Thursday 28 August 2014

Message from Jacob - Spikes Pinched

Went down to Kerfield for my interval session this morning, putting my small black rucksack, with green Brooks spikes and plastic water bottle inside, in the big green football stand before heading around the park warming up. Returning back to the stand 5-10mins later, my bag had gone. I asked some of the dog walkers around if they had seen anyone with it and enquired at the Gytes in case someone had handed it in there, but to no avail. Have also called the police station. Could you put a quick message on the blogger to let people know in case they see it anywhere and to also make them wary of leaving their stuff out of sight in case of it being ‘borrowed’.

Sunday 24 August 2014

Baddinsgill Round Hill Race

Myself and Colin made the short journey to West Linton for this years Baddinsgill Round Hill Race.

The race is starting to get itself established now with 80 runners signing up including some of the regions top runners.  Despite very wet underfoot conditions both the men's and women's records were broken by large margins.

Don Naylor finished 1st (just) in 1hr:31mins with an incredibly tight margin of only 15 seconds separating him from Fergus Johnstone (Gala). The women's race was also closely fought with Charlotte Morgan (1hr:42 mins) (Carnethy) just beating Joanne Thom (Edin AC) by about 60 seconds.

Colin (despite suffering from a hacking cough) finished in 23rd with a time of 1hr:53mins,  I came in 31st with a time of 2hrs:02mins.  Really good course which circumnavigates the watershed of the Baddinsgill reservoir,  giving great views of the central belt ( and of all Colin's windfarms!)

full results

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Moorfoot Seniors Tuesday night training - Meet at 6.30pm at Kingsmeadows Car Park, Peebles

I've started a Seniors training session every Tuesday night, meeting at 6.30pm at Kingsmeadows Car Park in Peebles. With winter drawing in please bring a torch as it is getting dark by the end.



The session will based on standard interval trainings that would fit in into a 10k / endurance training programme. I will look to mix up the routes and add in hills on alternate weeks.
 
A typical session would be warm up jog for about 10-15mins and them a set 3 to 5 intervals  x 3 - 6 min intervals at running hard but not flat out with rest in between of about half the effort time. Then a decent warm down after. The whole session will take about an hour I expect.
 
The efforts will always be done on time (I'm bringing a whistle) so that we will regroup after each one, so therefore it should accommodate all speeds.
 
Everyone is welcome. Feel free just to turn up, but if you want to let me know that you are coming or ask any questions then just email or give me a call.
 
I hope to see you any week that you fancy.
 
Cheers,
Colin
 
Colin Williams
M: 07712 259 603
colin.m.williams (at) talk21.com

Saturday 16 August 2014

Moorfoot Cardemuir Rollercoaster 2014 - Race Report

A successful running of the inaugural Cademuir Rollercoaster race, with a good turn out for what is a new event.

The new Peebles High School sports facilities were used for registration, with the runners and spectators taking a short and pleasant walk along Craigerne Lane to the race start on the lower slopes of Cademuir hill next to Tanta House.

The underfoot conditions were very good, with a blustery wind and grey skies keeping conditions 'interesting'

3K - 17 starters and a strong 1-2-3 for Costorphine for boys, Jonathon Jackson (U15B) leading home the runners and Michael Smith first Moorfoot (U13B) in fourth place; Beth Hobbs was first girl (U13G) beating a number of U15G and U15B competitors.

6K - 40 starters; queue the rain, just as the race briefing was being completed ! A clear win for Don Naylor (HBT), making it an inaugural Gypsy Glen/Cademuir Rollercoaster 'double' for the former Commonwealth Games athlete. - and a great run by Thomas Otten (U17M) of Gala Harriers for a 2nd place. Susan Ridley (Edinburgh AC) was first lady (another Gypsy Glen/Cademuir Rollercoaster 'double' !!)  and Lucas Cheskin (U20M) was first Moorfoot home holding off Andy Cox who was a few seconds further back.

Big thanks again to all runners, supporters, marshals (it was wet and blustery on the tops !) and back ground helpers in making this a successful event...and last but not least to our sponsors Franco's Pizzeria..

Results here

Cademuir Rollercoaster

Results for the Cademuir Rollercoaster races:-

3km race results

6km race results

Full race report to follow.

Monday 11 August 2014

FINAL CALL FOR BBQ - THIS SUNDAY!

Just a quick reminder that I need to confirm numbers for the BBQ by end of the week.
We have over 50 people already signed up so it will be a good chance to catch up with everyone's summer activities.
The BBQ is being set up in the covered area at the end of the Peel Café so is weather proofed against all but a full hurricane!!
Details for those that have missed them:-

Moorfoot Summer BBQ on Sun 17th August – 17:30 at the Peel Café, Glentress.
This is a family event which is open to both members and non-members.
Gregor will be presenting the annual awards for the juniors.

If you are intending to come could you please sign up on the doodle poll below – this will help us plan the catering!


Club members and immediate family (even if non-members) - £5 per adult (18+), £2 per child
Non-club members - £10 and £7 (cost price)
 
Payment will be collected on arrival. 

Sunday 10 August 2014

Jacob's GB Bronze. Fingers crossed for GB call.

Winder and Arant Haw near Sedbergh in Cumbria were the target hill tops in the British Athletics Mountain Running Championships on Saturday which doubled as the Trials for the GB team for the uphill World Mountain Running Championships in Cassette di Massa in Tuscany, Italy on 14 September. After his excellent 8th  in the European Championships in France in July, Jacob Adkin was aiming to cement his place in the GB U20 team with another good performance over the 7.1km course. But with two of the top English junior hill runners returning to action alongside his GB team-mates from France he was under no illusions that a tough challenge lay ahead.

Unusually for an uphill only course, in addition to the 690m ascent the route included 250m of descent in the middle section in order to mirror the World Championship course in Italy. Up to the first summit fellow Scot Andrew Lawler blazed the trail and established a good early lead which he maintained throughout for a convincing win in 36 minutes 03 seconds. After settling in 5th place on the first climb, Jacob gradually moved up to challenge for 3rd approaching the final 1km with its steep leg-screaming 150m of ascent and he steadily pulled away to secure a 20-second advantage at the top and the Championship bronze, finishing in 37.23. With only the first two guaranteed selection it’s a nervous wait for the remaining two available places in the GB U20 team for Italy to be confirmed, but with no absentees of note Jacob is hopeful that he has done enough to expect the call from the GB selectors. (GN note: as soon as I get any news on this I will advise.)

Also running in the U20 Championship race was Lucas Cheskin having only his third race back after a lengthy absence. Having lost some ground in the fast middle descent section, Lucas rallied well before finding the final climb tough going. But he maintained his place to finish 10th in 43.13 and will surely improve for the run.


The senior women ran the same Championship course as the Junior Men and in a field which was a who’s who of British women’s mountain running, a slightly jaded Scout Adkin finished in 44.03 for 11th place, 2nd U23 and 2nd Scot.

Thursday 7 August 2014

Moorfoots Take on the Law

No, it's not a legal challenge, nor a fight with the polis, it was the North Berwick Law Race on Wednesday night. Active East Lothian reports:
After a wet and windy day, summer returned for the start of the 2014 North Berwick Law Race.

The glorious evening saw a record 291 runners line up at the Harbour with the top of the Law in their sights.

Donald Naylor (HBT) was the first back in an impressive 19 mins 11secs, beating his 2012 time by over 2mins. Carnethy runners James Waldie and Andrew Gilmour came 2nd and 3rd respectively. Carnethy also triumphed to be the fastest team on the night.

HBT Ladies were on top form with Tessa Hill beating her 2012 time with a run of  21mins 56 secs. Penicuik's Sarah McKechnie took 2nd place and Rachel Grieve (Anster Haddies) taking 3rd (GN note: 12 year-old Moorfoot Beth Hobbs was actually 3rd "woman" home.)

The junior titles were taken by Gavin McWhinnnie (Fife) in 23mins 50secs and Beth Hobbs (Moorfoot) in 25 mins 16 secs.

Other award categories were the 1st Male Vet – Andrew Wright (Ochil Hill runners), 1st Lady Vet – Jakie Tout (UA) in 27.01. North Berwick Local, Marcus Lyall, was cheered home in 25mins 26secs.

A big thank you to Edinburgh Athletic for organising all the excellent volunteers who made the event possible. Another thank you to North Berwick Community Council for presenting the medals on the evening.

GN adds: Tom Hobbs was the first Moorfoot home in 22mins+, about 50m behind Tess Hill, complaining it was far too short for him. Next home in 24 mins+ and hand in hand for the last stretch in front of the cheering crowds reminiscent of Beardsley and Simonsen in the first London Marathon, were father and son duo Crawfie and Corran Carrick-Anderson. (I wiz jist aboot greetin' at that.) At just 11 years-old, Corran was second in the U15 Boys category and finished a bit fresher looking than his dad! Beth was a clear winner in the U15 Girls category, her huge effort telling at the end with a face whiter than my vanilla 99, and she was followed home by Mairi Wallace who found the fast pace a bit hot from the harbour before the steeper terrain kicked in.

A great festival atmosphere on a beautiful evening not even spoiled by having to share my well planned race-time fish'n'chips with Mrs C-A and Mrs H.


Tuesday 5 August 2014

Philiphaugh Hill Race Sun 10 Aug

Info on this coming Sunday's Philiphaugh Hill Race is available on the Selkirk Fund Runners Facebook here www.facebook.com/SelkirkFundRunners

Saturday 2 August 2014

Mid week at Carin Table

Another Bog and Burn midweek scorchio, this time at Muirkirk for a fast and mostly runnable Cairn table hill race. It is 4.5 miles, with plenty of running before the hill, out and back with a 330m climb, which was just about right for one of the hottest days of the year. Good to see young Lucas turn up as well to give it a go, with a couple of the big guns Al Anthony and Colin Donnelly on the start line, which made this low key race more intresting. Being so hot there was plenty of taps aff (men only) 
myself and Lucas lead the field at the start with a quick pace, the ground was very dry but there seemed to be some slippy bogs to watch out for. Far too quick a start for me, I eased back a bit and settled into a more comfortable heavy breathing state. Doing the race last year, I knew what was to come as you think you are at the top then there's more, then more, then more. I was struggling a bit and had to walk some parts, last time I ran all the way but I think the heat was having an effect.  Lucas started to slow down a bit and I passed him climbing up. I sat in behind James Callender and passed him, then let Iain Stewart pull me up, towards the summit. Nearing the top, Colin Donnelly was well ahead at the turn, gliding passed me with ease. I was 5th to the top.  The race then starts with a long hard hammer back to the finish, where places can be lost or gained, depending how much you have left from the climb. I shouted 'keep digging' at Lucas who was still going up but he looked well shot. Iain was too quick for me on the decent and pulled away. Nearing the finish, my legs were turning that jelly way and I held onto 5th, or so I thought until the bare chested, James from Westerlands passed me with a few metres to go.  I was happy with 6th, which was a minute and a half slower than last years time. Lucas finishing well down the field, not his usual self and maybe gave up a bit in the heat.  Turns out Colin got a bit mixed up on where the finish was and went off course a bit to lose the race he was winning easily. 

Results and race action below.

http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0167&Year=2014

https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottishhillrunners/14749217373/in/set-72157645471356537

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8533875@N07/14542781379/lightbox/