ADMIN

On 30 Sep we come to the end of the current membership year, which means two things:

1) Chasing up folk for this year’s membership subs will soon cease, to be replaced  (from 1 Oct) by chasing up membership fees for 2005/06.

2) We’ll be having the club AGM on TUESDAY 27^th SEPTEMBER at 7:45 in CURRIE RUGBY CLUB (Rogerson Suite). The running side of the club has grown substantially over the last eighteen months, so I’ll be looking for folk to step forward onto the committee to help with organising events, eg Rigg Race, Club handicap etc and generally taking an active role in various activities we could do.

It’s also a chance to learn a bit more about the activities of the club’s juniors, which is still the primary focus of activity.

I’d also like to see more group leaders for the different levels of runners now coming along – you don’t have to join the committee. If anyone would like to go on a jogleader or coaching course in order to help out with running groups, please let me know as I’ve a copy of the latest course schedule.

Hosting Cross Country event at Corstorphine Hill:  We’ve been asked if we can co-host the East District CC Relays on Sat 8 Oct. Unfortunately this clashes with the Ladies triathlon Alex is organising, but if anyone would be available to help out, especially in the morning when the junior relays are on, it would be most appreciated. Please (please!) contact me by 17 Sep if able to help. Our reputation as a club is greatly enhanced by helping to stage such events.

Cross country league: Members wishing to run in any of the three Cross-Country league meetings during the winter (dates tba) get their entry paid by the club. I know a few folk who helped out at one of last season meetings are thinking about doing it this winter.

RUNNING PERFORMANCES

jogScotland Fun Run, Thu 14 July

Position                                  Time

1082         Anke Baillie           36:49

1339 runners

In spite of a couple of injury setbacks in the spring, Anke made steady progress after starting as a complete beginner in January and completed her first 5k in the jogscotland fun run at the Botanic Gardens / Inverleith Park

Crieff 10k

18             Hamish Bell           39:23

266 runners

A “hilly” course (Hamish’s description was a bit more colourful). Not a fast course as the times of the leading runners clearly demonstrates!

Scottish Gas 5k & 10k road races, Sunday 7 Aug

In relatively benign conditions – ie no westerly gale whipping in from the Forth, we all seemed to do pretty good times. David, Bob and Carl were all fresh from duty at Grangemouth the previous day where we’d all been javelin officials for the children’s Forth Valley League meeting. Both courses have altered from previous years and there’s a testing climb at the end. The Finish is a good bit uphill from the Start making both runs a net climb. David, Bob and Beverley all equalled or bettered their pb’s, and Tom, in spite of a minor detour, put in his best time of the year (I think).  Geraldine, in her first run did a very respectable time.

5k

5               David Gibson                         18:55       2^nd M40

25             Bob Douglas                          22:18

28             Carl Dennis                            22:58

46             Geraldine Dennis                   26:06

83 finishers

10k

67             Tom White                             41:39

233           Beverley Dodgson                50:30

346 finishers

Tour of Fife, Trail Race, Tentsmuir, 3 Aug (5 miles)

89            Verity Missen                      41:02

100          Alex Gordon                          41:55

171 finishers

Haddington Half Marathon, Sat 13 Aug

43             Andreas Wilhelm                  1:32:17

47             John Gordon                          1:33:07

86             Tom White                             1:38:55

107           Caroline Dunn                       1:43:44

143           Alex Gordon                           1:52:12

160           Graeme Scobie                       1:57:07

181           Claire Murdoch                     2:08:16

194 finishers

Some reports:

Andreas:  “There were quite a few “Harmeny runners” out there. I have counted 6.

I feel a bit guilty having told everybody beforehand that I feel tired, not in good shape, not having recovered from the 30 Mile race. And then run 6 minutes faster than my previous course best and 8 minutes faster than expected. They must have flattened those hills. I was surprised how easy it felt. Maybe I should run those 30 mile races more often…” (See international section … Editor)

Graeme: “Not to bad - 1.56.43.  I was aiming to get under the 2 hours so was quite happy with it. Started off at too fast at 8 min/mile and paid for it later on. Found it hard going between 9 and 11 miles though. Only had one bleeding nipple and 2 black and blue toenails!! - think I need a new pair of running shoes.” (.. maybe too much information!… Editor)

Claire: “I finished in 2hrs 8mins just in front of the wheelchair.” (… those wheelchairs can be pretty quick … Editor)

This was Claire’s first “half”, and from joining the beginners group in January (in the first week we ran 1 minute at a time!) this is a pretty remarkable achievement.

Forth Bridges 10 K, Sun 14 Aug

10             Hamish Bell                            36:59

174           Sally May                               49:04

224           Beverley Dodgson                52:49

336 finishers

Hamish: “It was actually a really good route I thought. The first few kilometres was steep downhill which is always nice. I did 37 mins exactly (by my watch) a PB by 1min 40secs. It wasn’t too windy which was what I was most worried about. The noise of the traffic was a bit annoying.”

Perth Highland Games, 14 Aug

By Bob Douglas: “In contrast to the long haul brigade, I competed in the 90m handicap at Perth. This year I’ve been pulled back 2 m from last year’s handicap (to 19.5m), so I now have to run a whole 70.5m. I scraped through my heat in second place, scraped through the semi-final in third place and was equal 5^th with Wendy Nicol (Gemma’s mother) in the final, earning for the princely prize of £15. Cringe factor for this event – before the final we had to line up at the finish line and were introduced individually to the crowd to trot down to the start.

Question when I got home:’ Why are you so tired when you only run for 10 seconds? ‘

Answer: ‘I had three races. That’s nearly 29 seconds’.

(It’s the 30 min warming-up before each race that’s exhausting for us old-timers.)”

INTERNATIONAL SECTION

Stanley Park Sea Wall 10K, Vancouver, Canada

By Jenny Boyle “Very unlike me who doesn't enter "proper" races decided to enter the Stanley Park SeaWall 10K, whilst on holiday in Vancouver. Managed to persuade our friend who we were staying with to do it as he regularly does triathlons, iron man competitions etc and Malc (my husband) who is a "non-runner" decided to sign up too! It was an early start at 8:30 am and thankfully was overcast so was cool. There were @ 200 runners and for anyone who knows Stanley Park the route was extremely scenic taking in the sights of Canada place, Grouse Mountain, Lions Gate Bridge, Prospect point, Third and second Beach to name a few. It was a great way to do some
sightseeing. Came in at 46mins 55secs which is a PB for me so was happy the holiday eating and drinking hadn't had too much of a negative effect!  FYI my husband the "non-runner" came in at 53mins 53secs which he was very pleased about.”

London Triathlon, 6 Aug

Congratulations to Alex Gordon for finishing 15^th out of a field of over 641 starters (not all finished).  Alex’s time of 1hr 23 min 19 secs included 14min 10secs swimming 750 m in open water (docklands), 41:38 cycling 20 km and 23:06 running 5k.

Downland Challenge, Brighton, 31 July

A new candidate for the toughest race any of our members has tackled? Report by Andreas:

“I have completed my first ever Ultra. It was yesterday, the Downland Challenge 30 miles Trail race on the South Downs near Brighton.

I finished in 5 hours and 3 minutes. But I can honestly say that this one was by far the toughest race I ever did. The 30 miles aren’t really a problem considering that I have done 16 marathons and various other long-distance runs, but those hills have worn me out. I didn’t know they have hills down there. That made even the 21 Mile trail race across the West Pennines that I did in June look like a jog around the park.

Those hills on the South Downs are definitely the highest hills in Europe !!! And there is no room for argument. I am right ! And it was raining too. That was my third race in a row in the rain.

Mind you, I have put the race in my diary for next year.”

I’m sure there’s lots of other exploits people have done, so don’t be shy – let us know.

CLUB HANDICAP 10K. Sunday 28^th August

… or handicap 10.7 km (according to my bike).

This was a new venture and the first challenge was to find a benign course that everyone could do, ie no hills, a wide, flat run-in area for that final sprint, and off-road so we didn’t have to find extra marshals for traffic duty.

The next task was to work out handicaps, based on little or no known form. Marathon and 200m times were of little use!

Then it was prizes, numbers, stationery, cars and helpers (or race officials to give them their proper title).

The final touch was marking the course the previous night, and come Sunday morning we were ready to go. A total of 32 runners appeared

The weather turned out be nearly ideal, with a cooling breeze, sometimes across, sometimes behind.

Congratulations to everyone who clocked the 10k point and can claim a new 10k “Best Performance”. (Note “BP” rather than “PB” as the latter should be on accurately measured course, timed, and finish at the start point.)

We now know everyone’s capabilities a bit better, so handicaps will be adjusted accordingly! As for those who had a hard run in the preceding week and may not have performed to expectation, the handicapper may not adjust the handicaps….

Congratulations to Gulshen Minto who was first in, especially as she only started running a few months ago. No longer a novice, now an accomplished runner!

Many thanks go to the helpers who made it possible and special thanks to Verity for providing the printed chocolate bars which everyone, especially the younger helpers, enjoyed.

(If anyone would like further information on personalised chocolates go to www.groovychocolate.com or speak to Verity.)

FORTHCOMING RACES

London Marathon 2006: Get your application in as soon as possible! The club gets one guaranteed place, and this will be allocated on a ballot of those who have been unsuccessful in a personal entry.

Round Cumbrae 10 mile road race 11 Sep: Third (and final) reminder to contact Iain if you want to make up a party going over for this (449-6546).

Glen Clova Half-Marathon 12 Nov: Entry forms are now out for this one!  We took a party of over 20 up last year, stayed overnight and had plenty of refreshment and entertainment. There is a race entry limit of 300, so if you want to enter, act now, and tell Iain asap if you want an overnight stay. There is a free bus from Forfar Kirriemuir to the hotel celidh, so that might increase the accommodation options (for those who don’t want to share a dorm). Info about route and accommodation from Iain (449-6546).