Sunday 31 August 2014

Photos of Victoria parkrun #43

I returned to Victoria Park this week but this time with my camera rather than my trainers. I had decided to do my long run later in the day to get my mileage for the year up to 1814k.  There was another great turnout, with some 225 runners completing the 5k course.

Scott Kennedy celebrated his 50th parkrun by winning, for the 6th time out of 7 appearances, in a time of 16:30.  Also completing her 7th Victoria parkrun was women's race winner, Joanna Patterson, who ran the three laps in a time of 19:36.
Scott Kennedy (in the sunglasses)
Fast Women Runners

Watson Jones (74) the oldest runner at Victoria Park


Congratulations to everyone who participated, including Norman Groves who chalked up his 100th parkrun and, of course, thanks to all the volunteers for making the event happen.

Happy Hundred for Norman Groves


All my photos here

Sunday 24 August 2014

Course Best at Victoria parkrun

My first return to the parkrun since early July, when I included Victoria parkrun as part of my long run and was happy to complete the three laps in a time of 25:15.  This was also Maggie's first outing since her injury in early May and her 18 year old son Tom's first ever parkrun.

Conditions were about perfect in Glasgow's west end and a record turnout of at least 237 runners lined up for the 9:30am Start. Their was some concern that the Start sign was in the wrong place and the course may have been slightly longer today.

Although I had a number of friends either running, volunteering and supporting, I actually found myself running alone for much of the race, that said there were a few times when runners appeared on my shoulder but didn't quite have enough to overtake me and helped me keep a decent pace.  I was running naked, in that I had forgotten my Garmin, so I had no knowledge of how fast I was doing but I did know that I was working hard.  I hadn't seen Tom during the race but I wasn't surprised to see him sprinting past me in the final strait, I know that's what I would have tried to do if I was in his shoes.  I crossed the line in 47th position but none of those around me had properly recorded their times, either not having sports watches or forgetting to start them at the beginning of the race.

Maggie stuck to her game plan and crossed the line in a time of 25:29 in 119th place.

There must have been an issue with the results and the usually efficient text and email advising us of our official times didn't arrive until  almost 10pm.  The wait was worth it though, as the text revealed that I had completed the 5k course in a time of 21:07. "Well done on a new PB".  Although to be accurate, it is actually a Course Best but it's always good to get a decent time and it helps bring my handicap down a little more.  All in all a good morning's work but there was no post race coffee and chat with my running buddies as I headed home to do my bit for charity and enjoy my ice bucket challenge! 

Once again thanks to all concerned for putting on the parkrun, results here.


Saturday 23 August 2014

My Ice Bucket Challenge for MND




The Ice Bucket Challenge has taken the world by storm and I have played my part too, after being nominated by Jim Buick, I had the pleasure of having a post parkrun soaking with cold water to support people living with motor neurone disease.
Tom Hiddleston after the ice bucket challenge.
What started in America has now spread to the UK, where celebrities including David Beckham, Jimmi Henshite and Tom Hiddleston have been iced in the name of MND

I continued spreading the challenge by nominating Clare MacAulay, Claire McCracken and Clare Barr to throw a bucket of ice water over their heads before passing the challenge on to 3 other people who must accept the challenge within 24 hours. You can avoid this by donating to the charity instead. Or better yet, do both!

ou can make your donation by texting ICED55 £5 (or other amount) to 70070 (only available in the UK)

Grab a bucket of ice-cold water and pour it over your head in exchange for a text donation to the MND Association. Film it and then share it via your social media using #icebucketchallenge and #MND.

Sunday 17 August 2014

Belter of a Race - Series Ends at Bella



Off we go again.....pic by Sandra Hunter

The Tour of Clydeside culminated with the Bella Belter 10k race on Friday night hosted by Bellahouston Harriers and my Club didn't disappoint, providing an army of volunteers as well as a significant amount of runners for the final race of the series.  The weather was also about perfect for racing, although my legs after four consecutive nights, most certainly were not.  It's one thing training five nights a week but racing takes it to another dimension, that said, I was loving the challenge that the Tour presents.

Passing Pollok House pic by Bernie O'Neil
 Following the customary pre-race chatting and warm up, I lined up with the other 58 Tour survivors for the concluding race of the series.  We were joined by an additional 81 runners, who, I hoped, would help us around the two lap, 10k, course.  The race started on the driveway into Cartha Rugby Club, which is wider than the paths that we have become accustomed to and minimised the usual jostling for space.  However, my heavy legs almost gave way and I stumbled a little as we set off. Once I'd recovered my composure, I settled into my race pace, well what I'd like to be my race pace, as I slowed just a little after the first mile.  Nonetheless I was still running at a decent pace of 7:20min/mile.  I would have been happy with a sub 45min race this week but my competitive spirit set in and I refused to let the guy behind me overtake me as we approached the half way point.  I hadn't intended to take on any water but at the last second I grabbed a bottle, took a quick drink and poured some of cold water over my head.  I was glad that I did, as I felt refreshed and tried to open a gap between myself and the footsteps behind.  Around the 6k point, someone appeared on my right shoulder and we matched each other stride for stride for a while.  I was having to work harder but I didn't mind as we were visibly closing the gap on the runners ahead of us.

Lap 2.......pic by Sandra Hunter
I managed to shake off the guy on my shoulder but a young woman passed me as we approached the 8k point. I caught a couple of other runners, that I recognised from the preceding races and was closing the gap on others, including the women that had passed me but I ran out of time and crossed the line in hot pursuit.  I was still delighted to look at my watch and see a time of 43:58. Amazingly enough, exactly the same pace that I had run the 2k shorter Canal Canter on Wednesday (4:24min/k), enough to reduce my Run Britain handicap a little more.  I had placed 75th out of 140 finishers and 28th out of 57 in the series, having taken a total time of 3:01:50 for the five races, which aggregated to 40k (24.9miles) of racing.  Not too shabby, I suppose.

and the Tour is done.....pic by Sandra Hunter

I exchange accolades with the other finishers and cheered on those behind, as they crossed the line, before having a warm down and a hot shower before joining friends and running buddies for my first alcohol of the week.
We did it ....... pic by Iain Burke

Congratulations to all my fellow runners during the week and all the volunteers too, particularly Stuart MacDougall and Jennifer Telford who won the men's and women's Tour of Clydeside 2014.

Bellahouston Harriers  

Not only did Bellahouston Harriers put on a great race but we had the largest representation of any club participating in the Tour with thirteen racers, including the overall winner Stuart MacDougall, third woman, Erica Christie and both James McMillan and Christopher Steward winning their age category prizes.

Bella Belter Full Results

Tour of Clydeside Final Results


Tour of Clydeside 2014 Final Results

Pos No Name Club Cat Total
1 290 Stuart MacDougall Bellahouston Harriers MS 02:21:27
2 42 Christopher Moses Helensburgh AAC MS 02:22:36
3 288 Alastair Thurlbeck Glasgow Univ H & H MU20 02:23:49
4 46 Jack Arnold Bellahouston Harriers MS 02:24:08
5 64 Chris Greenhalgh Giffnock North AAC MV40 02:25:11
6 38 Chris Upson Ronhill Cambuslang H MV50 02:25:53
7 31 Garry Mathew Unattached MS 02:27:37
8 16 Paul Clawson Bellahouston Harriers MS 02:30:21
9 41 Cris Walsh Bellahouston Harriers MV40 02:31:02
10 50 Craig Lamont Bellahouston Harriers MS 02:32:04
11 57 Gerry Craig VP-Glasgow MV40 02:32:46
12 37 Justin Carter Unattached MV40 02:33:07
13 62 Darren McQuade Bellahouston Harriers MS 02:33:26
14 4 Alan Heron Dumbarton AAC MS 02:34:34
15 22 Andrew McCall Greenock Glenpark H MS 02:37:09
16 281 David Dickson Garscube Harriers MV50 02:37:29
17 283 Brent Brodie Bellahouston Harriers MV40 02:38:47
18 39 Jennifer Telford Scottish Prison Service FV40 02:48:09
19 291 Pamela McCrossan Clydesdale Harriers FV50 02:50:41
20 59 Carl Cousens Unattached MS 02:51:21
21 53 Paul McKendry Clydesdale Harriers MV50 02:51:28
22 65 Erica Christie Bellahouston Harriers FV50 02:51:31
23 30 Garry Henderson Unattached MV50 02:52:14
24 18 Marlene Hunter Springburn Harriers FV40 02:52:45
25 52 Duncan Riddell Maryhill Harriers MV40 02:52:45
26 51 Chris Furse Clyde Orienteers MV40 02:56:32
27 69 Richard Darroch Milburn Harriers MS 03:00:50
28 67 Ian Goudie Bellahouston Harriers MV50 03:01:50
29 61 David Maciver Unattached MV40 03:01:51
30 40 Sarah Bridge Scottish Prison Service FV40 03:03:39
31 68 Ian Currie Unattached MV40 03:04:18
32 14 Steven Booth Unattached MV40 03:09:35
33 11 Chris Paton Bellahouston Harriers MS 03:09:59
34 47 Clare Barr Motherwell AC FV40 03:10:46
35 24 Ben Juskowiak Unattached MS 03:12:29
36 29 Pauline Henderson Unattached FV50 03:12:39
37 287 Marina McCallum Clydesdale Harriers FV40 03:12:59
38 7 Marc Blane Unattached MV40 03:15:27
39 5 Peter Blackmore Motherwell AC MV40 03:17:15
40 23 Lesley Juskowiak Unattached FS 03:18:09
41 32 Gary Brown Unattached MV50 03:18:38
42 19 Allan Moore Unattached MS 03:19:04
43 8 Alexander Beggs Unattached MV40 03:19:04
44 66 James McMillan Bellahouston Harriers MV70 03:19:22
45 13 Liz Towers Maryhill Harriers FS 03:21:44
46 70 James McKenzie Milburn Harriers MV50 03:22:02
47 20 Christopher Steward Bellahouston Harriers MV60 03:22:47
48 60 Kirsty Grant Ronhill Cambuslang H FS 03:26:22
49 261 Gerard Mason Shettleston Harriers MV50 03:27:22
50 44 Lynsey Parker Unattached FS 03:45:34
51 17 John Softley Bellahouston Harriers MV60 03:45:38
52 21 Helen Maclean Motherwell AC FS 03:47:02
53 35 Julie Smith Jogging Buddies FV40 03:47:47
54 49 Eileen Hamill Sweatshop RC FV50 03:49:26
55 54 Karen Hyslop Jogging Buddies FV40 04:02:07
56 9 Alison Reid Unattached FV40 04:29:49
57 272 Allison Halvorson Helensburgh AAC FV40 04:37:07