Pentland Runners       

Glen Clova update The current tally stands at 23 folk heading off to Glen Clova on Saturday 13 Nov, and provided no-one gets in touch with Iain Morrice to say otherwise, this is the number he will confirm with the hotel.
I will bring a supply of “Harmeny Pentland Runners” running tops (& Harmeny running vests) so everyone can “see” each other once the race gets underway.

London marathon The entry date for individual entries has now passed so good luck to everyone who has entered the ballot for places. The club gets one place, and as in previous years, this will be allocated once we know the outcome of the individual ballot. The policy is to provide this to someone attempting the race for the first time (and who has remained free from injury!).  

Club Membership We’re now into a new club membership year, so this will be the first reminder to those who will be coming along regularly to renew their subscriptions. We’ve kept this at the same level as in previous years. Although there’s no facilities or coaches to pay for (our services are free), it does mean we’re functioning as properly constituted and insured club. A copy is online at the club website (www.harmenyac.org.uk), and I’ll be bringing a supply along on running nights.

Saughton training Saughton track is open again following refurbishment and I’ll be taking endurance and sprint training on Thursday evenings, 6.30 – 7.30.   I know a few folk are thinking about it, so come along for a different type of training session.

Junior section Fingers crossed we should have enough coaches and helpers to keep the junior section going, but I’m still looking for any volunteers who could help out with coaching.

Performance results

Loch Ness marathon Congratulations to Iain Morrice who achieved a podium position as 3^rd M50 (based on “gun times”). Congratulations also to Andreas Wilhelm who finally achieved a pb in 2004.

Postion,                                    (Chip Times)
92 Iain Morrice                        03:24:07.15   Male Veterans 50+
161 Andrew Neilson                03:33:01.10  Male Senior
187 Andreas Wilhelm               03:36:55.90 Ac Male Senior
942 runners

Results are at http://www.lochnessmarathon.com/results/index.php

Scottish Gas 10k & 5k, Granton

10k
58 Andreas Wilhelm                 44.03
80 Hugh Chalmers (M60)         45.08
142 Carl Dennis (M40)            49.22
225 Beverley Dodgson (F)       56.20
322 runners

5 K
17 David Gibson (M40)           19.49
23 Bill Stobie (M40)                 20.22
117 runners

 Results at http://www.runningresults.freeserve.co.uk/gas10k/2004/10k.html

Capital City Challenge
There were quite a few notable performances here. By my reckoning Hugh was 3^rd in the M60 age group. Verity was 7^th in the F35-45 age group. Tony featured prominently in one of the Evening News pictures (looking rather rosy cheeked!), and Philip got in an early his excuse that the race was “too early” in his training programme before improving 2 min and 80 places on last year. Well done to Sally on her first 10k, and everyone else who fought their way through the crowds.

 Gun position                              Gun      Chip
57 Philip Purves M                   36:40 36:16
90 Tony Westbury M40           37:42 37:38
313 Verity Missen F35             42:07 41:56      7^th F35
447 Tom White M40                43:46 43:26
475 Hugh Chalmers M60         44:05 43:53       3^rd M60
502 Richard Sharpe M             44:20 44:04
979 Peter McGavigan M50      48:14 47:54
1301 Alexandra Gordon F        50:27 49:21
1954 Janice Carruthers F35      54:25 49:27
2360 Catherine Barr F                57:04 51:10
3221 Anne Douglas F45           1:02:23 56:28
3290 Sally May F                     1:02:50 56:36
3287 Linda Duncan F45           1:02:48 56:54
3223 Norma Bone F45            1:02:23 57:09
4552 runners

results at http://www.runningresults.uklinux.net/edin10k/results/?year=2004&second_name=dennis&showall=Show+Full+List

Perth 10K
44^th      Andreas Wilhelm 41.44
304 runners

Carl Dennis was 58th in the Reebok cross country challenge in Falkirk. “Excellent 3-lap course in the grounds of Callandar house. I was last by over 4 minutes and the winners presentation was over when I got in but I had a good run by my standards and enjoyed it.”

Balerno Ladies Triathlon Well done to the organisers of this event which took place for the first time this year, and to everyone who got round (and to every who managed to cycle home after the refreshments were consumed…)

The regulars who took part:
2          Catherine Barr               6.11     56.35
3          Janice Carruthers           8.14     58.32
16        Sally May                      7.25     1.05.13
24        Norma Bone                 11.03   1.09.34

I was asked to do a bit of endurance speed work for some of the girls preparing for it. Not that they really needed it ….

1           Alex Gordon                 7.50     55.56
13        Carol Macleod              8.00     1.04.26
14        Stef Taylor                    7.52     1.04.45

 … but I’ll claim a coaching 1 – 2 – 3 anyway. The training schedule for next year starts now.

International news

From our Far East Correspondent (David Syme): Hi, Bob, greetings from Shanghai.  Since I left last week I've been running wherever I've been in China, and am fascinated by the Chinese exercising in the parks.  This morning I saw groups doing tai qi exercises with stick and sword, drum bands marching, people jogging backwards, many others ballroom dancing and some merely yelling out to sea to exercise their lungs. All this at 0630hr! The Beijing Marathon was held last week.   It attracted 25,000 runners, but had lots of casualties and two deaths. There was no water for runners after the 24th kilometer! Running in Shanghai will be difficult because of the crowds; this is another "city which never sleeps".  Best of luck to all the Glen Clova runners!

From our Warm Weather Training correspondent (me): When I commented before our recent holiday in Spain that I was looking for some warm weather training I suppose most people thought it would be the occasional easy jog. Not many folk take running spikes with their holiday gear. When we got to our apartment on a hillside looking down on the town, we could see the local stadium / running track. So off I went to tackle Spanish bureaucracy to find out about using it. After visiting the stadium then Tourist Information I eventually found the sports booking office beside the town hall and was presented with a stamped permit to use the track for five days. I set my alarm clock for daybreak and off I went each morning to do my straight line / short distance stuff with the sun rising over the surrounding hills. Sunshine on one’s back sure beats attempting to stay warm in a Scottish autumn.

Explanation of registration schemes and registration numbers 

In addition to club membership there are registration fees to governing associations for those who wish to compete regularly in road races, track meetings or Championships. Those registering also receive a magazine / newsletter.

 "Athletics Scotland" (AS) Registration
Participants in Scottish Athletics permitted events (eg track meetings, road races etc) are required to pay a £2 levy if they have not taken out "Athletics Scotland " registration. When a road race entry form ask a question about "AS affiliation number" or "Registration number" etc this is what they are referring to.

Adults who wish to do so should register directly with Scottish Athletics. The form can be downloaded from  http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/files/membership_form.pdf

For junior members it is free for their first year, and the club has usually arranged year one registration where this has been necessary. We recommend that members who wish to compete regularly take out AS membership, however it is only compulsory for anyone wishing to compete in a Scottish Athletics Championship. It is up to individuals to renew their registration.

Current rates are: Juniors £8 (after year one);                 Seniors £15 (club member); £27 (unattached).

Scottish Games Association
Since the sport went open a few years ago there is no longer a strict divide between "Amateur" and "Professional" events. The SGA oversees the "Professional" circuit in Scotland, mainly Highland Games plus the New Year Sprint meeting in Edinburgh.  These are handicapped events (slower runners start further forward) with prize-money.

Membership of the SGA is required to compete in SGA events, except for the Edinburgh New Year Sprint meeting when an event membership is available to entrants.

In 2004 SGA registration fees were £3 (U15); £15 Adult; £5 (Over 70).