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!

Vale of Leven 10k 09/06/13

Race 2 of the Weekend!...been thinking back and it must be 20 years since I ran 2 races one day after another(I think it was the Alan Scally relay followed by the Stewarton CC next day in 1992!) In fact there has been a few years 2007-2009 where I didn't do much more than 2 races in a year!
Last time I ran this race was 2008 and I was probably the least fit I have ever been, hardly training and nearly 2 stone overweight .I remember finishing the race that day in 37 odd mins, absolutely exhausted and thinking it was time to pack it in altogether....I just didn't enjoy it anymore.
So 5 years on I was going into this race with a really hard 5k the day before in my legs plus the 3 sessions that i had done during the week...I wasn't exactly fresh but at least i'm fit and loving my running again!... My legs were stiff and sore during the first 2k ,which included a fair bit of climbing, but after that I felt not bad at all and got into a good race with Andy Little of Shettleston. Andy outsprinted me at the finish to claim first vet but I was happy with my time of 33.19 considering i'd raced the day before and the Vale course isn't the fastest. No more races for a the rest of June as I get ready for the Arran Half and Arran Relay next month.

Eglinton Parkrun 08/06/13

Four years after registering for Parkrun I finally run one! The Eggy parkrun has been going since March this year but I've only been available to run once or twice in that time due to work. Couldn't have picked a better day to make my debut however! Arrived at 8.30 am and it was really warm even at that time of the morning and managed a good warm up.Having been off work the week leading up to the race I had taken the opportunity to get some quality training ,including 3 sessions...so wasn't sure how the race would go.Got off to a good start and was working hard,with Alex Allardyce hanging on round the first small lap. Heading into the next lap, a large one, I started pulling away and by the time I reached the final small lap I knew I was gonna win,it was now just about the time I could run.I knew the course record was 17.24 (which Alex ran) so was well chuffed to clock 16.29 withAlex beating his pb with 17.07.....this was only race number 1 of the weekend for me,Vale of Leven 10k the next day! I must have the running bug again!

Clydebank 10k 23/05/13

A better run! Felt a lot fresher than Troon a fortnight ago and finished 9th in 32.54.Got into a decent pace straight away and went through 5k in 16.15 feeling pretty good. Got a bit isolated 2nd half and slowed a wee bit. Didn't realise till after I finished that the first 8 had been taken the wrong way near the end and had missed a bit out making me the first to actually run the full distance! 1st vet prize again so happy with that, starting to feel myself getting race fit again

Troon 10k 08/05/13

This was my first trip to the Troon 10k in 4 years. I've always had a love / hate relationship with this race, having had some great runs (and some absolute stinkers) since I first ran it in 1990.That year ,aged 19, i hung on to Brian Craig and Colin Miller ,clocking 33.30, in what was my 2nd ever 10k.Over the years i gradually got my times down until the late 90s when  i clocked my pb of 30.48 ( finishing 6th in the year that the first 12 were under 32 mins!!!)The highest placing i ever got was 2nd in 2004 in 30.57, just holding off  Lee Richardson and Davy Millar who were just over 31 mins.
 It was 5 years before i raced Troon again in 2009 and i just wisnae fit plodding round in over 36 mins.Injuries and lack of motivation had taken their toll.... So fast forward another 4 years to this years race and i'm fitter and training harder than i have for years so was looking for a decent run.... The first kilometre was slow into the wind but as soon as we left the prom and out of the wind the race changed and spread out .I  was hanging onto Robert Gilroy for the first 4k but didn't feel that good and just before 5k my left calve ,that had been bothering me for the previous week, started to stiffen up. So from 5k to the finish i ran myself trying to consolidate what i had and hang on for 1st vet. Was really toiling by the finish but hung on to finish 4th in 33.42. All in all ,not a great run but not the worst I've had at Troon so can't complain

Crinan Puffer 8.5 mile race 21/04/13

5.30 am rise on the first day of a weeks holiday ...must be mad. After cycling the length of the Crinan canal 2 years ago I really wanted to run this race, so  entered last year but couldn't make it due to injury...arrrgh! So I was determined to make it this year....Set off at a decent pace getting to 3 miles in 15.20 and 6 miles in 31 odds but was tiring a bit over the last few miles. Was really happy to win with my finishing time off 46.17 though ,just 22 seconds outside Davy Millars from last year....good race and feel like the trainings starting to pay off now

Scottish 6 stage relays Livingston 31/03/13

Looking back at some past results from this race its amazing how things have changed over the last few years...hard to believe we were 2nd overall and only 20 seconds away from winning back in 2006!! That day I was the slowest of our long leg runners with 29.50!...changed days indeed. For a club like Irvine to get a silver medal at the Scottish Championship was something special indeed. Since then its been a pretty poor championship for Irvine with us struggling to get in the top 30 some years with the main problem being to get all our best runners fit and injury free at the same time. So this was probably our strongest team for a few years, this year and we knew we had a decent chance of a masters medal.
After a last minute change of running order Jim Sneddon  started us off on the opening short leg .Jim went off a wee bit too hard and suffered later in the race but hung in well. Alex was next up on the 2nd leg, which was the 1st long leg. Alex had a great run bringing us through the field and handing over to the evergreen Colin Miller. Colin had a solid run on the short leg before Jamie Findlay who had a fine run despite being isolated most of the way. Mark Livinstone ran the last short leg leaving me to run the last long one.I set off steady hoping to pick it up 2nd half of the race but felt a bit sluggish.During the last mile I could see the Killie boy up ahead but didn't think I would catch him .I dug in as much as I could to catch him by the bridge but the legs were totally gone when it came to sprint finish! Never Mind.....Irvine finished 12th overall, respectable and 2nd masters team......so another hard earned silver medal at this race, hopefully next year we can get a few boys back and try and get that Masters title!!

Alloa Half Marathon 17/03/13

Thought i would get a half marathon in early this year ,having only run 2 in the past 5 years (neither of which were particularly good in terms of time),it was a good chance to test my fitness after my best winters training for many a year.It must be at least 10 years since i last ran this race and what memories i had of it were mainly about the hills in the last 2 miles.
Set off at a decent pace,sitting in a pack with ,among others,Robert Gilroy of Cambuslang.Glanced at some of my mile times and was surprised how comfortable i felt at what was a faster pace than i had raced Halfs since my pre-injury days.The hills at 11 miles were not as bad as i remembered but still tough enough to make the last 2 miles testing.Was outsprinted by Gilroy at the 13 mile mark to finish 9th and 1st vet in 73.05...was convinced i was on for a sub 73 until the last mile when i could feel it slipping away.Still,good run and feel i'll take a chunk off that time later in the year.

Special thanks to Lesley and James for their Support.When Lesley dropped me off at the start James said ,unprompted ,"Good luck with your race Daddy!" just as i was getting out the car.Makes it all worthwhile!

Scottish Masters Cross Country - Forres 02/02/13

Another M40 bronze medal!Ran as hard as i could on the day so have to be happy with that.The re-introduction of the 35 age group meant i was a few places further down the field than last year, finishing in 8th place overall .The 5 mile course at Forres was firm and fast with some absolute killer hills which really hurt on the 2nd lap and i was totally drained by the finish .Thats my Cross country season over for the year.Good way to finish after the disappointment of the Ayrshire xc and non selection for the Scottish vets team (!?)....next years Masters Champs is meant to down in the borders,looking forward to it already!

 

Good runs by George,Andy and Jim....thanks to Andy for doing all the driving!

Scottish Masters Road Relay 27/01/13

Its been a while since the last blog!....the reason being i havnt raced apart from the club xmas handicap.I took ill the night before the Ayrshire XC Champs back in November and had to miss the race .Really frustrating as i was in good shape leading up to it.So after a few days in bed i picked up the training again and put in the best mileage ive ever done in December ,which i hoped would pay off at my next planned race..The Ayr Turkey Trot on Boxing Day.Surprise,surprise i come down with the flu just before it and have to give it a miss ,losing another few days training. So the Scottish Masters Road Relay was my first proper race for a few months.With Alex and George not able to run we were struggling to put a team together that could match our good performances in the past.Big bonus for us,however was the vet debut of Jamie Findlay.Jamie ran the first leg for us,sitting in into the wind on the way out before hitting the front at halfway.Jamie pulled away to win the first leg in 20.16 despite going the wrong way at one point.Great run.I ran leg 2 in 19.34 getting us a 2 minute odd lead.My time ended up being 3rd fastest .The wind made it really hard work so was happy enough with the time.Colin ran 3rd leg for us but was up against it with the days fastest runner, Kerry Wilson ,chasing him down.Colin finished 3rd so pressure was on Jim Sneddon on the final leg.Jim Gave his all but was caught by several runners in the final mile and finished 6th. Graeme McFarlane,Andy and Jim White ran for an incomplete B team. Hopefully we can get everyone out next year,get in amongst the medals again!