Sunday 28 November 2010

Moorfoots at the Glentress Duathlon (Medium Course)

With the snow getting the better of the Borders XC race at Gala, the first of this years Glentres Duathlons also looked in doubt, but with some course modifications, the race went ahead abeit with a significantly depleted field...looks like everyone had a great time.

Moorfoot's Tom Hobbs ran and cycled to second place (1:05), pulling back two places in the run over some of the speedy PCC juniors.

Eddie Balfour also showed good running form gaining nine places in the run to finish in seventh place (1:12).

Alison Caw and Julia Connor contiunued their duelling from last years duathlons, Alison going into the cycle/run transition with a three minute lead. Julia though, clawed back the time in the hill run to pull ahead, finishing in 1:24 to Alison's 1:26 - good racing !

Full results here...

Saturday 27 November 2010

Gala BXC Postponed

The snow overnight on Friday has caused the Gala leg of the Borders XC series on 28-Nov to be postponed.

See Hala Harriers website here...

Any one still wanting to fit in a run, there are a few of us meeting up at the Gytes on Sunday at 10:00am.

Monday 22 November 2010

Moorfoot Constitution

The Moorfoot Runners constitution document can now be found at this link.

Note that this document can also be accessed directly from the main page of the http://www.moorfootrunners.co.uk/ website.

Sunday 14 November 2010

Moorfoots at Tinto

Some changes to the ever popular Tinto Hill race this year, with the pre-entry closed at the 250 limit some weeks before the race, and the mandatory kit check enforced (well, it is a hill race in November after all...). But other than than that, the same brutal, up the hill, straight back down again...

The top was free of cloud, but is was decidedly chilly at the pre-start (much of the 'full body cover' being worn rather than carried), and the ground was staturated after the recent wether making for slippery conditions particularly lower down the hill.

Tom Hobbs led the Moorfoot charge, home in 36:09 for a very creditable 13th place.
After a bit of a struggle on the way up, Kenny picked up some places on the lower slopes to record a personal Tinto course best of 41:54 and 65th place.
Julia ascended strongly as ever, reaching the summit around the 30 min mark but by her own admission, struggled a bit coming down....but still manged a time 30 secs faster than her last Tinto outing, finishing in 46:56 and 155th place.
Brian Hood conquered the hill in 52:01, putting in another strong run and getting more race experience ahead of the Borders XC series.

Full results here...

Two weeks to go now until the first Borders XC race at Gala - a hilly one, and almost guaranteed to be muddy - see you there...

Sunday 7 November 2010

Moorfoot Christmas Night Out

Turkey time !!!
Can it be that time already !!  Yes it is....

This year's Christmas Night out is being organised by Mike McGovern and is planned for Saturday 4-December (7:30pm) at the Green Tree Hotel Peebles.

More details to follow - get the date in your diaries now....(less than four weeks away )

Moorfoot Cardrona Pursuit Race - race report

Some crisp, frosty conditions on Sunday were a welcome surprise after the heavy rain on Saturday, and the racing proved to be very close and competetive over the popular Cardrona forest circular/hilly course. (6.6 miles)

Conditions underfoot were soft and slippy, and runners even had some frozen puddles at the top of the course - views out to and over the Moorfoot hills were stunning, with snow dusted tops and clear blue skys.



James' handicapping made for an exciting finish, with all runners finishing within three minutes of each other !!! (keeping the time keeper and photographers busy...)

'Kardrona King' for the day was Kenny, holding off the fast finishing Mike McGovern by only a few seconds; Ann Nimmo was first lady home, leading the field for most of the race before the 'mele' in the final few hundred metres as the handicaps positioned the runners into the final race for the line.

In the junior race, over a shorter but equally challenging 2.5 mile course, Eilidh was first runner home in 26mins, with wee sister Mhairi close behind in 29 mins.

Thanks again to James and Rachael for organising and marking out the courses, to Kirsty for time keeping and prizes. Full results below....

Position/Elapsed/Handicap/Corrected/Mile Pace
1.      Kenny 47:49:00 07:00 40:49:00 7:14:42
2.      Mike McG 43:13:00 02:15 40:58:00 6:32:53

3.      Colin 45:54:00 04:30 41:24:00 6:57:16

4.      Ann 63:32:00 22:00 41:32:00 9:37:35

5.      Eddie 50:48:00 08:45 42:03:00 7:41:49

6.      James 42:22:00 00:00 42:22:00 6:25:09

7.      Rachael 55:01:00 12:00 43:01:00 8:20:09

8.      Johnny 48:41:00 05:15 43:26:00 7:22:35

9.      Rhoda 54:02:00 10:30 43:32:00 8:11:13

10.  Steve 47:05:00 03:30 43:35:00 7:08:02

11.  Mick 54:08:00 10:30 43:38:00 8:12:07

12.  Mike L Ran off course 13:30 (third over junior course !!!)

13.  Wattie Ran off course 10:30 (most miles run !!!)
For those who missed the race due to other commitments or the Lasswade XC 'fixture clash', Colin is organising a further handicap/pursuit race early in th new year at Innerleithen - watch the Blogger for further details....

Selected photos (thanks to Ian and Eilidh...)

Thursday 4 November 2010

Moorfoots at Snowdonia Marathon

Mick Warrington returns to Snowdonia in search of a faster marathon time and better weather than the year before.....

"..After finishing last years' race I was adamant that I would never run this brute of a course again, however a few months later when the memories had become a little fuzzy, and helped by a couple of pints of beer, I was persuaded that it would be a good idea to have another go.


We arrived in North Wales on the Friday afternoon and stayed in the lovely seaside town of Llandudno. Saturday morning gave us bright sunshine by the coast (after all the weather couldn't have been appalling for the second year could it?) but as we drove into the hill for the start at Llanberis the sky clouded over and the heavens opened! By the time we had walked to the start the roads had become rivers and the off road tracks on the course had transformed into slippy mud covered challenges.

However, all started well - even the race started on time - and by the time I reached the first hill I well warmed up (although still wearing gloves!) and feeling great. Then the long slog (3 miles) up to the top of Pen-y-Pas at just over 1200ft, the rain eased a little and from the top it was a steep run down the valley side before turning right towards Bryn Gwynant. The cloud had cleared and the views of the Snowdonia range were certainly enough to take your mind off the miles to come, the race went off road for a while which made footing a little tricky but managed to come through without too much trouble. Cleared 7 miles in the first hour, all on schedule and thankfully no signs of tight calves. Reached Beddgelet, which is about half way and then started another climb up to 800ft over the next 2 miles or so. By this time the field (1300 starters) was well spread out but the locals were out in force cheering us on despite the rain (and the hail!!) returning!

Through 14 miles in well under 2 hours, always wondering if the wheels were going to fall off and hit the dreaded "wall" but as the miles went by I felt fine, no doubt the endless training around Manor and Walkerburn were paying dividends. Latched on to another couple of runners and we paced ourselves steadily through 21 miles (under 3 hours) until we reached the beast of a hill after 22 miles at Waunfawr. Here the route takes you from the valley floor up and over the ridge to the highest point of the course at 1300ft all in the space of 2 miles. Absolute agony! Only managed to run up half of it (the majority of the field likewise) just too steep for tired legs. Still we plodded on and the road became a muddy track and levelled off before dropping steeply onto the next valley where Llanberis and the finished could be seen awaiting us. Here things got difficult with tired leges and an extremely steep muddy surface folk were sliding all over the place (a bit like the Borders Cross Country series but more extreme!!) had to be very careful until the track became tarmacked again at @ 25 miles, then a downhill "sprint" to the finish line at the end of the main street.

Was totally exhausted but came through unscathed in 3 hours 49 minutes for 317th place and more pleasingly 8 minutes quicker than last year.Then adjourned to the pub for a few well deserved beers!

I would recommend this race as a challenge for anybody (supposedly voted the toughest marathon in Europe), it is very well organised and marshalled with plenty of water stations en route just a shame about the weather! But as for me I think I'll try something a little flatter next time!..."

Cheers

Mick

Monday 1 November 2010

More Moorfoot Race Results

Not to be outdone by PBs a-tumbling at Jedburgh, Mike Reid was 'scorching the tarmac' in the Standard Life 10K in Edinburgh...

Mike wrote:

"Never saw a sole from start and worried as first 3k in sub 10mins and realised I had gone out v hard. But conditions good & felt strong as no hills/ additional clothes to carry or slippy underfoot issues.


So pushed on to give myself a time (33.20 and clocked first 5k in 16.16) "
Well done Mike - bring on the XC races !!