Amazing Who You Meet 2

On holiday in Southport in the north of England in July, I discovered that the pop group Same Difference were doing a performance locally on a Saturday night. They are made up of brother and sister duo Sean and Sarah Smith. They were finalists in the 2007 edition of Simon Cowell's annual Christmas holiday fundraiser, "The X Factor." To jog your memory, it was the year Scotsman Leon Jackson won. Remember him?

I quite enjoyed their performances on the show and, dare I say it, voted for them in the final. When I heard they were doing a wee tour of seaside towns in England, I decided to see them.

A lot of the surrounding entourage was concerned with promoting their single "Shine On Forever" which was due out in August. It made the UK Top 100...peaking at number 100! It makes their pleas to pre-order the single to help them to number 1 look very optimistic.

Above: Same Difference performing in Southport, July 2010.

While not flying high in the charts, they are making a decent living for themselves and seem to enjoy what they're doing. After an enjoyable enough show, I paid my £6 and queued up for a photograph with them. Both put a lot of effort into their performances and seemed like genuinely nice people in the short spell I had to speak with them. I wished them well and still do.

Above: a outfit change and increase in tempo.

Above: meeting them afterwards.

Scottish National Cross Country Relay Championships, 23rd October 2010

Thank you to Chris Upson for the photos used in this article.

I went into this race off the back of the two training weeks described in my last two posts. I had a real desire to put my below par run at Rouken Glen to bed, the reason why the previous week's training had been jumbled about so much. I wanted to be as fresh as I could be. There was a tinge of regret that my last outing saw a demotion to the 2nd team but I had been given 2nd leg which I was happy with.

Such was my focus, I passed up the chance of a nice wee Friday night out at Whitemoss Athletics Club's dance, instead being in my bed asleep before 11pm.

What's it called?- Cumbernauld, as the saying goes. Cumbernauld Park has not been a happy hunting ground for me. I've had various bad racing experiences there. Something that always draws me to it though is the fact some scenes from the 1980s Bill Forsyth film, "Gregory's Girl" were filmed there. I believe the residential area leading to the park was also a filming location. The school, Cumbernauld High, wasn't. Abronhill High was used.

Having reported to headquarters (club chairman David Cooney), I wandered down to the park with David Munro and Chris Wilson. I'm always happy to chat with folk pre-race. When it comes to warming up, I'm more individualistic. I prefer not to get involved in other people's warm ups. Some like to go round the whole course. I prefer not. I tend to limit things to a 5 minute jog maximum, some stretches and strides. I feel you need the energy when racing. I'm usually also too nervous to do any more anyway. I will warm down with anyone for as long as they like.

As the senior women's race raged on and the senior men field of around 130 teams got underway, I walked/jogged the first and last 300-400m sections of the course. It was muddy in patches, firm going by Cumbernauld standards. In our 1st team, Stewart Orr was maintaining a top 10 place with 2nd team starter Jack Hamilton not far off him.

Before I knew it, I was in the start pen and setting off. I don't know what it was, I had a real aggressive determination to do well. Stewart came through 9th with Jack a close 13th, near enough for me to attempt a contest with the next 1st teamer, Stephen Wylie. I must have started quickly since I heard my Dad telling me to slow down. Passing someone in the first 100m was quick I suppose. Going up the first hill, there were a few of us around including Conor McNulty of Kilbarchan and Central's Alex Hendry. The fellow red and white vest was also there. I decided to take my chance early on at a downhill stretch, picked up the pace, passed Wylie and two others (not the two previously mentioned), took the tight right turn and bounded up the hill, attempting to run hard off the top. That might sound a bit like my High Point hill session. Situations like that are a reason I do it.

As the race wore on, my target changed from bettering Stephen's time to totally upsetting the apple cart and bringing the 2nd team in ahead of the 1st team. Stephen is a vastly experienced athlete though. He would not let go. Every time I got a shout, it was followed seconds later by a "come on Stevie." When an athlete came alongside me, I worried that it was him.

By some miracle I got down to the finishing straight and through the funnell without being passed by a red and white vest. There were a lot of twists and turns, up and downhills along the way. I was pleased with my time of 13:18 for the 4km, delighted to be quickest in the club on the day and totally elated to discover later in the evening I was 18th quickest overall. Where on earth did all that come from?

Despite feeling like death warmed up, I managed a 12 minute warm down round part of the route in reverse while cheering on other club members and one or two of my former Calderglen teamates. Robert Gilroy took 3rd leg for the 1st team when the natural order was restored. In saying that, 18 year old Bobby Bristow, who I gave 9th place, put in a gallant effort to keep us in 10th. On final legs, Iain McCorquodale brought in the 1st quartet 5th and Jamie Reid earned 7th for the 2nd string. The 3rd team was 23rd, aided considerably by Chris Wilson who did 2nd leg, taking over from Alistair Cambell, gaining 33 places in the space of his approximately 13 and a half minute run.

Inverclyde won the race from Shettleston and Central.

Back home, I wasn't quite satisfied so went out another 7 minute jog warm down. I decided against a Saturday night out, instead contenting myself with a beer or two at home prior to my 12 mile run the next morning mentioned in my last post.

If I can keep something close to this going in the future, I will be a happy man.

Training, Week Commencing Monday 18th October

Saturday 23rd October saw me participate in the National Cross Country Relay Championships at Cumbernauld. This went extremely well, seeing me clock the 18th fastest time of the day of 13:18 on the undulating 4km course. The event will be the subject of a separate post. For now, here is a little bit about my build up that week. If you've read my previous post, you will know I had a strenuous 52 mile week with some tough sessions built in. I went into this on the back of that.

Monday- track with the club on a chilly night. It was myself, Alistair Campbell, Bobby Bristow, Stewart Orr and Jack Hamilton participating. 8 x 600m with 200m jog recoveries. Rep times were from 1:45-1:48. I was happy enough. The warm up and warm down gave me just over 6 miles in total.

Tuesday- I did the same cross country hill session as last Thursday on the High Point hill circuit. I moved this to tonight so I wasn't doing an over difficult session only 2 nights before a race. I felt quite jaded. My pace was slightly slower than before. Purpose was achieved though- a run on a hilly cross country surface.

Wednesday- I was now in easing down mode. I'd had a tiring working day, being up at 6.20am to catch a train to Edinburgh for a seminar. I combined the trip with a visit to the running store, Run and Become, to use up a 10% discount card and a £15 voucher I won at the Penicuik 10k in May. I purchased a long sleeved Nike Stay Dry top and a fluorescent yellow Ron Hill running jacket. Full price, £100. Discounted price, £75.

I got back to the office in Burnside (just outside Glasgow) at 3.45pm, caught up with my mail and phone calls then made a sharp exit at 5pm to do the short drive up Brownside Road to the club for a run. I met up with fellow Harrier and occasional training partner Kirsty Grant to set off on a fairly hilly, traffic laden 6.75 mile run in the rain taking us up to East Kilbride and back. I tried out my new Ron Hill jacket. After an effort taking 56 minutes 10 seconds I felt a lot better. It was a recovery run for me and a brisker effort for Kirsty so there was mutual benefit. It was the sort of night where I could have gone home first and just decided to have my tea. Meeting someone and going out immediately helped a lot.

Thursday- I moved my tempo run to tonight, shortening it from 8 miles to 5. I did this in a brisk 27:44. I dispensed with the jog warm down afterwards, doing some gentle stretches instead.

Friday- Rest. I sacrificed going to the Whitemoss Athletics Club dance, instead being in my bed asleep before 11pm.

Saturday- The race. More on this in a future post.

Sunday- longer run. I met up with Kirsty at the club at 10am to do a 12 mile route in the Cambuslang and Rutherglen area we had done 2 weeks earlier. Kirsty is someone who joined Cambuslang a little over a year ago improving substantially since, e.g. improving her 5k PB from around 28 minutes at the start of the year to 21:47. She is looking to improve more. We do the odd run together when the opportunity arises. After an energy sapping race yesterday, this was such a time for me.

On 10th October, we ran the route in 1:41:33 (according to my watch). This time, on a gloriously sunny morning, we completed it over 3 minutes quicker in 1 hour 38 minutes without feeling any more stressed. Progress for Miss Grant indeed.

This was a lighter week of 40 miles. Sessions were mixed up a bit to ensure I was fully freshened up to race. I had been really anxious to improve on Rouken Glen. Next  week, with no race, will be along similar lines to week beginning 11th October, the same types of sessions on the same days with mileage between 50-55.

Training, Week Commencing Monday 11th October

I had no race this week so have decided to give a little idea of my training. While I've been involved in the sport of athletics for a few years, there has been a lot of trial and error, good points, bad points and inconsistency. It is only over the last 2 years or so I have pulled things together on a consistent enough basis to achieve real notable results. I have always done the necessary training at some point or another but not as regularly as required. Lifestyle factors, such as university and work commitments, have had a lot to do with that.

Week beginning Monday 11th October is about as close to what I would call a "typical" training week. I begin counting the mileage on a Monday purely because the training diary I use is set out that way.

Monday- a track session of some description with the club. More endurance based in the winter and shorter, faster reps in the summer. Tonight was 10 x 500m with 200m jog recoveries. Warm up was an easy 2 miles on the road and warm down a gentle mile or so on grass. Rep times ranged from 85-88 seconds.

Tuesday- easy run. I try to get down to the club for this since I prefer to have company as much as possible. Distance ranges from 6-9 miles. Tonight was 9.5-10 miles easy from the house since I wanted to watch the Scotland v Spain footie match on Sky Sports.

Wednesday- tempo run, longer in winter and shorter in summer. Last winter, I got up to as much as 10 miles for a tempo run with a short jog warm down afterwards, giving me almost 11 miles overall. Just now I've been doing 8 miles with a 2 mile warm down. I did this tonight. I'll get the tempo part up to 10 again in due course.

Thursday- last winter this was mainly hill reps with the club. In the summer, it was road reps of some sort. I feel I didn't handle the cross country conditions at Rouken Glen very well so I did a cross country hill session on a circuit near the house called the High Point, so called because it's the highest point in East Kilbride. My little circuit is 600-700m long and includes a steep climb up the High Point. I did 6 circuits with a short warm up and warm down. The whole session was only 5 miles in total but was high in effort.

Friday- rest. I usually need it by now.

Saturday- some sort of reps session or a race. After doing the McAndrew and West District relays in consecutive weeks, I opted to train this week. I did another cross country session, the Glasgow Endurance Session at Tolcross Park. These are arranged during the winter and are open to athletes from all clubs. A session is set, a coach times it, fairly simple. Today was 6-10 x 4 minute efforts on grass with 3 minute recoveries. The further I went, the better I felt so I completed all 10 reps. It was a big confidence boost.

Sunday- longer run. I mainly do these on my own but occasionally meet up with others. The start time depends on how wild or quiet Saturday night is. Today I got out fairly early by my standards, 10.15am. I've got a tried and trusted hilly out and back run to Whitelee Windfarm. I generally do something like 40-45 minutes out then high tempo back because it's mainly downhill heading home and perhaps a short jog warm down at the end. Today's was 42 minutes out, faster back and a 4 minute warm down, giving me 12.5-13 miles total. I do vary the route sometimes to keep things fresh.

All this gave me approximately 52 miles this week. I'm hoping to reach around 55 and even closer to 60 in the odd week this winter. This was one of my tougher weeks. Saturday 23rd October is the National Cross Country Relay at Cumbernauld. Things will be slightly different in the lead up with an easing off in mileage from Wednesday onwards. Hopefully it brings the desired results.

Amazing Who You Meet

This is a feature I'll throw in every so often when I have a suitable candidate for inclusion and photographic evidence.

In January this year, I ran for the Scottish West Coast team in the 1500m at the Scottish Indoor Inter Regional Championships. The race went tremendously well with 4th place and a time of 4:07, a personal best by 6 seconds (I've since brought it down to 4:05). I welcomed the chance to do a fast race during what was proving to be a biting cold Scottish winter.

A few minutes after finishing, a recognisable face walked in. It didn't take me long to realise it was Celtic striker Shaun Maloney (injured at the time). What brought him to an athletics meeting at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall, I don't know. Any of you who know me at least a little will be aware I'm no lover of the Old Firm. In saying that, I was happy enough to ask him for a quick photo and he graciously obliged.



Scottish West District Cross Country Relay Championships, Rouken Glen Park

These championships took place at Rouken Glen Park in the leafy Glasgow suburb of Giffnock. It's an easy enough place to get to from East Kilbride. Even I can drive there without getting lost. Conditions were dry if a little chilly, alright for some good racing.

 

The build up was less hectic with no Irish visitors to pick up. I turned up to find a fairly firm 2 lap 4km course in wait.

 

This week's race had an earlier start time of 1.30pm so, being on last leg again, it would feel like less of a wait. A lot of Cambuslang's recognisable names had turned up for this, meaning that even though I was named in the first team, I knew there were more than a few of us capable of bettering each other. The first 3 teams could have been picked by drawing lots as the results eventually showed.

 

I enjoyed making acquaintance with a couple of those aforementioned recognisable names. These included Steven Wylie whose name was well known to me but I had never actually met. He competed at my first 2 races for Cambuslang, the Scottish 6 Stage Road Relay and Tom Scott 10 Mile Road Race in early 2009. At neither did the opportunity to speak arose. He had noted my own progress and we reached some common ground on training, that there are no big secrets- hard work and consistency can take you a long way.

 

The junior boys and girls and senior women having run, the men set off. The two lap route affords the chance to see a good chunk of the action. There was only one change to the first team, Iain Reid replacing the absent Ian Munro. The order was Stewart Orr, Robert Gilroy, Iain Reid and myself. It was tight at the front between a few clubs, including our first, second and third teams. In an enthralling battle, Inverclyde's Andrew Douglas battled with one of two Shettleston Eritreans competing, Amanuel Hagos, only narrowing being edged out of the lead. Inverclyde's Scottish internationals Craig Ruddy and Mark Pollard helped keep Inverclyde narrowly in pole position. We were maintaining 3 teams in the top 10. On third leg, Iain Reid kept us 4th, a returning to form 30 year old Joe Kealey had the second team 5th and my fellow solicitor Brian Campbell kept the third team in 8th.

 

I had been saddened at the beginning of the week to hear about the death of Sir Norman Wisdom at the age of 95. I had loved his films, such as On The Beat, Up In The World, A Stitch In Time, Trouble In Store  and The Early Bird, as a child. It was quite apt that when I fished in my back pack for my gloves (I was feeling the cold), I found that I had not brought a matching pair! One of them fully covered my hands. The other left my fingers exposed to the cold. Probably the sort of thing Sir Norman's characters would do in his films. Undeterred, I wore them anyway.

I set off on fourth leg with a similar plan to the week before. Unfortunately I was in a bit of a no mans land around a minute behind Kilbarchan in third with a similar lead over the 5th placed club, our B team as it happened which had the pacy Jack Hamilton on anchor leg. There were now some muddier stretches, I found one or two tight corners and had to duck to avoid some low tree branches. I was pushing hard. The photo below shows me on the first lap overtaking some third leg athletes.

I didn't feel comfortable at any stage. This actually pleases me in a race because I feel if you are comfortable you are not trying hard enough. However, it was difficult to judge how I was doing when I couldn't see the teams in front. I took it, having not been caught by anyone, I was faring alright. The encouragement round the route equalled the week before. I kept battling in the second lap, up the slight incline past the park pavilion to the finish. The next photo gives away the fact I was wearing odd gloves since you can just make out my bare thumb on my right hand. My facial expression here is a bit scarier than the first lap.

My time was 13:56 which was equal 7th amongst the Cambuslang runners but only 15 seconds from being the quickest. It was also 22nd fastest overall out of 227 runners. I suppose it says something about my progress over the last 2 years that I initially felt a little deflated with a performance I would have been raving about in 2008. I'm actually comparing my result with runners like former Scottish Cross Country Champion Mark Pollard and feeling disappointed I have not got closer. I suppose on last leg you are getting the course at its worst when a couple of hundred others have traipsed over it. There is definitely renewed competition among the Cambuslang under 20 and senior men, just the way it should be.

Next race outing for me is the National Cross Country Relay at Cumbernauld on 23rd October. Myself and my odd gloves are anticipating it already.

 

A Team:
Stewart Orr        13:41
Robert Gilroy    13:41
Iain Reid            13:56
Stuart Gibson    13:56

B Team:
Bobby Bristow    14:10
Jamie Reid            13:54
Joe Kealey            14:11
Jack Hamilton      13:51

C Team:
Steven Wylie        13:43
Ian McCorquodale 13:51
Brian Campbell    15:42
Andy Coulter       14:50

D Team:
Al Campbell        15:02
Tam McPake       17:26
D Fairweather     19:04
John McPake      16:58

Vets:
Greg Hastie        14:42
Colin Feechan   15:49
Frank Hurley     15:54
Mick O'Hagan   15:25

Some overall positions:
1) Inverclyde 53:03
2) Shettleston 53:51
3) Kilbarchan 54:30
4) Cambuslang A 55:14
5) Cambuslang B 56:06
6) Giffnock 57:48
7) Victoria Park 57:51
8) Cambuslang C 58:06
9) Kilbarchan B 58:14
10) Bella RR - possible mistake
17) Cambuslang Vets - 61:50
19) Garscube 2nd Vets team - 61:55
22) Shettleston 3rd Vets team - 62:22
39) Cambuslang D 68:30

McAndrew Road Relay, 2nd October 2010

Here is part of the story of a manic weekend of 2nd and 3rd October. It was a big occasion as Cambuslang Harriers welcomed its friends from Armagh Athletics Club in Northern Ireland. Seven athletes plus club chairman Brian Valleley made their way across the pond at the invitation of Cambuslang chair David Cooney who was keen to reciprocate the kindness Armagh had shown to the club over the last 16 years when club members have travelled to particiapte in the Armagh International Road Races. Having experienced that hospitality in February this year, I volunteered to help in any way possible. More on this in a future article while this one focuses on my race experience.

Saturday began for me with a lie in until 10.30am, a relaxed breakfast then leaving with my Dad at 12.30pm for the Premier Inn at Nerston near East Kilbride to greet the Irishmen who had arrived the night before. We transported two of them to Jordanhill in Glasgow for the 71st running of the McAndrew Road Relay. These autumn and winter road and cross country relays are run from September to November. They comprise 4 legs for men and 3 for women over a set distance. In each team of 4 or 3, your first runner sets off. When they finish, the second one goes off and so on until your team finishes. First to finish wins. The McAndrew is run over a hilly road circuit of 3.25 miles.

The race starts relatively late at 3pm. I was pleased to be named in Cambuslang's first team but a tad deflated to be last leg which meant setting off at around 3.45pm. Stewart Orr, Ian Munro and Robert Gilroy would run before me. However, this was actually a compliment because David Cooney had graded the team with the quickest going last. It displayed trust in me that I could handle the pressure with places to be won and lost. I had also noticed this tactic at previous relays with Calderglen in that Robert Gilroy, more often than not, took "the anchor leg" as it's often called for Cambuslang.

I got the opportunity to watch the first leg cavalry charge and to hang about the start area near Jordanhill School catching up with friends old and new. Two of my former clubs, Glasgow University and Calderglen Harriers, were well represented. I timed starting my warm up to co-incide with the leading first leg runners finishing to hand over to their team mates. We were performing well. Young guns Stewart Orr, Jack Hamilton and Bobby Bristow had been split into separate teams and enjoyed the benefit of a race against other. They all came through in the order listed within touching distance of early pace setters Victoria Park City of Glasgow. For my quartet, Ian Munro caught the VP second leg runner to take the lead. No pressure for me then. He gave it a great effort, coming through to give Robert Gilroy 4th place to improve on. Robert had a stormer, clocking 16:27 to give me a pressure leg to run. He gave me 2nd place behind Glasgow Uni.

I set off with one tactic in mind- blast it from start to finish. Going down the first 100m straight to turn left into the main street, I heard more team numbers being shouted by the officials. I recognised one of them as Shettleston's. An Eritrean saved until last no doubt. I had Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab and 2008 Scottish Cross Country Champion Mark Pollard after me while I myself was in pursuit of Glasgow Uni leader Michael Deason.

I got plenty encouragement around the course from the club and others who probably just know my face from races. Boy I needed it. I was giving this everything and more. The course takes you by Scotstoun Stadium. I got a "come on Stuart" from a policeman on duty there. With Mengisteab and Pollard hot on my heels, I had no time to brain storm how many athletes I knew who were also in the police force.

Over half way through, we were coming to the hilly last section of the course. I could see the leader. Incredible! The sound of footsteps came behind then alongside me. It was Mengisteab. He opened a 50-70m gap which then stopped growing. 2nd or even 1st was still on. I battled up the hills without looking back and always assuming Pollard was one stride behind. I never look behind in a race. Closer to the finish, the streets got busier. With two uphills to the finish, Jack Brown yelled at me "the American boy's knackered" referring to Michael Deason. After the last climb, there is an approximate 200m downhill stretch to the finish. Deason, Mengisteab and myself entered it one after the other.

Where it came from I don't know but for that final 200m I found a sprint I've not possessed since my teens. I was desparate to close down the Eritrean and American. I was grimacing and groaning out loud. I ran out of ground. Deason held on by one second from Mengisteab. I was 4 seconds adrift of the East African. Pollard was 20 odd seconds adrift of me to bring Inverclyde in 4th. 5 seconds away from winning the McAndrew for Cambuslang. What a thought.

Once through the finishing funnel, I collapsed onto my knees, face down on the road. After some light hearted fun poking from long time club member Bob Burt, I was back on my feet. I recorded a time of 16:16. This was 1 minute 13 seconds than my last appearance at this race in 2008. No wonder I was in the state I was. I was delighted to learn later I was 4th fastest senior and 6th fastest male overall. Statistics I could only have dreamed of a mere 2 years ago. It's incredible what some consistent training can achieve.

The results on the VP City of Glasgow's website are rather difficult to interpret. I do know Cambuslang's first and second teams were 3rd and 5th respectively. Very encouraging results.

My Dad, reliable as ever, was on hand with a flask of tea to help me regain my humanity. Following a short warm down, I headed home to recuperate prior to heading out for a much needed beer or two with some club members and the Armagh visitors. It tasted great after all of the above, let me tell you. Queen's beating Arbroath 5-2 improved my mood even more.