Pentland Runners       

Running Groups

Sunday 10.00am  meet in BHS car park           Experienced (10k +) runners (40 – 55 min 10k pace) 
                                                            jogScotland Beginners Group
Wed       7.00pm    meet in BHS car park          Mixed ability, 4 - 7 mile run. We're back to winter routes (roads) now.
Thursday  6.30 – 7.30 Saughton Track           For those wanting to add a speed – endurance session to their routine.

FORTHCOMING SOCIAL RUN

SUNDAY 4 December

Message from Iain Morrice: “This year I had thought about a wee run from Carlops to Balerno High school. The route is a smasher and is about 9-10 miles approx ( really ). The members who do shorter distances could get dropped off at the road up to Liston Shields at Buteland and run back with us when we arrive. We could then all run back to the High School on mass and if we all had Harmeny tops on then that would be a great sight in the village. I am negotiating with the High School for showering facilities so that all the folk can get a wash. I then suggest we walk up to the Johnsburn  where

I have provisionally booked the Johnsburn for the 4th December at 1pm for 20 people approx. We will get our own room to have our meal and drinks. I have still to confirm with BHS if the showering facilities will be available.  We need to vacate the school be 12:45 as the jany finishes at 13:00.”

Plan would be as follows, total distance would be 10miles approx.
9:20/30    Meet sharp at BHS for those who want a lift over to the Carlops.

                 Depends on how many want a lift over.
10:00       Meet and start run at the car park in Carlops village.
10:40       People doing shorter distance meet at the road end at Buteland/Liston Shiels entrance.
10:45       Start run from Buteland back to Balerno BHS approx 4 miles
11:30 - 12:45 showering at BHS.
13:00       Meet at Johnsburn for food and drink.

For any more info about the route, arrangements etc, or to CONFIRM you’d like to take part, please contact Iain at 449 6546 / iain.morrice@bt.com

RECENT PERFORMANCES

Linlithgow 10K

Apologies for missing Amy de Boer’s performance from the last running update: “I did Linlithgow in 54.39 which I was thrilled with.  Couldn't keep up with Claire and the others but was almost 6 minutes faster than my last 10k (Glasgow) so was pretty chuffed”.

Amy will be heading off for a new life in Australia early next year, after doing the New Year Triathlon, so I’ll be expecting an update every time there’s a new pb.

2 Oct: Baxter’s Loch Ness marathon

Report by Richard Gray: “Just thought I'd let you know about me recent experience doing the Loch Ness Marathon, I finished it in 3:31 but what a course, I now see why Iain kept it to himself ! Race day was a perfect running day... mild with no wind and the scenery was amazing, my wife and kids where there to see me finish this time, unlike when I did Edinburgh Marathon this year because they where in some fast food joint and missed me finish ! I started off quite well and was at the half way mark in 1:36 and was starting to think that a 3:25 was on the cards, then came the 17 mile marker and that is when things started to go downhill or should I say uphill, it was a steady incline for about 3 miles at which time when I reached 20 miles my legs where starting to feel it but I was still doing well, 2:38 and like Edinburgh, I found the last 6 miles tough and couldn't keep up the early pace but I suppose I still finished in what is a respectable time and in 184th place out of nearly 1200 runners.”

Balerno Ladies Triathlon, Sat 8 Oct

Congratulations to the girls and their helpers for another successful triathlon… and for getting a colourful picture of Amy in a Harmeny top in the C&B News. The photographer will be instructed to take a picture of a smiley face crossing the line next year.

Catherine Barr just missed out on first place by 8 seconds to former international athlete Kerry Kirk, but achieved her main target of beating Alex (not that it’s competitive..) and so was allowed to keep her new jet propelled bike. It’s also noticeable that all the girls who did it last year were a good bit quicker this year.

Performances

2               Catherine Barr       0:54:24

4               Alex Gordon           0:54:52

6               Janice Carruthers 0:56:55

17             Sally May               1:01:42

25             Amy de Boer         1:05:00

26             Verity Missen       1:05:31

32             Norma Bone          1:08:13

50             Claire Murdoch    1:27:01    (a bit of work needed on the swimming & cycling?)

Stirling Cross-Country, Sat 15 Oct

Four intrepid guys and four even more intrepid gals made their cross-country debuts at Stirling in the first East League meeting. Being early season, the conditions were relatively benign, ie no mud. We think all enjoyed their first sortie on hilly grass & trails – those runs in the hills should have conditioned everyone for non-level, non-road running.

This was the first time in club memory that we had a full ladies team (three or more constitutes a team). Alex Gordon (Lady’s captain) and Tom White (Men’s Captain) have been drumming up support for the next meeting at Kirkcaldy, where, I’m reliably informed there will be some MUD, which the girls are particularly looking forward to.

Some carefully selected pictures have been put online at:

http://freespace.virgin.net/r.douglas/prunners/updates/StrilingXC05.htm

Next League races

Sunday 27 Nov        Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy                (Turn Left at the top of Pratt St after passing the football ground of the not-so-mighty Raith Rovers on your left)

Saturday 4 Feb 06    Deans Livingston

Anyone can participate in these races, and although there are a lot of good runners, there are runners of all standards using it as their weekend run-with-a-difference. The club covers the entry fees, but you should wear club colours, and must wear our designated vest number (“20”).

Venue info and race times is on the E.League website:  http://www.eastleague.freeserve.co.uk/home.htm

Contacts:

Course & general cc info     Ian Hislop               441-1604

Men’s team                            Tom White             346-1458

Lady’s team                           Alex Gordon           335-0379

Juniors                                    Shelagh Jackson  449-5507

Club Tops                              Norma Bone          449-2384

15 Oct: Amsterdam Marathon

Morag Tweddle successfully completed the Amsterdam marathon in 4hrs 48mins, (.. was really pleased with that... )  in spite of a very limited build-up.  Now to start planning for the next one?

Tales from the Trails (Tain Hill Trail Race 11 Miles, 29.10.05)

Report by Andreas: “ ‘This will be very muddy and boggy. Last year one runner lost his shoes in the boggy section! And the first 3 miles are uphill with the next 7 miles very undulating.’ I usually don’t care much about scaremongering, but this chap seemed to be quite serious about his claims. And I was wearing my brand new shoes. It was only 10 minutes to the start and I was considering pulling out of this one. But I decided that he is probably one of those people who also think that we are all going to die from some mad disease and those of us who survive, die during a volcanic eruption in the pentland hills. So, I continued my warm-up and enjoyed the “Spanish” weather conditions. Clear blue sky, warm sunshine and not a breeze. At high noon the gunshot sounded and we were off like hares in the hunting season. After 500 metres, we turned right, away from the nice forest road and onto a small path. Then the path ended and we dashed straight across the forest floor, over fallen branches and fallen trees. I was surprised that it was all uphill because I couldn’t see a hill from the start area. At the first water station I grabbed a cup of water but only 25% made it into the mouth, the rest went straight up my nose. At the next water station I decided to walk 5 yards and drink properly. We reached a pleasant forest road with stunning views across the Tain area and the coast (The sight of Glenmorangie Distillery was a welcome boost for low spirits). A mobile phone was chirping and I looked around to find a guy talking to his daughter who was asking how he felt. And again we went “off road”, “I glided stealthily along, creeping under the trees and bushes, like some loathsome reptile, engendered in the slime and mud, crawling forth in search of some rich offal for a meal.” (Taken from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It sounded good at the time). After 9 miles it started to go downhill for the first time. I felt like some hamster in a hamster wheel, legs turning with great speed, eyesight diminishing because of the headwind, dizziness starting to set in and even the loss of altitude. Back on the main road I glanced around but saw nobody to overtake me and proceeded with running fast downhill until I crossed the finish line. My stopwatch told me that I ran the last mile in under 4 minutes. That could mean: 1. I was quick. 2. It was downhill 3. The milemarkers were incorrect 4. see 1+2+3.

At the finish we were awarded a good quality handpainted tile with “Tain Hill Trail Race 2004” on it (???).”

66 finishers, first 1:01:17, last 2:00:32, my time 1:19:08 (19th)

And was it “muddy and boggy” ? No, it was just a bit wet. These highlanders are wimps !

Sun 30 Oct: Jedburgh Half-Marathon

In conditions described as “ .. great, pouring with rain and windy..”:

Tom White                             1.38.56
Claire Murdoch                     1.57.14 (another pb)
Peter McGavigan                  2.04.57
Beverly Dodgson                  2.11.42
Pauline White                        2.11.53

Sat 5th Nov: Edinburgh University's Braids Hills Cross-Country races ( Braids Hills)

Tom White                            43.59 -137th
Andreas Wilhelm                 44.10 -138th
Carl Dennis                           49.25 -170th
Alan Grierson                       50.40 -174th

Tom particularly enjoyed this one “… great… we didn’t bother running round the puddles….”. And he would like to point out that this was the first time he’s finished ahead of Andreas.

ADMIN

Membership renewals and new memberships are now beginning to trickle in. You’ll get a 10% discount at Run & Become (Dalry Rd) with your membership. We’re also hoping to do some additional clothing goodies.

The 2005/06 Membership form can be downloaded

A few folk have been asking about Athletics Scotland Registration, which provides the £2 discount on road race entries. Athletics Scotland is a totally separate registration scheme which was introduced by Scottish Athletics six years ago and costs £15 / annum (for club members). Anyone who wishes to take this out should do so directly with Scottish Athletics. It is only mandatory for anyone who wishes to compete in Scottish Championships.  Info at http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/content.php?id=4

This is unique to Scotland. The English regions are about to go through the pain and utter confusion brought about by a registration scheme that is distinct from club membership.  It also causes confusion when organisations based in England organise races in Scotland.

As an affiliated club we are required to forward £7 for every member to Scottish Athletics Ltd. This was introduced when it was realised that individual club members weren’t rushing to register with Athletics Scotland.  

OTHER FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Sat 17 Dec:            Pitmeddan Forest Race, Auchtermuchty, Fife: www.fifeac.co.uk

Sun 18 Dec             Queens Drive CC races, Holyrood Park            Entry on the day

28/29 Dec                New Year Spring Meeting at Musselburgh Racecourse

                                (Humans on the 28^th, horses and final stages of the main sprint on the 29^th)

1 Jan 2006               Portobello Promethon, Seafield: Entry on the day (good for clearing the head)

1 Jan 2006               New Years Day Triathlon: Some of the girls are doing this again

14 Jan                     International Cross Country Festival and 5k Great Winter Fun Run, Holyrood Park

25 Feb                     Kings Buildings 5 mile race

4 March                  Scottish Masters CC Championships, Forres  TBC