 of us headed back up to the start line for the briefing before the race started. The start line was between to lamp posts in the middle of the main street through Braemar. I don’t remember much of the briefing as the 3 of us were all wishing each other good luck for the race. After the briefing finished 30secs later the race started as there was a car waiting to drive up the street. So we were off! Robbie and I had planned to go at a nice steady pace as we know there was a fair distance ahead of us. I checked my Garmin at the first mile at it was showing 7.30 pace so I said to Robbie that this pace might be a bit fresh so early on and he agreed. Mile 2 then dropped to a 7.10 quickly followed by mile 3 hitting a 6.50. I think someone forgot to tell Robbie that we weren’t doing the London Marathon. 😯 We then hit our first hill climb on the trails and I looked at my Garmin and it was showing 7.10 pace, it was then I though this going to be an interesting run. As we made our way along the trails for a few miles Robbie mentioned if you looked up often enough the scenery looked brilliant and I couldn’t agree more. The views were stunning. A few rivers had to be crossed along the way before we hit the Boulder Field! The path at this point started to get a wee bit more twisty then we came up to the start of the Boulder Field. Robbie was leading the way and he looked a lot more comfortable about running over the top them than I did. At one point I looked to my right and seen another runner pass by me and he looked as if he was floating over the top of the boulders, and I also thought he was doing this wearing a pair of Flip Flops. My feet and toes on the other hand were killing me as I think I was playing boulder football. Looking ahead there was Big Robbie just striding over the top of them […]
Well done to everyone who turned out for the President’s Cup 5k Handicap race this evening and thanks to everyone who helped out. Congratulations to Norman Boyle and Lynne Goldie who won the men and ladies trophies, and kudos to Bob Reid who was closest to his predicted time. Bruce Carmichael was the fastest male on the night in 15:52 and Ann Robin fastest female in 19:16. Full results below which allow you to sort on any particular field by clicking the arrows in the column header. Email races@bellahoustonroadrunners.co.uk with any queries.
Hosted by neighbours Bellahouston Harriers, last Friday was the Brian Goodwin memorial 10k at Cartha Rugby Club. The course is two laps of Pollok park followed by beer and a burger at the finish. This Club Championship race is usually very popular and this year was no exception with a good turn out from the Club. Well done to everyone who took part and thanks to the Harriers for a well organised race. Bella results below: Photo by Rose McRobert
The second counter in this championship was held at Durisdeer in the Lowther Hills on Saturday. A record entry of 270 was a far cry from the 33 who did it last time. The crude statistics of 14.7km and an accumulative climb of 1240m told only half the story of a challenging course of steep climbs / descents, sheep trods and rock strewn grasslands. I ran with Derek Rigmand who bravely was only just recovering from a nasty “fever”. We arrived in the beautiful hamlet of Durisdeer in good time. The hamlet of about 12 houses and one huge church has the air of “Brigadoon” about it (it sleeps for 100 years between races). After Derek took some of the healing waters, we wandered into the gothic mausoleum to discover a stunning burial vault covered by a large marble canopy, carved cherubs, and macabre skulls. However enough, on with the race as they say. The first section is a steep climb up Black Hill (531m) followed by a sheer, sheer descent down the rock strewn “Pettylung”. After Dalveen farm the course follows two very steep valleys around Steygail. Line choices were critical here. I stuck to the burn for the first half which gave a bit of an advantage over those contouring around the hill. Once round the hill my fence “hurdle” left my foot caught in the wire, face in a thistle and calves in a spasm. The course then involved clambering further over rough ground to Lavern burn. This then led to the foot of Well Hill which is a total misnomer. The hill is an ill crawl. After that there was some good running for tired legs back round to Black Hill. It was on the route back up Black Hill that the “healing waters” kicked in for Derek and he flew passed me. Heading down to the finish, my time was well up on last year and I was feeling well chuffed. Unfortunately however hill running is a cruel mistress. Before hitting the funnel, Brian Brennan of Westerlands, flew passed me still clutching the sole of a shoe he had lost half way round the course. There was consolation for my soul in the wonderful array of post-race tea and cakes in the church. Tired bodies were strewn about the church yard with their picnics made me mindful of the Mexican Day of the Dead. The whole day was wonderful and topped by Scottish victories for Tom Owens (Shettleston) and Jasmin Paris (Carnethy). Next stop Wasdale. David Stakes Photo by Chris Wimbush [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By 11 and a half miles I was thinking “You’re havin a giraffe” On Fri 12th Lynn and I headed down South to run the St. Albans half marathon for the first (and last) time on Sunday the 14th June. The weekend started well with a wander round Borough Market to sample the tasy delights on offer washed down with some Pimms. The weekend continued in the same vein (eating and drinking) until Sunday arrived and with somewhat leaden feet I made my way to the start thinking “What possessed me to enter this half marathon”? One to do if you’re a bit of a masochist Now many of the reviews had mentioned frequently about how undulating this race was and I thought “Nah it can’t be that bad”. How wrong I was. The route twisted and turned it’s way through “undulating” country roads with hill after hill. By 11 and a half miles I was thinking “You’re havin a giraffe” as we hit yet another hill. The icing on the cake was near the finish when finally there was some downhill which promptly took you round some cones only to go back up the hill then into the park! Argh! I swear whoever planned this course route is a sadist. Despite both our moaning we finished in one piece with times of 1:33:24 for me and 1:57:51 for Lynn. St. Albans half marathon – one to do if you’re a bit of a masochist LOL Elaine
Well done to everyone who ran the Rouken Glen 10K, Thursday 11 June. On a tough course on a hot night there weren’t many PB’s to be had, but there were some prize winners. Bruce Carmichael finished 3rd overall, with Russell Whittington one place behind in 4th, and first vet. Deborah Gray was 2nd lady overall, with Ann Robin 4th and first vet, and Ciara O’Connell 8th, meaning the Ladies team trophy was retained. Deborah, Ann, Ciara and Bruce pictured. Full Results here
The third Polaroid Series 10K of 2015 took place last night with 32 Bellahouston Road Runners taking part. Russell took 2nd place V40 and Tom was 3rd V60. Once again there were a clutch of PBs. Well done to everyone who ran, and a big thank you to the “travelling support” shouting encouragement on the way round. Full results can be found here: Clydebank 10k – 28 May 2015 Photo Copyright Steven Hill used with permission
Just a quick round-up of the results from Thursday night’s race in Dumbarton. Well done to Tom McMillan, 3rd place in the V60 category and Andrew Allen 4th V50 category (narrowly behind 2nd and 3rd place). Also well done to Bruce Carmichael, 6th place overall in a very competitive race and sub-33 mins for the first time! Photo copyright Daren Borzynski
Distance: 15.5k Climb:870m The sight of blood running down the knees of the unlucky ones made me more determined to get down Fellow Bella Jamie Howie & myself ran up and down Arran’s highest along with another 200. During our voyage across from Ardrossan the waters were choppy with rain thrashing down on us – memories came flooding back to last years Bella Arran weekend – “Martie Pellow”. Stepping onto the Island and by some miracle the skies cleared and the rain shifted over to the mainland which brought a smile to all. Heading on foot over to the Ormidale Pavilion the atmosphere was building, jackets & layers getting stuffed into rucksacks leaving Goatfell with a blue background. Once dressed we decided to go for a little run around the grass field at the back of the Pavilion chatting to other runners with the main topic being “who’s going to finish in second place?”. You start with a lap on the grass with plenty of support from the sides then out onto the road for about a mile leading up onto forrest trails before you start to climb onto the hill. Trying my best to keep going the steepness really kicks in which brings you to hands on knees dance forward – most people do this. About mile 4 a tall bearded guy wearing a white vest with a blue band across it came flying towards me, this guy was motoring and was obviously in a hurry to get down – it was Finlay Wild – David Beckham of Hill Running. By then I realised I wasn’t going to win this race, I was 20mins away from the top. It gets tricky near the top with a little scrambling involved, however, the descent is bonkers, finding top gear comes easy but dangerous dodging folk that have still to summit. The sight of blood running down the knees of the unlucky ones made me more determined to get down before I got bitten by the Mountain Beast. Running down boulder fields allows only for nano-second decision making on foot landings, plays havoc on the brain especially when other runners are trying to overtake you. Eventually you hit the trail allowing to push a little harder and any luck over-take a few that went out too strong. The last section brings you back down through the forest onto the road for the last mile. Well marshalled throughout, you finish with a grass lap and plenty of shouts to run faster(I will next time) then over to a water station followed by tea,coffee and all the cake you can devour. Nobody really cares who finishes second, which is a shame. Finlay Wild 1hr 14mins “unofficial” giving him a 2min Pb on last years time. This race is well organised from top to bottom, with the Arran Mountain Rescue guys out on the mountain which brings a massive sense of security. Derek’s time 1hr 50min {unoffical} Jamie’s time 1hr 58min {unofficial} Look forward to […]
Well done ladies, an impressive turnout on a slightly soggy morning. Special congratulation to Debs Gray, who was 7th overall and 1st FV40! Let us know if you’re missing a PB trophy icon. Photo by Rose McRobert
Last night was the first of this years Polaroid 10k Series in Helensburgh. With the race added back into the Club Championship this year there was a great turn out of 30 Bellas. The Men’s team took 2nd place and Bruce took individual 6th place prizes. Results below, race report to follow. Full Results from Stuweb here Photo from Henry Merriweather
Some strong runs across the team from our bunch of Road Runner’s at the Whangie Whizz on Wednesday. Bob Reid in particular breathing down the neck of former Bella Kenny Richmond (Shettleston) at the finish, and Elaine Somerville losing out to Michelle Hetherington of Helensburgh and having to settle for 4th place female. Full results on Scottish Hill Racing website Photo by Danielle Glendinning
Given the weather during the week we were blessed on Saturday when the sun came out for Ben Lomond Hill Race. 166 runners took part and despite my pre-race nerves I was enjoying the relaxed atmosphere before the start until David (Stakes) mentioned times! Yikes! Had been thinking more along the lines of “I hope I get up and down this in one piece!”. My fear gave way to excitement as we set off and started snaking our way up the hill. The conditions were great with just a small amount of snow to contend with. It was hard work but I enjoyed every part of it to finish with a time of 1:40:07 (I’m convinced I would have been under the 1:40 if that dug hudnae stopped dead in front of me!) Well done to David who finished with a great time (PB I think) of 1:41:37. We even got to get some sunbathing in at Rowerdennan Hotel before the minibus took us back to Balmaha. A smashin’ race if you fancy something a wee bit different. by Elaine Photo croppped from original photo taken by Ian Dick – CC BY 2.0