Jog Scotland Dryburgh 5K

Well done to Kirsty and Hilary who both completed the Borders Jog Scotland 5K event, on a hot evening on a very hilly course, in and around the grounds of the Dryburgh Hotel near St Boswells.

There were quite a few runners from Peebles and Innerleithen taking part from various Jog Scotland groups, so probably some scope for a future local 5K fun run type event on a flatter course !

Moorfoots at Glen Rosa Horseshoe (Arran)

Johnny Hall and I went to Arran yesterday for the Glen Rosa Horseshoe race. The day was unpromising as we crossed on the ferry, with cloud down on the hills and rain threatening. But the cloud lifted and it gradually turned into a fine afternoon.Johnny continued his improving hill running with a very respectable 12th place in 3:25:26. I just managed to crack the 3 hr barrier with a 2:58:34 4th place, definitely my best long race yet. Stuart Whitlie of Carnethy won the race in 2:34:34 and Ellie Homewood was first woman home in 3:26:24.

Full results here: http://www.shr.uk.com/Home.aspx

These results put Johnny in 3rd and me in 8th in the Scottish Long Classics series:

http://chris-upson.com/LongClassics/2009/LongClassics2009_v5.htm

Cheers. Russell

Moorfoots at Edinburgh Seven Hills

James and Wull were the Moorfoot representatives at the the Edinburgh Seven Hills Race, which this year had a record entry of 330 runners.

James came home in 1:48 for 6th place and Wull was a couple of minutes back in 1:50 for 7th place.

Moorfoots at Eildon Hill Race

While Peebles was enjoying the climax of the Beltane week, Melrose was also having its red-letter day which included the Eildon Hill Race.

Six Moorfoots travelled down to the Greenyards to race up and down the twin peaks.

Mike McGovern found some good form taking third place in 32:22, with young Mark McLeod coming home in 35:06 for an excellent seventh place. Steve Martin's 36:15 (12th) was good enough to secure yet another team prize for the Moorfoots.

Elsewhere on the course, Julia was upsetting the men on the ascent with her strong running, but found the slippery descent less to her liking, returning back to the Greenyards in 40:42 (37th), with Alex Campbell close behind in 42:22 (41st).
Dave Wardman had another good run, breaking the 50min barrier with his 49:15 (63rd).

Full results here...

Moorfoots at Lauderdale Limpers Two Pubs Race

This was a great little mid-week race with a very successful format, where 84 runners participated across the full running spectrum of joggers to racers.

We registered in Lauder, and were then bussed up to Oxton for the start and the run back to Lauder over a 4.6 mile 'multi terrain' course (road, hill, railway, pavement)
Handicaps were allocated based on 10K times, and runners set off in reverse order (slowest to fastest).

Jock was first Moorfoot home on handicap in ninth position (39.12) with Dave not far behind in 35.87 for twelth place.

Miles further back, Mike and Kenny finished in 39th (28.20) and 32nd (29.21) respectively (both top 10 on scratch time..)

I calculated that I actually had to overtake 46 runners to get from my starting position (78th) to my finishing position (32nd) - likewise Mike, who started last, overtook 35 runners...

A good, fun, not too serious race format with a nice buffet and free drink at the end....I think we'll be back !

Weekend Roundup

There were other races taking place this weekend.....

Johnny was up at the Loch Lochy Munros Race, finishing in 3:07 and 38th place. Russell was at Durisdeer Hill Race - still no results published.

Up in Skye, Mick and Alan were doing the Skye Half Marathon, both completing the course in 1:39 and 1:44 respectively.

Earlier in the week, the Moorfoot 'Raiders' stormed the Biggar 10K and plundered a handful of prizes.

Drop me an email if you have any other results you want to add to the Blogger.....

The Beltane 10K - Runner Feedback

One of the advantages of the Runners' World Online Entry is that your entrants can give feedback and a rating of your race - OK if things go well !

This years race has been rated by a couple of folks so far - both saying they would do it again...which is always a good measure of success.

Here's a few excerpts:

"..Good, well organised race in a nice location. "

"..Very nice little race."

"..It was pretty hot, and definitely wasn't the pancake flat race I'd read about. But there were no killer hills, the scenery of the Moorfoot Hills all around was great, and the fact I actually ran a PB means it must be a fairly fast course!Nice to be a part of Peebles Beltane week too - always enjoy these community races where the local community turns out to support.Good organisation and very hospitable. I'd definitely do again.Real shame that it clashed with the Dechmont Law 10K and the Mabie Forest 10K, cos they're also great local races and I'd do them all if they were on different days. "

More ratings and feedback here..

The Portobello Running Club report here (this is a mega blog !!! lots of pictures !!)

FYI - Dechmont Law 10K Trail Race had 153 finishers and Mabie 10K Trail Race 115 finishers, so I think our 169 finishers (+ 12 pre-entry 'no-shows') was an oustanding turnout...

Moorfoot Runners Beltane 10K 2009

Pic - "...and they're off.!"..Steve Cairns leads out the 2009 Beltane 10K

The 2009 Moorfoot Runners' Beltane 10K proved to be a 'belter' with the sun shining on the field of 169 finishers in the senior race and ~30 in the junior race.

Steve Cairns of Hunter Bog Trotters won in a convincing 32'08" with Moorfoot runners making up the 2nd (James), 3rd (Wull), 4th (Darin) and 5th (Mike) places to take the team prize. First lady was Melanie Henderson (38'32") from Portobello Runners, who brought down a 'bus load' of runners to swell the ranks.

A big thanks needs to go to Dave Wardman and Mike Pearson who did a huge amount of the organisation behind the scenes, and also to the large band of volunteer marshalls from both within and outwith the club, without whom this race just could not take place.

A special mention too for Beltane Queen Rosie Bowick who did the presentation of the prizes, adding a nice touch to the proceedings.

Several runners commented on how much they enjoyed the race, how well everything was organised and how much they enjoyed their visit to Peebles....well done everyone !

More pictures available to view here...

Full results here...

Moorfoot at Rouken Glen 10K

I was through in Glasgow on Thursday, so took the opportunity to catch up with my old club mates at Calderglen Harriers at the Greaves Festival of Running Rouken Glen 10K.

Perfect running conditions on a tough course - I managed an 'OKish' 39'43" (which was about 2 mins faster than the previous year where I had a bit of a nightmare...)

Full report on the Calderglen Harriers 'blogger'

Regards...

Kenny

Moorfoots at Yetholm

Pic - spot the non-Moorfoots

In near perfect hill running conditons, nine Moorfoots headed to Kirk Yetholm for the Yetholm Hill Race over an undulating 8 mile horseshoe circuit, which took in over seven tops and 2500' of climbing. The ground conditions were dry and firm, there was enough cloud cover to keep the temperatures comfortable and we even had a tail wind breeze for the initial ascents, so it was looking like there would be some fast times in the field of 45 runners.

In a reversal of the usual top placings, Darin was first home in third place (72'10") taking some 8 minutes off his time from 2008, and only just over one minute behind the winner. Mike McGovern was sixth (74'07"), Wull Hynd seventh (75'05") and Russell tenth (78'55") which safely secured the team prize (four to count) for the Moorfoots.

Kenny came in on 85'16" for twelth place (this might actually be my highest ever placing in a senior race....!!!!) with Johnny not far behind in eighteenth place (87'57").

Steve came in on 90'33" after admiting that he got a bit too excited at the start and found himself up with the fast guys at the early part of the race and knew that he was going to suffer later.
Star of the day though was Julia who took the first lady position with a very impressive 88'34" and some six minutes faster than her 2008 time - well done!

Dave Wardman went slightly off course towards the end and found an alternative route back to the finish, so his 120'26" was probably a bit longer than his performance merited - a sub 2hr time for next year, I'm sure....

Another grand day out, and an impressive club turnout from the Moorfoots which was acknowledged by the organisers Norham RC.

Full results here and a wee mention on the SHR website here

Calderglen Harriers 10K Trail Race - East Kilbride

Pic - the Calderglen Harriers in action...

My old club 'Calderglen Harriers' in East Kilbride are hosting their annual 10K trail race on Friday 26-June (7:30pm start). This is a great course on the tracks and paths of Calderglen country park - last years race attracted ~150 runners; winning time ~34mins; last runner ~75mins, so a full spectrum of runners from the local south of Glasgow clubs as well as fun runners. There is also a good spread offerred at the end of the race for the hungry throngs...

We have a number of Moorfoots travelling through to support this race, so if you fancy taking part, let me know and we can organise some car sharing.

Plan will be to leave Peebles around 5:00pm to be at the race registration for ~6:30pm.

If 10K sounds a bit long for your current training regime, there is also a 5K trail race starting at 7:00pm, so this would also be an option...

Pre-entry (download here) is £7 - an extra pound if you enter on the night. Queues for on the night entry can be a bit busy, so pre-entry recommended.

So where are we stopping for fish and chips on the way home..

Regards..

Kenny

Moorfoots at Silverknowes 5K

Pic - Julia cruising past Cramond Island
A few Moorfoots skipped mid week training and headed to Edinburgh to test their form against the city's speed merchants over a fast and flat 5K course at Silverknowes.

Darin and Mile achieved top 20 places in 17'25" and 17'26", Steve was close behind in 18'10"; Aegir came in at 19'50" and Julia finished in 20'37" and last but not least, Dave Wardman finishing in 22'46".

Well done too, to Andy Cox who has been training with the Moorfoots in preparation for a future half marathon - his finishing time was a very creditable 20'18" (puts you in the 1:30 to 1:35 half marathon estimated finish time....)

Results here..

Lauderdale Limpers 'Two Pubs Race'

Two Pubs Race...? Food and drink included in the entry fee ? Free bus trip to the start ?

Sounds like my kind of race, and you are handicapped based on a recent 10K time.....join the queue....Entries to Mike McGovern as soon as possible....

"There is a handicap race at Lauder on Tuesday 16th June starting at 7.30 p.m. It is £10 to enter and this gets you food and a drink after the race also at a pub in Lauder.

We have done this run the last few years and it is over 4.6 miles with about 60 entries. It is a trail race

If you want to run please let me know as I have to contact the handicapper with your most recent 10K time"

Regards

Mike

Moorfoots at Edinburgh Marathon

While we were all basking in the Sunday heat and enjoying our barbeques, 16 thousand runners were pounding the tarmac from Edinburgh to Musselburgh in the 2009 Edinburgh Marathon...it wasn't a 'picnic' for everyone though as Colin Williams reports:

"..I had a shocker and I’m [not] totally sure why, but I don’t think it was the heat, as when I did the 20 miles Edinburgh > North Berwick 4 weeks ago it was similar conditions.
I was struggling to comfortably hold pace from about 7 miles, went through halfway at 1.30:40 but after that things started to get messy. I started dropping about 15 secs a mile after that and then 30sec and then a minute so I went through 20 miles 7 minutes down on the time I did for Edinburgh > North Berwick and feeling terrible, and then my legs spasmed and locked solid in cramp at 22 miles. I managed to stretch against the harbour wall and set off at a waddle but the last 4 miles was a mixture of shuffle, cramp, stop and walk - I even had to stop 150m from finish and stretch against the railings as the cramp in my legs were in agony. My final time was 3.31 I think.

I have never had such a bad experience running, and this is my 5th marathon (and I’ve done a 43 mile ultra too) and I’m not sure what went wrong as I was never really comfortable at the pace, but I clearly was 4 weeks ago. I’ve had a busy time since then moving house (I’m still unpacking) and with work so maybe I just wasn’t properly rested, but you live and learn! I think I will have to put this down to experience, although I certainly feel I have unfinished business with the marathon..."

Well done also to Moorfoot Walter 'Wattie' Barrie who completed the course in 4:00:23 ....

Training & Race Details - June09

A lot going on in June; with the light nights there are plenty of mid week races around, so training nights may be bit 'on and off', so keep checking the blogger for updates.

And of course, we host our own Beltane 10K on 14th June, so no training that day - all hands to the Gytes to help things go as smoothly as possible....
Tuesday night training in Peebles worked reasonably well through May, with a few new mid-week faces joining the sessions, so plan is to keep this going through June also....

Tues 2-June Peebles (Gytes) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
(I'll be there but limited turn out from other regulars due to Wednesday night 5K at Silverknowes Edinburgh)
Thrs 4-June Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Sun 7-June Peebles (Gytes) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)
(Again, limited turn out of regulars expected due to Yetholm Hill Race on same day)
Tues 9-June Peebles (Gytes) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Thrs 11-June Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Sun 14-June - training cancelled - all hands to Gytes for Beltane 10K
Tues 16-June Peebles (Gytes) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
(Again, limited turn out of regulars expected due to Lauder Two Pubs Race on same night ** corrected date**)
Thrs 18-June Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Sun 21-June Innerleithen (Hall St) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)
(Beltane Sports at Haylodge Park...)
Tues 23-June Peebles (Gytes) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Thrs 25-June Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
(This session to be confirmed as on the Friday there is a 10K at Calderglen East Kilbride (my old club) that we are hoping we can take a few car loads of Moorfoots to...)
Sun 28-June Walkerburn (Bridge) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)