Pentland Runners
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Admin stuff
Thanks to everyone who has renewed their membership or joined for
the first time. A list of those who’ve paid for 2006/07 as at 14/12/06 is at the foot
of this update. If your name’s not on the list … a membership form can be
downloaded
e-Mail Updates
I’m aware some folk sometimes haven’t been receiving an
update, and as most of the problems seemed to be on one particular list I’ve rejigged
it, so if you don’t receive this, please tell me…… I’ve now got 8 lists to avoid firewalls, spam
filters etc.
The stuff that goes out on email gets posted onto the website
(look on left hand side), so a check there if you’ve not seen anything for a month or
two will show if you’ve missed anything.
If anyone wishes to come off the mail-list please let me know.
Runners Council
The new runners council is meeting for the first time on 4th
January at 7.30 pm in Currie RFC (Upstairs lounge). Everyone is really welcome to
come along and discuss the things that are happening, and those we hope to plan for our
club - the more input we have from as many people as possible the better. So we hope
we will see you all there.
Jogleader Course
There will be a jog leader course at Heriot-Watt on 17th Feb if
anyone is interested. The sort of things that are covered are basic physiology, risk
assessment, warm-up exercises, group management, etc. The club will pay the course fees
for those willing to take formally managed club groups eg stand in for me, Anne or Paul or
manage a new group. Booking info is not yet on the website, but further info is available
from the jogScotland office (Elaine Boyd 0870 145 1507).
Flora London
This year, due to the increased number of adult members, we’ve
got two places in the FLM. Those who entered the public ballot should have heard if they’ve
got in, so the first priority for club places is for members who missed out in the public
ballot, so if you missed out, let me know. If there are places left, and anyone else would
like to be considered, please let me know.
Festive Running
Wednesday and Sunday runs should be continuing as normal over the
Festive period.
Saughton track closes on Dec 22 and the first Thu back will be 11
Jan
Boxing Day Run
10:00 start from BHS Car Park with a choice of routes to run off
the Xmas calories.
Short run: BHS >
Malleny House > Bog Wood >
Harlaw car park. >
High Ponds > Red Moss > Marchbank >
Long Run: BHS > Malleny House > Bog Wood >
> Harbour Hill > Capelaw
Hill > Allermuir Hill > Capelaw Hill > Bonaly Reservoir > Clubbiedean
Reservoir > Easter Kinleith > Poets Glen > Currie Kirk > Lymphoy > Malleny
House > BHS
Non-members welcome
Boxing Day run at Beecraigs?
Lothian Running Club organise the Cockleroy run handicap run of 7
/ 14 km. First (slowest) runners off at 11.00-ish. Contact Peter West by Wednesday 20th
December; by phone (01506) 492088. You can enter on the day at Cockleroy Car Park form
10.00 up to 10.45am; entering in advance makes handicapping easier and assists with
catering.
And on New New Year’s day there’s the traditional
Portobello Promethon. Enter on the Day … follow the skinny folk at the
Social Events
HARMENY PENTLAND RUNNERS DISCO (ALTERNATIVE TRAINING NIGHT)
The Pentland Runners will be holding a disco on the 20th January
2007 at the Johnsburn House in Balerno at 19:30. This night out will be some extra
training for us and will allow us to exercise our legs, lungs and tongues. It will do your
cardio vascular the world of good and will put you in good condition for the normal Sunday
run the following day!!!!!..
Tickets for the disco will be £5 per person. There will be food
served which will soak up your large fluid intake which you should always have when
exercising!!!!!.
Come along and let your hair down (no pun intended for us baldies).
Tickets can be purchased for either Norma ( or Iain (449 6546)
Run to Dalmahoy: Iain
has found an interesting multi-terrain route to Dalmahoy Country Club and is looking to
organise a social run, plus use of the leisure facilities plus a meal, on a Sunday tbd in
Feb. More info from Iain.
Anyone for….
Who wants to be a film star (or
starlet)
I’ve received a request form Ben Gould, a media student at
Napier who’s looking to do a “10 minute kind of poetic documentary” about a
runner:
Ben’s request: “A keen, frequent runner is wanted for a
10 minute documentary shot on hi definition video by a 2nd year
(*) or female?
Update 19/12/06: We might have found a volunteer, so watch this space.
Early warnings!!
Some folk will have read in the news that
Likewise we might be asked for helpers at the British Transplant
being held at Meadowbank in July.
And, of course the Rigg race. We all appreciate it when other clubs
put on a good event, this one is our showcase. Contact Alex Gordon about helping.
The CoE council is running a consultation process on proposals for
paths in the area. There will be a user’s group meeting on 10 Jan, Braid Hills Hotel,
2-4pm. If anyone would like to attend to, let me know. Info is at http://www.edinburghcorepaths.org/
Performances & Reports
Kirkcaldy Cross Country, 26/11/06
Men
56
Bob Turner
35.49
86
Andrew Neilson
37.20
125
Dave Gibson
39.41
136
Paul Houston
40.03
144
Iain Morrice
40.29
185
Andreas Wilhelm
42.59
197
Kenny Tindall
43.59
230
Tom White
46.32
244
Alan Grierson
48.58
Ladies
52
Caroline Dunn
32.29
68
Janice Carruthers
34.15
79
Verity Missen
36.13
83
Sally May
37.16
In spite of fairly heavy overnight rain underfoot conditions were
OK and overhead conditions were good. The long anticipated Tom - Andreas rematch was
affected by Tom’s jet-lag, so it’s down to the last meeting at Broxburn on 20
Jan.
… and at the last meeting at Broxburn we’d like to see
lots of folk. Remember it’s a team event (so you pay no entry fee) and it would be
“interesting” to see if the blokes could finish higher in their league than the
gals in theirs.
Glen Clova Half, 11/11/06
By Anne: “On Saturday 11th November, a car load
from Harmeny Pentland Runners in Balerno, set off from
The half marathon is always popular, and their limit of about 300
runners is reached well before the closing date. After
registering, having a last drink of water, and reluctantly taking off fleeces, hats and
gloves we lined up for the start. The
organisers announced that they had kindly cleared the large puddle, the width of the road,
about 400 metres after the start, which was greatly appreciated. The run goes south down the west side of the glen,
the road following the undulating terrain. The
other Pentland runners were either much faster or a bit slower than me so I settled into a
steady pace and enjoyed the scenery and the wind on my back, trying not to think of the
6.5 mile point where we turn and start heading back up the glen, into the wind!
Two runners gradually caught up with me, chatting together as they
ran along. One was an older gentleman who
when we reached the next hill on the route, said he would walk for a short bit, as being
73 years old he felt entitled to the odd rest. He
later told me that he started running at the age of 50 and has now done 45 marathons, and
is aiming for 50 before he reaches his 80th birthday! He was staying for the ceilidh held in the Glen
Clova hotel on the Saturday night, along with his two daughters, also runners, two
grandchildren and other family members. One
of the reasons I enjoy running is meeting characters such as this who are an inspiration
to all of us to keep putting those trainers on and go out in all weathers.
All too soon I reached the half way point and sure enough as I
turned back up the glen, that strong cold wind was blowing in our faces. Head down, I struggled on up and down hill, trying
to find a large male runner to tuck in behind. This ploy didn’t seem to work so it
was mind over matter for the next 6 miles. Eventually
I saw the white walls of the hotel in the distance and knew I was nearly there. I crossed the line in 2 hours 6 seconds, how
annoying not to get under the 2 hour mark.
This is a really well organised race, very friendly, very scenic, a lovely mug and goody bag at the
end, stovies to warm everyone up and loads of great prizes, followed by a ceilidh in the
evening. Great way to spend a Saturday in November. Just wish they could arrange to switch
off the wind!”
16
Andrew Neilson 83.55
50
Iain Morrice 91.50
156
Thomas Whyte 107.45
175
Carol Blamire 110.16
225
Lindsay Boyle 116.31
239
Anne Douglas 120.06
273
Norma Bone 133.32
276
Pauline White 137.01
286 finishers
East District CC Championships, Gala,
9/12/06
89
Bob Turner 45.13
173
Tom White 53.13
207
Paul Thomson 59.17
212
Alan Grierson 1.02.00
216
Andreas Wilhelm 1.08.39
Report by Andreas: “I
am attempting something that maybe shouldn't or can't be done. I am trying to put into
words the extreme nature of this cross country race. (And I hope that my literary
performance is slightly better than my athletic performance, which was poor, but more to
that later. Or even "pooah" as they say in
“The area to the south of
“When I arrived at the venue I noticed the very icy breeze
coming across the hills. There must have been a wind chill factor of minus 500. I also
noticed some figures on top of that hill and wondered what they were doing there, until I
realised that they were runners who were walking the course. I was certainly impressed by
the scenic value but also relatively stunned by the extreme look of this course.
“Let's face the facts first :
The course in Livingston was on forest paths with some sections of short grass and a short
section of very muddy bits that brought tears into everybody's eyes (except maybe Adrian
Stott, who was wringing his hands in anticipation of an increase in the sale of socks).
There were no significant climbs if my memory serves me right. Just gentle undulations.
Kirkcaldy was mainly on flat, firm tracks with 5 puddles and 3 short but significant
climbs.
“Galashiels was different. There were no paths or
tracks. It was entirely on grazing land. It was also along the slope of the hill,
zigzagging up and down, there were no flat sections, it was either steep uphill or steep
downhill. The entire course was muddy, the entire course was on rough, tussocky grass that
was in parts knee high, the entire course was on highly saturated soil, including several
sections that were waterlogged. And we had the pleasure of running this loop 3 times.
Incidentally, before the award ceremony (after the race), the assembled runners were asked
if this is what a cross country race should be like and 100% answering with an
"impulsive YES". The award ceremony itself was quite interesting in that
Scottish Athletics publicly denouncing IAAF rules about
age group regulations which might have been ill advised. Just my opinion. One competitor
even refused to accept his medal for winning his age group (his name should not be
mentioned), and another athlete receiving 5 medals (one medal was probably for being
fastest foreigner, which should have been my honour).
“I felt ok during the warm up, but knew that I wouldn't
be able to run at my usual pace because of illness. And after about only one minute into
the race I settled into a slow jog and was almost immediately last. I tried to pick up the
pace a few times but my legs didn't like that. Then during the second loop I was lapped by
the frontrunners. Quite humiliating but I knew I would finish and just kept jogging along.
Interestingly, even at this pace it felt hard.
“We are constantly hearing about so called
"must-do" races, and I am not going to say "You must do this", but
this was good value for money :
£3.50 for 6 miles = 58 pence per mile (Edinburgh Marathon was £1.15 per Mile!) or in my
case 5 pence per minute (Edinburgh Marathon was 16 pence per minute) and the scenery was
spectacular (only if you were running as slow as myself and had time to stop and look
around). And the post-race refreshments were excellent, even the showers were nice
(although the building had a sense of
“And, of course, just in case there will be another run at Galashiels on the same
course, there will no excuse for not running unless you are ill (like me), in which case
you shouldn't run (not like me). And if you don't run, you will be publicly brandished a
wimp !
See you all next year !
(Mental note to self : Stick to Marathons, they are a lot easier !)”
Marks Oz-E-news
“I followed Bob and Tom's advice from the night at the
Johnsburn Pub and avoided the
Oh how I could have sank a few JB pints after that heat today !
Rachel is running in the state relay championships tomorrow (Sunday) so it’s a day at
the track again, with the temp to be in the 30s. I really enjoyed reading the latest
report on the web from Harmeny and
the Cross country season kicking off.”
Forthcoming Runs / races
Boxing Day
Cockleroy Chaser Fun
Run, Beecraigs, Linlithgow
Trail
race, you go in groups of 2-10 and its either 1 lap 7k or 2 laps.
The
last 1k is up and down Cockleroy!
Mon 1 Jan
Portobello
Promethon, (4 miles) Seafield
Mon 1 Jan
Sat 13 Jan
Great
Winter Run, 5k, Holyrood Park
Enter
at www.greatrun.org
Sat 20 Jan
Cross
country, Broxburn
(team
event – no entry fee)
One
for everyone to try info at http://www.eastleague.freeserve.co.uk
Can
the Ladies finish above the Men league-wise???? Note – also races for kids
Sat 10 Feb
Scottish
Indoor Track & Field Championships, Kelvin hall
Anyone
else coming through to Weegee-land?
Sun 1 Apr
(with
big improvements on last year promised by organisers)
Sat 7 Apr
Dunbar
10k
Sunny
Dunbar-sur-mer the
start of spring
Sun 22 Apr
London Marathon
– 2 Club places
Sun 6 May
Sat 26th May
Stornaway Half Contact Iain (449 6546) for info
on weekend trip
Sun 27 May
Edinburgh marathon
http://www.edinburgh-marathon.com/?home
Entry
for club members until 5 May
Mon 21 or Mon 28th May
Rigg race
Harmeny
will be organising this – offers of help to Alex Gordon
Sat 23 June
Rob Roy
Challenge
Info
at www.robroychallenge.com
Scottish Athletics fixture list is at http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=80&findCurrent=1
Social etc
Boxing Day
Calorie killing local
runs
4/1/07
Runners
Council, Currie
20/1/07
Disco
/ social Johnsburn
Feb tbd
Multi-terrain
run to Dalmahoy Country Club + meal
Bob
PS
Have a good Christmas
& a Fit New Year.