Ross Grieve at the Hardmoors 110 mile Ultramarathon

Ross Grieve was running a very very long way this weekend with a simply unbelieveable run (and he never seems to stop smiling)!

Here's how the event website describes the race: https://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/hardmoors-110/

The Hardmoors 110 Ultramarathon follows the dramatic Cleveland Way National Trail encircling the North York Moors and the Cleveland Heritage coastline.
Commencing in Filey, competitors will have a time limit of 36 hours to complete the 110 mile single stage trail race, following the stunning Cleveland Heritage coastline visiting the seaside resort of Scarborough, the old smuggling town of Robin Hood’s Bay, Dracula’s Whitby, Staithes, Runswick Bay and Saltburn, before passing through the beautiful Cleveland Hills and the North York Moors  before finishing in the market town of Helmsley

Ross' Report:
Another plug for Moorfoots in the ultra scene and a wee one for me ( quite enjoying my wee string of vet 50 podiums!!)

Anyway -  came 5th overall ( 4th male , missing podium by 22 mins…..ach!) and 1st vet 50 on the Hardmoors 110 this weekend, coming in on 25hrs and 43 mins  – a gruelling 112 miles and 6000m elevation gain on the Cleveland  Way.

I’m delighted again and very curious to know what might have happened, as I lost 20 minutes going slightly off route with about 20 miles to go….and went on to  gain on the  3rd place finisher !! Made for an exciting ending to watch on live tracking .

It was a great weekend away . I had my family and two other families supporting me . Jackie, my wife, was key support driver  and logistics person ( all I needed to do was run) getting me to Filey for  an 8am Sat . Kids were a blast, ringing cow bells and generally being really excited to be included at Saltburn ( half way mark) then at Helmsley for the finish ( I love the photos attached) . 3 support runners (2 Dad’s and a mum) getting me through the night section and onto the finish at Helmsley at 9.45am Sun   -  I basically just handed over my brain and did what I was told  -  “run now, hike this bit, eat that, drink this….ok”

All good fun

Oh….. and 6 lbs lighter !

Ross

Robert Wilson runs Kirkcudbright Half Marathon

Robert was busy having another good run, this time in Dumfries and Galloway. Well done. Here's his report:

I travelled down to Kirkcudbright to run their annual half marathon on Saturday morning. This year there was a change of route to try and avoid running the last three miles on the main road in to town. Overall it felt as if the new route was better, there was a steep uphill after 3 miles and then you gradually made your way back down to the river Dee for the final push to the finish. I certainly benefited from my recent marathon training and posted my best time (1:41:18) for a half for many years – time to quit while you’re ahead I hear you say!

The results can be found here;

http://whatsmytimeresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=17047&RId=194

Robert in the pack just after the start

Roslin ‘Scurry along the Esk’ trail race, Saturday 18th May

Mike McGovern and Colin Williams took part in the inaugural ‘Scurry along the Esk’ trail race on Saturday 18th May.

There were two distances to choice from 10 or 15 mile:

The 10 mile route is a fast and relatively flat Scurry from the start up from Roslin Glen Country Park along the beautiful Esk to Penicuik and back with the 15 mile route adding in a scenic and more adventurous undulating 5 mile trail loop within the Penicuik estate. The routes are shown below

10 mile - https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4905926.html

15 mile - https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_4905652.html

After a glorious week it was drizzly for the race but a lovely route none the less, even after the shock of descending into Roslin Glen and climbing 72 steps out the other side before you got to the disused railway!

Mike and Colin both had good runs – Mike was 2^nd in 10 miler and 1^st M40, while Colin was 3^rd in the 15 mile and first M40 too, although 10 mins behind the winner! The fields were pretty small as it’s a busy time of the year with about 40 runners in each distance.

A big thank you to the marshals out and organisers. It only took 30 mins to get to so maybe one to get on the list for next year.

Full results can be found here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1muStMelt50yaabXXyGfsgltGBJez9Y9B 

Goatfell Hill Race 2019

Andy Cox, Kenny Davidson, Alan Elder and Dave Gaffney headed to Arran for the Goatfell Race. It is a 15.5km classic with a bit of everything : road, trail, rough hill track, and scrambling up steep granite boulders to reach the 870m summit. Then a tricky descent and fast run off to return to Brodick. A drizzly wet morning with low cloud shrouding the island meant the boulders on the descent would be slippery and dangerous, giving the already daunting challenge an extra edge...

Andy had another strong run and another top 10 finish, maintaining his good form shown at Ben Lomond the previous weekend.
Kenny and Alan both went well covered the course in 1:49:16 and 1:54:00 respectively, meaning all three finished in the top 80 of the 180 or so runners who started the race.
Bad luck for Dave who was back running and racing for the first time after more than a month off with a foot injury. He had a strong climb, especially considering the lack of training, however on the descent Dave stopped for a few minutes to assist another runner who had had a bad fall, with a bashed and bloodied head. Dave sacrificed his headwear to help stem the blood flow and then set off when more qualified help arrived in the shape of a medical student. However the mountain didn't repay his good karma and a couple of minutes later Dave twisted his ankle badly and had to limp down to the Mountain Rescue landrover, where he was reacquainted with his newfound injured pal and his bloodied Buff! Wishing Dave super quick healing ligaments!
Despite the various scrapes and falls it was a fabulous day out on a great route with thanks to Shettleston Harriers for their wonderful organisation and plentiful post race refreshments and to Arran Mountain Rescue who made sure everyone was safe on the hill.
Results: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0037&RaceYear=2019

Gypsy Glen Hill Race Report 2019

The annual Gypsy Glen Hill Race took place in Peebles on Wednesday night 15^th May, organised by the Moorfoot Runners in association with Peebles & District Community Council.

Many thanks to the main organiser Mike Pearson and the support from all those helping with registration, marshalling and setting the course, whose efforts allow this successful event to go ahead.

There was a good turn of 73 runners on a lovely warm evening as it had been recently leading to fast dry conditions. The race was won by Alexander Chepelin from the Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds Club who is in a rich vein of form with this being his third win in seven days following Dumyat and Ben Lomond. He smashed the course record on the way to the win, slicing exactly one minute of the previous best time, clocking 29:15 and taking it under 30 minutes for the first time. The course is exactly 5 miles (8km) so that equals an average mile pace of 5 min 50 secs which is a phenomenal time when you consider the 900 foot (300m) climb and descent.

First male veteran was Graeme Murdoch of Gala Harriers finishing 5^th (32:35), then Scott McDonald in 11^th (34:36) and also first home from the host club with another local Craig Mattocks (Gala Harriers) in 3^rd in (14^th, 35:22).

The female winner was Sarah McKechnie of Penicuik Harriers in 37:17, followed by Molly Pace Jesmond Joggers, 38:07; and Polly Edwards of Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds 3^rd in 39:18.

It was a close race for the female veteran prize between three locals. Kate Jenkins (Gala Harriers) won in 40:45 ahead of Gillian Carr (Corstorphine) and evergreen Susan Ridley (Edinburgh AC) both clocking the same time 41:28 and only separated by the judges on the line. Carol Moss from the host club was 4^th in the category in 43:22.

Other Moorfoot Runners in action Adam Hayward in 16^th (35:38); Martyn Davidson 17^th (36:31); Michael McGovern (19^th, 37:01); Colin Williams (24^th, 37:51), Craig Walling (29^th, 38:47), Dean Carr (34^th; 39:12); Kenny Davidson (25^th, 40:21), Alan Elder (49^th, 42:55); Billy Wardhaugh (54^th, 45:35) and Ian Munro (59^th, 46:53).

Full results can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=17a-mhoL0mjwy_uUMvT4whu1yNGi9X1uT

And here: http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0116&RaceYear=2019

Photos of Moorfoot Runners mainly:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Moorfoot-Runners-2321261938110583/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2405886509648125

Dean Carr in his first outing in the red and blue and clearly enjoying himself