Great Scottish Run 06/10/13

This was my first Great Scottish for over a decade. Having made my half marathon debut in 1993 at the GSR it's always been a bit special for me but I've been reluctant to go over recent years and just go through the motions. Felt this year was different ,with 2 decent halfs under my belt already and having raced more frequently this year than any year since 2004 (albeit a fair bit slower) I was up for it.
A 20 min delay at the start didn't help the nerves but after the uphill start on St Vincent st I soon settled into a steady pace in a wee pack that included Steph Twell. For 4 or 5 miles I felt pretty good but had a dodgy mile or 2 around 10k(34.53)  and thought it was going to be a long road to the finish.About 8 miles I seemed to settle again and felt better .From 10 miles to 12 was a bit of a slog but I mustered a bit of a finish over the last mile to finish 24th in 73.41.
Alex Allardyce had a fine run finishing 34th in 76.20 ,with Alex running a lot of it on his own.
Big thrill to be in the same race as Haile !Lesley managed to get a belter of a pic of him and James before the start ....it's a keeper!

George Cummings Relay 28/09/13

Fastest time for many a year 13.36...40 seconds faster than last year.Not too much to say about this one...good sharpener for the Great Scottish!

Eglinton Parkrun 14/09/13

More like it!...felt strong all the way and managed to knock 5 seconds off my pb from a few months ago.Was 1st in 16.24....13 seconds outside David Phee's course record .Didn't think I would run inside my old time ,due to the muddy conditions, but actually felt a lot better this time than I did last time I ran and reckon I could scrape a few seconds of my pb again somewhere down the line

Dumfries 10k 04/09/13

Bit of a trek down to Dumfries but fancied another 10k before the relays kick off. Training had been going pretty good so was hopeful of  a decent race.Was a pretty hot night which made me think I would struggle but it was actually ok for running and the course was fast.From the start I was in 2nd place and kept that position throughout,with a pack of 3 chasing all the way.Finished in 33.43 and was happy enough with that ,felt very one paced but strong.
George Irving twisted his ankle a mile in and did well to finish in 38 mins.
So,all in all a decent run, plenty more to come I hope

British Masters 10k Championships 18/08/13

A few weeks before this race I had decided I wasn't going to bother going to it as my form had slumped so badly I thought there would be no point. The heatwave in July had been great for our holiday in  Arran but murder for training and racing. The 2 races I did compete in ,The Arran Half and Relay were both an absolute slog, so I had resolved not to race again until my form picked up again.
And then.....I noticed a statement on the Scottish Vets website that the forthcoming BMAF 10k ,while not a trial would count towards selection for the British and Irish Vets International in Cardiff in November. I thought it would be best to show face and put in a marker .
The 3 weeks leading into the race my training picked up again and I was feeling a lot better now the temperatures had dropped .Arrived at the Cartha Rugby club in Pollock Park over 2 hours before the race and got a decent warm up with Jim Sneddon .With 250 runners taking part I knew the quality was gonna be pretty high and the guys who travelled from outside Scotland were mainly top of there age groups.So off the race went and I settled into a decent pace on the first of 2 and a bit laps.By 5k I was 2 or 3 seconds off the guy who was 3rd M40 in about 10th place. On the 2nd lap I caught |Robert Gilroy of Cambuslang and sat with him until 9k.We were both passed by another M40 at about 7 k ,however and eventually I finished in 11th position,5th M40...14 seconds behind the 3rd.Was 3rd Scottish M40 and 4th Scot altogether.
Time.....33.42.My joint slowest of the year with the Troon 10k.Was really flat after the race ,I think I really expected to be under 33mins.Looking back though it wasn't a bad run at all and although I felt very one paced I also was pretty strong throughout.

Round Arran Relay 20/07/13

First ran this race in back in 1991 when it was a actual relay and finished in Corrie. Back then you had to wait for your team mate to cross the line before you started your own leg and i can remember running 11 miles on the 2nd leg on the south of the island(which had the longer legs then) and not seeing another runner!
I didn't return to race again till 1994 by which time the race had changed ,with the north legs being the longer legs,now, and the race finishing at Brodick Town Hall. Another change in the few years that i missed was that clubs like Cambuslang,Kilbarchan and HBT had stopped travelling over to compete, making it a far less competitive event...
So, in 1994 i was sent round to run North 2 10.5 miles from Pirnmill through Lochranza and was told there was "a wee hill at the end"..In those days i hadn't ever been round that side of the island and had no idea what i was letting myself in for...somethings you learn the hard way! I was 23 at the time and really fit but after running as hard as i could through to Lochranza i was on my knees by the time i got halfway up that "wee hill" called the Bouglie.
With a depleted team going over this year i knew i would have to tackle the leg again. Wasn't in the best frame of mind going into it due to another bust up at work with managers over me getting the day off...was so stressed about it i never really slept the night before the race and the thought of running in the predicted 30 degree heat was really worrying me.
Anyway...i ran ok...not great but it was just good to be doing something i love and enjoy.
Ran with a water bottle for the first time ever,it was a bit cumbersome but found it a really good help in the soaring heat. The last few miles were absolute murder but scraped home in 66 mins ,2nd place (full 10 mins behind the winner!)..team wise we finished 3rd behind Killie and Central AC...Good runs from all the guys especially in those conditions. Hopefully we can get everyone over next year

Arran Half Marathon 07/07/13

Nearly 20 years since I first ran the Arran Half, in which time I've ran it about a dozen times , winning it about 6 times with my fastest time on the course being 69.20 and my slowest 79.58 (last year!)
This years race was in the right  middle of my fortnights holiday and did a great weeks training leading up to it on the Isle of Seil ,where it poured with rain most of the week.The day before the race, however, temperatures soared as a heatwave began...great for holiday,not great for racing!
As the race kicked off at mid day it was boiling but i decided to try and push the pace as hard as i could.By 6 miles i was running roughly sub 72 mins pace but i was starting to wilt big time in the heat.I had built up a healthy gap by then and knew if i could just keep going i would hang on to win ...but ,bloody hell it was tough!
Finished in 76.35 to win by about 2 minutes...James was at the finishing line with his fireman sam scoosher..it was a god send! Great to see my cousin Craig running as well in only his 3rd half marathon, fantastic effort.
Decided after the race that i wouldn't race anything over 10k in this kind of heat again( apart from the Arran relay in a fortnights time.)Most people suffer running in higher temps but my performances take such a huge dip in both training and races .The recovery time from races also seems to take far longer.2 days after the Alloa Half in March i was able to do a great session but it took a whole week to recover from this one....ooooaft!