Alloa and Gala Cross Country Races Sat 19th & Sun 20th Nov

While some were racing this Glentress and others were racing at Alloa at the second East District Cross Country League race on Saturday. The juniors there were representing Team Borders with other clubs and recorded some good results. Photos here

In the seniors race there was good run by Lucas Cheskin finishing 26th in 33.38. Won in 30.07 with Lucas only 1 1/2 mins behind the highest borders places from Daryl Hastie (Gala) and Gavin Bryson (2016 Scottish U20 10,000m champ and GB Hill International). Brian Hood completed in 48.34. Full results here

Many Moorfoot junior juniors were in action at the Gala XC on Sunday recording some high finishes below. Full junior results here

Pos	Number	Time	Forename	Surname	Gender	Cat	GenderPos	CatPos
18	471	12:07	Ben	Allan	M	M10-11	17	3
20	455	12:10	Angus	Carlyle	M	M10-11	18	4
23	379	12:28	Corran	Carrick-Anderson	M	M12-13	21	2
32	485	12:49	Thomas	Hilton	M	M10-11	28	8
40	538	13:05	Alec	Sellar	M	M10-11	34	10
41	405	13:05	Danny	Lancaster	M	M10-11	35	11
44	447	13:13	Esme	Minto	F	F10-11	8	2
51	456	13:31	Cameron	Carlyle	M	M8-9	40	4
52	527	13:31	thomas	glasgow	M	M8-9	41	5
87	456	15:27	Cameron	Carlyle	M	M8-9	63	14

Photograph: Courtesy Mark Kinghorn

Photos here all courtesy Mark Kinghorn - thanks

Flying the flag in the senior race was Carol Moss finishing as first F50 and Kobe Stevens with a scorching third place overall out of the 254 racing while still a junior. Well done! Judging by the photos Kobe held something back in the initial mad stampede and worked his was through the field. It was also great to see Carol Moss and Russell Anderson racing so well after long periods out with injury.

Position	Number	Time	Forename	Surname	Gender	Cat	GenderPos	CatPos
3	346	23:11	Kobe	Stevens	M	MJ	3	2
58	350	27:15:00	Russell	Anderson	M	M50+	55	12
107	155	30:01:00	Carol	Moss	F	F50+	17	1
116	156	30:45:00	Ian	Munro	M	M50+	96	21

Full senior results

The start

Carol in the pack

Russell

Kobe

Sophie proves that women CAN multi-task. Jacob eases back into racing.

Not only was she organising the Scottish Students XC Champs at Craigmillar Castle on Saturday on behalf of Edinburgh Uni but Sophie Collins still managed to get herself on the start line and then run the race of her life for 4th place in the 6.1km women's race, only 18secs off the medals. Some good scalps taken in the process.

An earlier success for Sophie at the 3 Bridges with some wee lads

And Jacob Adkin, still very gradually building things back up after recurrent shin splints, eased himself back into racing with a steady tempo effort for 16th in the men's 9.6km race.

EU Haries race report and full results

Glentress Trail night 10k, Saturday and half marathon, Sunday

Some good performance this weekend at Glentress. On the Saturday night 10k Alex Nisbet was in action and finished as 6th woman, only a minute off 2nd place. Katy Carrick-Anderson also ran well to record 9th F40. Full results

In the daylight half marathon a number of Moorfoots were racing. First home was Darin Dougal running strongly (and in only a vest in minus 2 degrees) to finish in 1.35:17 and 4th overall (3rd M40), followed by Colin Williams 1.38.17 , 8th (5th M40), then Magnus Skea 1.45.45, 19th, Peter Hall 9th M40 in 1.49.14 27th, Paul Nichol 8th M50 in 2.10.30. Also running was 'temporary' Moorfoot until her placement finishes at Christmas, Rosie Watson in 1:55:03 and 4th Woman and 2nd Senior Woman. Full Results

Darin, Colin and Magnus warming up in the café.



Sprint finish by Paul

Check out the course here which took you all the way up to the mast. It included a challenging 700m (2,500 feet) of climbs and some sections of very technical MTB descents

 

Club Christmas drinks and food, Tuesday 6th December, 8pm at the County Inn, Peebles

You are all invited for Christmas food and drinks on Tuesday 6 December at 8pm at the County Inn, 35 High Street, Peebles.

 

We hope to see you there – it is a week night so I doubt it will be too raucous! You can either choose from their special ‘Christmas Fayre’ menu with 2 Courses for £13.99 Or 3 Courses for £17.99 or the normal menu which is far more reasonably priced, such as burger and drink for £9.99.

 

For those who go to the club training session on Tuesday nights in Peebles it give just enough time to pop home and get changed.

 

Please let me know if:

> You would like to come

> You would like to order something from the Christmas menu and what you would like as this needs to pre-ordered

 

However please feel free to just come along on the evening if you fancy it

 

Tinto Hill Race 2016

Another year, another Tinto...this was my seventh running of this race, and always hoping to be a bit better than the one before.

Slightly milder this year, but the usual mix of mud and a wee topping of cloud at the summit.

Nice to see the young guns filling the top placings in the low 30 mins  - how it should be! - with first M40 back at 35mins (13th) and first M50 at 38mins (27th);first lady at 37mins (23rd)

Alan Elder - 47:23 (114th) - good progress on previous running of this race, and knocking on the door for a top100 next year ?

Mhairi Davidson - 1:00:27 (202nd) - first hill race...loved it, despite falling flat just after the finish line ! "Kudos!"...as they say on Strava...

Kenny Davidson - 41:46 (61st) - another one to add to my collection of mid 41's; need some new tactics (or possibly new legs !) for next year me thinks....

Full results here...

Regards...

Kenny

Run with Nicky Spinks - part of Peebles Outdoor Film Festival , Sunday 29 January, 10.30am

As part of the Peebles Outdoor Film Festival there will be a run with Nicky Spinks that will be led by me (Colin) and hopefully assisted by some other Moorfoots on Sunday 29 January at 10.30am. I will be getting in touch with people asking for helpers shortly but if you fancy it being either the back marker or be prepared to cut your run short if anyone is struggling then please let me know.

Later that evening Nicky will be presenting her recent film


Nicky after finishing the Double Bob Graham at the Moot Hall, Keswick.
Doesn't look very tired for 45hrs non-stop!!!!

In May 2016, the inspirational Nicky Spinks made fell running history by becoming the fastest person to run a Double Bob Graham Round. The 49-year-old cancer-survivor marked 10 years post-diagnosis by running the 132-mile Lake District route, which included around 54,000ft of ascent, in a time of 45 hours and 30 minutes.

Nicky previously held the woman's records for the three classic hill running records in England, Scotland (overall record) and Wales before Jasmin Paris broke them all this year.

Now the story of Nicky’s incredible life and phenomenal Double Bob Graham Round success will be told in a new film called RUN FOREVER.

This is the blurb for the trail run by the Festival. Details still to be finalised :

 

Join record-breaking fell runner Nicky Spinks on an off-road run exploring some of the Tweed Valley’s wonderful hill trails. Led by Moorfoot Runners, the route is suitable for those who can run confidently for more than an hour on hilly routes.  The run will start and end in the cosy Eastgate Theatre café where there will be plenty of time to chat with Nicky about her remarkable running career. Dress appropriately for hill running in January. Route subject to confirmation once weather conditions known. Age: 16+. Maximum 15 places, so do book early.

10.30am-12.30pm

£10 for runners (other than the designated 'helpers')

As this clashes with the Peebles Cross Country there is an expectation that club members running with Nicky will assist in some way with the Cross County marshalling or course setting, or provide someone to marshall in your place. Club email to follow closer to the time.
 

Step A Head Run, Sun 4 December, West Linton

Moorfoot dad Donald Innes from West Linton who is Ailsa's dad, a regular "shotgun" runner with the juniors on Tuesday nights, and occasional timekeeper at training, was diagnosed with a brain tumour a number of years ago and is raising awareness and funds for The Brain Tumour Charity which is funded 100% by voluntary donations and is one of the lesser supported tumour charities.

If you know Donald then you will know he likes to run so a fundraising running event has been organised.

Step A Head – Walk, Jog or Run – 2k, 5k or 10k.

Sunday 4th December 2016, 10.30am,

New Church Hall, West Linton.

The local organisers hope to involve as many people as possible of all ages (toddlers to pensioners) and all abilities. If everyone could donate/sponsor £10 that would make such a difference to the charity.

If you would like to take part in this event there is a form to be completed which all members should receive via a club email, or you can request a copy via the contact below. It contains more info on the run. Or if you would like to just help out on the day (drinks, route marshal, etc.) that would be great too.

Please share with anyone else you may know who would like to take part. 

Contact: Hazel Kinghorn, 7 Dryburn Park, West Linton, EH46 7JE 

 stepahead@kinghorn.plus.com

Note to Juniors from Gregor - for U12s who would like to do the 2k round the Green and require to be accompanied by an adult, it is ok for an adult to be there on the Green without having to run with them as they will be in full view at all times.

For those running at the East District XC Champs on Sat 3 December, Donald's run can be your post-race easy recovery run. There will be no Sunday training that day in the hope of a good turnout to support Donald although some of you I know may be racing at Berwick in the Borders XC Series.

Lauder XC 2016

Start of the Border's XC season at Lauder seemed like a good idea on Sunday past, leaving Peebles on none too bad a morning. However, sleet was coating the windscreen as we came over the Lammermuirs and down past Staunchley Hill.

Being the first event, registration was busy but swift - creditable, considering 261 adults and 134 juniors had to be processed before things could get underway.

The weather drifted from wet and windy to windy and wet with much of the wetness approaching from a horizontal direction. Fortunately, some respite was available in the form of Camp Moorfoot - a solitary gazebo in a sea of soaked competitors. A club haven which had to be defended on occasions against intruders - those loitering with intent! One Gala Harrier was offered shelter but declined for fear of bursting into flames on entering.

Host, Graeme Sutherland, took us through the hazards and highlights and bid us enjoy the experience - reminding us that there was mud galore. He counted us down and we were off. I could see Russell up ahead and Mairi soon joined him. I managed to stay nearby until the long, gradual, seemingly neverending, where is the top of this thing - hill went on until a sharp downhill. I heard encouragement for a Moorfoot from a marshal - not for me - I was still on the hill. I guessed it was Mairi or Russell. I soon picked up six places on the short mad dash to the bottom of the hill - much faster when you take the untouched bracken route!

Once onto the other side of the hill, things level out and there are a few burns to be leapt. Just as I think I am getting along fine, I trip and somersault - must learn to stay focussed!

It's muddy and slippery and the runner in front of me soon falls - big style. I try, but I am too out of breath to laugh properly. He is OK and carries on.

Post race - a Lauderdale Limper marshal heads out to pick up flags 

The steep climb through the gorse approaches and I brace myself for the sharp ascent. I run and eventually speed walk the hill - not speedy enough as I am passed by a Penicuik and Gala Harrier and then a well-illustrated participant, who draws past - however,  there is a good downhill and I manage to tuck in behind my three fellow runners. The pace quickens as the end comes in sight. Some encouragement from the touchline and I manage to find another gear, picking the driest, least trampled ground and manage to pass four runners on the home dash.

Breathless, soaked and muddied. A good start to the season!

Mairi (16) had a great run - first Female Junior and fifth lady overall.

ages 17 to 49 - where be ye?

Russell 10th M50 
Alan 19th M50
Carol 2nd F50
Ian 26th M50
Mike 2nd M70 (With friendly rival Ian Nimmo 3rd)

Results in Full

Tough conditions at Lauder XC

A healthy turnout of juniors at the first Borders XC race of the winter, sixteen by my count including one of the un-named finishers, and it certainly felt like winter with rain turning to sleet on the highest point of the moor across from Stow to Lauder and pretty persistent rain making the club gazebo a welcome shelter (including a few interlopers who seemed to think it was a communal facility! Methinks we maybe need a club flag or sign.).

Amazingly, given the wet and cold conditions, three new burn crossings and loads of slippy mud, there were smiling faces galore at the end, many of the young juniors having their first outing for the club. If they can enjoy it in these conditions they'll enjoy anything!

Good job from the hosts Lauderdale Limpers whose Facebook reported a likely delay with the results, I suspect due to some very soggy recording sheets necessitating a re-run of the no doubt fogged up finish line video, but the results are now on bordersxcblogspot.co.uk which has replaced the now defunct Borders XC website. Some great photos of the juniors here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16599421@N04/albums/72157674770691471

In contrast to the high number of juniors, only six oldies seemed to toe the line for the senior race - Russell Anderson, Mairi Wallace, Alan Elder, Carol Moss, Ian Munro and Mike Pearson (finishing I think in that order). I'll leave Burnie Caffs to report on this race in his own poetic style but must mention Mairi Wallace's fifth place in the women's race given she was only sixteen in September.

Fast and Furious at Scottish Short Course XC Champs

Renfrew was the new venue for the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Champs on Saturday  and there was some fast and furious racing for the few juniors who made the journey through on a fine if chilly day with a biting strong breeze testing the layers of the spectators. It was by no means a target race, falling as it does during the early winter base-building phase with near half-distance race lengths and an entirely flat (and pretty boring) course round the perimeter of football pitches, so it was one for the speed merchants.

In the U15 Girls race over 2km, Charlotte Clare was surprised by the early pace and found herself 3/4 of the way down the field of 109 runners at the first turn after 300m. From there however she steadily made ground through the field finishing all-out for 25th in 8.05. Whilst the 30 second gap to the podium places would still have been out of reach, it would only have taken a 10 second improvement for a top ten finish to have been achievable with a stronger start. Charlotte Morrison ran well for 52nd in 8.37 with Eilidh Mooney a bit tapped for toe but just behind in 58th in 8.41.

Craig Angus had another good run in the U15 Boys race also over 2km. He was another to find the pace pretty hot but kept up a good sustained tempo to finish 34th of 102 runners in a time of 7.30.

Kobe Stevens was mixing it with the big boys in the combined senior/U20 race over 4km in a humungous field of 364. I'm afraid by that time your author had departed so can't comment on his run but he finished 33rd U20 and 123rd overall in 14.12.

Two Moorfoot trained Lasswade athletes were also in action in the U17 3km races, Ailsa Innes helping Lasswade to team bronze with a very solid run for 18th in 12.23 and Euan Hood just making the top 50 in 10.58.

Scottish Long Classics

This year, I thought I would take part in the Scottish Long Classics.

All races are over 20km in length and a runner must complete 5 in order to have 'completed' the series. 764 runners completed at least 1 race. 23 completed 5 or more.

From the possibles below, I ran Stuc a'Chroin, Isle of Jura, Ochils 2000s, Two Breweries and the Pentland Skyline.

Race	Date
Stuc a'Chroin	30 April
Slioch	21 May
Isle of Jura	28 May
Trotternish Ridge	04 June
Arrochar Alps	02 July
Ben Rinnes	30 July
Glenshee 9	07 August
Ochil 2000s	27 August
Two Breweries	24 September
Pentland Skyline	09 October

Highlights:

Finishing!

Running back at Stuc with Luis from Lauderdale Limpers

The first post-race Guinness on Jura.

Lowlights:

Running out of steam on the return leg of the Pentland Skyline.

Fatigue and hunger on last quarter of Jura

Falling over the line at Pentland and nearly wiping out a spectating Jon Ascroft.

Some interesting? numbers:

135km/ 84 miles run

8760m/28,700  feet of climb

With an average incline this equals (by oxygen intake theory) on a flat road 

348km/216 miles

Energy used is equivalent to that available in 91 cheeseburgers or 184 pints - you can keep the cheeseburgers! Or...that used to go shopping for a constant 7.8 days..or enough to power a 100watt electric lightbulb for 327 hours (My there are some wonderful websites out there!!)

More interesting is - 

After running 5 races, I was the 5th M50 - my 5th race being the PENTland Skyline! And my race number...55!

Spooky!

"Feel the Burns" 13 mile Race. Selkirk, Sunday 15th Jan 2017 - Moorfoot Winter Champs Race

The "Feel the Burns" race has proven to be popular in previous years with the Moorfoots so it has been chosen and the Moorfoot winter club championship race for seniors. The cup will be awarded at the AGM - Friday 24th March 2017, 7pm in County followed by Franco’s meal 8.30pm.

"Feel the Burns" is a tough 13 mile hill race from Selkirk along the Southern Upland Way  and back via Yarrowford followed by epic proportions of haggis neeps and tatties. All for £10 so get entries in soon as it fills up quickly. Only 50 places are left so get your entry in if you are planning to do it.

Entry Form here

Borders XC Series - Race Info for Lauder

The Borders XC Series website is out of action so please see the following info from Sunday's host club Lauderdale Limpers:

Please read the following information carefully so we can all enjoy the day. With around 500 people expected on the day PARKING could be an issue unless everyone is sensible. DO NOT PARK ON THE A68. We will NOT be supervising car parking as we assume that you will use common sense and park appropriately. Please make every effort to fill your car with other runners, be patient. and arrive in plenty time. Car parking in the Health Centre Car Park is reserved for the emergency vehicles and race marshals and organisers. There is no parking around the very narrow roads around the park. The main parking (60 plus spaces) can be accessed by following the sign for Stow from the A68 and turn left (signposted Primary School). Please park in the marked bays in the car park and primary school car park, and on the left hand side of the route opposite the houses. Do NOT block any resident's access. Please follow the following guidance as there are plenty of parking  within the village  all within a 10 minute walk of the public park where registration and the start / finish is located.  

From Edinburgh and the North turn first right before the filling station and park on the bays around the recycling area (20 places) or first right past the filling station for on road parking around Brownsmuir Park, taking care not to block residents' entrances. From the South take the first left after the 30 miles an hour sign and park on street in Lauderdale Drive, again taking care not to block entrances. From the minor road from Galashiels the Southern Upland way car park can accomodate about 20 cars. If you plan to go for lunch / drink at the Lauderdale Hotel please inform them if you wish to use their car park.  

Public toilets are available in the Main Square in Lauder and in the football pavilion where refreshments will be available for a small charge. For those new to Lauder there are numerous places to enjoy a coffee and all the local hotels serve meals at lunchtime.  

This series has a history of friendly and competitive rivalry and we look forward to hosting the first round again this year.

Graeme Sutherland

Lauderdale Limpers Running Club

Jedburgh 3 Peaks Ultra, Saturday

Smiling because I'd reached the top of the Eildons!

I (Colin) took part in the Jedburgh 3 Peaks Ultra on Saturday consisting of 37.2 off road and sometimes very hilly miles. I saw the BBC 2 Adventure Show on it last year and as I’d finally got my sub-3 marathon monkey off my back I thought it would be interesting to see how I got on as it has a deservedly good reputation for being a well run event.

Race Profile - can you spot the 3 Eildons??

I had tried some ultra long distance stuff 8 or 9 years ago at a time when I was into adventure racing when I had lots of time pre-kids!  However this time I kept my training volume up with lots of shortish 30-90 min runs with only the odd 2hr + run. My longest run being the 2 Breweries hill race at 3h40 five weeks before. In hindsight it was the last hour/5 miles that really caught me out so there are no short cuts to long races!!
I finished in 6:00:39, 17th overall and 5th 40 + out on 193 finishers. The race was won in 5:12:06 by Mark Sutherland of Lauderdale Limpers. The results can be seen here: http://kitst.co.uk/jedburgh-ultra-2016-finish.html

In action arriving at Checkpoint 3 with ace support team (Fi is taking the photo)

I had ‘planned’ (if you can call it that) to run a 6 hr schedule and tried hard to take it slow and steady in the first half to have something left in the later stages. At the last check point with about 1hr40 to go I thought I’d paced it perfectly however not long after my legs started seriously disagreeing! I do have a tinge of disappointment not to duck under 6hrs, especially as I was passed by about 4 runners in the last two miles who all went sub 6, including one as late as the last mile so BUT I simply could go no faster at all. I’ve never found maintaining 9 minute mile pace on the flat so difficult! However I am happy with it and I had the best views I ever have had from the Eildons. The marshalls were are very cheery which I certainly needed and race organisation was spot on so definitely worth trying once! My family were great in cheering me on at various stages which made a huge difference when you tiring.
David Cheskin was also in action and completed his first ultra in the very respectable time of 8:25:22 as 13th M50. Well done.

Jedburgh Half Marathon & 10k, Sunday

Moorfoots were in action on Sunday at the Jed 10k & Half Marathon.
Alex Nisbet completed the half in a very respectable 1:45:20 as 15th woman and 6th F30.
There was a mother and son double in the 10k with Lucas Cheskin posting a new PB in 36:22 for 9th place and Lucy Husband was 14th FV40 in 53:48. Rosie Watson who trains with us while in Peebles until the end of the year was 7th woman in 44:32. Results

http://www.racetecresults.com/Results.aspx?CId=40&RId=7132

Lucas in sprint finish mode at Jedburgh 10k