Calderglen Harriers 10km Trail Race, 24th June 2016

The trail race organised by Calderglen Harriers is of significance in my time as an athlete. I ran the race back in 2001 as  a 17 year old and became a member of the host club later that year. This really launched my distance running career. Until then I had mainly competed on the track, with varying success, from 100m to 1500m. For the record I clocked 44:43 that night. My Calderglen debut came in September 2001 with a time of 39:22 in what was then called the Paisley Pattern 10k. There is still a 10km race there though over a different course. You also have the irony that I now work in the Renfrewshire town.

Trail is by no means my favourite or strongest surface but I've tried to support the Calderglen event when possible. This would be my 3rd attempt at the race in 4 years, missing out in 2015 because it clashed with the 5000m in Watford. Attending a race straight from your work is never ideal but with lack of time this is what I did on this occasion. I'd had a Mens League match 12 days earlier with some acceptable performances, 3000m steeplechase (9:57.11), 1500m (4:17.99) and 5000m (15:26.89) so continued to be in reasonable form. I caught up with a few people and was briefed that the first kilometre or so had been altered due to landslips in the park. Handy to know.

I had a conservative start, letting a few others lead me round the unfamiliar opening stages. Once on the trails properly, positions started to establish themselves. Luke Traynor, home for the summer from his US scholarship at Tulsa, was the class act in the field and simply picked his moment to break away. Neil Renault (Edinburgh) gave chase, leaving me in 3rd under pressure from Grant Baillie (East Kilbride AC). The Calderglen course is a tough, undulating one with few opportunities to build momentum. The trail is also in poor condition, heightening the probability of a twisted ankle or similar. Neil is a man not afraid of mileage with marathon times in the 2:20s to his name and had even run the 5km race earlier in the evening. After halfway, I made an effort to close him down and, at around 6km, overtook. Local pride had kicked in and, even though I wasn't feeling at my best, I was on home turf (or trail I guess) and determined to put up some resistance. I held him off until roughly 1.5km to go when we approached a hill with stairs leading up from the River Calder. Neil overtook me here and held on to the finish. The race saw a repeat of the 1-2-3 at the Scottish 10,000m Track Championship in 2014 with Luke 1st in 34:55, Neil 2nd in 35:15 and me 3rd in 35:26. Grant was 4th, only 2 seconds adrift of me.

I had got away with the odd missed run and inconsistent training for just over a month but it told on the trails. I put the race down as a great workout and also really enjoyed chatting to so many old chums. Former Calderglen coach Jimmy Moore presented the trophy bearing his name to Luke, however, only after he promised not to take it back to Tulsa with him. It does after all have to be returned for the following year's race.

Full results of all the evening's races and previous years, including my appearance in 2001, can be found here.

Nairn 10 Mile Road Race, 5th June 2016

Always open to trying new races, the Nairn 10 Miler caught my eye. I had enjoyed my trip to Inverness in June 2015 for a Mens League match and never been to Nairn so put in an entry, booked an overnight at a guest house, the Ardross Glencairn, in the Highland capital and arranged to meet up with my Inverness based friends, Charles and Jenny Bannerman and Stephen Mackay for a bite to eat. They came up trumps with the Culloden Moor Inn. Charles surpassed this thereafter, signing us into the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Social Club of which he is a member. I know I had a race the next day but to not partake in a refreshment would be rude. It was just the sort of old man pub I love. After a couple of beers there, I walked Charles round to another pub close to the guest house where he continued with his evening while I headed to bed.

Above: the River Ness, close to my guest house. This is my own photo.

I can only assume that the Ardross Glencairn was previously two different properties because, to get from my room to the dining room, I had to go out the front door, along the street a few metres and in next door, there being no direct door leading you through inside. Someone clearly didn't think to create a gap in the wall! Still, breakfast consumed, I drove 16 miles along the A96 to Nairn. I was quite early so had a wander round and noted I'd unfortunately arrived a week early for the Book and Arts Festival.

Before too long, runners and crowds had gathered and the race was underway. The vast majority of the course was on country roads so proved to be hilly and rural in a mixture of warm and windy conditions. My main opposition turned out to be a local, Kenny Wilson of Moray Road Runners. At 2 miles I had a slight scare when I felt a bee or wasp bounce off my chest then experienced a stinging sensation. I took some water shortly after, rubbing some on the affected area and thankfully the feeling passed. I gradually edged a step ahead of Kenny at 3 miles and decided to inject some pressure for the next 2 miles to build a gap. It would hurt me but hopefully not so much that I wouldn't sustain it. I went through 5 miles in 25:54, quicker than anticipated it must be said.

Above: anticipating the finish. Photo courtesy of Jenny Bannerman.

I managed to keep the effort going and had some company near the end from the fun runners, this route taking in the tail end of the 10 miler. I finished in a satisfying 52:20, just over 2 minutes clear of Kenny in the end who, in turn, was comfortable in 2nd. Jenny had lined up for the race but was being afflicted at the time by a mystery illness and had to stop after a few miles. Her club mate, Sarah Liebnitz, took the honours instead in a very good time of 61:10.

Above: either the local paper simply made a mistake or they only know one Cambuslang athlete. Courtesy of Jenny Bannerman.

Though I had a long journey home ahead, I considered it only courteous to wait for the prize giving, receiving a trophy and some vouchers. The drive back south took 4 hours through the A9's maze of speed cameras. Overall, I had a very enjoyable trip. I'll have my eyes peeled for more events in the Highlands.

Glasgow Miler Meeting, 3rd June 2016

Photo courtesy of Colin Stephen.

At a time of bereavement, keeping busy is probably a good thing. On the week after Watford I had entered a couple of races, again arranged when family circumstances were a little better. Again, the word from my parents was to press ahead. My Gran had always told me to do things and not worry about her. This tended to come out when I visited her on my own, often on a Sunday to take the strain off my Mum. Best to respect her wishes. On her better days we spent afternoons with chats like that. Happily the last time I did a solo visit was a good day so at least my lasting memory is a happy one.

Next up was a Friday night outing over 3000m at Crownpoint, scene of my Scottish 10,000m silver medal triumph. The 5000m at Watford had been a draining race so I stuck to light training leading up to the 3000m. 2 sets of 4 x 200m in times of 29-30 seconds the night before suggested I may produce something acceptable. I still however felt nervous. It was a strong field of 19 runners and I ironically finished in 12th place like Watford the week before. I never felt great at any point and, in the circumstances, was pleased with a time of 8:42.19, only 2 seconds outside my best. Another 10 seconds would have gained me 6 places. The pace had been consistent with 1500m splits of 4:19 and 4:23. The quality of the field no doubt helped me produce the level of performance I did.

Above: almost perfectly synchronised with Ryan Thomson who finished 8th in 8:36.92.

I would be racing again two days later over 5 times the distance. This served as a good turnover of the legs beforehand.

The race results can be found here.

British Milers Club Grand Prix, Watford, 29th May 2016- Prelude and Aftermath

The days and weeks following the Scottish 10,000m proved difficult outwith running and gradually impacted on my performances in it. Week commencing Sunday 1st May turned out to be an uneventful, 7 days of training covering 50 miles with various standard sessions and runs completed, for example, my favourite "mixed grill" varied pace 7.5 miler, mile reps and High Point hill reps. Sunday 8th May saw the first Mens League match at Grangemouth. Scheduling the High Point for the day before proved a silly idea which resulted in 3 flat performances, 800m (2:06.08), 3000m steeplechase (10:09.1) and 5000m (15:50.29). I was however 1st Division 2 athlete in the latter 2 races so at least something was salvaged. Events later that week though put things into perspective.

To cut a very long story extremely short, my Gran had not been in the best of health since sustaining a broken hip in June 2014. Behind the tales of training, races and Queen's Park matches contained in this blog, family life had been challenging. Anyone who has helped care for an elderly relative will know that there are good and bad days. My Gran had more than her fair share of bad ones Alas she was admitted to hospital at the end of April and by Wednesday 11th May the prognosis was not good. That day would be the last time I saw her and, ironically on Friday the 13th, she left us. I hadn't run for a couple of days but, at my Dad's insistence, I did so that Friday, having left work early on receiving the news, before drowning my sorrows a little that night in the pub. A strict one off occurrence! The following day I was at Hampden as Queen's Park achieved promotion from League 2 but left a few minutes after the final whistle. Eurovision, normally the highlight of my TV viewing all year, took place that night but I watched with little interest. Dark clouds are horrible things. I returned to work and kept training to keep my mind off things but had another couple of rest days on the Thursday and Friday (19th and 20th) for the funeral. I can safely say that giving the eulogy was more nerve racking than any race I've ever ran.

These were the circumstances leading up to the BMC meeting in Watford on 28th May which I'd done so well in the previous year. Flights and accommodation had been arranged well in advance so both my parents insisted I went through with it. I simply doubted what effect the upheaval would have on my performance. More doubts crept in with a flight delay in Glasgow then a lengthy wait for my luggage, both of which ate into the nap I'd planned to have at the Premier Inn that afternoon. In the end, lining up in the B race, I used the atmosphere and the rest of the field to produce an acceptable performance of 14:51,6, battling my way from the rear of the field to 12th place out of 19 finishers. It was actually far better than I had anticipated so I munched on my McDonalds Chicken Meal back at the hotel with some contentment.

Since the Monday was a holiday, I had booked an extra night in Watford and planned a trip to London, somewhere I incredibly had never been to. I got up early for an easy recovery run before breakfast at the hotel then caught the train from Watford Junction to London Euston. It's virtually impossible to see everything so, with the aid of a tour guide from my local library, had picked out what I wanted to visit. I began with the British Library (maybe not everyone's first choice but I like books) then took the Tube (a nervous experience) to the Westminster area and blatantly played the tourist, taking in the usual- Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey. I concluded with a walk along the Embankment to Trafalgar Square where I managed half an hour in the National Art Gallery before it closed (probably covering about 1% of it, you could spend a day in there on its own). Sipping a pint of London Pride in the Square rounded off a fantastic day. Having your running over with and a full day to basically do what you want, there are few things better.

Above: early evening at Trafalgar Square, London.

For obvious reasons, I didn't want to be on the Tube too late at night alone so made my return journey to Watford while I still had daylight on my side, enjoyed dinner and another beer at the hotel and got a flight back to Glasgow the next morning. This break was just what I needed at that particular time.

Scottish 10,000m Championships, 29th April 2016

Reviewing my training diary at the time, my confidence was certainly up after a good run of races since the beginning of March. At the end of week commencing 17th April, I commented that I was following a training regime for Watford, referring to the BMC meeting on 28th May in which I had entered the 5000m. Before that, on 29th April, I would be contesting a race which had borne fruit in the previous 2 years with bronze medals, the Scottish 10,000m Track Championship. I had 2 weeks training behind me following the 12 Stage Relay.

The race this year moved to Glasgow's Crownpoint track, opened again after being resurfaced with the Hampden Park track surface used at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. A Friday night suited because, although the race came at the end of a working day, I had 2 days over the weekend to recover.

There were 3 races, a mixed gender one, a male B race then mine. As before, while on paper the male medallists would come from my race, the rule applied that the 3 fastest overall took the prizes. A field of 14 runners plus at least one pacemaker (I'm writing this a few months after the event so I can't quite recall) set off on the 25 laps of the track. For a long time, I felt the pace was too fast and found myself struggling to stay in contention. I sat in 5th place striding out to keep in contact while trying to conserve energy. I went through 5000m in 15:22 yet there were still 4 guys ahead of me.

It took 14 laps before I moved up from 5th and maintained it- I had earlier attempted to gain places but been hauled back. By now I was working extremely hard. I always try to be relatively fresh at halfway in a 10,000m then treat the next half as a 5000m race. I had progressed to 4th then gradually got into a medal position, 3rd, my placing for the previous 2 years. Defending champion William Mackay (Aberdeen) clearly enjoys this race as he was out in front again followed by Michael Deason (Shettleston). I eventually moved up to Michael's shoulder and overtook. I couldn't really tell if I was catching the leader or not but I do know the gap at the end was only 9 seconds. I ran probably my best race of the year to date, taking the silver medal in 30:45.44, a personal best and first time under 31 minutes on the track. Michael was 7 seconds behind. My previous bronze medal winning times would not have won a medal this year.

Numbers were slightly up with 36 men and 4 women contesting the 3 races. 

Olympians Callum Hawkins, Derek Hawkins and Tsegai Tewelde were in attendance to do presentations and they are pictured with the 3 medallists below. Photo courtesy of Scottish Athletics. When your running clicks there is no better feeling and it certainly did on this occasion.

English Road Running Association 12 Stage Road Relay Part 2- Saturday

Photos courtesy of Colin Stephen.

Little did I know when I published part 1 of this account on 6th May that it would take me over 6 months to produce the sequel. Alas, only 7 days later life events took over when my Gran left the world after a period of illness. The irony of this happening on Friday the 13th is not lost on me. On 16th April however, a month earlier, my Gran was at home and my mind was on the 12 Stage. 

A bag of nerves is one way of describing how I felt on race day. I had raced in Birmingham before but not in this part. This event was new. Being 7th leg in a 12 man relay meant roughly calculating/educatedly guessing my likely starting window then working my routine back from there- when to eat, warm up etc. I turned up at the park just as 1st leg (including Ben Hukins for us) was setting off and, after collecting my number, wandered round most of the course before beginning more focused preparations. Looking back now, I seemed to judge it well.

The race follows a similar format to the Scottish 6 and 4 Stage Road Relay with alternate short and long legs. At just over 5km, the short legs were similar to the Scottish race with the long legs slightly shorter at 5.4 miles. The route however is much more awkward with undulations and tight turns, making good pace judgement crucial. Ben, followed by Ross Stephen, Ryan Thomson, Alistair Campbell, Alasdair Campbell (that's not a misprint, they are different people) and Scott Somerville, had us in 30th place in the field of just over 60 teams by the time I set off.

I had a confidence boost on the initial descent in the first half mile when I immediately gained a place. As far as settling nerves goes. that proved helpful. In these races where your competitors are largely unknown, it can be difficult to tell how well you're running. I always think that if you feel too good during a race, you're not running hard enough. I certainly felt I was moving well but was also putting the effort in. I wasn't dropping any places either.

The extra distance in the long leg is achieved by diverting into an out and back section which eventually rejoins the short leg to head into the finish. On the way out, I could see a group of 3 heading back the way and set my sights on catching them. Happily I did.

Above: gaining one of the 6 places I claimed for the team on leg 7.

By the end of my leg, I had gained 6 places and clocked a time of 27:18. Until I saw some results however I still couldn't tell if this constituted a good performance. This was confirmed to be the case when it emerged I was in the top 10 on my leg and 51st fastest long leg overall out of 396 runners. I'll take that.

Craig Jardine, Iain Reid, Richard Carr, Kyle McLellan and Stan Mackenzie continued the good work to bring the team home in an overall time of 4:31:53. Yes, that's 4 hours 31 minutes 53 seconds! We were 15 minutes behind the winners, Highgate Harriers (remember it's a 50 mile race) but around some distinguished names, for example, 15 seconds behind Birchfield Harriers and ahead of the likes of Shaftesbury Barnet and Coventry Godiva. For a first attempt after 17 years with a team ranging from under 20 to over 50 and several in between, we considered top 20 to be a successful outcome. The journey north was certainly a happy one and, as a club, there is an appetite to return for another go.

The full race results can be found here.

Above: the 13 man team, including the travelling reserve and one of my room mates, Chris Upson.

I'm Back

I am pleased to report that I now find myself in a position where I can resume this blog on some sort of regular basis. Various personal circumstances put paid to this earlier this year, the predominant one being the death of my Gran in the middle of May and everything following on from that. I reached a point where posts were becoming less frequent and I experienced what you could call writer's block more and more often any time I did decide to produce something. My last substantive update was in April. I guess I have a lot to catch up on. Be afraid because I'm back!

In the intervening months, my brother has also decided that running is for him. We both ran the Great Scottish Run 10k in Glasgow in October. For the record, I finished 4th in 31:11 while my older sibling finished in just over 57 minutes, well within his 70 minute estimate. We are photographed post race below.

Hiatus

Due to a number of pressing ongoing commitments, I have taken the decision to have a hiatus from the blog until further notice. Hopefully however it has proven good reading up to now and do please read back the old posts and continue to provide comments. I will be back but I just can't commit to when.

Until we meet again, happy running and all the best.

Above: English 12 Stage Road Relay in Sutton Coldfield on 16th April. Running the 5.38 miles 7th leg in 27:18. Undulating course. Took the team up 6 places. We eventually finished 19th.

English Road Running Association 12 Stage Road Relay Part 1- Friday

Back in 2012 I had voiced the opinion to the rest of Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers that the club should be giving the premier road relay in UK athletics an attempt. The suggestion fostered a lively debate which ultimately, sadly, came to nothing. It fell off the agenda until last year when I brought it up again. The crux of my argument was that if Central, Shettleston and Corstorphine, 3 clubs we are competitive with in Scotland, could go and compete, why couldn't we?  On this occasion, the message seemed to get through. A commitment was therefore made for this year's edition. 

Ultimately 13 athletes, a team of 12 plus one travelling reserve, and a support team of coaches and parents, made the trip south to Sutton Coldfield. All but 2 travelled by car. The odd couple were myself and said travelling reserve, Chris Upson. We travelled by plane from Glasgow Airport, in Chris' case due to childcare duties and me with work commitments. Working in Paisley, it made sense to travel from the airport less than 2 miles away. A hour's flight and then a half hour taxi ride from Birmingham Airport deposited us at the team's base, the Travel Lodge in Sutton Coldfield. We found them in the Wetherspoons next door where, to relax and calm my nerves, I considered it appropriate to have a pint. A glass of Ruddles Best hit the spot. A few of us then retired to the adjacent Harvester Chain pub where I spotted Black Sheep on draught, a light coloured beer I'd enjoyed several years ago on holiday in Southport. The temptation was too great so I sipped a half pint. I felt then I'd had just enough beer to unwind but not too much to impair the following day's performance. A team briefing rounded off the evening.

Part 2 to follow.

Grangemouth Round The Houses 10km Road Race, 10th April 2016

After recovering from illness and two ankle sprains in the first two months of this year, I resolved to get out and race whenever possible when fit and injury free. After the success of the Scottish Road Relay on 3rd April, the club solidified its plans to attend the English 12 Stage Road Relay in Sutton Coldfield on 16th April. I was keen to race on the weekend in between. There were a couple of possibilities, the Tom Scott Memorial (10 miles), which I've raced several times over the years on its various routes, and Round the Houses 10km in Grangemouth which I had not ran since 2003, despite more track appearances than I care to remember in the same town. The two races are pre-entry only and extremely popular so, to keep my options open, I entered both. On learning I would be on a long leg the following week and it was undulating, I felt I would not recover on time from a 10 miler so the well worn path to Grangemouth it was.

Despite the Tom Scott constituting a West District and Scottish Championship, there was no shortage of talent opting to race 10km instead so I was by no means in for a Sunday stroll. Conditions were ideal, a little nippy temperature wise but dry with only a slight breeze. Another thing was for sure, there would not be a hill to be had on this pancake flat course. Soon after the start, I found myself in a large leading group of about 8 runners. I don't tend to be a slave to my watch in races. Over 10km, apart from a quick glance after the gun to check if it has started timing, I tend to only have a look at halfway then again at 8km. Therefore, the presence of a lead car displaying a clock at the back, directly in my line of vision, unsettled me a bit. Despite this, I continued to focus on getting a few kilometres behind me.

What unfolded was no doubt one of the closest races in this events 50 year history (this was the 50th anniversary edition). There would certainly be no danger of me failing to beat my course best of around 37:10 from 2003. The large pack chuntered along, each taking the lead in turns, myself included, and I passed through 5km in 15:20. I thought that the pace surely had to drop and, if it did, hoped I would have enough in the tank to be in contention for the win. The pack dropped to 6 runners with Dermot Cummins and Patrik Gierjatowicz (sincere apologies if I've spelled that incorrectly) dropping off. This left me, Irish triathlete Russell White (I didn't know this at the time), Michael Christoforou with a 14:36 track 5000m to his name (I was unaware of this as well), Bryan Mackie, Conan McCaughey and Max McNeill. At both the 7km and 8km points, I tried to make a surge for home but got pegged back on each occasion. As we ran on the road parallel to the track, round the turn and back the opposite way towards 9km, I was still there.

The pace then noticeably turned. I wanted to go with it and tried to but my legs wouldn't let me. As we took a right turn then ran round the perimeter of the track and through the gate for the final 100m, I watched the lead change hands several times. All 6 of us were on the track at one time. Russell, Michael and Bryan were toe to toe for 1st place followed by Conan, Max and me. My final effort took me past Max and I held on narrowly for 5th place in a time of 31:11. As I exchanged handshakes, I had no idea who had won. I don't think the 3 guys did either. I didn't ask anyway. Instead, I decided to walk on and get first pick of the goody bags and t shirts.

Afterwards, I watched a fair chunk of the 900 plus field coming in while chatting to a Whitemoss friend Paul White who returned to compete in the Mens League last year and will do so again in 2016. He's training and racing well so hopefully he will be an asset to the team. As far as I'm concerned, an asset constitutes someone willing to compete and give their all, regardless of their level. Paul fits these criteria.

I then hung about for the prize giving, collecting £30 for my finishing place and learning that Russell was given the nod ahead of Michael and Bryan. More crucial than you think with £200 on offer for the winner. On the day, all three of them were credited with the same time (31:04) but Michael has since been given the edge by a single second. Thank goodness there was chip timing.

Initially, I felt a little disappointed, primarily due to my pace slowing to 15:51 in the second 5km, until checking back and seeing that it was my fastest 10km since Stirling in September 2014. Nothing wrong with that.

Full results can be found here.

Scottish Road Relay Championships- Take 2

Having been slagged off from some quarters for not producing my own version of events from Livingston (well, from Charlie Thomson, writer's block to blame), here we go.

Reading back my report on the Clydesdale Harriers 5km, I note that I said that we were looking good for the Scottish Road Relay Championships. For once, a prediction of mine actually turned out to be correct. Anyone who knows about my attempts at the football fixed odds or the horses can vouch that Mystic Meg has nothing to fear from me. Whilst our senior men have achieved medal winning performances every year since 2011, from 2007 onwards, the golds secured by our over 40s and 50s in their own age categories in recent years have eluded us. That was all to change. The turning of the tide proved to be a gradual process throughout the race.

Back at the familiar Livingston venue with the tried and trusted alternate 3.15 miles (legs, 1, 3 and 5) and 5.8 miles laps (legs 2, 4 and 6), Iain Reid gave us a solid start, finishing in 8th place but only 25 seconds off the leaders (Corstorphine), thus, giving me plenty people to compete against on leg 2. I managed to gain 4 places, the last of which was former Central man John Newsom, now with Inverness Harriers. He was going very well and it took a considerable effort from me to catch then overtake him. I spent virtually the whole leg in the shadow of Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab (Shettleston) but couldn't make any inroads on the gap. I wasn't feeling great which usually means I'm running strongly. So it proved, my time of 29:21 being half a minute quicker than last year and thankfully reversing my trend of gradually slowing times on the long leg since setting my course best of 29:02 in 2012. I had a nervous finish with Inverclyde's Craig Ruddy (29:01) in hot pursuit. I (with great relief) held on by 2 seconds. A familiar name now lead, Central.

Craig Jardine then set off and, in clocking the 2nd fastest short leg of the day (15:41), hauled us into the medal positions. On the same leg, Johnny Glen ran the fastest time (15:30) to put Inverclyde into pole position. On leg 4, Robert Gilroy took us up 2 places into the lead followed by Corstorphine, Inverclyde and Central. The 4th change in the lead in as many legs. A narrow advantage of 8 seconds was extended to 46 by Ryan Thomson's 3rd fastest short leg (15:43). Central were now 2nd, Corstorphine 3rd and Inverclyde 4th. Kyle McLellan, currently enduring gruelling shifts as a junior doctor in the east of Scotland, kept his nerve to bring us in 24 seconds ahead of Central. Inverclyde were a further 18 seconds back and Corstorphine another 19 seconds after that. This was easily the most competitive edition of this race for several years and the most topsy turvy.

What it all meant was a 4th title win for Cambuslang's senior men, 9 years after our last one, not the 3rd as previously stated. Thank you to Charlie Thomson for the correction. He should know because he was in at least 2 of the teams! National gold medals are hard to come by. I now have 2 (Scottish 5km Road Race and this event), both team medals, and I certainly value them. No-one should ever underestimate how hard they are to win. I don't.

As well documented elsewhere in Scottish athletics circles, Cambuslang created some history with our over 40 and over 50 teams also winning golds, meaning a clean sweep of all the male categories. It's also worth mentioning our ladies team of 4 finishing 7th. We've never had a ladies team in this race before.

I can't put my finger on it as I write this but there's certainly a greater buoyancy about Cambuslang from top to bottom than there has been for some years. Whatever the reasons are, it's welcome and long may it continue.

Results from the day's races can be found here.

Above: team members from the 3 male medal winning teams. Photo courtesy of Scottish Athletics.

Blast From the Past- Saltcoats Round the Houses Road Race 2001 Video Footage

It's amazing what you can find. A short trawl on You Tube resulted in the uncovering of video footage of the Saltcoats Round the Houses Road Race in July 2001. If the occasion sounds familiar, it will be because I previously wrote about it back on 3rd June 2015 so I refer you back to that particular post for the more detailed background.

For the purposes of this post however, to recap, I was 17 years old, freshly out of school and dipping my toe into distance running. I remember running reasonably well for the level I had reached at the time though, as you will see, some way off the front. A number of familiar faces abound who are still on the Scottish running scene, including 2 future clubmates, Charlie Thomson and David Cooney. There is also another Cambuslang man who I don't recognise. From recently spending over a day and a half in his company and listening to his relentless patter, I know Charlie reads this so if he can identify the mystery man and pick me up on any errors (more on that in a future post), I'll report further at a later date.

For now, the footage, remarkable quality for the year it was filmed, can be seen here.

Scottish Road Relay Championships, 3rd April 2016

As documented in my post, "Consistency Is Everything," the Scottish Road Relay proved a more than successful one for our senior men with gold medals claimed. This was Cambuslang's first win in the race since 2007 and only the fourth in its history. We improved our places on each of the 6 legs, Robert Gilroy, also a member of the 2007 team taking us into the lead on leg 4. We went on to stay there. This marked my own first Scottish Road Relay gold after a silver and 3 bronzes in previous years. To cap things off, our over 40 and 50 teams were also gold medallists.

To be honest, I do not feel that I can do the day's events justice so I am providing links to two reports by others. The first is by our Chair, David Conney. The other is by one of the over 50 team members, Chris Upson. In addition, the Scottish Athletics round up is here.

Above: almost all of our gold medallists. Only Stan McKenzie (over 50 team) is missing. Photo courtesy of Chris Upson.

Consistency Is Everything

Running is a simple sport really. You get out what you put in and hard work and consistency can take you a long way. It is also a sport too many people like to over complicate. Over the years I have learned that every individual has to find the approach that suits them. Once it clicks though, there is no better feeling.

Imagine my frustration as, apart from a 3k on the Green outing, it took me until March to line up for a race this year and the same amount of time to string 2 full training weeks together. That's what a chest infection and 2 ankle sprains caused. Mercifully things have come together in spectacular fashion since. A peak was reached a few days ago (at the time of writing) when Cambuslang swept the board of men's prizes at the Scottish Road Relay with golds in all 3 categories, senior, over 40 and over 50. It was with great pride that I lined up on second leg for the senior team and managed to reverse my trend of gradually slowing times on the long leg, clocking 29:21 for the 5.8 miles, moving us from 8th to 4th. Craig Jardine, Robert Gilroy, Ryan Thomson and Kyle McLellan then finished the job Iain Reid and I had started.

For anyone interested, I've listed my training leading up to the race below. If it's boring, I'm pleased. After all, consistency is everything.

Above: the gold (us), silver (Central) and bronze (Inverclyde) medal winning teams. Photo courtesy of Scottish Athletics.

Week Commencing Sunday 28th February

Previous 2 weeks mileages- 25 and 10

Sunday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 12 miles (1:20:50).

Monday: 4 x 1 mile, 2 mins recoveries (rep times- 5:36, 5:27, 5:25, 5:25), 7 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Tuesday: 8.5 miles easy (56:11)- new route I've named "the EK Tour." Stopped early, full route would be 9 miles. Walked/jogged the last half mile home.

Wednesday: 4 x long hill reps (800m approx), Lickprivick Road, EK, run back recoveries, 4 miles covered in 24:50, 8 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Thursday: 2 x 10 mins, 30 secs recoveries (average 5:32/mile pace), 8.6 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Friday: 6 miles easy (38:57)

Saturday: Rest

Mileage: 50

Week Commencing Sunday 6th March

Sunday: Race- Cambuslang Harriers Down By The River 10k Road Race, 2nd in 31:49, 10.2 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Monday: 6 miles brisk (37:20)

Tuesday: reps of 5:30, 11 mins, 5:30, 2 mins recoveries, 7 miles approx incl warm up and warm down- meant to be a session of 1 mile, 2 miles, 1 mile but distance measurer on the watch was a bit wonky so ran based on effort. More or less the same session really.

Wednesday: 8.5 miles brisk (53:20)- off work, ran at lunchtime.

Thursday: 4 x long hill reps, Lickprivick, run back recoveries, 4 miles covered in 24:42, 8.5 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Race- Cupar 5 Miles Road Race, 2nd in 24:49, 10.25 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Mileage: 50

Week Commencing Sunday 13th March

Sunday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 13 miles (1:25:22).

Monday: 1 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, 2 mins recoveries (rep times- 5:31, 5:20, 10:45), 7 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Tuesday: 6 miles brisk (37:27)- post work run in Paisley before Queen's Park game, 3-1 to Annan, wished I hadn't bothered (with the game, not the run).

Wednesday: 4 x long hill reps, Lickprivick, run back recoveries, 4 miles covered in 23:58, 8 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Thursday: 8 miles easy/brisk mix (50:29), cycle path from Paisley to Elderslie and back- stopped briefly in Elderslie to look at the Wallace Monument.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Race- Clydesdale Harriers 5km Road Race, 8th in 14:59, 8 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Mileage: 50

Week Commencing Sunday 20th March

Sunday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 13 miles (1:23:52).

Monday: 1 mile, 2 miles, 1 mile, 2 mins recoveries (rep times- 5:14, 10:39, 5:15), 7 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Tuesday: Club, 8.1 miles brisk (49:55), Clyde Gateway route.

Wednesday: 4 x long hill reps, Lickprivick, run back recoveries, 4 miles covered in 23:57, 7.1 miles incl warm up and warm down- feeling tired.

Thursday: 9 miles easy (58:34), the EK Tour- see Wednesday.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 2 x 8 mins, 30 secs recoveries (average 5:25/mile pace), 6 miles incl warm up and warm down- short and sharp due to poor weather.

Mileage: 50

Week Commencing Sunday 27th March

Sunday: 7 miles brisk (43:02)- little energy for a long run so delayed it a day, road trip to Fife the day before to see Queen's Park, off work on Monday.

Monday: Longer run, Whitelee Windfarm, 13 miles (1:21:33), 20 mins easy then reps of 5 mins, 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 4, 5, all with 5 mins jog recoveries- an old Charlie Spedding session. Felt good throughout. Had an afternoon and fish tea in Saltcoats as a reward.

Tuesday: 1 mile, 2 miles, 1 mile, 2 mins recoveries (rep times- 5:14, 10:32, 5:11), 7 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Wednesday: 4 x long hill reps, Lickprivick, run back recoveries, 4 miles covered in 23:06, 7 miles incl warm up and warm down.

Thursday: 9 miles easy (57:11), the EK Tour.

Friday: Rest- poor weather and feeling very tired, ie. couldn't be bothered.

Saturday: 4 miles easy (25:25).

Mileage: 48

Sunday 3rd April: Race- Scottish Road Relay Championships, 2nd leg (5.8 miles), 29:21, 5th fastest long leg overall and team gold.

Clydesdale Harriers 5km Road Race, 19th March 2016

Another week, another race. There are worse habits. With 3 weeks of consistent training and 2 races behind me, I'd trebled both the number of consecutive weeks and my race count in 2016. It's amazing how you get into a positive cycle- training helps you race, racing well motivates you to train and so on.

A shorter trip this week took me to Clydebank for the Clydesdale Harriers 5km Road Race, still referred to by some, including my Dad, as the Dunky Wright. I underestimated the journey time, arriving slighter later than I'd hoped, 40 minutes before the start. Registration however didn't take long and I was warmed up and at the start line in the industrial estate across from the shopping precinct with time to spare.

A healthy turnout from Cambuslang were among what looked like a good calibre field. The route takes in a lap and a half of the industrial estate (1500m approx) before heading out through a residential area, briefly onto a footpath beside the main road then onto the canal path for the final 1800m or so. I found myself in a large pack of 10 fairly zipping along. Approaching 2km it was more or less still together.

Above: approaching 2km, eventual winner James Bowness (number 10) to my left. Photo courtesy of Colin Stephen.

The pace was a step up from what I'm used to in recent months and I was clinging on to the pack. Seeing the company I was keeping though helped keep my head up. Craig Ruddy could be found at the front pushing the pace along. As tends to happen this in turn kept me clear of a large chasing group.

On seeing the 3km mark, I resolved to treat the remaining 2km like one of my mile reps. Encouragingly it would be flatter than the circuit I use for those. As we turned onto the canal, I preserved my golden rule of racing of not looking behind. I didn't need to look to know I was being pursued. While I hadn't overtaken anyone, I also wasn't being caught and in the end no-one did pass me. At the front Craig and a figure unknown to me (James Bowness, a 1:47 800m runner it turns out) had pulled away. A group of 5 followed them then me in a no man's land between that group and those pursuing me. At 1km to go, I told myself "only a 3 minute effort left" and found another gear on seeing "400m to go" painted into the path. I held off clubmate Craig Jardine to take 8th place in a course best of 14:59 and the mini honour of 1st out of the 7 Cambuslang finishers. The top 10 looked like this (copied from the Clydesdale Harriers website):-

1. James Bowness Glasgow Caledonian University 14:36 

2. Craig Ruddy Inverclyde AC 14:47 

3. Russell White Dromore 14:50 

4. Scott Stirling Edinburgh Uni Hare & Hounds 14:50 

5. Douglas Roberts Stirling University 14:52 

6. Andrew Lawler Edinburgh Uni Hare & Hounds 14:53 

7. Calum McKenzie Corstorphine AAC 14:55

8. Stuart Gibson Ronhill Cambuslang 14:59 

9. Craig Jardine Ronhill Cambuslang 15:04- first under 20

10. Elisha de Mello Edinburgh Uni Hare & Hounds 15:14

In a field of 168 runners, there were many battles throughout and a high standard with 22 athletes breaking 16 minutes, 47 under 17 minutes and the last finisher clocking 24:40. A little mention to my old Calderglen team mate Russell Couper who managed his fastest 5km in some time, 24:04. Anyone can run further but it's harder to run faster. Well done Russell.

While empty handed in terms of prizes, I took great encouragement from my time, my fastest for the distance on the road in over a year. As a club we are also looking good for the upcoming Scottish Road Relays. Our remaining runners were:-

12th: Kerry-Liam Wilson, 15:22- first M40

13th: Iain Reid, 15:25

15th: Alistair Campbell, 15:30

33rd: Drew Pollock, 16:33

61st: Scott Somerville, 17:30

With the sports centre in Clydebank, the Playdrome, closing this year, this may be the last running of the race on this particular route. It should however live on. Clydesdale Harriers certainly intend it to. Seek it out in the calendar. High quality and good value for money, organised by a friendly club.

As a footnote, while it had no bearing on my result, a lamb bhoona and 4 pints of lager is not recommended race preparation. I'll say no more.

Cupar 5 Mile Road Race, 12th March 2016

When you're desperate to race, there are few limits as to where you will travel to satisfy the desire. With the Inter Counties Cross Country ruled out for this year, I looked closer to home. I'm not a fan of Parkruns and, while I did run the Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon many years ago, the prospect of the 13.1 miles distance and a 9am race start on a Sunday (yikes) did not appeal. Saturday had the Cupar 5 Mile Road Race with a 3pm start. This meant I could have a lie in and a fry up for breakfast and still have plenty time to get there. Much more up my street. I'd been to Cupar once, back in 2006, so decided a return to the Kingdom of Fife was the preferred option. A 140 odd miles round trip is a long one to race 5 miles but when the desire is there, it's definitely there.

After setting off at 12 noon, crossing the Forth Road and some never ending greenery in Fife and Perth and Kinross, my Dad and I pulled up at Cupar's YMCA on Bonnygate around 1 hour 45 minutes later. In a haze of optimism, I'd entered the race in advance so had a quick task of collecting my number then finding the race start on a country road half a mile away. The route is an easy to follow 2.5 miles out then the same back. I jogged the first 1.5 miles, making a mental note to burst for home when I came to "Mary's Farm" close to the finish. So the sign said it was called anyway. I recall from a previous visit that a horse escaped and joined in the latter stages of the race. I spotted a horse out grazing. Whether it happened to be the same one I cannot confirm.

I wasn't the only Cambuslang Harrier present with a freshly back from Kenya Alistair Campbell plus Frank McGowan joining me. We were though the only runners from a club outside the east of Scotland. I also renewed acquaintances with an old uni friend Rory Scott who lined up for the host club. The pre-race briefing could be summed up by stay to the left, turn at the cone, beware stray animals.

From the off, I tried to ease my way in and, to my surprise, soon found myself in front. I wasn't for turning the chance down so strode out, enjoying dictating the pace. That said, I wasn't too disheartened when Dougie Selman (Corstorphine) and Bryan Mackie (Edinburgh) joined me to form a leading group of 3. We exchanged positions up to the turning point. I felt relaxed and (relatively) comfortable as we reached halfway and the turn. I allowed Dougie and Bryan to negotiate the cone before me but soon rejoined them.

On the way out, we had encountered a steep descent. There were no mile markers but I guessed the climb would be around the 3 mile mark. As we negotiated it, I attempted to inject some pace in an effort to pull away. I also worked hard off the top of the hill. I succeeded in splitting the group with Bryan dropping a few yards behind. Dougie however recovered quicker from the climb and slowly opened a gap. He also upped the tempo because I could feel myself suddenly working harder. I kept working to both hold position and possibly close down the leader.

The return journey felt very long with Mary's Farm seeming to never come. Finally there it was.

Unimpeded by horses or any other creatures, I kept it going to the finish to take 2nd place, expecting a time of around 26 minutes. My watch however showed 24:49, 5 seconds outside my best time for 5 miles and streets ahead of my Cupar time in 2006. Definitely one of those runs which was a lot faster than it felt. Superb! Dougie won the race in 24:37, Bryan took 3rd in 24:57, Alistair was 5th in 26:13 and Frank claimed 8th and leading over 40 in 27:17. Last but not least, Rory finished 16th in 28:35.

Apparently by leaving before the post race spread last time, I had missed the best part of the day. Never one to pass up anything free, I had a warm down jog through the town then reported back to the YMCA for tea, home baking and some socialising before heading in a westerly direction again to get home before dark.

This race is one of many hosted by Fife AC in a part of the country which seems to be a hot bed of running few of us in the west appreciate. The race results are here where you can also find a list of Fife AC organised races. See you at one sometime.

Ronhill Cambuslang Down by the River 10k, 6th March 2016

Robert Burns knew what he was on about when he coined the phrase "the best laid plans of mice and men." After thinking I'd recovered from an ankle sprain I strung together 9 days of good training before the pain returned. By now I was just over a week away from the National and as the days went on with no improvement and swimming to maintain some fitness, it became clear that even the biggest cross country in Scotland would also be beyond me. Disappointing but at the end of the day it's an individual sport and you have to look after number one sometimes. An easy 6 miles 2 days beforehand left me momentarily tempted but, on waking up with aching limbs the next day, I saw sense. 3 target races had now passed me by. What next?

Thankfully I got through a 50 mile week with no ill effects and rolled up for the club 10km road race with no ambitions other than to race, something I seemed to be fast forgetting how to do. Better weather conditions greeted the 172 runners compared to a year before.

Before long, I was in the familiar company of Robert Gilroy jousting for the lead. I knew he had run 1 hour 10 minutes in an undulating Stranraer Half Marathon the previous day decided to test him early on by leading the race out towards the Clyde Walkway. For the first 3km, I lead with Robert in my slipstream.

I try not to get too hung up on checking split times. In 10km races, I tend to wait until halfway before doing so. 15:34 for the first 5km. Course record pace and much faster than it felt. Yikes! We stayed toe to toe up to the turning point at 6km. I now felt almost spent so pleased I hadn't raced a much hillier 12km cross country the week before. Robert opened a little gap as we doubled back towards the chasing pack which he maintained to become the 2nd winner of the Jimmy Sands Memorial Shield in a time of 31:41. At least my course record from 2012 remains intact! I took runners up spot in a much quicker than expected 31:49 (16:15 for the next 5km shows the ring rustiness) with our clubmate Iain Reid completing the top 3 40 seconds later. Together we claimed the team prize, seeing me add to my growing collection of red long sleeved Ronhill training tops.

I took advantage of the free pie and tea on offer at the club, telling anyone who dared to listen how much of a crisis my running life had been for 3 months. I can laugh now but I did have some low points between the illness and 2 ankle sprains. Hopefully in a matter of weeks I'll have forgotten either thing ever happened.

Blast from the Past- Tom Scott Memorial Road Race, April 2008

Until Sunday 6th March, January's 3k on the Green constituted my only race appearance in 2016 and only one since early December. Lining up therefore for the club's 10km road race lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. A time of 31:49 came as a pleasant surprise off so little, inconsistent training. Onwards and upwards.

Inactivity provides ample time to look back and I'm amazed how long I've actually been competing for. The photo below shows me in Calderglen Harriers colours at the Tom Scott Road Race in 2008, clocking 56:48 for the 10 miles, a personal best at the time. My hair has more grey patches now than it did then.

Blast from the Past, Armagh International Road Races, 14th February 2013

I'm not looking too far back here but it's still something worth a look. Frustration has been the enduring theme in a running sense so far in 2016. No sooner had I recovered from a 2 week long chest infection, a little over a week later, on Saturday 6th February, I sprained my ankle during a cross country training session with the club at Pollok Park. The planned session had been, for me, 5 x 5 minutes and misfortune struck during the first rep. At least if it had happened at the end I would have had a workout in the bank.

Genuinely fearing that I had broken my ankle such was the pain I experienced, I attended A & E at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride as a precaution. Alas, I had only sprained it but still a setback I could have done without. The following day's Renfrewshire 5 Miler proved a non starter and I also reluctantly pulled the plug on this year's trip to Armagh. As for this year's National Cross Country, I can only hope for the best.

I've had nothing but good experiences, and personal best 5km performances, in Armagh on my previous visits in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015. The photo below is from 2013 when I ran a time of 14:44, finishing in the same position as my race number. I had a party piece lined up for the post race celebration which, alas, will have to stay under wraps until next year.

Above, from left to right- Stewart Orr, Alistair Campbell, Katie Bristow, David Robertson, me, Sarah Benson.

3k on the Green, 29th January 2016

After 2 weeks, my chest infection finally cleared and I resumed full training on Friday 22nd January with an easy, post work 7 mile run in Paisley. I finally felt completely normal again. By the following Thursday, I had covered 54 miles in 7 days. In terms of races, my luck had been out. The Ribble Valley 10k on 27th December was cancelled due to the horrific flooding which afflicted the north of England. For totally different reasons, I didn't make it to my usual year curtain raiser at Beith though I intend to return in 2017. I hadn't planned to race the Inter District Cross Country on 9th January but had fallen ill by then anyway. For 10 days I couldn't run a step because any attempt to do so ended with incessant coughing. With none since 7th December, I was choking for a race, any race.

Back in November 2012, I ran in the 3k on the Green, a monthly race taking place at Glasgow Green at 12.30pm on the last Friday of every month apart from December. I began to work out how I could attempt this without taking a day off. I devised a plan in my head and, having explained the situation to one of my extremely understanding bosses, having attended work for 2 weeks unwell, was granted dispensation to disappear from the office for a couple of hours. All systems go.

Just after 11am I kicked the plan into action, leaving the office to walk the short distance to my car in the Paisley Centre car park where I'd stored my running gear. In an attempt at a sort of Clark Kent/Superman type transformation, I nipped into the customer toilet to change clothes. To say that being dressed to race in the middle of a working day felt strange is an understatement! I then jog/walked to Paisley Gilmour Street station, caught a train into Glasgow Central and jogged through the town and along the Clyde to Glasgow Green.

As happened on my last visit, informality was the theme with a couple of people turning up with pins, numbers, entry forms, water and a tin of chocolates. £2 entry fee paid and number received, I continued my warm up, eventually lining up with 66 others under the McLellan Arch. A few people I knew had shown up, Ian Hughes and Russell Couper of Calderglen Harriers and fellow Cambuslang man David Stirling.

We were duly set on our way on the out and back course. After a cautious start running with the pack, I started to make good progress until being freaked out by some pigeons. I genuinely have the fear of them. Having survived that brief episode I gradually moved into the lead and started to stride clear.

As is often the case, the weather proved to be everyone's biggest nemesis with a swirling wind making conditions very tricky indeed. At one point a huge gust pretty much stopped me in my tracks, and no doubt everyone else. Once it shifted, I consciously increased the pace to make up lost time.

My biggest fear had been remembering where the turning point would be. I recalled it came at a point where the path split into 2. Even so, I still feared missing it. Thankfully, it's obvious when you've reached it because to go any further would take you across a main road. Having got there, I turned round for home.

I was much more relaxed on the way back and pushed as hard as I felt able to and the wind allowed me to go. I appreciated Robert Anderson's attendance who gave me some encouragement on the outward journey. I managed to sprint a bit harder as the finish neared and held on to win in a time of 9:23. My time in November 2012 in better weather when much fitter and after being off work all week was 9:04 so this run boded well. Behind me, Graham McCabe (Kirkintilloch Olympians) finished runner up in 10:06, chased hard by Iain Carroll (no club given, 10:07), Steven Prentice (Bellahouston Harriers, 10:08) and several others also in hot pursuit.

I had a chocolate and some water to recover while chatting to some of the other runners before jogging the return journey from the Green to Central. With no showers in the office, I made use of those in the train station for £5, bought a cup of tea, caught the train back to Paisley, returned to the car park to change into my suit and was in the office again for 2pm, back to work after taking a few minutes to have some lunch.

I'm very glad I did this and it marked a new landmark in my life, the first time I've ever run during a working day when actually working. It caught up with me later but I had a feeling of satisfaction with a plan successfully pulled off. I'll definitely re-visit the 3k on the Green. After all, I have a 100% record to defend, 2 wins out of 2. A fantastic little event I recommend to all.

Results from the race are here.

A Frustrating Start to 2016

Far from a new beginning, 2016 has proven to be a non-starter up to now from a running perspective. Despite training consistently up to 7th January, I had a tickly cough building up which gradually developed into a full blown chest infection. It has floored me completely and I consequently haven't run a step in anger since. At the time of writing, I'm completing a course of antibiotics and steroids which have thankfully had the desired effect, leaving me only with a cough again, albeit it can still be severe and disturb my sleep. At the moment I'm looking at needing to take a loan out the bank for my target races in February, i.e. run them, hope for the best and do the training afterwards.

Apart from going to work, I've barely been out the house for over a week so was determined to make it to Hampden today for the Queen's Park-Montrose match. Wrapped up in a hat, scarf, gloves and 4 layers, I drove through the snow to take in a 1-1 draw with 406 others, played out in a blizzard. That the game actually finished is quite something since the pitch lines were obscured by snow for the majority of the 90 minutes. We hit the woodwork 3 times, missed a penalty and played much of the second half against 10 men, hence, a frustrating afternoon. Still, it was nice to get out again. Hopefully a resumption of training won't be too far off.

Above: a winter wonderland at Hampden.

2015- My Year In Running

Happy new year to all. I had planned to compete in the Ribble Valley 10km Road Race in Clitheroe, Lancashire on 27th December. However, the severe floods engulfing the north of England saw a not unsurprising postponement announced at 2pm on Boxing Day. A sensible decision when you read and watch the news coverage. I, along with several others, have asked the organisers to put our entry fees towards helping the flood victims.

From a running point of view, this meant that the West District Cross Country on 6th December proved to be my last race of 2015 so it is time for my annual round up.

2015 Statistics
2015 in words and numbers.

Races- 36, constituted thus:-

Road- 13

Track- 17 

Cross Country- 6

Race wins- 5

Clubs and Regions Represented:-

Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers- 21

Whitemoss- 13

West of Scotland- 2 (Scottish Inter District Cross Country Championships and UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships)

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

Championship Results:-

Scottish Inter District Cross Country Championships (8km)- 29:45, 32nd place
UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships (7 miles approx)- 37:05, 51st place
Scottish National Road Relay Championships (5.8 miles, 4th leg)- 29:51, team bronze
Scottish Track 10,000m Championships- 31:17.28, individual bronze
Scottish 5km Road Race Championships- 15:19, 16th place, team bronze
Scottish West District Cross Country Relay Championships (4km, 3rd leg)- 12:47, team bronze
Scottish National Cross Country Relay Championships (4km, 1st leg)- 12:51, 4th placed team
Scottish National 4km Cross Country Championships- 12:46, 20th place, team silver

Scottish West District Cross Country Championships (10km approx)- 39:24, 7th place, team silver

Other Achievements
While not a formal achievement, I felt a real sense of accomplishment in earning a place in the BMC meeting in Watford in June. Described as the best quality domestic track meeting assembled for years, to be there was amazing, and I thankfully produced a performance to do justice to the occasion.

Longest Race
Half Marathon

Shortest Race
400m

Best Race
I've had some good purple patches of form at different times in 2015. The Armagh 5k, Inter Counties Cross Country and BMC 5000m in Watford were all races which simply clicked on the day or night. I can't separate them.

Worst Race
The Scottish 5k in Edinburgh. I got preparations badly wrong- travelled from work, didn't eat enough, didn't feel like it when I got there and I gave a performance to match.

A close runner up was the Inter District Cross Country, again in Edinburgh which seems to be an unlucky venue for me. Losing your shoe after being clipped in the first 100m and being cast adrift of the entire field by the time you've fixed it does not equal a happy race experience. I considered including the Dundonald 10k here due to my post-holiday lack of fitness but it's an old favourite and I can hardly pick a race I actually won as my worst.

Most Enjoyable Race
Again, there are a few candidates but the standout is the trip to Inverness in June for the Mens League. An overnight stay with a great group of people in a nice hotel, a couple of pints on arrival, the sun shone and I ran well in all 3 races I lined up for. An honourable mention though for the Glasgow University Road Race for the friendly organisers, post race grub and nostalgia aspect.

Summary
After the unhappiness in my working life which dominated 2014, the year 2015 lead to the consistency of performances in training and races which I had hoped for when writing my last review. I also had no lingering marathon effects. My training diary turned out to be the boring, consistent kind I enjoy best. The result of all that was a very satisfying year. The increase in races from 28 in 2014 to 36 can be attributed to trebling up, and on one occasion quadrupling, at Mens League matches. A similar year to this in 2016 will do nicely. Let's do it.