At the start of the week, a glance at the 5 day weather forecast suggested that the weather would have the final word on the 30th running of the Troon 10k. High winds and heavy rain don’t fill you with any sort of enthusiasm for being outside, much less dashing about in shorts. Thankfully though the weather forecast gradually improved over the week, and Wednesday evening was with cool and dry, if still a little windy. Not ideal, but certainly better than feared. The event proved immensely popular: sold out within a week of accepting entries. So despite being a championship event, only three Bellas got through. Results show 933 finishers, so a big field. A mixed bag for the Bella results: Rose was pleased with a solid 44:39, just a minute behind her 10k PB.Shona’s a regular participant at Troon, but didn’t feel too good on the day, so was pleased to get around and finish with a sub-45 time of 44:46. I somehow managed to take a full minute off my 10k PB at my first outing at Troon, finishing in 42:25. I fear I’ve been talking about it to anybody who’ll listen (and one or two folks who feigned disinterest…). A particular mention required for the Troon Tortoises who organised the event. Whilst it was my first time running this event, I was hugely impressed with the event, the course, the goodies at the end, but particularly the marshalling. A phased start was honoured by participants and worked, and friendly, supportive and effective marshal out on the course directing runners and traffic. The nice weather ensured a good turnout from the town too, so lots of high-fives to the children, and plenty of cheers on the return leg through the town. All in all, fantastic stuff and a great evening. I can see how this event’s proved popular over the years, and look forward to giving it a bash again in future years. Well done Troon for putting on a superb event, and to everybody who took part. Richard Photo by Richard Webb cc-by-sa
Troon 10k – 6 May 2015
A number of Bellahouston Road Runners were in action at Spring Marathon’s in Rome, Brighton, Rotterdam, Manchester and London. Although not everyone achieved their goals, there were inspiring performances across the field. Well done everyone. Photo by David Lockhart
Silverknowes in Edinburgh seems a long way to go for a 5k, but this was a Club Championship race and also included the Scottish Athletics 5k Championships. Although it’s a pancake flat course with great views down by the Forth, the strength of the field was only exceeded by the strength of the wind. The strong field spurring runners round to good times, the strong wind holding them back. Not that this seemed to hamper winner Calum Hawkins, who broke the course record to finish in 14:17, nor Hayley McCrorie who took the Bella “Performance of the Day” award – demolishing her previous 5k PB by over a minute. Photo from Peter Gallanagh
I hadn’t ever thought about doing an ultra, until I saw the message from Grant: “the Fling is open, and will sell out by lunchtime”. Nine fellow Bellas quickly replied “I’m in”, and I got caught up in the moment. Suddenly I was “in” too. It took a couple of snowy trail runs for me to realise just what being “in” meant, including (but not limited to): a) running on trails is brilliant but utterly knackering b) everyone signed up is massively fitter, younger and stronger than me c) long trail runs take absolutely ages, something I haven’t yet broached with my family I wasn’t really sure I’d stick with it. One early training run from Milngavie to Balmaha over Connick hill was a real wakeup call – if I felt that bad after 19m, there’s no way I’d even make it half way. I overheard Matt Williamson at the club saying “you should still be pretty fresh when you get to Balmaha.” Fresh?! Cut to 4 months later, and it’s the morning of the Fling. I’m a ball of nerves sheltering from the rain at 5:30am in Milngavie train station with 750 other ultra runners who look calm and experienced. It’s an amazing thing, the Fling; John Duncan’s self-supported jaunt up the West Highland Way has grown from less than 20 people in 2006 to 1000 entries in this its 10th year, with full Scottish Ultra Championship status. None of which is making me feel any more relaxed. After the initial shock, training had gone ok with plenty of back-to-back long runs, but as the clock got nearer to 6am I couldn’t dislodge the fact that I’d never run further than 30 miles in training. As for a race plan, despite having set my sights on “just finishing it”, I’d secretly worked out that if all went well I might finish in around 10hrs 20’ – which Grant then posted on Facebook. So that was it then! A quick “Good luck” to fellow Bellas Tommy and Stuart and it was time to go. The hooter sounded and hundreds of us set off through Mugdock and out to the Beech Tree Inn. I’ve done this bit loads of times, so I got chatting to a guy who had come all the way from Devon. It’s a weird feeling chatting while ‘racing’, but it definitely helped to settle the nerves and keep the pace sensible, and we arrived at Drymen (CP0,12.6m), 10 mins ahead of ‘schedule’, to huge cheers from the Bella support crew. As the trail heads out towards Loch Lomond, the dreaded Connick Hill reared into view. With Matt’s words ringing in my ears I kept asking myself how ‘fresh’ I felt a I ran-walked up to the shoulder, passing a few runners whom had started too quickly. As we reached the summit, the clouds cleared and Loch Lomond sparkled into view – stunning! A quick smile for the camera and I was bounding down the other side and […]
Scottish athletics article about the Anglo-Celtic plate – 100km, includes our own Grant MacDonald. Bellahouston Road Runners wish Grant, Ross Houston and Andrew Murray the best of luck tomorrow. Scottish Athletics- Anglo Celtic plate
There are just some days when it is good to be alive and Saturday was one of them. Blaenau Ffestiniog was the setting for this year’s first counter in the British Hill and Fell Running Championship: a ten mile race with an accumulative height of just under 9,000m. On Friday night I had rested in a trailer park in the Denbighshire flatlands. That left me with a short drive in the morning through the Conway valley into the unfolding drama of Snowdonia. Blaenau itself is a small former quarry town hemmed in by massive slate tips and the Jerusalem Congregational Church. After a few hellos to Glasgow runners (including Kenny Richmond, formerly of this parish), the race started in the main street to the sounds of a Welsh heavy metal band and cow bells. A sprint through the town led 360 souls to barge over the railway footbridge and in to the wilds. A combination of paths and quarrymen tracks weaved in and out of old workings. Further up, the ground shifted between being sound, brutal bog and slate surf. The beautiful sunshine didn’t prepare me for the strong winds cutting across the first peak at Moelwyn Mawr (770). The prize for getting out of the wind was jumping big drops and a scrambling round the ridge to Moelwyn Bach (710). That was absolute fun. The descent form the Bach was a steep one, and refreshments at Llyn Stwain Reservoir were a relief. Trouble with relief however is it makes you relax, and I then had to dig in and climb steadily up Craig Stwaln and Moel-yr-hydd (648). A few folk passed me at this point, and I clutched to the old hymnal for inspiration. The final descents were a chance to savour the echoes of industry and dreams of a nice bath. There were a few stubborn undulations to punish my lack of training near the end but nothing was going to stop me enjoying such a wonderful day. For the record, Finlay Wild of Lochaber secured a Scottish victory in 1.13, yours truly was 316th in 2.08. Durisdeer next. David Stakes Youtube Video by Huw Jenkins – read his report: Campbells Cottage – Huw Jenkins blog
There was a great turnout of 25 from the Club completing the Tom Scott Memorial 10 mile Road Race on Sunday. Well done to everyone who took part – the results are shown below. Let us know if you’re missing a PB () trophy: Full results are available here: Tom Scott 10 Mile race – full results Photo by Graeme Paterson
The sun was shining for the Clydebank 5k on Saturday, and together with a strong field from across Scotland, conditions were perfect resulting in strong performances across the board. This fast, flat 5k always produces a host a PBs and this year’s race did not disappoint. Thanks to all the supporters who turned up to cheer and all who took part. Full results can be found here: Clydebank 5k 2015 – full results
Well done to everyone from the club who took park in the race yesterday. Conditions were pretty good & there was plenty of support out on the course. Special mention to Bruce Carmichael for storming round well under 75 minutes (1.14.08) Sorry I didn’t get the chance to see everyone at the finish but from the size of some of the smiles I saw it looked like quite a few people had a brilliant race (clock the number of PB in the Bella results table below – Ed). Highlight of the day for me was seeing the smile on Alison Brown’s face at the finish. I think she might have won the lottery. It was also good to catch up with the Terminator from Conundrum. Last time I saw him he was mumbling something about how he’d be back so nice to see he was true to his word. Keep up the good work. Graeme Personal Best: Season Best : Full Results can be found here: Alloa Half Marathon – Full results
Congratulations to Bellahouston Road Runner, Grant Macdonald, who came 3rd in yesterday’s Lindsay’s Borders Marathon. All part of his preparation to represent Scotland in the Anglo-Celtic Plate 100km race in May. Grant’s incredible story is also featured in the April 2015 edition of ‘Runners World’. ‘Available from all good retailers’ as they say.
There was a cracking turnout of 30 Bellas today at the Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon. Conditions were pretty much perfect, so ideal for some good racing and some fast times. The Bella crew did not disappoint: Louise Ross won the prize for 4th Female Mary Senior won the prize for 2nd FV40 Louise, Romy and Mary won 1st female team prize Coach Paterson got the prize for 5th Male (as well an awesome London Marathon ‘Championship Start’ sub-75 qualifying time) The first three Bella men were also awarded 2nd team prize – woohoo! But on closer inspection, Greenock Glenpark were clearly 2nd and we were 3rd. Doh! Most importantly though was a whole raft of PBs today, which is always great to see all that hard work in training paying off. Asterisks have been dished out below, but let us know if you’ve been missed out from the PB hall of fame….. Well done everyone, you did yourselves and your club proud. Bruce Carse Men’s Captain Full results are available here: Full Balloch Clydeank Half Marathon Results Race website is here: Balloch-Clydebank HM website Photo by Oscar Wild
I’m pondering where the report for the National Cross Country championships at Falkirk’s Callendar Park is, given a whole week has passed since the race. My first conclusion was that everyone is trying to blank out the memory of the sleet, hail, wind and mud, and the last thing we need is a further reminder of the cold, wet and mud with a race report. But then the more likely explanation struck me. Ordinary Bella club members just feel their writing skills and narrative of the cross country race in Falkirk are just too unworthy to follow that eminent, animated, and inspired Conundrum race report from Peter. So here’s a dull race report. It was freezing. And very wet, with runners contending with rain, sleet and hail throughout the day. The wind blew most club tents away, and really ripped through the tape marking the course. There was lots of mud to run through. And a lot of hills. Not sure I have reconciled the trail shoes v spikes debate: a good part of the course is on rocky trails which were great for my trail shoes and I took a fair few runners on this stretch; but trail shoes meant I pretty much had to walk up one steep muddy hill as it was impossible to get any grip so I just went backwards at this stage. This was my first cross country, and my main objectives were to stay on my feet and not get injured. I did achieve these, but I will be adding not getting hypothermia to my key aims for the next one. I was sent home early to thaw out, so I missed cheering the boys on in their race. Everyone who ran in such conditions deserves applause, but the performance of the day goes to our club for keeping the lovely Bella gazebo upright to give us a bit of shelter before and after the races. by Mary Bella results are here Scottish National XC 2015 – Bella results
The final standings for the Bellahouston Roadrunners Winter Handicap Championship 2014/15 are shown below. Well done to our winners Helen and Tony, both are prime examples of what the handicap is all about, with both rewarded for showing vast improvement over the winter. Well done also to everyone who took part and completed the Winter competition.Brian O’Donnell-Club President Women Final Standings Mens Final Standings
Bellahouston Road Runner Results from the Scottish National XC -22 Feb 2015 are in the tables below. (Winner of each race is also included at the top of each table). The Women’s team placed 20th – Ciara Baxter (114), Shona Donnelly (131), Mary Senior (141) & Helen Craig (163) The Men’s team placed 11th – Bob Reid (87), Greig Glendinning (137), Graeme Paterson (156), Andrew Campbell (164), Bruce Carse (174) & Iain Burns (180) Full results are available here Photo by Hamish Barbour