Saturday, 31 October 2009

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 (confirmed)
Thrs 26-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Pre-race run (Fartlek)
Sun 28-Nov Borders XC Lauder 12:00 noon

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

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

Monday, 26 October 2009

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....

Moorfoot Christmas Night Out Saturday 5th December

Just to let everybody know that the Christmas night out will be Saturday 5th December at
7.30 pm at the Green Tree Hotel in Peebles.

It is not a Christmas Party night (i.e no disco) although there is a Christmas menu along with the normal menu to choose from.

To date, there has been about 20 that has replied to say they are going.

I shall send another e-mail out nearer the time to remind everybody again.

Regards

Mike

Blood Sweat and Tears in Wales....

Just got back from Snowdonia Marathon.

3hrs 57 mins - the hardest thing I've ever done.

Torrential rain, gale force winds unbelievable hills (especially at 21miles!).

Will send a report for the blog in the next day or so.

Cheers

Mick

Sunday, 25 October 2009

Moorfoot Trail Race - Innerleithen - Sunday 1-November

Short reminder about the final Moorfoot Trail Race of the 3-race 'series' - Sunday coming, 1-November.

Meet at Leithen Lodge (north of Innerleithen Golf Course on the Heriot Road, about 3 miles out of the town) - first runners off at 10:00am.

Short prize giving afterwards and we have 'tea and coffee' making facilities being arranged.....

Full details on earlier post here...

Glentress Duathlon Series 2009/10

Quite a few Moorfoots expressing an interest in the popular Glentress Duathlon Series.

Full details here....

A couple of the dates clash with the Borders XC series, but the Short Course Duathlon on Sunday 24th January 2010 is 'fixture clash free'.

Get your online entries in quickly (delay not- do it now !) as this is the most popular event and the cut-off of 150 entrants in strictly enforced.

A couple of Moorfoot 'bike & run' training sessions being planned for those interested and there is a spin class on Thursdays at the Gytes which we'll check out, to provide some winter training variation....keep watching the Blogger....

Moorfoots at Jedburgh Half & 10K


Pic1 Fi & Alice; Pic2 - James sprinting for home playing the 'victory air-guitar'

A blustery, grey day with a few pre-race showers, but the sun came out for some of this year's Jedburgh Running Festival, where a strong representation of Moorfoots were participating in both the well established half Marathon, and the inaugral 10K race.



In the the Half, James went off like a rocket (~3min first 1K !!!) and was flying through to the 'turn', before hanging tough on the second half back into the wind to finish in 2nd place on 1:18:05, just 90s behind the overall winner.

Close behind in 4th place, Wull finished in ~1:20, despite some recurring calf problems just after the half way turning point.

In tough conditions, there were also some other strong Moorfoot performances - Rachael was finishing strongly in what looked like a ~1:35; Wattie was a bit further back in the pack heading for another 1:45er-ish time (Wattie - it was the 'Walter Softie' 10K runners in the grey Zafira who 'pumped the horn' at you in the final 2 miles...)

And in her first race in the Moorfoot colours, Fi Williams finished in 1:52- a fantastic run (special mention too for Colin and baby Alice, resplendant in Moorfoot colours, cheering on the runners out on the course...)


In the 10K, Steve ran very strongly in the tough windy conditions to be first Moorfoot home in 38 mins. Mike, still suffering from breathing problems, ran a race best forgotten in 40mins, while Kenny plodded round the course in a well paced 40:35, struggling too with the second half head wind, but not actually being overtaken by anyone...

Scout, in her first ever 10K, finished in a very commendable 43mins, with Julia a minute or so back in ~44 mins.


A tough day on the road for all......


Full/final results and placings still be be published -some partial 10K results here... and Half results here...



Friday, 23 October 2009

Borders XC Dates & Venues

Dates and Venues are now available for the Borders XC Series 2009/10.
All events are on Sundays, Junior races starting at 11:30 am and seniors around 12:00 noon.

Norham 15 November 09
Lauder 29 November 09
Dunbar 13 December 09
Galashiels 10 January 10
Berwick 31 January 10
Peebles 28-February 10

Full details here...

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

The Nights're faer drawin' in...

With the clocks changing this weekend coming (Sat 24th October) and darkness descending early (street lights came on during Innerleithen training session tonight at 6:00pm half way through our interval session), the Thursday night training sessions will now change to a 5:00pm start time in order to squeeze out a bit of extra daylight.

In order to add a bit of variety into the training during the dark winter nights, we are also going to try changing Thursday night trainings to Peebles, starting Thursday 22-October, meeting at the Gytes at 5:00pm.

Training on Tuesdays remains at Innerleithen (Hall St) at 5:30pm for now....

While these mid week early start sessions don't suit everyone, let us know if you are able to join us of an evening on occassion....and watch the blogger for other one-off winter training events in the coming months....

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Moorfoots at the Pentland Skyline

Pic - Johnny showing the opposition a clear pair of heels - not!
Well done to the Moorfoots particiapting at Sunday's Pentland Skyline Hill Race, with James coming home in a very creditable 6th place in a field of 176.

Full results here...

02:42:43 JAMES BRITTON
02:55:56 WULL HYND
03:29:52 JOHNNY HALL
03:35:45 RUSSELL ANDERSON
03:45:25 RACHAEL SMITH

Special mention too for Johnny who came third in the 'Man-or Mouse' competition (aggregate times from Manor Hill Race + Skyline) and Rachael who was seventh and first lady (which is technically 1st place in the 'Wo-Man-or Mouse' competition - well done !!!!)

Saturday, 10 October 2009

Moorfoots at Manor Hill Race

The weather gods were with us again today, as the low cloud and leaden skies of Saturday morning gave way to sunshine and a light breeze - perfect running conditions.

With some of the Moorfoot 'big guns' unavailable to participate at Manor, there was a chance for some new faces to lead the Moorfoot colours home.

Eight Moorfoots lined up in a field of 86 runners - the good weather and dry underfoot conditions promising some fast times.

Colin was fastest Moorfoot of the day (and first Local - there is a Broughton Brewery Prize for this !) with a fast 1:21:54 (18th place), some six minutes faster than last year...
Steve and Kenny were not too far behind (well, actually we were...) in 1:24:23 (21st) and 1:25:17 (25th), again some three minutes faster than last year; Jonny's 1:28:23 hopefully leaves something in the tank for the Pentland Skyline on Sunday.
Julia's 1:32:06 was good for fourth lady and Rachael was close behind in 1:34:19 (5th lady) - a good warm up for the Skyline on Sunday!
Andy McLeod (1:48:26) and Dave (1:55:52) brought the Moorfoot team home.

Good luck to Jonny and Rachael in Sunday's Skyline Race and in the Man or Mouse competition for those running both Saturday's and Sunday's race.

Good luck also to James, Russell and Wull who were keeping themselves fresh for Sunday's Skyline race.

Full Manor results here...

Check out Colin Donnelly's (Lochaber AC) 1:08:50 winning time - only 36s outside the course record - and this from a MV50....fantastic !

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Jedburgh 10K and Half Marathon - Sun 25th October

Jedburgh Running Festival at the end of October (Sunday 25th) features both a 10K and Half Marathon this year - details here...

Online entries to be in for 18th October, so get organised and enter now....

Looks like a few of us are entering the 10K - lifts available.....

Monday, 5 October 2009

Training and Race Dates - October09

October training and race dates....

The dark winter nights will be upon us soon - some discussuion about how we can keep winter training interesting (occassional bike night ride, time trial with Penicuik Harriers, track session at Tweedbank, Yoga Class ?) - if you have any ideas, add a comment to the foot of this post....

Sun 4-Oct Peebles (Gytes) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)
(Post race recovery for 'Breweries runners...)
Tues 6-Oct Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Thrs 8-Oct Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Sat 10-Oct - Manor Hill Race (1:00pm)
Sun 11-Oct Cardrona (Village Green) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)

Tues 13-Oct Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Thrs 15-Oct Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Sun 18-Oct Innerleithen (Hall St) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)

Tues 20-Oct Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Thrs 22-Oct Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Intervals & Speed Work
Sun 25-Oct Walkerburn (Bridge) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)
Also Jedburgh 10K and Half Marathon

Tues 27-Oct Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Intervals & Speed Work
Thrs 29-Oct Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Intervals & Speed Work
Sun 1-Nov Moorfoot Trail Race - Innerleithen (see separate posts)

..and before you know it, the Borders XC series will have started again !!!

Manor Hill Race - Saturday 10-October

Pic - Steve in a 'zen like trance' at last years race

Another of our 'local' races - the Manor Water Hill Race - this Saturday (10th October) at 1:00pm, held in conjunction with the Manor Water Sheepdog Trials. (chance to win a sheep in the raffle)

A long uphill grind to the summit of 'The Scrape' and then a fast downhill retracing the outward route - ~10 miles.

Those who like a full weekend of punishment can also run the Pentland Skyline Race on the Sunday and enter for the 'Man or Mouse' prize, which combines the aggregate result of both races.

Friday, 2 October 2009

Public Service Announcement - 2009 WHW Race on Adventure Show (Sunday 4-Oct BBC2 7:00pm)

Thanks to Russell for this one - get your video recorders set !

" The ADVENTURE SHOW" this Sunday 4th October 7.00pm will featurecoverage of this summers West Highland Way Race, At 95 miles Scotlandslongest permitted event. It features some stunning shots of the route,together with "travelling soundbites" and interviews with runners andhelpers.About 50 of this years competitors and helpers were treated recently toa slightly "uncut" version of the coverage by Triple Echo, the production company, which recieved a standing ovation, so impressed werethey that it captured the spirit of the event so well !! "

More details at the BBC website...