2012- My Year in Running

2012 Statistics

Today, I ran the Ayr Turkey Trot 10k, finishing runner up behind an on form Michael Deason (Shettleston Harriers) in a course best of 31:08. Realising this brings the curtain down on 2012 race wise, I'll do my usual review of the year. This is my 2012 in words and numbers.

Races (including Parkruns)- 32, constituted thus:-

Road- 12

Track- 13

Cross Country- 7

1st places- 8 (includes team position in West District Cross Country Relay)
2nd places- 1
3rd places-2 (includes team position in National Road Relay)

Clubs/Regions/Nations Represented:-

Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers- 22

Whitemoss- 7

West of Scotland- 3 (UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, UK Inter Counties Track and Field Championships, BUPA Great Edinburgh 10k)

Personal or Course Bests Set- 11 (not including courses run for the first time)

Championship Results:-

Scottish National Cross Country Championships (12km)- 41:47, 13th place, team bronze
UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships (12km approx)- 38:24, 89th place
Scottish National Road Relay Championships (5.8 miles, final leg)- 29:02, team bronze
Scottish 10 Mile Road Race Championships- 51:04, 4th place, team silver
Scottish Senior Track and Field Championships- 5000m, 14:59.92, 9th place
UK Inter Counties Track and Field Championships (incorporated in British Milers Club (BMC) Grand Prix Final)- 5000m, 14:48.03, 7th place
Scottish 10km Road Race Championships- 30:58, 6th place, team silver
Scottish Inter District 10km Championships (BUPA Great Edinburgh 10k)- 31:33, 5th place, 1st team

Scottish West District Cross Country Relay Championships (4km)- 12:38, team gold

Scottish National Cross Country Relay Championships (4km)- 13:11, 4th placed team

Scottish 4km Cross Country Championships- 12:37, 10th place, team silver
European Cross Country Trial Race (9.8km)- 32:36, 70th place (480 finishers)
Scottish West District Cross Country Championships (9.6km)- 36:48, 14th place, team gold

Other Achievements

East Kilbride Male Sports Personality of the Year
South Lanarkshire Sports Personality of the Year nominee
Scottish Road Race Grand Prix, 9th place
 

Longest Race- 10 miles

Shortest Race- 400m
 

Worst Race- the stand out candidate is the West District Cross Country, probably the worst I've ever performed in a Cambuslang vest and the closest I've come to dropping out a race for a while. I never have failed to finish a race though. When you're shaking your head in disbelief while running a race, you know it's a bad day.

Another one was an 800m at Linwood in July. I was scheduled to run the Cairn Table Hill Race in Muirkirk until incessant rain forced its cancellation. The rain never relented, hence a totally flat performance in Linwood, clocking 2:04.96, which shook me up enough to train towards my best race.

Best Race- the UK Inter Counties 5000m race in Bedford which was incorporated into the BMC meeting in August, both for the result and consequences. As a non BMC member, I was lucky to get into the race but grasped the chance, put in the training and headed in optimistic with 3 personal best track performances over 1500m (4:05.27), mile (4:25.5) and 3000m (8:40.13) in the bag. I was looking for 70 seconds per lap (14:40 pace) and finished the race in 14:48.03. Everything on the night just clicked. The time met the BMC membership standard of 14:55 so I'm now a BMC member which opens up more race opportunities in the summer months. Ironically, my membership card and vest arrived on the same day as the West District Cross Country- see above!
 

Most Enjoyable Race- 3k on the Green- cheap, cheerful and a great laugh.

Summary- it will sound strange to describe a year when I won 7 team medals, represented the West of Scotland 3 times, earned BMC membership and enjoyed a few race opportunities south of the border as disappointing. I do however have a real feeling of "what if" about 2012. I strained my right tendon in January which I feel affected my performances in the National and Inter Counties cross countries. In May I then hurt my left shin, ruling me out of one or two early summer races I'd targeted. I guess I'm impatient. I turn 30 next September and have waited so long to enjoy any success that I feel I only have a short window to achieve what I want to. Comparing this review to the last two though, there is clear progress. Hopefully by training hard and smart and making use of the race opportunities now opening up, especially the BMC series in the summer, my 2013 review will be the best yet.

Compare and Contrast

Saturday 8th December 2012. My day went from this:-

To this:-

It's fair to say I had a better evening than afternoon as, once I finally got the mud off my legs (a full 15 minutes in the shower), I went along to the Cani Fit Christmas night out. St Andrew's in the Square proved to be an inspired choice with a pretty good 3 course meal followed by a ceildh then a DJ, all until 12.30am. One for the road in Maggie Mays while awaiting a taxi rounded off an enjoyable do which I rather needed, otherwise, I would have just dwelled all night. Thanks to all who were there for their company.

Hopefully the flashbacks from Inverkip stop soon....

Scottish West District Cross Country Championships, 8th December 2012

"I ran the National Cross Country Championship on Hampstead Heath, and helped Gateshead Harriers to second place team medals. There is an old saying about 'horses for courses', and this race showed me just how true it is. My style of running is best suited to bouncing off the smooth hard surface of a track or road. The 1981 'National' consisted of 9 miles of unrelenting deep sticky mud, and I slipped and slid my way to 56th place, five minutes behind the winner Julian Goater."

Source- Charlie Spedding, From Last to First, page 96 (first paperback edition).

The West District Cross Country only took place yesterday but the experience was such a horrific one, I cannot get it off my chest quickly enough. I like flicking through Charlie Spedding's book every so often when I need something to help me in running. I came across the above quote. I could sum up my experience at Ardgowan Estate, Inverkip in one, brief paragraph.

I ran the Scottish West District Cross Country Championship on Ardgowan Estate, Inverkip, and helped Cambuslang Harriers to first place team medals. There is an old saying about 'horses for courses', and this race showed me just how true it is. My style of running is best suited to bouncing off the smooth hard surface of a track or road. The 2012 'West' consisted of 6 miles of unrelenting deep sticky mud, and I slipped and slid my way to 14th place, 2 minutes 53 seconds behind the winner Derek Hawkins.

Can you see what I did there? Charlie Spedding's paragraph sums up my experience yesterday in a nutshell. After a small lap to start, I got into a group of 5 with Derek Hawkins, Andrew Douglas, one of Shettleston's Eritrean athletes and our own Wegene Tafese. What followed came totally unexpectedly. I was totally ill prepared for the scale of the mud and, before long, runners were passing me. My head went down big time. At the end of the first of 2 laps, I was genuinely on the verge of stopping. However, I've never pulled out a race and never intend to, therefore, whatever it took and wherever I ended up, I intended to finish. I ploughed on, failing to get any rhythm going whatsoever. 5 Cambuslang athletes had passed me so, with 6 to count, I had a battle to remain one of the counters. Only the 6 counters get the medals. Not since the year I finished last in every cross country I entered had I felt so awful in a race. Horrible feeling. I did manage to stay ahead of our 7th man, Charlie Thomson, to take the 6th spot. That target alone got me through the 2nd lap. Woeful as I felt, I did seek out every guy I could find who finished ahead of me to offer a handshake- Thomas Fay, Stephen Trainer, Chris Devenney, Michael Deason and all 5 of our guys. I couldn't find the others, Derek Hawkins, Andrew Douglas, Sean Fontana or Kerrick Hesse.

Above: a long, lonely, soul destroying slog. Photo courtesy of Kenny Phillips.

In the end, we were very convincing team gold medallists thanks to me in 14th plus Wegene Tafese (2nd), Iain MacCorquodale (7th) then Ben Hukins, Kerry Wilson and David Munro finishing one after the other in 9th, 10th and 11th. An excellent, dominant team performance. They say time is a healer but, as I write this, I'm still a bit raw.

In a strange paradox, on returning home, I had a parcel containing my British Milers Club membership for 2013 and vest. Some good race opportunities await next summer. At least there isn't any mud on a track. 

3k On The Green, 30th November 2012

Feeling tired after Liverpool, I was more than happy to have the week off work, especially at this cold, dark time of year. Work had been seriously getting on top of me, making me fraught and anxious so a few days away from the daily cycle of work, training, eating, sleeping were a god send. I resisted doing any double sessions (bed was a more appealing place to be in the mornings) and stuck to my normal training regime but enjoying more recovery time- track on Monday night, club run on Tuesday night, hills on Wednesday and a relaxed 8 miles on Thursday though I did the latter 2 sessions during the day. Fellow Harrier Dave Thom tipped me off about the monthly 3k On The Green which happened to be on Friday lunchtime so, feeling I'd had enough rest all week, I abandoned my rest day to have a go.

On race day, I got up nice and early at 9.45am (!) so I wouldn't be late for the 12.30pm start at Glasgow Green. My target all week was to be up before the Popmaster quiz began on Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show at 10.30am. It wasn't easy but I managed it every morning with varying amounts of time to spare. Race headquarters was at the McLellan Arch in Glasgow Green which I found with the aid of Google maps. Paying at the parking meter, my coins weren't being accepted. A local told me the meter "didn't like too many coins." I'll remember that line next time I get a parking ticket. It took enough to let me stay until around 1pm so I hoped and prayed I'd be finished and warmed down by then.

This was a very informal affair. A well dressed guy who looked to be on his lunch hour showed up with 2 paper cups (one for the £2 entry fees, the other with pins), numbers, entry forms, water and a tin of chocolates. After warming up with clubmates George Pettit and Robert Anderson, George and I lined up with 23 others under the Arch. "3, 2, 1, GO." I guess that was the gun.

The route was a straightforward, flat out and back route along the Clydeside. The early pace caught me cold with a fast starting John Denovan (Westerlands) opening a sizable gap. I meanwhile was being pushed hard by a few runners including Shettleston pair Kevin Brydon and Brian McGarrity. I'd been told a footbridge signalled the turning point. At one bridge, my watch said 3 minutes something so unless we were all on for 7 minute 3km pace, that wasn't it. As we approached the actual turn, I slowly edged away from the chasing pack and closed the gap Denovan had opened. I moved past just before the turn. Someone sportingly shouted I had reached it to prevent me running on towards the Barras.

Heading back to the Arch, I started feeling stronger and tried to work my legs that bit faster. Despite the crisp conditions, the path wasn't slippery. I never felt relaxed though because I could sense the rest of the field giving chase. I'd pay for it if I let up and I treated the race as seriously as any I've run recently. My efforts were enough to give me the win in a new course record of 9:04. Kevin Brydon in 2nd place (9:18) also broke the old record and Brian McGarrity (9:28) finished only 7 seconds outside it. In total, 6 runners broke 10 minutes, the others being Law and District's Darran Muir (9:30), John Denovan (9:36) and Bellahouston Harrier Steven Prentice (9:57). George meanwhile took a huge chunk off his course best, over 40 seconds, in taking 7th place in 10:10.

Afterwards, I enjoyed chatting with a few folk while recovering with some water and a chocolate. With a warm down to do, the meter took enough silver to give me another 10 minutes, sufficient time to complete a mile and a half.

This wee event takes place on the last Friday of every month, except December. I can't recommend it enough. I loved it.

UK Cross Challenge, Liverpool, 24th November 2012- A Further Sense of Perspective

Photos in this post courtesy of Colin Stephen.

 

My performance in the UK Cross Challenge Cross Country in Liverpool, and indeed my approach to the race, was very much dictated by the week leading up to it. Work was extremely stressful. I got through the Monday track session of 20 x 300m, all in 50-53 seconds, without any hiccups. However, the following night, work stopped me getting to the club so I went out a 5.5 miler from home. It was a cold night and pretty windy and I felt awful. I started to feel more unwell as the night wore on and, after a sleepless night, was violently sick in the morning. My brother had a stomach bug the previous weekend which I had clearly inherited from him. I struggled through work that day, hardly eating a thing all day, and only had an appetite for a bowl of soup and 2 rolls and sausage for dinner. Needless to say, I skipped my hill session. A working day ending at 7.25pm the next day saw me miss training again so I went out an easy 6 miles on Friday morning for a psychological boost before heading to Liverpool with the club that evening.

 

On race day, I was fresh as a daisy though with slight heartburn after going to Pizza Hut with the youngsters the night before. A large Americana and a Pepsi is not my usual pre-race meal. I did have a steak in the afternoon though. A walk round the course at Sefton Park showed me it was muddy but without a hill to be seen. I decided to avoid being caught with the fast start, to run my own race and pick people off. To be honest, despite being right as rain, the stomach bug did influence this approach. I brought both long sleeved and short sleeved tops with the intention of choosing between them. It was a rather chilly day so I wore both.

 

The course veered left after the long, wide opening straight so I positioned myself to the left on the start line. I ignored the cavalry charge and focused on myself. The mud, while thick in places, was no worse than anything I've trained in and there were no hills to worry about. Double boost. It didn't take long before I was picking off people who had gone with the initial charge. I played a little game of clocking the club names I was overtaking. Cambridge Harriers, Border Harriers, Leeds City, Sale Harriers. I finished the first lap of 3 feeling fresh with plenty more places to gain.



Above: working my way through the field, preparing to overtake another athlete.

 

The race doubled as the trial for the UK European Cross Country team. Further ahead, the top ranked UK athletes were battling out the 6 automatic places on offer. I meanwhile battled for as high a position I could muster. I remained worried about the bug biting me later on so stuck to the steady, work my way up approach. I knew there were a few Scottish athletes competing but, apart from Mark Pollard, I hadn't seen any during the race. Athletes were becoming harder to overtake but I was still doing it. Work up, run with them, move away, get the next athlete/group.

 

Ticking off the second and third laps, I finally committed myself...with about 800m to go when I heard the commentary for the leaders finishing.



 

Above: end of final lap before turning into the finishing straight, finally going for it.

 

The finishing straight was as long as the start, a big dash for home. I hadn't been overtaken by a single athlete and didn't want to be so found a sprint finish I probably shouldn't have had which nearly gained me another place. In the end, I took 70th place from 480 finishers and 32:36 for the 9.8km course, a mere 2:29 and 64 places away from a pre-Christmas trip to Budapest. The following 6 athletes secured the places:-

 

Jonathan Taylor, 29:55

Andy Vernon, 29:59

Steve Vernon, 30:00

Tom Hunphries, 30:03

Keith Gerrard, 30:04

Frank Tickner, 30:07

 

The race also incorporated a trial for the European Club Cross Country in February, contested between the winners of the Scottish, English and Welsh National cross countries. With an excellent team performance, Scotland's representatives, Central, triumphed to secure a trip to Spain in February. Over the whole day, 5 Scots qualified for the European event in Budapest, an impressive return.

 

Personally, I was hard on myself for not being braver. On the other hand, running a minute faster would have lifted me from 70th to 44th. Had I not been ill, who knows? A mere 3 years ago, a race of this type wasn't on my radar. So, not for the first time this year, a sense of perspective.

 

Once I'd warmed down, we didn't hang around too long and headed up the road with a short stop for dinner. I got home in time to see Take Me Out on ITV and have a beer. All things said, an enjoyable club trip and a good chance to mingle with the youngsters.

 

Race result

 

	

Rangers v Queen's Park, 20th October 2012

With a race every fortnight so far this winter, one of my in between weekends, i.e. one without a race, saw Queen's Park go to Ibrox to play Rangers in a Scottish Division 3 fixture. Yes, I did write that and it happened. Queen's Park went to Ibrox to play Rangers in a Scottish Division 3 fixture.

 

Screeds of news print, web space and TV and radio time has been taken up by the demise of the team known as Rangers formed in 1872. To cut a, ahem, rather extensive story short, the Scottish Football League's lowest tier now boasts a team called Rangers. This game was billed as the oldest derby in world football. I'm tempted to go into an argument about how it's actually one of the newest derbies since the current club are only a matter of months old but I won't. I guess if they call themselves Rangers, they play at a ground which displays the name Rangers, they play in blue shirts and their fans call them Rangers, it must be Rangers. Therefore, we made the short journey looking for our first win over them since 3rd May 1954 when we won on the toss of a coin in the Merchants Charity Cup semi final after a 0-0 draw (incidentally, we lost the final 3-1 to Celtic). To put that into perspective, Coronation Street didn't begin for another 6 years! The last league win was a 2-1 success at Ibrox on 20th March 1948 in the Scottish League A Division. It wasn't enough to avoid relegation that season.

 

I certainly hoped we could avoid a heavy defeat though being in a minority of 800 or so Queen's fans in a crowd of 49,463 made you a bit fearful for our team. We did our utmost to make our presence felt in what must have been a partisan atmosphere to the players, one where only about 1.5% of those present want to see you win. We weathered the inevitable early Rangers storm and forced our way in, carving out some openings, including a ball across an empty goal begging for a tap in and a Longworth shot over the bar. I was though quite relieved to reach the sanctuary of half time.

 

We had certainly gained in confidence and gave as good as we got though you always feel a home goal is coming. It did in 57 minutes when a Dean Shiels cross wasn't cleared and Lee McCulloch reached it. 1-0 and 98.5% of the ground cheering to the Superman theme tune while a small corner sits on their hands. Another new experience.

 

Unbowed, we kept going then the moment we all hoped for after 63 minutes. Andrew Robertson played a ball to Jamie Longworth who played it right back, putting Robertson clean through on Rangers keeper Neil Alexander. One corner of Ibrox rose. He took a touch, looked up, shot...and whacked Alexander's legs. A scramble saw the ball go for a corner. I had a sinking feeling at the time that our one moment had come and gone. So it proved. In injury time, our keeper Neil Parry was lobbed by a 30 yard effort which came off the bar. McCulloch got the rebound. 2-0, Superman from the DJ again and that was that.

 

So the Ibrox experience wasn't the worst. We competed well and had our moments. However, in the end, it was 3 points lost and being toppled from the top of the league. As Queen's fans are fond of saying, keep the faith. I'm sure they said the same after the Celtic defeat in 1954.

Above: pre-match. Correct, it's a bowler hat.

Scottish National 4km Cross Country Championships, 11th November 2012

The winter so far has panned out nicely with a race every fortnight, every one a cross country. The Saturdays in between have been spent doing efforts on muddy grass. Coupled with my weekly midweek hill sessions, again on a mud strewn grass surface, I'm spending more time running about in mud than I did during my childhood. My Mum certainly isn't thanking me for the state I'm leaving the shower in after each training session or race. 

 

I had been feeling some pain and discomfort around the groin areas and hips which, coupled with very cold and slippery conditions saw me struggle a little during the Monday track session. After the Tuesday club run, I started tapering down with a shortened Wednesday hill session (6 reps instead of 12), a 6 miler with some fast 30 second sprints incorporated (6:17 per mile pace overall) on Thursday, a night off on Friday and 2 sets of 1 minute, 2 minutes, 1 minute with 1 minute jogs between reps and 5 minute jogs between sets on Saturday morning. I hoped for some inspiration that afternoon from Queen's Park as they took on Stranraer in a Scottish Cup 3rd round replay. 2 red cards and 4 goals conceded wasn't quite what I had in mind so we've now exited the Scottish Cup twice in the same calendar year with 4-0 scorelines. The wait for the next final appearance goes on.

 

All my recent race appearances have had an edge to them. On one hand, it is a great motivator. On the other, I've found myself getting incredibly nervous more and more. I confess to looking forward to the festive period and the chance to race something more low key.

 

160 athletes lined up for this Sunday race in its second year occupying a mid November slot straight after the relays. On the starter's gun, the field charged into the first of the two 2km circuits. I was caught slightly cold by the pace, finding myself almost sprinting and, what looked to me, struggling to be in the first 20. Heavy rain during the week and some junior and the senior ladies races beforehand meant underfoot, while runnable, was slippery and boggy. I convinced myself however it was no worse than any of my training sessions to keep in a positive mindset. I battled out the first lap keeping on the coat tails of a large leading group. I spotted Ross Houston (Central) through the crowd and decided to track him. This took me by 2 or 3 people including another Cambuslang man, Jack Hamilton as I reached the start-finish area to launch into the second circuit. I eventually lost Houston in a sea of arms and legs.

 

While staying in touch, I couldn't make any headway on the leaders. Stephen Trainer (Greenock Glenpark) has shown some good form in the relays and I knew he was close from the shouts of spectators. Working my way round, I tried to find the best possible areas of ground to ensure smooth progress and hold onto what I had. Another Cambuslang man, Wegene Tafese, had dropped back a bit. This was our first club championship race and passing Wegene would give me the early lead. I dug deep enough to pass him on the turn into the home straight and, in the end, forge a 3 second gap.

 

My efforts were enough for 10th place and a time of 12:37. Mark Mitchell (Forres), a runner with a 7:59 3000m to his name, won the race in 12:18, a single second ahead of David Vernon (VP City of Glasgow) and 3 clear of 3rd placed Ross Houston. Wegene came one place behind me. Myself, Wegene, Ben Hukins (18th, 12:55) and David Munro (19th, 12:58) took the team silver medals for Cambuslang behind Central. Iain MacCorquodale (20th, 13:00) and Jack Hamilton (23rd, 13:06) were unlucky to miss the medals. Competition within the club though, that's exactly what I want to see. 

 

After a spot of relaxation, a roll and cup of tea, I warmed down by running 4.5 miles to the Gorbals to visit my Gran, my Dad taking my car and meeting me there. This weekend, another grass training session. Next race stop, Liverpool for the European Cross Country Trial race, more for the experience than anything else. In any case, to paraphrase the song associated with the city, I'll travel down and run on with hope in the heart. Having seen us lose 2-1 in the league 3 days after the Cup exit, hopefully the Spiders do likewise soon on the football pitch.

 

Cambuslang Senior Men Results

 

10th: Stuart Gibson, 12:37

11th: Wegene Tafese, 12:40

18th: Ben Hukins, 12:55

19th: David Munro, 12:58

20th: Iain MacCorquodale, 13:00

23rd: Jack Hamilton, 13:06

53rd: Alistair Campbell, 13:47

90th: George Pettit, 15:01

91st: Scott Hunter, 15:04

98th: Alick Walkinshaw, 15:08

131st: Robert Rossborough, 16:34

 

Amazing Who You Meet 6

This year's Scottish Athletics Awards night, which followed the National Cross Country Relay, was the 5th consecutive year I've had the privelige of attending. One of these years, maybe I'll actually be nominated for something. Whitemoss AAC take a table every year and I must have done something right for the club over the years since I keep getting asked along.

 

Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to meet Paula Radcliffe, Sebastien Coe, Roger Black and this year's Guest of Honour, Paralympian David Weir. The only guest I would consider a let down would be Daley Thomson in 2010 who turned up for the evening in a tracksuit. A shirt and tie at least surely!

 

Recent newly wed Freya Murray Ross also happened to be in attendance having been nominated in a couple of categories. Those involved in UK athletics will be aware of Freya, multiple Scottish cross country champion, UK international on various surfaces and the highest placed British lady in the Olympic marathon this summer, a remarkable result after only replacing Paula Radcliffe shortly before the Games. She happened to come over to a group I was in conversation with and we got talking. She also kindly agreed to a photograph. Thanks to one of my Whitemoss friends, Willie Sutherland, for doing the honours.

 

 

October Relays

October wasn’t the best of months for me outside running. Stressed to a dreadful degree at work and my Dad’s poor health still without diagnosis means, the majority of the time, while I’ve been present at training and races physically, my mind has been elsewhere. This post will round up my next two race outings for the month following Edinburgh.

West District Cross Country Relay Championships, 13^th October 2012

The day began with my Dad taking a turn for the worse. I gave him every chance but by midday, it was clear it wasn’t going to happen for him and, being too late to withdraw my participation, had no option but to leave for Kilmarnock on my own, all the while trying to put the morning out of my mind and focus on the race. I resolved to put on a brave face, collected my number and headed to the course to the rear of St Josephs Academy.

Being assigned last leg for the first team gave me a window to walk the entire 4km course during the senior women's race. Kilbarchan opened up a commanding lead with Elspeth Curran on the first leg which they never surrendered. Happily however, our ladies team made a bit of history by being both the first Cambuslang ladies trio in this race and the first medallists, in second place. Alex Lamond got us off to a good start then Katie Bristow and Mhairi Brown finished the job.

Jack Hamilton kicked our first team off, bringing us in first in a time of 12:34, 17 seconds ahead of Bobby Quinn (Kilbarchan). Iain MacCorquodale (12:51) kept us there ahead of a hard chasing Sean Fontana (VP City of Glasgow). Wegene Tafese, with the fastest leg of the day (12:12), meant I had to avoid a complete botch up to secure gold medals.

A lot of people had been talking negatively about the course, e.g. "it's well chewed up" and "wait til you get to the hill." I had walked round to make up my own mind. It was no worse than some of my High Point hill sessions. I negotiated the first, flat muddy section then hurtled downhill to a large, grassy field. There was a climb to come. I had run a cross country here before where the route took us directly uphill. I got a boost when I saw it was a zig zag upwards instead. This gave me a view of the chasing VP City of Glasgow runner, Max Ralston. I was keeping a safe distance. The route then went through some narrow woodland before re-entering the muddy, flat section. I knew it was difficult to produce a vintage time running more or less solo the entire way but I was working hard and keeping my form.

Above: working hard in the later stages. Photos courtesy of Westerlands Running Club.

The coaches encouraged me to enjoy the later stages. While not slackening off, some of our youngsters encouraged me to give them a smile which, being about 200m from the finish, did make me laugh. I didn't milk the occasion, choosing to give a solitary fist in the air as I finished with a time of 12:38. Ralston had gained 6 seconds on me but the other 3 guys had done most of the hard work for me.

My first ever gold medal at any District or National Championship certainly gave me some welcome cheer. It was also Cambuslang's first medal in the senior men race for at least 6 years. Plenty to cheer. All I needed was my Dad to be a bit better.

Race results

Above: Cambuslang male, female and vet male medallists, left to right (back)- Colin Feechan, Alex Lamond, Katie Bristow, Mhairi Brown, left to right (front)- Dave Thom, myself, Wegene Tafese, Jack Hamilton, Iain MacCorquodale, missing from photo- Greg Hastie, Michael O'Hagan.

National Cross Country Relay Championships, 27th October 2012

What's it called? Cumbernauld. Yes, I've cracked that joke before but I can't think of a better one...or another one! Pleasingly, my Dad was in finer fettle and took the strain of driving off me. We stuck with the same winning quartet from Kilmarnock, changing only the running order by swapping myself to first leg and Jack to last. On getting my number, I slipped out the school quietly to check out the course.

I arrived at Cumbernauld Park early enough to cheer on some of our athletes in the junior males race then saw the senior women's race. Alex again ran first leg, establishing us in a top 10 position with an excellent 4th place. Katie kept us in contention then new member Kirsty Anderson, fresh from a triathlon in New Zealand, brought us in 6th place. An excellent result for our fast developing ladies section which I'm delighted to see. I was pretty nervous beforehand. The pace up the first hill was relentless but I told myself to keep the head. A tough thing to do when you're around 10th place and don't recognise a number of runners ahead.

Above: first leg bun fight, trying to keep my cool.

Eventually, things started to settle. I told myself to trust my hill training and pick people off. Soon, I was getting close to the front. David Vernon was blazing a trail for VP City of Glasgow followed by Dougie Selman (Corstorphine) and Luke Traynor (Giffnock North). I gave it my all and worked my way into 4th.

 

Above: looking scarily thin in 4th place pounding it on a downhill. Photo courtesy of Kenny Phillips.

I was closing on Traynor with every stride but ran out of ground, finishing in 13:11, a couple of seconds behind him and 22 seconds adrift of the leader Vernon. Unfortunately, 4th was where we stayed despite determined efforts from Iain (13:42), Wegene (13:12) and Jack (13:42) on the next legs. Central eventually moved clear to win while Jack gave chase to Sean Fontana (VP City of Glasgow) and Mickey Breen (Corstorphine) before seeming to run slightly out of steam. Not to worry, a strong team showing and 2013 is another year.

My Dad then chauffered me back to East Kilbride to let me pull on my glad rags for the Scottish Athletics Awards night. Good fun as always and light relief at the end of a stressful month in many ways.

Race results







BUPA Great Edinburgh 10k, 7th October 2012

For the second successive year, I took up a place in the West of Scotland team for the Scottish Inter District 10km Championships, incorporated in the BUPA Great Edinburgh 10k. Selections for things have come my way rapidly in the last 2 years. The pride never fades.

That said, this particular selection wasn’t without its problems. While more than happy to take it up and training progressed smoothly, work had been considerably stressful for a number of weeks. On Wednesday, I had chest pains while driving home which resulted in me toiling during that night's hill session. Friday was a particularly bad day for various reasons. To alleviate the stress of last year's race, I booked a hotel room in Edinburgh for Saturday night. However, struggling to get the working week out my head, I wasn’t even thinking about the race until I pulled on my running gear and went down for breakfast on Sunday morning. The next step was to motivate myself. By the time I got to Holyrood Park with over an hour to spare, I’d been able to put other worries out my head long enough to focus. With only 3 in the West team, myself, Derek Hawkins and Andrew Douglas, and 3 to count for the team competition, my result would matter.

On the start line, I just felt anxious to get stuck into the race. The course was altered due to the work in Edinburgh laying new tram lines. The first kilometre uphill to a roundabout remained the same. Instead of a right out the park though, we took the first exit, carrying on round Arthur’s Seat down a long descent. I was settling into a group with Andrew Douglas and East representatives Alex Hendry and Michael Crawley. Ahead were Tom Humphries (3^rd last year), Andrew Lemoncello, Derek Hawkins and a Brazilian. Seeing the leaders coming the other way told me we would be immediately climbing this hill again. So it turned out. Two long, steep inclines inside 3km before leaving the park. Not a fun runner friendly course. The group stayed together.

The course had a more truncated nature with sections through the Meadows and Princes Street cut out. I was hanging in with the group and, knowing the capabilities of the 3 guys with me, it helped my confidence. What didn’t was my time for the first 5km, 16:07. Oh dear! If you’re in any doubt of the course’s severity, there you go. Up until now, the streets had more or less merged into each other. Sections of cobble stones, right turns, left turns, inclines. All I knew was it was unforgiving.

Whatever goes up has to come down and, sure enough, the second half included some good descents. Between 6km and 7km in the Royal Mile area, the group split with Douglas pulling ahead and Hendry and Crawley dropping behind me but close enough to stop me relaxing. At 7km, we passed Holyrood Park heading under a footbridge with me chasing Douglas hard and Hendry and Crawley doing likewise to me. An external factor then hindered my progress. Through the footbridge, I felt something hit the right hand side of my face, blinding me in my right eye. It wasn’t raining so what on earth was it? To put it politely, a pigeon had done what nature intended on my face. The course then went uphill again. I negotiated the hill while trying to restore my sight. Talk about multi tasking. Full vision restored, I went through 8km in 25:34. We then doubled back towards Holyrood Park and the finish.

Above: unclear whether this is before or after the pigeon attack.

The Brazilian ended up withdrawing so I crossed the line in 5^th place with an official time of 31:33, 13 seconds adrift of Andrew Douglas and 11 and 48 seconds ahead of Michael Crawley and Alex Hendry respectively. A very hard shift I was glad to see the end of. With Derek Hawkins in 3^rd place, the West claimed victory in the Inter District competition. You can’t do much more than that. Tom Humphries edged Andrew Lemoncello by a single second to win, both recording times in the 29s.

The next thing I did was take the water straight out the goody bag and wash my face then had a warm down and lengthy chat with another East runner, Mickey Breen, I got home in time to greet my parents getting back from a weekend in Ayr my brother and I gave them for their anniversary. With such a stressful week, I felt like a drink so finished the weekend off with a family meal and a couple of pints at the Swan Inn in Eaglesham. I recommend it if you haven’t been before.

Inter District Result

Training for Stirling

For anyone interested, below is my training leading up to Stirling, starting off from the Monday after Bedford.

Week Commencing Monday 27th August

Monday: 7 miles easy (44:20).

Tuesday: 4.1 miles very easy (34:40).

Wednesday: 1 mile easy (6:29), 2 miles hard (10:52), 1 mile easyish (6:08), 2 miles hard (11:15), remainder easy, 7.6 miles total (44:53).
Thursday: Club, 2 x 10 mins, 30 secs recovery, 6.7 miles including warm up and warm down.
Friday: Rest.

Saturday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 8 miles easy, 7 miles tempo (41-42 mins), remainder easy, 16 miles total (1:43:06).
Sunday: 4 miles brisk (24:10) plus 8 x High Point hill reps running how I felt, 9 miles total (run plus hills) including warm down.

Mileage: 50

Similar to the first week in the Bedford build up, I started cautiously on Monday and Tuesday, assisting at another Cani Fit session for the latter. Unlike the previous occasion, I didn't put my car in a ditch this time. I've been liking to get the long runs done with on a Saturday so kept this going. I ran part of the run faster to stop my mind wandering. It's also a psychological boost to run the second half quicker than the first. I found the hill session tough but I planned it that way.

Week Commencing Monday 3rd September

Monday: 7 miles easy (44:51).

Tuesday: Club, 6.8 miles easy (44:43)
Wednesday: 1 mile easy (6:34), 2 miles hard (10:44), 1 mile brisk (6:01), 2 miles hard (11:04), remainder easy, 7.4 miles total (43:08).
Thursday: Club, 2 x 10 mins, 30 secs recovery, 6.6 miles including warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest.

Saturday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 8 miles easy, 6 miles tempo (35-36 mins), remainder easy, 15 miles total (1:35:50).
Sunday: 4 miles brisk (24:16) plus 8 x High Point hill reps running how I felt (drastic), 8.5 miles total (run plus hills) including warm down.

Mileage: 51

More of the same. Creature of habit.

Week Commencing Monday 10th September

Monday: 7.5 miles easy (48:04).

Tuesday: 6.1 miles easy (39:11)
Wednesday: 9.6 miles brisk (1:00:08)
Thursday: Club, 2 x 10 mins, 30 secs recovery, 6.6 miles including warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest.

Saturday: 3-3.5 miles (20:17)- with Sunday races, I always prefer to take Friday off as usual then stretch the legs the day before.
Sunday: Race- City of Stirling 10k Road Race (Scottish 10k Championships), 6th in 30:58, team silver.

Mileage: 40

City of Stirling 10k Road Race, 16th September 2012

This race again doubled up as the Scottish 10k Road Race Championships. Like for Bedford, I built the training up for 2 weeks then tapered off during the week leading up. Two steaks is my usual pre-race meal. There was a slight difference for this one...three steaks on the Friday. I could still feel them in my stomach as I went out a jog on the Saturday morning. The Saturday was also my birthday and, after the Queen's Park-Clyde match, I paid my Gran a visit. It was the Alf Tupper diet this time, a fish supper. At his seminar in Cambuslang on the Friday night, the great Ron Hill cited the man known as "The Tough of the Track," if not his chosen diet, as his inspiration. It was the quietest of birthdays for me that night.

Having studied the entry list closely, I had a game plan. In his book, "From Last to First," Charlie Spedding, discussing the 1988 Olympics, says that doing well in the Olympic Marathon is simple. Get in the lead group and stay there while everybody else drops off. "Like most things in life, it's simple, but not easy!" he states. Springkerse Industrial Estate in Stirling isn't quite the Olympics in Seoul but, from the gun, I adopted the same approach.

There were a number of Scotland's prominent distance runners competing and the depth of field overall was greater than in most Scottish races. I'd traded victories with most of those in the leading pack over various surfaces and yet to beat one or two others, such as Robert Russell (Central). There was also our recent Ethiopian recruit, Wegene Tafese. After the initial bun fight out the traps, I positioned myself close to the front off the shoulders of Russell and another Central athlete, Ross Houston. Tafese was close to me as were a number of others such as John Newsom (Central), Ben Hukins (formerly Aberdeen, now unattached), Chris Mackay (Inverclyde), Luke Traynor (Giffnock North) and Thomas Fay (Shettleston). Paul Sorrie (Shettleston) went to the front during the first couple of kilometres. I was content to stay glued to Russell and Houston and try to ignore the clock on the lead car.

The pace was pretty brisk, hovering around 2:55-3:00 per kilometre. It steadied at around 3km which suited my Spedding tactics just fine. I had taken a few strides into the lead a couple of times. However, conditions were breezy and I had no intention of taking the strain for everyone then being ambushed near the end so each time resumed my previous position. As the course headed into the countryside, I could sense without looking round people were dropping off. So far I wasn't. The 5km mark passed in 15:12.

Between 5km and 6km, the course doubles back on itself, following a different route back to the start/finish. By this time, I was part of a leading group of 5 with Russell, Houston, Tafese and Mackay. The others still gave chase though. After 6km, things started changing. Russell, Houston and Tafese continued to sustain the pace while my legs started giving way. I wanted to stay with the trio but, while the mind remained willing, the body didn't. Mackay later dropped behind them as well. As the Cambuslang and two Central runners contested the medals, Mackay gave me a target to chase to also help me stop anyone catching me from behind.

At 7km, re-entering the industrial area, I thought of the remaining kilometres as a 10 minute effort from the recent Thursday night club sessions. Anything to get to the finish. My legs were as sore as they've been in a long while. 8km in 24:37 ish. 9km in 27:48 ish. One runner did catch and pass me around this time, Dougie Selman (Corstorphine) who has a good track pedigree over 1500m. Again, the mind was willing but the body wasn't. Thankfully there wasn't much distance left.

I found enough energy to clock my second sub 31 minute 10km time, 6th place in 30:58. Parallels with Spedding in Seoul include he too lay 5th in the later stages and got overtaken, Australian Steve Moneghetti relegating him also to 6th. The second 5km took me 15:46 so a bit of a war of attrition. Wegene Tafese won the race in 30:22 ahead of Robert Russell (30:24) and Ross Houston (30:29). Chris Mackay finished 4th in 30:46 and Dougie Selman took 5th, reaching the line 1 second before me. Tafese, myself and Kerry Wilson (11th, 31:45 and first veteran) took team silver medals for Cambuslang. We were however ably backed up by Greg Hastie (44th, 34:59) and Alasdair Murray (144th, 39:34). Alexandra Lamond meanwhile clocked a personal best of 39:06 to finish as 2nd under 20 lady, bettering her time at the Great Scottish Run 10k by over a minute.

Above: silver medal winning team, left to right- Kerry Wilson, Wegene Tafese, myself.

The race left me tired to the extent I have granted myself a few days away from running to recover. I'll start the Ron Hill running streak afterwards. At least the fish supper didn't come back on me.

Race Result

Training for Bedford

As I got up at 4.45am last Saturday for a flight to Luton, I did wonder for a moment if it would all be worth it. I'd managed to get into a 5000m at the British Milers Club (BMC) meeting at Bedford through what I saw as the back door by being selected for the West of Scotland team for the Track and Field Inter Counties. Priority is normally given to BMC members which I'm not. However, after breaking my 1500m and 3000m personal bests and also running a best of 4:25.5 for the mile at Crownpoint the Tuesday before (earning £30 for 3rd place which got me my fish supper afterwards), a 5000m personal best was the last one to go for this summer. Bedford was the only event which fitted the bill.

I got the B race and, in breezy but warm conditions, surpassed my expectations with a time of 14:48.03. Whether it was taking advantage of the evenly matched field, simply being well prepared or a combination, something on the night just clicked. First half in 7:20, second half in 7:28. In the Scottish 5000m in June, I was 7:21 at halfway and 7:39 for the second half. Something has been done right somewhere. The time makes me eligible for BMC membership.

For now, it's formulation of winter targets. I have one already- don't get injured. Training leading up to the Bedford race is below. Big thanks to Cambuslang's Joe Kealey and his good lady Anna for giving me a room on Saturday night at their home in nearby Hitchin and to Joe for dinner on Saturday, the company on Sunday's morning's run, a mean fry up afterwards and the lift to Stevenage for the train home.

Race Result

Week Commencing Monday 6th August

Monday: 7 miles easy (44:22).

Tuesday: 9.3 miles very easy (1:26:31).

Wednesday: Track, 12 x 400m at target 5000m pace, 4th, 8th and 12th reps at target 1500m pace, plus 1 x 200m

5000m pace reps- 68-72 secs, 1500m pace reps- 67, 65, 66, 200m- 32 secs

6.1 miles total including warm up and warm down.

Thursday: 5 miles tempo (28:53) plus 8 x High Point hill reps running how I felt, 9.8 miles total (tempo run plus hills) including both warm ups and warm down.

Friday: Rest.

Saturday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 20 miles (2:15:43).

Sunday: 9.4 miles easy (1:01:27)

Mileage: 61

Big week which started cautiously and gathered momentum. Two short, sharp races at the Mens League gave me a tight left groin so I had easy runs on Monday and Tuesday, the latter assisting Cani Fit's Lindsay Cloughley with one of her training groups. This was at the Windfarm where I do my long runs. An enjoyable night soured only by my car getting stuck in a ditch. I delayed the track session to Wednesday and decided to do a run before the hill session to get used to running hard with tired legs. Two lengthier weekend runs rounded things off.

Week Commencing Monday 13th August

Monday: Track, 8 x 600m at target 5000m pace, plus 1 x 200m.

600s- 1:45-1:46, 200m- 31 secs.

8.2 miles including warm up and warm down.

Tuesday: 6 miles (35:48), 15 mins brisk then 3 sets of 3 x 30 secs strides, 30 secs easy between reps, 5 mins easy between sets.

Wednesday: 4 miles (24:11) plus 8 x High Point hill reps, running how I felt, 8 miles approx (run plus hills) including both warm ups and warm down.

Thursday: Club, 2 x 10 mins, 30 secs recovery, 6.6 miles including warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest.

Saturday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 25 mins easy then 4 mins, 1 min, 2 mins, 4 mins, 1 min, 2 mins, all with 5 mins easy recoveries, 14 miles (1:30:17).

Sunday: 5.5 miles easy (35:52) then track, 2 sets of 3 x 300m (47-48 secs), 2 mins between sets, 6 mins between reps, 7.6 miles total including run plus warm down.

Mileage: 50

Lower mileage but just as tough. Two sessions (Wednesday and Sunday) were again to experience running hard on tired legs. Tuesday was squeezed in after work before going to Hampden for the Queen's Park v Partick Thistle cup tie (a losing effort for the Spiders, 5-4). Thursday was an attempt to resurrect a Thursday training group at Cambuslang. The Sunday track session was to sharpen for the mile at Crownpoint.

Week Commencing Monday 20th August

Monday: 3 miles easy (18:54).

Tuesday: Race- Shettleston Harriers Open Grade, mile, 3rd in 4:25.5, PB.

Wednesday: 4 x High Point hill reps running hard off top, 4 miles including warm up and warm down.

Thursday: Club, 2 x 10 mins, 30 secs recovery, 6.7 miles including warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest.

Saturday: Race- BMC Grand Prix Final, Bedford, 5000m B race, 7th in 14:48.03, PB.

Sunday: 10 miles approx easy (1:17:25).

Mileage: 31

Racing for Suppers

A downside to midweek racing when working full time is it's not conducive to eating well. A couple of quarter pounders, cup of tea and some other fluids (it was a warm night) followed my 3000m efforts at Stretford. Before this, the race at Linwood, which I attended straight from the office, saw me warm down, shower, change back to my suit and get in the door with my briefcase, holdall and a single fish under my arm. Not the best when you then have to settle down to sleep then be up again the next morning.
 

While Stretford was the boost I needed, I still felt the need to keep a grasp of the nettle. Training the rest of the week included a satisfactory hill session and long run plus a hilly 10 miles in Glasgow's West End with 2 sets of reps of 4 minutes, 1 minute and 2 minutes with 3 minutes brisk between reps. I was pretty pleased to complete that run in just under 61 minutes. A track session of 2 x 800m (both in 2:16) and 2 x 400m (62 seconds and 64 seconds) the next week gave me grounds for optimism for the 1500m I'd entered at Scotstoun.

Glasgow Athletics Association Miler Meeting, 3rd August 2012

This being a Friday night event, I was a tad more relaxed leaving the office knowing I didn't have work the next morning. It comprised a series of graded 1500m races, plus a 5000m. Earlier in the summer, there was a meeting comprising 800m and 3000m races which I missed due to holiday.

I lined up in the C race, which was second on the card, and settled into the pack following pacemaker Mark Pollard. With my 2 year old PB of 4:05.76 to aim for, a 66 second first lap was reasonable. I replicated this on the second lap. Ahead of me, another Harrier, Gordon Robertson, was pushing on. It started to feel like a Monday track session, me hanging onto his coatails during a rep. I sat around 4th or 5th but could sense most of the field were still in touch as I completed 1200m in 3:19 (67 second third lap). I really didn't want to lapse into a 50 second final 300m and end up with 4:10, as happened in Aberdeen, and managed to find another gear as did a number of others. I gained a place in the back straight and dropped back one on the home straight but, most importantly for me, 46 seconds for 300m got me a new PB of 4:05.27. Like Stretford, only by hundredths of a second but every one counts. After no PBs all summer, two in succession felt good. Gordon also set a new best, 4:04.52, finishing 3rd.

After a breather and some post race discussion, I acted as 16 minute pacemaker in the 5000m. I actually felt more nervous about this than my earlier race. Two athletes, Kevin Brydon (Shettleston) and Elspeth Curran (Kilbarchan) were looking for this pace and, I admit, I had scribbled split times on a sheet and tried to memorise them. I still carried the sheet in my hand and referred to it several times as I ran. In short, the pace called for 3000m in 9:36/9:37 and I went through in 9:42. I carried on for another lap and stepped aside after 3400m. After the race concluded, I exchanged handshakes with both runners, talked another Cambuslang runner, Alistair Campbell, into a 400m at the Mens League two days later, unsuccessfully tried to persuade another, Katie Bristow, to don a disguise and run a 1500m on the same day (she clocked 4:47.78 at Scotsoun, comfortably below the minimum points standard of 5 minutes) then headed off home via the chip shop for a fish supper. Getting in at 10pm, it had been a long day but at least I had a lie in the next morning.

Meeting Results

Scottish Athletics Mens League Division 2 Match 4, 5th August 2012

With the attractions of an event of some description in London, numbers were quite sparce in Grangemouth for the final Mens League match of 2012. With no prospect of promotion, I took the chance to experiment a bit, lining up for an 800m then a 400m. Admittedly it was hard to escape a feeling of anti-climax following the Friday night's efforts but I gave both races everything I had on the day.

The 800m saw an improvement from Linwood with a time of 2:03.17. While not a PB (I've run 1:59 before), it was a much stronger run than Linwood with consecutive laps of 61 and 62 seconds. The heavens immediately opened as I took my marks for the 400m B race (Alistair had kindly run the A string). 58.07 seconds was nothing earth shattering but fulfilled the points standard of 60 seconds which, on the day, I considered satisfactory enough. Gordon ran a strong 1500m, finishing 2nd to Conor McNulty after leading much of the way. Myself, Alistair, Gordon (for part of the way) and Aberdeen based Cambuslang man Davy Munro rounded the afternoon off with a 50 minute jog around downtown Grangemouth. To continue the food theme, a king prawn Chinese curry was the choice on this occasion.

Leaving the 400m aside as an experiment, the 800m constituted a continuation of the upward curve. While I'm not there yet, I certainly feel more optimistic.

I'll go into the Mens League season in more detail in a later post. For now, here is the Division 2 final table.

1. Kilbarchan, 34 points (1368 match points)
2. Lasswade, 33 (1273)
3. Pitreavie, 29 (1050)
4. Whitemoss, 22 (721)
5. Corstorphine, 20 (612)
6. Fife, 17 (446)
7. Clydesdale, 13 (454)
8. Dunfermline & West Fife, 8 (306)
9. Kirkintilloch, 0 (0)

Trafford AC Grand Prix, Stretford, 24th July 2012

After making the commitment, the race in Stretford nearly didn't happen. Day off secured and hired car picked up, I was cruising down the M74 when, between Lockerbie and Ecclefechan at about 10.45am, I came to a standstill. An overturned caravan and 4x4 had closed the motorway completely. Stuck between exits, I couldn't turn off and as time went on, I seriously considered cancelling and turning back. At 1pm when the traffic started moving again, I decided it was worth continuing so hammered it down the motorway to within 50 miles of Manchester before stopping briefly to eat. I got to a warm, sunny Stretford at 4pm, 6 and a half hours after setting out, still enough time before my race at 6.45pm. After a wee wander into the town, I returned to the track at Longford Park to submit my entry, optimistically predicting a 3000m time of 8:35. Personal best going into this was 8:41.27. I met Charlie Thomson who had left home at 12 noon, avoided the tailback and arrived around the same time as me!

I'd known of these meetings for a while without taking the step of going to one. The host club, Trafford AC, hold 7 of them every second Tuesday in the summer with distance and throws only. Every other Tuesday, they have meetings with sprints, hurdles and jumps. Perhaps such event specific meetings could be an idea to rejuvenate the open graded scene in Scotland?

The main attraction is the quality of race. Big fields dotted with people to pull you along. I lined up in the first of 2 heats with 23 others. From the gun, I tracked the leading few. After a couple of laps, I moved through just behind a leading group of 5. I tried to ignore the lap times being shouted and the clock at the finish and to concentrate, to get out the comfort zone I feel I've sloped into recently. I felt pretty strong as I went through 1500m in 4:16. A personal best was there for the taking.

The leaders in the group in front seemed to crank up the pace a bit, pulling the others with them so I now had a gap in front. I focused on trying to close it without surging but was aware of others catching me. A small glance at the clock showed 6:23 with 2 laps to go. A personal best would be tight. I've done many a long rep in training so made a long burst for home. On the back straight, Charlie urged me to get in tight in lane one. Lewis Millar had got past me on the inside in the recent Mens League 5000m so I heeded the warning. It worked as the guy behind didn't overtake and a final 800m in 2:17 got me 6th place in 8:40.13 and the personal best I had travelled down for.

Charlie won the second heat with 9:20.44 with another Scottish athlete, Elspeth Curran (Kilbarchan) 5th in a personal best of 9:30.12. As much as I would have loved to have seen more of the meeting, I had to get back for work the next day so, following a warm down and shower, managed to get some grub and left at 8pm. An incident free journey got me back just before midnight. I think I'll try to do an overnight in future!

So, the kickstart I wanted but plenty work still to be done.

Race result

Round Up

It's been a mixed bag post holiday. Three races have brought indifferent performances.

7th July: Strathclyde Parkrun, 15:24, 1st place

15th July: Scottish Athletics Mens League Division 2 Match 3, Gramgemouth- 5000m, 15:17.94

18th July: Linwood Open Graded Meeting, 800m, 2:04.96, 7th in heat 1 (9 finishers).

On the face of it, these are okay. However, I feel I can and should be producing a lot better. The only consolation I can take is with the 11^th hour nature of the 800m. Up until Tuesday (17^th), I was preparing for the Cairn Table Hill Race in Muirkirk, East Ayrshire. It was postponed due to a weather warning (yes, a weather warning in July). I opted for a 1500m at Linwood but, on arrival and seeing the rain bouncing off the ground and making a swimming pool of the road leading to the car park where I parked, I switched to an 800m which were due to be run earlier. A 60 second first lap was followed by a laboured second lap in 64 seconds. It’s fair to say I got caught cold.

Above: holding the Hugh Wilson Memorial trophy. Despite the smile, I've been less than happy with recent performances.

I feel a lot of frustration that I’ve plateaued and athletes I worked so hard to catch are opening that gap on me again. I look at what I was running last year and feel frustrated at being a bit behind where I was. I still have my short, medium and long terms targets which I planned on holiday but need to up my game if I’m going to come anywhere near achieving them. To this end, I’m gambling a bit and have taken a day off work on Tuesday to travel to Stretford to run a 3000m at the Trafford AC Open Meeting. The quality of race justifies the trip. I’m focusing hard. I really need a kick start. By hook or by crook I’ll be working to make sure Tuesday is it.

Hugh Wilson Memorial Road Race, 16th June 2012

I write 2 days after my return from holiday. I wrote an article about this race before going away and saved it in draft. However, after coming back and reading it again, I didn't like it so have scrubbed it. There's very little to report other than the fact the rain was torrential from start to finish, Cambuslang Harriers made up almost one fifth of the field (5 runners out of a depressingly low field of 23) and my mood matched the weather due to various worrying work issues at the time. I won the race in a time of 25:51 but found it a long, lonely slog from start to finish. In particular, finishing running 2 laps of an empty track as hard as I could on my own verged on the surreal. Such were my worries I did not compete in Giffnock North's 10k at Rouken Glen the following Thursday despite pre-entering.

Some time away has helped me relax, reflect and consolidate. I've set some short, medium and long term targets. Now is the time to go for them.

Cambuslang Results in the Hugh Wilson Memorial

1st: Stuart Gibson, 25:51

2nd: Greg Hastie, 28:48

3rd: Dave Thom, 29:02

12th: Eddie Carr, 34:51

18th: Kirsty Grant, 38:25

A Tale of Two 5ks

Scottish Athletics Track and Field Championships, 3rd June 2012

Once the high of the West Highland Way weekend wore off, it was time to get back to business. In week commencing Monday 28th May, two fast track sessions on Monday and Friday, a club run on Tuesday, High Point hill reps on Wednesday and a gentle 30 minute jog on Saturday (night off on Thursday for an after work seminar) set me up for the Scottish 5000m on the Sunday. I was attending my friend's brother's wedding reception at the Brigadoon in Ayr on the Friday, a great night with some ceildh dancing, a nice excuse to wear my kilt again. I didn't overindulge...honest. However, let's simply say I was glad the race was on Sunday.

I've a new rule on all things athletics related, everything in perspective. So as I arrived at Scotstoun and went through the formalities (number collected, pep talk with my Dad, call room reported to), I vowed to give my best on the day and take the outcome, whatever it would be. I had an idea of a performance range I would be happy with. I've been injured twice this year. A strained right tendon then pain in the left shin. One of my closest friends suffered a life threatening illness. Compare that to a little bit of discomfort. As I say, perspective is now my watch word. 

A fairly big group of Alex Hendry, Craig Ruddy, Neil Renault, Mark Pollard, David Vernon, Dermot Cummins, Lachlan Oates and Mickey Breen formed with myself and the rest just off them. I rattled off 70 second laps actually feeling I was running within myself. The furnance of Rannoch Moor must have been of benefit. I occupied a place around the middle of the field as I completed the first mile (4 laps) in a neat 4:40. Around this time, I caught and passed Ben Hukins. Those in front were forcing a relentless pace which I was struggling to hold onto, especially with a head wind against us on the home straight. They opened a gap while I had pulled away from the group behind so I found myself in no mans land with gaps in front and at my back. I went through halfway in 7:21.

My pace was slipping a bit but all my laps were still consistently around the 72-73 seconds mark. Breen and Oates had slipped off the back of the leading group and gave me something to aim at. I simply didn't have the strength to make a contest of it at the sharp end but knew I was on for a good performance if I could sustain things. Checking my splits on the clock at the finish line and from the guy at the 200m mark, I knew a sub 15 minute clocking would be tight.

Almost in one movement in the last 600m, I gained and lost a place. No sooner had I passed Lachlan Oates, Ben Hukins made a move past me. My sprint finish deserted me again as a 33 second final 200m wasn't enough to claim Hukins' scalp. However, I held off Lachlan Oates to achieve 9th place and a time of 14:59.92, my quickest 5000m for a year. I'd have bitten your hand off for that as little as 2 years ago. There's the sense of perspective I've been referring to. I know where the improvement can come. I contented myself that night reflecting on what went well. Plenty more races in the future.

Aberdeen based David Munro provided more Cambuslang interest in the race. Fresh from 5th place in the 3000m steeplechase the day before, he finished 13th in 15:59.96.

Below: race result courtesy of Power of 10.

Pos

Perf

Name

AG

Age

DOB

Coach

Club

SB

PB

1

14:29.13

Alexander Hendry

PB

U23

M

21

15.02.91

Derek Easton

Central/Forth Valley

14:29.13

14:29.13

2

14:31.25

Craig Ruddy

SEN

M

24

10.04.88

Lawrie Spence

Inverclyde/Central

14:20.95

14:20.95

3

14:36.30

David Vernon

U20

M

19

17.02.93

Graham Smith

Victoria Park City of Glasgow

14:32.41

14:32.41

4

14:38.60

Neil Renault

PB

SEN

M

Edinburgh AC

14:38.60

14:38.60

5

14:40.13

Dermot Cummins

PB

SEN

M

West Waterford/Corstorphine/Ireland

14:40.13

14:40.13

6

14:53.40

Mark Pollard

SEN

M

30

25.02.82

Mark Pollard

Belgrave/Inverclyde

14:43.09

14:38.61

7

14:55.43

Mickey Breen

PB

SEN

M

26

07.11.85

Moray Anderson

Corstorphine/Dundee Uni/Dumfries

14:55.43

14:55.43

8

14:58.54

Ben Hukins

SB

SEN

M

33

16.07.78

Terence Kerr

Unattached

14:58.54

14:45.59

9

14:59.92

Stuart Gibson

SB

SEN

M

28

15.09.83

Cambuslang/Whitemoss

14:59.92

14:57.30

10

15:15.91

Lachlan Oates

SB

U23

M

20

30.01.92

Shettleston/Glasgow Uni

15:15.91

15:04.80

11

15:48.42

Howell Craske

U23

M

19

30.10.92

Liz McColgan

Dundee Hawkhill/Dundee Uni

15:21.93

15:21.93

12

15:50.03

Iain Connell

PB

V40

M

41

26.11.70

Kilmarnock/Ayr Seaforth

15:50.03

15:50.03

13

15:59.96

David Munro

SB

SEN

M

31

21.09.80

Joyce Hogg

Cambuslang/Aberdeen

15:59.96

15:55.1

14

16:04.03

Sam Burgess

U20

M

18

07.03.94

Joyce Hogg

Aberdeen

15:38.58

15:38.58

15

16:04.37

Matthew Sutherland

PB

SEN

M

23

14.12.88

Caithness AAC/Edinburgh Uni

16:04.37

16:04.37

16

16:52.39

Sean Gaffney

SB

SEN

M

23

03.02.89

Inverclyde

16:52.39

16:40.00

17

17:10.62

Marc McColl

SEN

M

34

06.04.78

William Scally

Shettleston

17:00.64

16:41.7

Strathclyde Parkrun, 9th June 2012

My attitude to the Jubilee was really neither up nor down. On the up side, it gave me 2 extra days off work after the Scottish 5000m. Days off equal more training time. Two runs of slightly over 8 miles and 2 miles on Monday were followed by a family night out to the Doublet bar and Shish Mahal restaurant in Glasgow's West End for a curry and refreshments. Feeling slightly fragile after the previous night's chicken pakora and lamb madras (and okay, 4 pints), the morning run was restricted to 4 miles with a follow up in the evening at Whitelee Windfarm when I did an 8 mile circuit round Lochgoin Reservior. Completing the 8 mile circuit in 48:39 was a pleasant surprise.

A High Point hill session the next night was followed by a night off then a rather sluggish and tired 6 miles with 3 sets of 3 x 30 seconds strides with 30 seconds recoveries. On the back of all that, I decided to stretch my legs at the Strathclyde Parkrun.

Thankfully conditions were in my favour, dry and no wind if a little humid. I didn't know Kirsty had planned to attend so seeing her there was an unexpected bonus. Also there were two Roberts from the club, Anderson in recruitment mode and Rossborough volunteering.

I wasn't sure how to approach this run. On starting, I found myself with Kevin Downie (East Kilbride AC), another nominee for East Kilbride Sports Personality this year. I decided to run with him to see how I felt after the sluggishness of the previous night. 3:07 for the first kilometre and I was feeling okay so I strode out and edged ahead. That pace would improve my previous time here of 15:43. I was in a bit of experimentation mode, checking the watch more often than I normally would. 3km in 9:15 so I had quickened up. Now came the long drag back round the loch. The pace slipped in the next kilometre which took 3:10 but I decided to treat the last one as a rep, throwing everything I had left into it. 3:04 for the kilometre brought me over the finish line in a course best of 15:30. Happily I took the barcode to record the result. Kevin ran strongly to finish in 16:50, well clear in 2nd place.

I walked back out to shout on Kirsty who was 2nd lady when I saw her with 300-400m to go, a few metres down on the leader. Whether my informing her of this fact made the difference or not I don't know, all I know is she produced a sprint in the final 200m to win the ladies race and clock her fastest 5km of 2012. Well done Miss Grant.

After chats with the two Roberts and turning down the chance to buy a sports bra from Sweatshop's Gavin Harvie, I had a short warm down with Kirsty then ran a little more on my own before spending the afternoon in the library working. After successive weekends in Aberdeen, Fort William and Ayr, there came a time to knuckle down.

I find myself with no real targets for at least the next 3 months. Run for fun I guess?

Strathclyde

Stuart GIBSON

Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers

Kirsty GRANT

Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers

Above: copied and pasted from the weekly winners page on the Parkrun site, a Cambuslang double at Strathclyde on 9th June.

Cambuslang Results

1st: Stuart Gibson, 15:30
21st: Eddie Carr, 20:46
31st: David Fairweather, 21:47
40th: Kirsty Grant, 22:41- 1st lady

46th: Eamon Carr, 23:13
66th: Walter Edgar, 25:13
69th: Victoria Edgar, 25:24