Tuesday Evening Training Opportunity

JUNIOR TUESDAY NIGHT WINTER RUN – help sought.

The Moorfoot Juniors are having a trial of a Tuesday night group run starting from 10 November and are looking for a few seniors to run “shotgun” on the 1.2k loop with the juniors, maybe as an easy warm-down after their own Tuesday night run.

See http://www.moorfootjuniors.org/page4.htm for more info re when, where etc. If you are interested in helping, or are looking for a more modest paced run on a Tuesday night, please contact Gregor Nicholson 01721 723370.

Moorfoots at Tinto

Pic - Wattie (second from left) dressed sensibly for a days hill running in the clouds

A record 295 starters lined up for the annual Tinto Hill Race, on a cool but sunny November afternoon. The recent rain had made the lower slopes a bit muddy and slippery and there was a bit of cloud on the top, but otherwise good conditions for hill runinng.

First Moorfoot home was Mike McGovern in 23rd place (36:32), running well again after some recent chest problems.

Next home, and claiming a number of significant Moorfoot 'scalps', was Scout in a fantastic 40:45, which was good enough for 69th position and second female.

Johnny was close behind in 41:07 (74th) continuing his good performances and Kenny was a minute or so further back in 42:03 (more than 1 minute faster than last year !!).

Alex Campbell bagged a fine 45:04 and well within the top half of the field in 137th place and Wattie brought the Team Moorfoot home in a sub-50 (49:26).

Some strong performances in a strong field and now looking good for the forthcoming Border XC series which starts next week at Norham.

Provisional results here...

Moorfoots Innerleithen Trail Race - Race Report

Pic - yes, it was this wet !!!

The final leg of the Moorfoot Trail Race Club Handicap Series was held on Sunday at the Leithen Valley side of Glentress near Leithen Lodge. Having experienced 'Indian Summer' conditions throughout October, the first day of November, in complete contrast was perhaps the wettest Sunday we have run on this year - very wet, very windy, and generally miserable....

However, thirteen hardy souls ventured out, with the final placings in the three race series still up for grabs over the 7.5 mile course over the forest roads.

First man home was 'hill specialist' Russell, who defended his 80 sec handicap against the main contenders, to take 1st place in the Innerleithen leg and an overall win in the series. Colin chased Russell down all the way round but despite pulling back a minute on handicap, had to be happy with 2nd place on the day - still enough to consolidate an overall second place in the series. Johnny showed some continued good form from his Pentlands Skyline race to secure a 3rd place for both the day and the series.

Other mentions too for Wull and guest runner Graham who started side by side and sportingly finished side by side; Mick, who ran a very commendable sub-1hour time only a week after his Snowdonia Marathon (at least you were used to the weather conditions !!); ..and actually congratulations to everyone who endured the weather - including last, but not least Kirsty who stood around recording the times and serving hot beverages afterwards......

The new Moorfoot jackets were also put through their paces - Mike and Kenny running the full course in their new threads, and can confirm that they are very comfortable, the air-mesh panels seem to work very well at preventing you from 'boiling in the bag' when you are working hard on the hills.

A great wee club series - a big thanks to James and Rachael for the initiative - looking to repeat it again in 2010.

Thoughts or ideas on future formats or courses - leave a comment on the blogger.....

Results here...

Training and Race Dates - November09

Some experimentation with a few new training sessions this month, plus a busy race calendar.
Note again the Peebles based training on Thursdays with a 5:00pm start....

Interested in a sociable night run with headtorches but can't make mid week training..?
Drop a note on the Blogger 'comments' and if there is enough interest we'll schedule a Friday evening 'run & pub' event....

Sun 1-Nov Moorfoot Trail Race - Innerleithen 10:00 am start

Tues 3-Nov Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Night Run with Headtorches
Thrs 5-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Pre-race run (Fartlek)
Sat 7-Nov Tinto Hill Race 2:00pm start
Sun 8-Nov Cardrona (Village Green) 10:00am Long steady run (~ 1hr) - easy post race run

Tues 10-Nov Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Hill Reps (7 x ~90s Wells Brae)
Thrs 12-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Pre-race run (Fartlek)
Sun 15-Nov Borders XC Norham 12:00 noon

Tues 17-Nov Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm 2 x 4 x 500m intervals
Thrs 19-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Night Run with Headtorches
Sun 22-Nov Walkerburn (Bridge) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)

Tues 24-Nov Cardrona (Village Green) 5:30pm Village Green circuit reps (TBC)
Thrs 26-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Pre-race run (Fartlek)
Sun 28-Nov Borders XC Lauder 12:00 noon

Mighty Deerstalker 2010

The date is now confirmed for the 2010 Traquair based Mighty Deerstalker Adventure Race - Saturday 20th March.

Early bird discount (£4 off) if you enter the before 30-November.

More details here....

Some good Moorfoot performances in last years race - check out the Blogger archives....

Blood Sweat & Tears in Wales - the full story

Pic1 - at the start (lovely weather !!!)

Pic2 - dressed for the conditions

I'd travelled down to North Wales the afternoon before with Alan Strain who unfortunately wasn't able to run because of a chest infection (or so he said!).

Saturday morning saw grey skies and as we arrived at Llanberis the heavy rain and strong winds greeted us - it was the sign of things to come. The start of the race was about a mile down the road at Nant Peris so as a "warm up" we decided to walk, subsequently we arrive thoroughly soaked! Still there was lots of folk about and all seemed happy enough when we lined up for the start (by which time I had donned my waterproof & gloves - as was still cold!).

From the start we turned south for a mile before the ascent to Pen-y-Pas, a climb of about 800ft over next 3 miles. I'd settled into an easy pace, trying not to clock watch and made to top quite comfortably despite the gradient. The nest couple of miles were a steep downhill but took it easy being wary of the challenges to come. We then turned towards Beddgelet a steady downward stretch that took us to about halfway, by this time the rain had eased, the waterproof was off and it was almost pleasant (you could almost see the views). Then it was a steady undulating road all the way up until 21 miles at Waunfawr. I felt OK the training seemed to have worked, there was no sign of the dreaded "wall" and the company was very friendly although there were lots of nervous comments about the challenge to come. Those comments became reality as we moved off the main road to begin our ascent of Bwlch y Groes - 2.5 miles of sheer hell, a climb of 900ft up to the summit, lungs bursting, too steep to run in places (95% of us were walking for a couple of hundred metres), and a couple of false summits before the road became a muddy trail just before the top at which time the rain was again torrential and it was blowing a gale. Then it was down, down, down, thighs burning, too steep and too slippery to run properly, eventually into Llanberis. The finish was in sight - apart from some joker decided that we needed an extra 1/2 mile to make up the distance, and guess what, it included another b****y hill! Over that, "sprint" to the finish, totally exhausted but elated - the weeks of long runs had paid off, a time of 3hrs 57 mins was very satisfying on that course (the organisers stated that the hills would put 30 mins onto our times). Trudged wearily to the car and then the pub for an afternoon of rehydration! The race had been voted both the hardest UK marathon and the most scenic, I can vouch for then former, as for the views they kept themselves for another time!

Cheers,

Mick

Tinto Hill Race Saturday 7th November

Tinto Hill Race Saturday 7th November, for those who like it short, sharp and painful...

Entry on the day at Symington.

Full details here - several Moorfoots already confirmed as going....