Thursday 23 October 2014

Lanarkshire Road Relay Championships, 18th October 2014

Having missed the West District Cross Country Relay due to being in Durham for my aunt and uncle's golden wedding anniversary and being over my pursuit of Kenyan women around Glasgow, I was enthusiastic for a competitive outing. The Lanarkshire Road Relay at Drumpellier Park, Coatbridge fitted the bill. As I did for the George Cummings Relay, I viewed the race as part of training and went out a 5 mile jog in the morning. Before the George Cummings, the 5 miler took me 32:23. By uncanny co-incidence, the same run was completed again in 32:23. I sense a new pre-race superstition. Each time I run on the morning of a race, I'll need to do the same 5 mile route in that very time.
 
Dry but blustery conditions greeted those who gathered for the championship. A number of Cambuslang runners understandably sat this out after a hectic race schedule but, while we had no senior ladies team (sadly there were only 4 of them in all), we still lined up 2 complete mens teams. Each leg was 4km comprising an out and back course essentially from one end of the park to the other and back again. For the record, our A team claimed gold while the B team were a competitive 7th place out of 11 complete teams, only 9 seconds off 6th.
 
In the A team, George Pettit rose to the occasion with 5th place in 13:28, keeping us in contact with, amongst others, early pacesetters East Kilbride. With the fastest time of the day (12:02), Robert Gilroy hauled us into the lead which I managed to extend on 3rd leg with the 3rd fastest time of 12:22 (Shettleston's Paul Sorrie split us with 12:17 on last leg). Breaking my usual habit, I wore my training Garmin (I usually wear a stopwatch in races or occasionally no watch at all) since I had heard suspicions in previous years the course was slightly short. Following a hill session on the Thursday night, a 7.5 mile run home from work on the Friday night then the aforementioned 5 miler, I naturally felt a bit leg weary but pushed hard in the gusting wind and was pleasantly surprised with my time. The Garmin told me the route was exactly 4km(!) and I had run 4:51 for the first mile, 5:05 in the second mile then quickened again to approximately 4:52 pace during the last half mile. That will do fine. Jamie Reid has a tremendous distance running pedigree (see the link I've provided) and, now in his veteran years, is still capable of running very well and dishing out a bloody nose to unsuspecting rivals. He did what he needed to do, ignoring the attention of a loose dog in the later stages ("a Shettleston dog" quipped an onlooker) and closing the race out for us in a swift 12:49. Paul Sorrie brought Shettleston in for silver and Jamie Clements anchored an ever improving East Kilbride squad to bronze.
 
An experienced B team was lead out by Alick Walkinshaw (15:08), handing over to Barnie Gough (15:58) then Paul Thomson (13:44). Alasdair Murray finished the job off in 15:21.
 
In addition, earlier in the day, we had teams in the younger age groups. Notable performances came from the under 13 and 15 boys both winning silver.
 
After jogging another 3.5 miles to complete an 11 mile day, undoubted highlight of the day for me was a good bowl of thick lentil soup in the visitor centre café before the homeward journey.
 
As a footnote, the Lanarkshire AAA has sadly failed to elect a new committee, resulting in the need for an EGM. The failure puts the future of the Lanarkshire championship events, including this one, in doubt. While not in a position to contribute myself, one only hopes a solution can be found.

Tuesday 7 October 2014

Amazing Who You Meet 8

I made a late decision to contest this year's Great Scottish Run Half Marathon due to my healthy position in the Scottish Road Running Grand Prix. It being my first half marathon since 2010 and without the level of mileage required to race the distance, I feel more than content with 19th place in an even paced personal best of 1:09:03.

While not particularly enjoying it at the time, I had the honour of running alongside a 2 time World Marathon champion and the winner of the 2011 Boston and 2011 and 2013 Frankfurt Marathons, Edna Kiplagat and Caroline Kilel respectively. They were running an ideal pace for me so I considered it made sense to make use of their experience, stick with them and maybe get pulled through to pick some stragglers off later. The photo below shows me with both women in Pollok Park after 5 miles. I eventually succumbed to them, Kiplagat doing 1:07:57 and Kilel 1:08:53, and my first defeat to a lady since 2008 (I can't recall the last time I lost to two ladies in one race). I guess however there's no disgrace here. Two full time Africans versus a beer drinking, curry loving solicitor after all! Photo courtesy of Chris Upson.






Friday 3 October 2014

George Cummings Road Relay, 27th September 2014

Having made my first appearance in this race for some years last year, I returned to the Renfrewshire village of Houston for another attempt. It was warm, a holiday weekend, the sun was shining and I felt in a good mood.
 
I experimented by using the race as part of my Saturday double training, going out a 5 mile jog in the morning in East Kilbride then taking on 3rd leg in the afternoon. Apart from the first half mile when I overtook Inverclyde's B team to move us into 4th place, our final position, I had a completely solo effort, clocking 13:05 for the undulating 2.7 mile course. This was only 7 seconds outside my previous best when I had the benefit of competing against Lachlan Oates during 1st leg so it gave me a good training effect.


Above: ploughing a lonely furrow on 3rd leg. Photo courtesy of Alan Derrick.

Overall, I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon with some great company. With no marathons on the agenda (a lesson well and truly learned), hopefully there are more days like this to come.
 
The Cambuslang performances were as follows:-

Men's A team- 4th

Gordon Robertson, 13:55
Bobby Bristow, 13:55
Me, 13:05
Robert Gilroy, 13:03

Men's B team- 9th

George Pettit, 14:36
Greg Hastie, 14:38
Alistair Campbell, 14:08
Scott Hunter, 15:12

Women- 2nd

Eve Mackinnon, 16:03- youngest Cambuslang runner competing and debut in a senior relay.
Caitlin Hendry, 16:19
Katie Bristow, 16:13

Mixed team

Kirsty Anderson, 17:07
Barnie Gough, 17:15