Sarah's Euro trial run Tuesday cancelled

Sorry if you read the earlier blog and had planned to run with Sarah Tuesday evening. Plans have changed due to cancellation of a trail race near Aberdeen today so she is now running Cademuir Sunday on return from Aberdeen.

New local race - Melrose 13.1Km RR

3rd Annual Melrose Road Race taking place on Sunday, 26 August 2012 at 11am. Registration begins at 9.30am in the Corn Exchange along with a quick race briefing before the short walk to the Start Line.


Full details here..

Moorfoot Victory in 7 Hills of Edinburgh Race

Mike Reid of Moorfoot wins 2012 Seven Hills of Edinburgh Race in 1:44:22...

Results here...

Moorfoot Runners' Beltane 10K Trail Race 2012

Saturday's torrential rain turned what had been a dry firm course (as tested on the Wednesday) into a mud fest which was more appropriate to a Winter XC series race.

However, it did not deter 72 runners from tackling the 2012 Moorfoot Beltane 10K Trail Race, and there were plently of smiles on the faces of the mud spattered finsihers.

Steve Cairns (HBT) completed his hat-trick of Trail race wins in an impressive 36:22, and Edel Mooney (Lotian RC) was first lady home in 40:45 (9th overall)

Moorfoot Runners won the Team Prize, led home by Moorfoot Junior Jacob Adkin (38:59 (4th) and first Local) followed by Mike 'el presidente' McGovern (39:23 (5th) and first Vet) and fast improving Andy 'Coxy' Cox in 41:35 (12th)

So, all over again for another year....the number of runners on the day was a bit disappointing, but given the previous day's weather and forecast for the Sunday, this was expected to some degree.

A big thanks to all who helped out behind the scenes, both in advance of race day and on race day itself - this was a massive Moorfoot Team effort - lots of complementary comments from the runners - well done to all !

Results can be found here....

Moorfoot Beltane 10K Trail Race - 2012 - countdown....

The Moorfoot Beltane 10K Trail Race 2012 is this Sunday (17-June).

Weather forecast looks more promising again and the final preparations are all but completed.

Post race tea/coffee/cakes for runners and helpers will be served in the Peebles Community Centre from 1300 - looking forward to seeing you there for a blether and some refreshments....

The race day schedule is as follows:

Race Day Schedule

0800 meet at Gytes to start course marking (South Park Woods to be marked out on Saturday evening)

1000 Set up Registration

1030 Registration starts at Gytes Leisure Centre

1100 Access to Drill Hall for tea/coffee/cake setup

1115 Marshalls Meeting (Gytes)

1130 Junior Fun Run; marshalls head to positions on course outwith Gytes

1200 Main Race start

1300 Tea/coffee cakes served

1315 Last runners coming in

1400 Prize Giving (Peebles Community Centre)

 

More race details on the Moorfoot website

 

Entries taken on the day up until 1130.....

 

Moorfoot Eddie at the LAMM

"The Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon (LAMM) was held last weekend in the Ben Cruachan area (West of Tyndrum). The event is billed as the connoisseurs mountain marathon , meaning that it is always held in some remote part of the Highlands, (lots of climbing rather than long distances). For those who have not done this type of event before you have to enter as a pair and you have to carry equipment (tent, food, stove etc) for a remote overnight camp. You can choose the length of course you prefer, Elite , A , B C or D. The entries tend to be concentrated in the B,C,D categories with about 100 teams in each of these, the Elite (20 entries) and A (35 entries) have much smaller fields.

The last time I did one of these was around 12 years ago and I should have realised that there was a very good reason that I stopped doing them. Apparently bad memories are erased much quicker than good ones so perhaps that was a factor.

I entered the A course with a neighbour Bruce McGorum. Day 1 (Sat) started with a short bus journey and then ferry crossing to drop us somewhere on the shores of Loch Etive. You get your map about 5 mins before you start and then as you start you get handed a short list of grid references which are the controls you have to find. Your route choice and map reading skills are as important as your fitness. On Day 1 we were out for just over 8 hours, covering around 35km and 1800m of ascent. The ground was devoid of any tracks and was continuously either rough tussocky grass or boulder fields. We overnighted in Glen Kinglas and then set off for a repeat performance on Sun, about 32 km and 1700m of ascent. We blew about 25mins searching for one control which was well hidden in a gully and were out for 7hours+. We ended up being 16th in our A course and 3rd Male Vet team so were reasonably pleased. Both of us suffered with old mans knee problems on the descents and I had a sudden "hitting the wall " event on the very last climb, a few caffine loaded gels revived me enough to get to the finish. Suffering pain for the best part of 2 days is a given, the rewards are some incredible scenery and being able to move quickly in some of the remotest part of the Highlands. The comradery you get with fellow competitors is also something special on these types of events"

Cheers

Eddie

Moorfoot Social Run to the Top of the Moorfoots - Sunday 15 July

I am planning to take a social run from Innerleithen up to Windlestraw Law, which at 659m is the highest point in the Moorfoot Hills. Meet at the Cuddy bridge behind our house, 52 Leithen Road, at 10am on Sunday morning if you are interested.
This date clashes with the Kelso 10k so let me know if lots of people are planning to do this as if they are I can move it.
It is quite a long run 16km there and back and about 700m ascent so I would expect 2 -2.5 hours for a social relaxed pace run. Depending on the turn out we could split into two groups - with a more relaxed pace or shorter route and a faster group if some people want to have a bit of blast. Either way it will be good training for the Lee Pen race at St Ronans Games the week later.

Tea and cakes will be laid on at our house afterwards. Please let me know if you are thinking of coming so I can get enough cakes!


Colin


email - (replace at with @)
colin.m.williams (at) talk21.com


Burnside, 52 Leithen Road
Innerleithen EH44 6HY

Moorfoot Runners at the Glentress7 2012

The Moorfoot Runners had several riders entered in the Tweedlove 'Glentress7' event - a seven hour mountain bike endurance race.

Kenny and James had achieved 8 laps in 2012 and were looking for the 9 lap breakthrough. Not to be though this year, following an early lap 'mechanical' which dropped them from 25th to 70th in their category after lap two. However, the subsequent laps saw a rise through the leader board up to a final 29th place for thheir 8 lap toils.

Eddie Balfour, making a late change from Solo to Pairs category, ahead of next weeks Mountain Marathon (very wise Eddie - keep your powder dry !), achieved a very mertiable 18th place for his team's 8 laps.

Tom Hobbs, suffered for his sport in the Solo category following some early lap back pain, but still recorded 8 laps and 18th place in the Solos (5th MV) - a top performance.

A great event - great atmosphere, great course, great organisation, great fun !

Provisional Results here....

Scottish Gold for Sarah

Sarah McCormack continued her fine run of form with victory in the 5000m at the Scottish Athletics Track and Field Championships at Scotstoun in Glasgow today. Despite running the event for speedwork ahead of forthcoming international trail and hill races, and after a hard training week, Sarah still had the legs to outkick her main rival, GB marathon Internationalist Susan Partridge, to sprint clear for victory.

                                 

It was a disappointingly small field but with pre-race favourite Partridge in the line-up, who had recently posted a fast 3000m PB, a quality race was still ensured. In what was almost a mirror of her recent British Universities 10000m win, Sarah was 25m adrift at half-way but Partridge’s fast early pace started to drop in the face of the stiff breeze up the home straight. With Sarah lapping consistently, the gap gradually closed and she worked hard to latch on again with 2 to go. Sarah then sat on the leader’s heels until unleashing what is fast becoming her trademark devastating kick with 130m to go and sprinting over 30m clear for the gold medal in 16 minutes 19.83, a 20-second PB despite the wind.

“I didn’t taper for the race, so my legs weren’t as fresh as they could be and I had to really dig in to get back in contact with Susan. I wasn’t as confident going into the final 200m as I was at the British Universities so I delayed my kick a bit but still managed to produce a good sprint to win.”

On receiving the 5000m trophy Sarah was pleased to note the names of Peebles based EAC runner Susan Ridley, winner in 1992 and 1994, along with fellow Moorfoot and sometimes training partner Ruth McKean, winner in 1999.