Hugh Wilson Memorial 10km Road Race, 27th November 2010

Both photos in this post are courtesy of http://www.roadrunpics.com/.

Today, the Hugh Wilson Memorial 10km Road Race took place in East Kilbride. Hugh Wilson was a member of the host club, East Kilbride Athletics Club, who was tragically killed on his way home from work when knocked off his bicycle in the middle of a main road. My Dad, who used to run for East Kilbride, was a team mate and counted Hugh as a good friend. East Kilbride have always hosted a road race. Since Hugh's untimely death, it has been named after him.

Last night, I attended my friend's brother's engagement party in Shawlands. I felt drained after a tough week at work so, not feeling like drinking, took my car. I was glad I did when I came out the "Church on the Hill" Bar and Restaurant just after midnight to a snow blizzard. Queen's Park's match with Clyde today bit the dust due to Scottish referees taking strike action but the weather would have put paid to it anyway. Having also trained in the morning and needing something to make my mind off my work, I ventured down to the John Wright Sports Centre to give some support to anyone from Cambuslang or my former club Calderglen who was competing.

Two Cambuslang Harriers, Robert Gilroy and Kirsty Grant (both pictured below running the City of Stirling 10k), and a good turnout of my former team mates, lined up in a sadly small field of around 100 athletes, the weather no doubt influencing many people's decisions. Personally, I've been building up to next Saturday's West District Cross Country and didn't feel focussed enough to race. I hope it all pays off. I got myself a vantage point which let me see a good chunk of the race. 

Robert Gilroy (red vest)

Kirsty Grant

Early on, Robert was facing a challenge from Pitreavie's Jeff Farquhaur. By the time I first saw him around 2km in, he was winning that battle and building up a commanding lead. Kirsty meanwhile was overcoming illness and work commitments over the last week, positioning herself as 3rd lady ahead of some decent runners including training partner Claire MacArthur, back running after becoming a mother 6 weeks ago.

The route is a little enclosed around cycle paths and roundabouts so my vantage point let me see the athletes on two occasions. While waiting, I had a chat with fellow Harrier Alistair Campbell, on his way out for the afternoon, and some other Calderglen Harriers. On the return trip past me, Robert was keeping his momentum going, cheered on by his parents. Jeff Farquhaur was now clear in 2nd place. Kirsty was still 3rd lady. Mindful of her missed training this week, I encouraged her to lengthen her stride and use the downhill section to her advantage. Calderglen runners Martin Duthie, Alan Cullie, Eddie Reid, George Stewart, David Herbertson, Jim Holmes and Colin Banks also looked to be putting in good shifts in the cold, slippery conditions.

From there, I switched position to the final kilometre stretch into the finish. Robert was too quick for me because the first runner I saw was Jeff Farquhaur. Calderglen's Martin Duthie was running strongly towards finishing 4th. If there was a team prize, Calderglen may have got it. Kirsty was now looking tired and had been caught by Claire and a Calderglen lady. There was nothing in it though, a sprint finish would still have sealed her 3rd lady's prize. She had clearly put a lot into the race. I gave her all the encouragement I could and just hoped having someone shout you on when you were spent at least helped a little.

Robert won in 32:22 ahead of Jeff Farquhaur and Kirsty clocked 44:08 for 5th lady, quicker than her last 10k but a minute away from her personal best. Plenty still to come. Paula Wilson of Kilmarnock Harriers won the ladies race. I'm unsure who was 2nd but Claire MacArthur sneaked the 3rd lady's award ahead of Calderglen's runner.

My thoughts now turn to my own big race a week from now at the time of writing.

Football- Where Speaking English Is A Big Ask

I read an article in one of the English broadsheets a few years ago which made me smile as did the readers' feedback a week or so later. They were both about what you could call "football speak," referring to the way the English language is totally torn apart by players, managers and pundits. Next time you listen to one of the radio stations or watch a live broadcast or highlights package, you are highly likely to hear at least one of the words or phrases I'm about to list. There are no doubt plenty more.You will never hear any of them utilised in any other walk of life.

So here we go with my random list. Some I remember from the original two newspaper pieces, others have come to mind myself. All the comments on each one however are my own.

"it's a big ask"- an absoloute pet hate of mine, describing when a team finds themselves "with a mountain to climb" (see, there another one). According to my dictionary, "ask" is a verb meaning to make a request or inquiry, invite or require. It is not a noun. I want to scream anytime I hear someone say this. It sounds clumsy when you say it out loud. Notice there is no such thing as "a small ask." Not yet anyway.

"all credit to them"- a team is never congratulated. Well done is never said. They get "credit."

"we set out our stall to get a result"- this provokes images in my head of teams setting up a pitch at a car boot sale. In addition, even if you lose, is that not a result? You maybe want a good result but win, lose or draw, you have a result.

"very much so"- next time you watch Match of the Day or Match of the Day 2, listen out for Alan Hansen or Lee Dixon saying this. Why use one word like "yes" when three will do?

"at this particular moment in time"- another unnecessary extension of the language when "just now" or "at the moment" would do.

"covering every blade of grass"- a physical impossibility but a lot of players seem to do it.

A ball is never simply kicked into the net. It is fired, hammered, toe poked, tapped, stroked or curled past the "helpless" or "stranded" goalkeeper. Also, a header is not a real header unless the ball is "bulleted." Finally, playing the ball into the opposition's penalty box is always "whipping it into the danger area."

"Row Z"- a clearance by a defender never ends up in any other row in the stand. Never seat yourself there.

"in the manager's plans"- describes a player popular with the manager.

"out of favour"- the opposite of the above. A player is never in favour nor out of the manager's plans.

"a bit of stick"- I've never understood this but it's the universal phrase for good natured banter from your team mates.

A football pitch is a fascinating place. There is apparently a big canyon in it between a team's midfield and strikers judging by the amount of times I read about players who play "in the hole." It is also bordered by waterways with the number of players who run "into the channels."

"plucky" or "brave"- describes a wee team which has lost to a bigger club but are seen to have given them a good game.

"professional foul"- there's no such thing as an unprofessional foul though.

"schoolboy defending"- usually used when you've lost heavily or due to a "silly" goal.

"sick as a parrot"- not actually heard very often but I suppose I should throw it in.

So there you go. Any time you hear any of the above uttered, spare me a thought, if it's not too big an ask!

Training Before the Stirling 10k

As you will know from one of my earliest posts, I clocked a personal best for 10km of 31:12 at The City of Stirling 10k on 19th September. The purpose of this post is to give an insight to my training and general build up to the race.

I rounded off my summer on Tuesday 24th August with a 5000m track personal best of 15:06.9 at Shettleston Harriers' Open Meeting at Crownpoint Stadium, Glasgow. This ended a highly successful summer. My best 5000m at the beginning of 2010 was 15:59. I went through the motions for the rest of that week with nothing to really focus on, clocking up an uneventful 33 miles for the week. I then took the entire week off as a rest from Monday 30th August to Sunday 5th September inclusive, not running a single step until Monday 6th September. My build up then began.

Week Commencing Monday 6th September

Monday: 7-7.25 miles easy (46:08).

Tuesday: 8.5-9 miles easy (56:18).

Wednesday: 5 miles high tempo (28:08) with 2 miles easy warm down.

Thursday: Club, 2 x 10 minute efforts with 30 second recoveries, 7-7.5 miles total including warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Glasgow Endurance Session, Glasgow Green. 8 x 3 minutes, 3 minute recoveries, 7.5-8 miles including warm up and warm down.

Sunday: Race- Round Cumbrae 10 Mile Road Race, Millport- 2nd in 53:02, 7 minute easy warm down.

Mileage: 49

Monday's and Tuesday's runs were simply to get the legs moving again. It was Wednesday before I was confident enough to do a harder session and Thursday before I felt ready to go to the club again. I didn't ease down for the race. I was intent on getting into shape, hence the Saturday session and race back to back. I was soundly beaten at Millport by Corstorphine's David Simpson but it was an excellent workout and terrific day out (see my earlier blog post).

Week Commencing Monday 13th September

Monday: 6.75 miles very easy (57:59).

Tuesday: Club run, 7.5-8 miles fairly easy (50:29).

Wednesday: 5 miles high tempo (27:17) with 2 miles easy warm down.

Thursday: 10 minutes easy then 1 x 10 minute effort and 2 x 5 minute efforts, 2.5 minute jog recoveries between each effort, total = 6.5 miles (38:05).

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 3.5 miles easy (22:09).

Sunday: Race- City of Stirling 10k, 7th in 31:12, 4 miles easy warm down.

Mileage: 41

My legs were fragile after Millport, hence, an easy run on Monday with clubmate Kirsty Grant then a not over strenuous club run on Tuesday. I felt a good 10k time was on the cards with the improvement in my tempo run on Wednesday. Thursday's run was squeezed in at 8.10am because I was going to Bellahouston Park for the Pope's visit. This was a benefit because it gave me a long recovery until my jog on Saturday morning which was simply to keep my legs moving.

The night after Stirling, I had another easy run with Kirsty, who had clocked a personal best in the same race. We did the route I had run with the club on Tuesday. It was our third run and the first time it hadn't rained! Since then, I've been into proper winter training.

A Tale of Two Races Part Two

Following my run at Glasgow Uni, I felt I had done enough to earn a little refreshment that evening. I therefore enjoyed a beer in the house watching that hideous, Simon Cowell led entertainment show on ITV that dominates British society to an unhealthy degree. I need a drink to enjoy it now. It's the same brainwashing format every year. Don't get the wrong idea however. I made three low alcohol pints of beer last all night because, one, I was driving the next morning and two, I would be racing again. I got tucked up in bed by midnight and had a great sleep.

On Sunday I made the short drive through to the picturesque market town of Strathaven, finding my way to Kirkland Park Primary School to collect my number and timing chip. This was the Strathaven Striders Run With The Wind 10k. Three Cambuslang Harriers had beaten the 350 runner limit- myself, Colin Feechan and Kirsty Grant. We got together and boarded one of the eight coaches transporting us through the country roads on East Kilbride's outskirts to the race start at Whitelee Windfarm. There are two entrances, one is on Eaglesham Moor with a recently opened Visitor Centre. We were going to the other one only five miles from my home. Various things were discussed on the way up such as my race the day before, Colin's memories of Strathaven as a young lad and when and where Kirsty was going to have her first go at a cross country.

Above: the first photo shows where the race started from. The second one is in Whitelee itself. Both were taken by me during a Sunday run in December 2009.

This race for me, in football terms, was what you would call a home game. Whitelee Windfarm is a regular training venue and I was also familiar with the country roads from training. The race is "point to point." This means you start in one place and finish somewhere else. Our task was to run 10km back to Strathaven, hence, why we had been transported into rural Lanarkshire. My main opposition seemed to be last year's winner Robert Turner, so I was told. As far as I'm concerned though, anyone who turns up at a race can beat you. Everyone who puts their toe on the line is opposition in my eyes.

We set off on the fairly steep downhill first 2km. I found myself at the front but resisted temptation to fire everything. I had raced the day before and I also knew there were some climbs to come. I ran along quite relaxed, lengthening my stride as much as possible. My legs were holding out. The field were keeping pace. I injected some faster surges at different points. By 4km, I was gradually pulling clear.

I had a lead car to follow throughout with a little boy who looked out his window a few times to encourage me. It also had a clock at the back which I tried desparately not to look at. I went through 5km in 15:40. My legs were now hurting. I was keen for the pace to remain constant. There was a lot of talking out loud, encouraging myself to keep going. Things like "move the arms," "keep the knee lift high" or a simple "come on ya big wimp."  At one point, you go by Strathaven Airfield. It surprises me a budget airline hasn't bought it up yet and renamed it Glasgow Strathaven Airport. At 9km, I reached Strathaven and negotiated a welcome slight downhill, a left turn, an unwelcome slight uphill into Kirkland Park then an 80-100m grass straight into the finish. I finished in a tired and sore 31:34, only 22 seconds slower than my personal best. Robert Turner came through in 33:12 followed by Barry Paterson (34:12). There was local success with East Kilbride's Kevin Downie taking 4th overall in 34:29 and first veteran.

Having received my goody bag, stopped coughing and congratulated the three runners previously mentioned, I wandered back out to cheer in Colin and Kirsty. Colin was 3rd in his age category and declared himself satisfied with 37 minutes which shows a gradual return to form. Kirsty finished as 5th lady with a new best by over a minute of 43:07 and declared she is looking to run even faster. I for one am certain she will be doing so sooner rather than later.

The three of us warmed down together before getting some complimentary hot soup and a roll as we waited for the prize giving at the school. I was delighted to receive a £100 sports voucher but even more so with the engraved silver pewter Highland Quaich. This is a shallow drinking bowl with two handles, known as "lugs," originating in the Scottish Highlands. It was used to offer both welcome and farewell drinks to visitors. This quaich is strictly for display purposes only. It's fair to say I've had worse weekends.

Overall this was a very well organised race by a friendly club. I've given a few website links below to give a flavour of the race setting.

Strathaven Wikipedia page
Strathaven Striders website
Whitelee Windfarm website

A Tale of Two Races Part One

This is the first of two parts about my races on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th November.

The races in question were the Glasgow University 5 Mile Road Race and Strathaven Striders "Run With the Wind" 10k Road Race. Why race twice in the same weekend? Well, I had entered Strathaven first because it is a local race and it has a 350 runner limit and if I wasn't quick off the mark, I would miss out. I later found that Glasgow was the same weekend. Last year, the races were 6 days apart. I like Glasgow because it attracts a good quality field. There is also a tinge of sentimentality since it was Glasgow University where I studied and I am a former member and secretary of the Glasgow University Hares and Hounds club. I really wanted to do both so did.

Above: running for Glasgow University Hares and Hounds at the Isle of Man Easter Athletics Festival in 2006.

I had a fairly stressful time of it in 2005 when I organised the road race. It attracted around 280 runners that day. "The Uni" was one of my earliest road races in 2000 when I was 17. The route was testing, including a nasty hill early on up a street called Cleveden Drive.  I remember groaning and wheezing my way round to 217th place out of 292 finishers in a time of 36:07. I think I nearly cried at the top of Cleveden.

Sadly (or happily if you aren't a lover of the Cleveden hill), police concerns have seen the route altered to a two lap course round Garscube Estate, by the Forth and Clyde Canal, through Dawsholm Road and Park, onto Maryhill Road and back into Garsube. That's one lap. You do it twice. Each lap has a couple of testing climbs though not of Cleveden proportions.

The drive to Glasgow's West End was a battle through strong winds and rain. This had subsided by the 2pm start but had an effect on the numbers with only 178 runners lining up. It was a good quality field though.

We set off and much to my surprise I found myself in the top 10 at the top of the first climb. I ran alongside 2007 Scottish Cross Country Champion Mark Pollard. I had two of his Inverclyde team mates, Chris Mackay and Andrew Douglas, ahead of me as well as Edinburgh Uni's Michael Gillespie and Central's Alistair Hay who was clearly returning to training and racing following his 1500m exertions at the Commonwealth Games in October. As the first lap wore on, I was astounded to pull away from Pollard into 5th and be hanging onto Gillespie's coatails. As we entered Garscube Estate for the second lap, my efforts to keep in touch with Gillespie were bringing me closer to Alistair Hay who had dropped off the leaders and looked to be struggling.

As we ran along the canal, I started to entertain notions of catching the Scottish Cross Country Champion. While working hard, I was bounding along well with good knee lift and arm movement. There were around 2 miles to go. I thought "it's too early. Catch him gradually. You'll get him on Dawsholm Road." At the aforementioned Dawsholm, the gap between myself and Hay was down to around 40-50m. Confident of my hill training, I felt I could pass him on the hill leading onto Maryhill Road. Going up the hill, the gap shrunk again. A steward cheered me on there. This proved a catalyst for both Hay and Gillespie who each found a second wind on Maryhill Road and pulled away. Gillespie overtook Hay and disappeared into the sunset. I gave it everything I had left all the way along Maryhill Road back into Garscube. The gap to Hay didn't grow but it didn't shrink either. I was only holding on to him.

I finished 5th in 25:07, a personal best by 1 minute 14 seconds. Chris Mackay won in a swift 23:57 followed by Andrew Douglas (24:09), Michael Gillespie (24:49) and Alistair Hay (25:00). Mark Pollard came through 6th in 25:44. Further back, clubmate David Fairweather was 104th in 34:42 and former Calderglen colleague Charlie Steven returned to his former university clocking a commendable 42:02 having also run the Glasgow Parkrun in the morning in an effort to retrieve some lost fitness.

Post race I felt very satisfied and spent some time at Garscube Sports Complex enjoying the Hares and Hounds' hospitality of sandwiches, cakes and tea. I met two old university clubmates, Michael Pugh and his cousin Kevin Farmer. Michael was club treasurer when I was secretary. He was doing a thesis then and has only now finished it. I admire his tenacity. He also lectures in history and politics at the University of the West of Scotland. Kevin now runs for Clydesdale Harriers and, like me, works in the law, for the Crown Prosecution Service. While contact has been infrequent since uni, I consider both very close friends. We have vowed to keep in contact and get together a bit more often.

Someone else I consider a friend is a man called Des Gilmore who was also present. He has been Hares and Hounds President for a LONG time. About 30 years worth of members know Des. It was good to see him again. Returning to the uni is always a pleasant experience in many ways. It gives me great pleasure to see the Hares and Hounds go from strength to strength.

Scottish Athletics Awards Dinner, 30th October 2010

Thank you to David Robertson for the photographs in this post.

My attendance at this was for no other reason than a perk of being Whitemoss Athletics Club's treasurer, a role I actually relinquished at the club's AGM the previous Monday. Whitemoss purchase a table for 10 every year. The club has won things before, being named Scottish Athletics Club of the Year in 2000 and 2004. Honorary member Allan Scott also won Scottish Athlete of the Year in 2008.

Whitemoss was my first athletics club. I joined at the age of 12. From 1996-2001, I was an active athlete before drifting away to Calderglen Harriers and Glasgow University. I still competed occasionally but without any involvement week to week. I returned after uni in 2006 taking on website duties. Click here to have a look. I then became treasurer in February 2007. Now, I am Mens League manager, website man and compete when the occasion allows. I have a great affinity for the club which is why I stay involved in some form.

This was my third consecutive year attending the awards. There is always a guest of honour. In 2008, it was Paula Radcliffe who was a lovely person. I was fortunate to spend a few minutes speaking to her before the formal part of the evening began. We have one thing (yes, just the one) in common, we are both asthma sufferers. She was very generous with her time, discussing how she coped with asthma. Last year it was Sebastian Coe who I found to be a friendly enough guy. He did what he had to do- made a speech, presented some awards and gave autographs and photographs. This year was former Olympic multi events man Daley Thomson. Incidentally the guests one year were pop group The Cheeky Girls. Sadly I wasn't at that one.

Dress wise, I had the option of my dinner suit or kilt. Either way, it was Halowe'en weekend so I wouldn't look daft. I opted for the suit.

Above: heading for the train to Glasgow

I met club secretary Mark Stringer and newly appointed auditor Willie Sutherland on the train and we headed together to the Marriot Hotel. The red carpet was out. Perhaps not for us. Some time was spent mingling before we were seated. I got chatting to former South Lanarkshire Development Officer Jim Goldie who now works for Scottish Athletics and Kilmarnock Harrier Scott Martin who I've become acquainted with from many meetings at races.

We were seated, some awards were presented then dinner was served. It was filling by the standards of some of these occasions I've attended. The many awards continued. Whitemoss ended its trophy drought in style with two awards. Mark Stringer received the Newcomer to Officiating award. This was very well deserved for someone who has worked tirelessly to keep Whitemoss going at a time when volunteers have been few and far between. 18 year old John Robertson won Young Volunteer of the Year. John is another unsung hero of the club. I can think of few people who deserved their awards more than Mark and John. Commonwealth 400m hurdles silver medallist Eildh Child took the top prize.

Daley Thomson's part took the form of a sit down interview. I wasn't very taken with him. The main reason was his clothing. He could have made more of an effort to dress more appropriately than a fleece and red shirt. Even if it's not your thing, would it hurt to dress more formally for a couple of hours? I got my photograph and autograph. Beyond that, I was unimpressed. The next photo shows myself and John Robertson with Thomson.

A ceildh followed with The William Marshall Ceildh Band. After a fairly pleasant night, just after midnight, five of the Whitemoss delegation were left. We agreed that the night was still young and headed into town. The eldest of our group, Willie Sutherland, knew of a bar with a late licence called The Blue Dog. We found it, in West George Street I think, and had a few more laughs and drinks with some excellent live music from a solo performer until closing at 3am. Thank goodness the clock went back an hour that night. If you're ever having a night out in Glasgow and fancy relaxing in a pub environment a little later rather than a nightclub, track down The Blue Dog. My first visit will not be my last.

Above: enjoying the atmosphere in The Blue Dog, Glasgow, left to right: myself, Willie Sutherland, David Robertson, John Robertson, Mark Stringer.

We beat the mad rush, getting a taxi back to East Kilbride no problem and I managed my 13 mile run on Sunday morning with no ill effects (well, not TOO many).