Scottish National 4km Cross Country, 7th November 2015

Since week beginning Sunday 20th September, when I resumed full training after my Scandinavia jaunt, I have tweaked things a bit. 60 miles a week in preparation for the Copenhagen Half Marathon certainly got me fit but I had little pace in my legs and couldn't up the tempo. Anyone who's read my 4 part account of the trip will know I expended a bit of physical and emotional energy the day before but, in truth, the difference would have been minimal. My routine had felt stale for some time so I've adopted a less mileage and higher quality approach which has worked for me in the past. I've been taking it one race at a time. Results in the George Cummings, West Cross Country and National Cross Country relays suggest I'm hopefully heading in the right direction. The Scally was a good workout considering it turned out to be effectively a solo time trial. My pace worked out at roughly 31:45 10km tempo on an awkward course with an undulating second half.

I was sure to have more company at a wet, muddy Bellahouston Park for the National 4km Cross Country. I felt very nervous so was glad to have the race taking place on a Saturday. As much as I like the sport, having your whole weekend consumed by a Sunday race is not always ideal, nor is having to return the work the day after, especially if it hasn't gone well. Over with on Saturday, have a pint that night and Sunday for a recovery run. My model for the sport in a nutshell.

Again, we had a large contingent in a field of almost 350 runners. Again, I had masking tape wrapped round my spikes. I hadn't yet bought the new pair I've promised myself. I marked my territory on the line and got a clear start. All too often folk think they can do strides on the course then expect you to move back to let them in. I didn't get caught up in the usual crazy start though found plenty runners ahead of me. I splashed through the huge puddle/pond created by incessant rainfall all week and got through the first kilometre without incident. The ground was basically a muck heap but runnable and I made steady progress. I overtook a small group and gave chase to more as the first lap concluded. While definitely feeling it, I also felt capable of keeping it going in the second and continued to make good inroads.

The standard in the male senior ranks has certainly risen as there were a few new faces among those around me. Two familiar ones though were Lachlan Oates and clubmate Craig Jardine, both of whom I overtook after a sustained effort. I battled on through the rain, encouragingly not being passed by anyone, and soon saw the finish. I sensed being closed down. Fed up getting outsprinted in races, I worked my arms, lifted my knees and made a lunge for the line, dipping my chest. Craig's shadow appeared in the corner of my left eye as did one of his feet. We finished in a dead heat with the same time, 12:46. Photo finish put him one place ahead of me in 19th. I maintained (light heartedly) that my torso between my chin and waist had crossed the line before him so I should have the nod. Alas, the timing chip on our shoes proved the deciding factor. His foot was ahead of mine. I was 4th counter for the club behind Kyle McLellan (9th, 12:23), Ryan Thomson (13th, 12:33) and Craig. With 4 to count for the team, I'm only glad it didn't cost me a medal. I can't remember being part of a closer finish.

Our efforts sealed team silver behind the ever dominant Central and ahead of our old buddies Shettleston.

Above: team silver, left to right- Ryan Thomson, Craig Jardine, Stuart Gibson, Kyle McLellan.

I hit the showers in the sports centre to wash the mud off my legs (far from the only one doing such a thing) and, for a warm down, jogged 3.5 miles to Hampden where my Dad drove on to from the park to pick me up. A quicker time on a muddier course than 2013 and an 8 place improvement. Another race I'm content with.

Allan Scally Road Relay, 31st October 2015 plus a Postscript

By the Thursday night before this race, we were one short of the required team of 4. As previously eluded to, I am feeling the need to keep my running fresh so volunteered myself to make up the numbers.

The Shettleston Harriers organised Allan Scally Relay has a long history going back over 60 years. Two good articles to this effect can be found on Shettleston's website and also here. I ran the race several times over the old traditional course round Baillieston, including an interminably long stretch along Edinburgh Road, for both Calderglen Harriers and Glasgow University Hares and Hounds. My last appearance was in 2008 and, with the police forcing a change of course the following year, this would be my first time running the race in its new guise. The start and finish is now located in a park off Mount Vernon Road instead of across from Bannerman High School as before. A generally flat and slightly downhill first half and hillier second half took you through virtually every residential street in Mount Vernon. At least it felt like that by the end.

For the record, Robert Gilroy brought us in 3rd behind the host club and Edinburgh University, clocking 24:27 for the 4.8 miles. I took over in pursuit of both teams though could not see Shettleston's runner, Brian McGarrity. I pushed hard, eventually closing down and passing the Uni's runner. I had a glimpse of Brian and, after initially thinking it was a tall order, also overtook him but not without a huge effort. With no-one to chase thereafter, not even any runners to lap, I really toiled with the hills biting hard into my legs. I clocked 24:35 to finish with a 20 second lead.

Our 3rd and 4th leg runners, Peter Ogden and Simon Gold, gave it their very best shots to keep us in the top half, a tough task to undertake when aware there are likely to be faster runners chasing you down. Both put in very gallant efforts to maintain a top 10 position, 8th being our final result. The race constituted a good competitive workout for me. For a warm down, my Dad dropped me at Glasgow Green and I jogged a couple of miles from there to my Gran's in the Gorbals to pick up my Mum.

I refer to a postscript in the title of this post. I may elaborate further at a later date but for now I simply record my dismay at how a once proud race has fallen on such hard times. The statistics make for sobering reading. On my debut appearance in 2001, 41 complete male teams and 11 complete female teams finished the race. While the female numbers have actually remained steady (13 complete teams this year), the male numbers have fallen in dramatic fashion with 19 complete teams contesting the race in 2015. The Scally doubles as a university relay championship and 8 of those 19 teams came from universities. 4 of the female teams were universities. Take these away, you are left with 11 male and 9 female non-university club teams. I sensed a bit of malaise as soon as I arrived after finding a parking space at the school with great ease and with the start/finish area simply not feeling busy. The buzz of racing was replaced with a feeling of going through the motions and I found it extremely difficult to motivate myself as I warmed up and waited to take over from Robert. I set off however to put in an honest effort which I probably paid for in the later stages. Hundreds of people are turning out every week at what are essentially glorified training runs (Parkruns) yet races like the Scally are barely remaining viable. There has to be a reason why the customers are no longer turning up. Finding that reason is the easy part. Finding the solution less so. 

Scottish National Cross Country Relay Championships, 24th October 2015

I had one simple target as I approached Cumbernauld for this relay, to improve on last year's time of 13:43 on 3rd leg and overall 30th quickest time. My personal circumstances have changed for the better since then. I was going through a bit of turmoil having resigned from my job but needing to endure another 6 weeks before starting with my new employer. I completely went through the motions for the full 4km.

12 months on, changed days and I was (slightly) more up for it. I do not like racing at Cumbernauld at all, therefore, was very pleased to be assigned 1st leg, meaning I could get it over with and encourage/watch everyone else struggle. 

With the course initially veering right uphill, I positioned myself to the right of the start line which also ensured I avoided a big puddle on the left. I was worried about being clipped and my shoe coming off (it's happened to me a few times) so my Dad had wrapped masking tape round my footwear. Whether it was necessary or not, I don't know. My shoes stayed on anyway.

My leg unfolded as a battle to stay in contention. I fought the best I could round an undulating muddy course, managing to stay in the top 10. I didn't feel I had moved very quickly though the clock told me otherwise. I crossed the finish line 9th in 12:51. Ryan Thomson, Robert Gilroy and Kyle McLellan gradually hauled us upwards and we finished in a very good 4th place behind strong Central, Shettleston and Inverclyde teams. I was 19th fastest overall and much quicker than 2014. Pre-race objective firmly achieved. 4th place was also a big team improvement.

Again, we had a very healthy club turnout across all age groups. Results can be found here.

Above: ploughing on, my hair worrying starting to get some grey patches. Photo courtesy of Sharyn Ramage.