Pentland Runners       

Admin stuff first:
Club AGM: We are holding the club AGM on Tue 11 Sep in Currie Rugby club, 7:30. This year marks the 30^th anniversary of Harmeny, the 10^th anniversary of the first Sunday morning jogging group, and the 5^th anniversary of the Pentland Runners brand and our first jogscotland beginners group. It’s also been of the most significant years in the club’s history with us now having three distinct activity sections with their own devolved organisation, with many folk involved in two or even all three areas.

So we’d like to see a good turnout from all parts of the club, so everyone learns a wee bit more about what we do. 

Runners Council: The next get-together of jog-leaders & runners to sort out running group meeting times, groups, social do’s etc will be on Tue 2 Oct, 7:30 at Currie Rugby club.

Social run on Sunday 30 Sep:  17miles from South Queensferry to Balerno, with alternative starting points for those wishing shorter runs (10miles or 6 miles).  Please let Norma or Iain know if you’d like to join in.

Balerno Ladies Triathlon, Sat 6 Oct: Come along and give the girls a cheer, or even better come along to help with marshalling etc. Enticements include tea & cake afterwards. Offers of help to Alex Gordon (335 0379).

Quiz Night, Sat 27 Oct: Dig out that encyclopaedia, Google that brain…. we’re holding a quiz night on Sat 27 October. We’re still sorting out a venue, but get the date in your diary now.

London Marathon:  Entries are now open for next year’s London marathon (http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/).  Anyone interested should try for a place in the public ballot. The club does get one place (last year we got two), but priority for our place(s) has been for folk who have initially tried to get in by the public ballot. Entries close on 19 Oct.

Lost Property: I’ve still got someone’s charcoal / navy fleece from our pursuit handicap (results below). As it is size Medium & I’m Large, it’s more use to its owner than it is to me……..

Recent Performances

Edinburgh Rat Race - 14th/15^th July (Team 'Three Blind Rats' – Sally May, Neil Wilson and Neil McCulloch).

By Sally Rat: “With Triathlon being 'so last year', we decided it was time for spot of adventure racing.  Billed as a 'multi-disciplined urban adventure' the Rat Race was for us.
                The race started at 5pm on the Saturday night.  Things kicked of in a sun-drenched Princes Street Gardens with the 'rats' being dispersed on foot into the streets of Edinburgh.  We were given maps and a list of checkpoints including- a visit to an uninhibited barber, a wade through the water of Leith, refueling on a deep fried mars bar, a lift in Ocean Terminal (no running or shopping allowed) and chasing a runaway bride round the new town.  We got back to Princes Street Gardens around 8pm and were given our A-Zs to mark up for the Sunday. (40^th out of 200)

                Up at 6am for part two – the aptly named 'Adventure Class'.  Think orienteering on a massive scale.  The day started bright and clear with a run round the New Town to disperse the 600 or so loonies before the real fun started.  Bikes were collected and we set off for an early morning swim in the River Almond for Sal. Then off to Crammond Island to scale a fort and set a prisoner free before Neil W and I caught some rays and left Neil McC to some 'via ferrata' (climbing around the Island apparently).  Back on the bikes we headed to Costa-del Granton for a forty minute Kayak, with a spot of ice climbing en route for Neil W.  We then navigated through Pilton, and up, up, up and over Corstorphine Hill.  Returning (heart-breakingly) to the finish line, via an Abseil into the Water of Leith for Sal, to 'download' before heading back out to Kings Building's, through the Braids and a lifesaving downhill stretch to Tynecastle.  Here Neil McC abseiled from the roof of the stadium and Neil W and Sal scaled the inside.  It was then a final sprint back to the Gardens to finish.

                A brilliant weekend that we would highly recommend to anyone.   Although with 12 miles running on Saturday (and a dodgy haircut) and 40 miles of  cycling on Sunday  with a hint of kayaking, abseiling, climbing, orienteering, and running thrown in for good measure the legs don't half ache come Monday morning!! (96^th overall)”

Thu 2 Aug: Track Night 2007 Results
By Bob “The much threatened challenge by the twentysomethings and thirtysomethings failed to materialise in the sprint races so the old bionic knees still reign. The 200m was a real race this year as I was determined not to let David head me round the bend.

It was a case of so near, but not far enough for young Paul in the 400 & 800 as David’s middle distance speed and track experience told. In the longer 1500 Paul was closer to his natural distance, and burned David off. Jim (a former Harmeny competitor and regular at Saughton) pushed them all the way in all the longer events – not bad as he had already completed a full training session.

There was an interesting competitive edge further down the field in the 800m. Coming off the final bend Anne was preparing to overtake young Sarah (U13), when Sarah saw there was only 100 to go and scampered down the final straight. Anne didn’t scamper down the final straight, and didn’t get revenge in the 200m either. The even younger Alison (10) showed them both a clean pair of heels.

Unfortunately Paul T tweaked something going so fast in the 400, so was planning to spend his holiday in Cyprus resting by the pool / beach / bar. Andreas slotted in some races between a normal track session, preparing for the Haddington half…

I’m still open to any challenges over shorter distances, I might even consider giving any under 40’s a 5m start. Thursday evenings, 6:30-7:30, track training sessions for anyone brave enough.”

Scottish Gas 5 & 10k, 5 Aug
After summer threatened to re-appear for a couple of hours on the Saturday, Sunday dawned grey, cool, dreich (*) with a hint of drizzle in the air – perfect running conditions. This course has a reputation for being fast, apart from the final few hundred metres up that wee hill. (“Hills? We laugh in the face of hills!”) There was a great turnout from the club and many of the folk who have recently starting running with us. I overheard someone commenting on the number of red tops from the club. We don’t do inconspicuous, so go for it folks!

Times were pretty quick. Kenny achieved an ambition of being in a race and not being beaten by a veteran lady. Too bad he was beaten (on handicap) by an ex-cripple old enough to be his dad. I don’t know what Bev’s been taking recently, or not taking recently, but it’s worked with a massive pb improvement. Ian May continues to produce pb’s. Hugh was just outside his club best performance set in this race a few ears ago. There were some pretty close finishes between groups of runners … (a) competitive running or (b) chatting until the last 500 metres? Well done to two of our recent jogscotland beginners Trevor, who really enjoyed that hill, and Sarah, who’s progressed from beginner to 10k in 10 weeks (that’s not in the programme).

* Dreich: Scottish verb. Skiers are familiar with the term white-out. Dreich describes the weather in Scotland that produces a grey-out.

5K
12 David Gibson (M35)                        19:29
13 Kenneth Tindall                              19:43
27 Bob Douglas (M35)                        22:25
98 Trevor Shaw (M35)                          36:21
103 finishers

10k
21 Paul Houston                                    37.05
93 Thomas White (M45)                      42.54
111 Hugh Chalmers (M60)                   43.57                       3^rd M60
154 Ian May (M60)                               46.05
200 Christine Doyle (F35)                    48.28
203 Beverley Dodgson (F35)               48.35
218 William Cummings                          49.56
264 Jackie Allan (F40)                           52.47
269 Morag Tweddle (F40)                    52.59
304 Norma Bone (F45)                          55.13
306 Elaine Scott (F45)                           55:20 (we think!)
307 Pauline White (F35)                       55.25
316 Monica Evans (F40)                      56.00
317 Karen Mackay (F40)                      56.02
321 Fiona Quinn (F)                              56.18
407 Sarah Nodwell (F)                          1.05.40
412 Gail Crosbie (F40)                           1.06.50
418 Margot Ward (F60)                        1.08.14
425 finishers

 And the handicap results.

5K                                            Handicap               Race       (Under) 
                                                Target                     Time       / Over   
                                                Time                                                       
Bob         DOUGLAS             0:23:20                     0:22:25    (0:00:55)
Kenny    TINDALL               0:19:50                     0:19:43    (0:00:07)
David     GIBSON                  0:18:49                     0:19:29    0:00:40    
Trevor    SHAW                    0:36:21                    

10k                                           Handicap               Race       (Under)
                                                Target                     Time       / Over
                                                Time                                                     
BeverleyDODGSON             0:53:00                     0:48:35    (0:04:25) 1st Female
Monica  EVANS                   0:58:00                     0:56:00    (0:02:00)
Karen     MACKAY              0:58:00                     0:56:02    (0:01:58)
Margot   WARD                    1:10:00                    1:08:14    (0:01:46)
Pauline   WHITE                   0:57:00                     0:55:25    (0:01:35)
Christina DOYLE                 0:50:00                     0:48:28    (0:01:32)
Jackie     ALLAN                   0:54:00                     0:52:47    (0:01:13)
Morag    TWEDDLE             0:54:00                     0:52:59    (0:01:01)
Paul        HOUSTON             0:38:00                     0:37:05    (0:00:55) 1st Male
Hugh      CHALMERS         0:44:40                     0:43:57    (0:00:43)
Ian          MAY                       0:46:45                     0:46:05    (0:00:40)
Norma    BONE                      0:55:00                     0:55:13    0:00:13
Elaine     SCOTT                    0:55:00                     0:55:20    0:00:20    
Thomas  WHITE                   0:42:20                     0:42:54    0:00:34    
Gail         CROSBIE                1:06:00                     1:06:50    0:00:50  
Will         CUMMINGS         0:47:30                     0:49:56    0:02:26  
Fiona      QUINN                    0:50:00                     0:56:18    0:06:18    

Haddington Half , 11 Aug
As with Granton the previous week it was another close run between Chris Will and Bev, but with Will getting the better of Bev this time.  

61 Andreas Wilhelm            1:36:10
142 Chris Doyle                     1:50:16
145 Will Cummings              1:50:54
157 Beverley Dodgson        1:53:33
197 Helen Robinson            2:18:59
201 finishers

Forth Bridge 10k Sunday 12th August 2007
By Ian May: “This race organised by Pitreavie is run annually and as the name suggests includes crossing the Forth Bridge – in both directions.  The Bridge always seems relatively flat when driving across, but when running it apparently becomes much steeper.  The weather was good except for quite a strong wind.  I was surprised on seeing the results that the first 10 places were all taken by runners from Carnegie Harriers!  As usual there was an excellent spread for post-race.”

102 Ian M May 46.32
168 Allan Price 50.34 
304 finishers

Race the Train Tywyn, Saturday 18^th August 2007  
Also by Ian: “The Talyllyn Railway was one of the first of the railways to be rescued and preserved and run throughout the year, mainly by volunteers, from Tywyn to Abergonolwyn up a picturesque valley in Mid Wales.

The race is run every year and the object is to start with the train and try to get up the valley and back before the train.  The course is 14.75 miles long and the time to beat is 1 hour 47.5 minutes.  In order to do this you need to be a 1hour 25 minute half marathon runner – so I had no chance – indeed the record for the over 60 men is only just within this time!  Each year about 700 runners line up to have a go and typically about 90 – 100 beat the train including about 5 ladies. 

This year I decided to have a go and it didn’t take long to see why it is so difficult to beat the train.  It is multi race terrain which goes over fields not normally open to the public, through a ploughed field, just to get a bit of weight on one’s shoes, along a rising sheep track, through a couple of fords etc., etc.  Just to round the run off the last 2 miles are along metalled roads which apparently are said to climb steadily, but seem to be almost vertical to me!

To add bit of spice to the race this year it rained heavily both on the night before the race and on and off both in the morning before the race and during it.  So the course was very wet!  During the morning a series of shorter races, of distances up to just over 10k, had also been run over much of the course just to ensure the ground was well churned up!

The organisation was excellent.  With well over 1100 runners in all the races combined it had to be.  There was a large marquee with excellent catering and a number of activities to keep both adults and children busy whilst waiting for the runners.

If you want a challenge and to visit a beautiful part of the UK this is for you. Further details are available on the web site at www.racethetrain.com - and they have already started to accept entries for next years race on 16^th August 2008.  I suspect I might be there next year with a new strategy!

No official results posted yet

Ian M May  2:14:05  - I think!”

Club Pursuit Handicap Aug 19, 10.7 km (mostly downhill): Report and Results

Forthcoming Races

Those marked ** have been selected as club handicap events -

 Sun 16 Sep             Stirling 10k

 Sun 23 Sep             ** Linlithgow 10k

 Sat 6 Oct                Dunbar Boundary 10 miles, http://www.dunbarrunningclub.supanet.com/be2007.pdf

 Sun 7 Oct                Loch Ness Marathon, 10k, 5k www.lochnessmarathon.com (& entry forms available)

 Sun 7 Oct                Pitlochry 10k

 Sun 7 Oct                Cancer Research UK 10k, Hopetoun House, South Queensferry

 Sun 14 Oct              ** Aviemore Half

                                A good one to do, and as trophy winners, honour is at stake.

                                As an additional incentive, we’ll make this a club medal event.

                                Accommodation is tight up there- contact Anne quickly if looking for a room.

 Sun 28 Oct              Jedburgh Half  www.jedburghhalfmarathon.org.uk

 Sat 10 Nov              Glen Clova half marathon.

                                Contact Ian (449 6546) if interested

 The Scottish Athletics fixture list for the coming summer is at http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk