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