A Happy New Year to everyone, and may there be many pb's to one and all in 2008.

Next "runs with a difference"

Sunday 27 Jan: Bog and Burn: Longer, scenic routes, with a hint of seasonal dampness, for the more capable runners. Bright new trainers not advised.
Meet at Harlaw Farm (opposite the road to Harlaw car park) at 10:15 am. Park at Harlaw Farm or Harlaw car park and walk down.

Sunday 27 Jan: Coffee & Cake Run: For the intermediate, "jog while we chat" group, an easy run to the Gyle Centre for the aformentioned goodies (9.5k mainly downhill). We'll need to organise cars or lifts from the far end- so those able to provide transport please contact me. Departing form BHS at usual time. Route map

Next Social Function - the Currie curry:

Friday 15th February

Rannaghor Indian Restaurant, Pentland View Court, Currie

Meet at 7pm for drinks in Pentland View Bar, Lanark Road West, Currie

 Theme:  Wear something/anything (Harmeny) red.

£5 deposit per person.  Final cost to be divided between all diners.

Limited to first 40 bookings – partners are invited.

 Bring your own alcohol – no corkage charge.  Soft drinks and water available from restaurant

 Contact Norma ( or Pauline) with meal order in writing (or email) by 6th Feb.

Menu here   or from Norma and Pauline

 Please write your name and food order on the reverse of your ticket –

we cannot be responsible for keeping a copy of your order

Most Improved Runners 2007: The Runners council have agreed that the most improved runners for 2007 are Ian May and Bev Dodgson. We will be awarding two new trophies to Ian & Bev (to hold for 2008) thanks to a generous donation from the C&B News. These trophies will be awarded on an annual basis, so if Ian & Bev keep running hard they might retain them next year, but there's an incentive for everyone else to aim for.

London Marathon Places
The club's three places have been awarded to Frank Tooley, Hugh Chalmers and Norma Bone. Good luck to all in their training and in their marathon (and to anyone else who got an entry)

Edinburgh Marathon
Places are available to club members until early May, but don't wait until the last minute to enter. We have agreed that this will be added to the list of club medal handicap events for this year.

Newsletter Contributions
A reminder that race reports or other contributions are welcome from everyone, the more self-depracating or amusing the better (so be careful what you write). Last year there were event reports and updates from Paul Thompson, Paul Houston, Tom White, Mark Doughty (in the land of Oz), Kenny Tindall, Ian May, Sally May, Chris Doyle, Catherine Porter (in sunny Dubai), David Syme (and if I've forgotton anyone apologies).
From time to time highlights (or lowlights) will be combined with news from the juniors / T&F activities and news about forthcoming events or running groups to include in the Currie & Balerno News
I aim to send out email updates at the end of each month to everyone on the current contact lists (total about 140).With a revamped website now set up new material will be published online first before going out by email - so for latest info go online.

Volunteering
As well as helping out at the Rigg race (Mon 26 May) if not running in it, I expect to be contacted by the organisers of the Edinburgh Marathon to see if anyone wishes to marshall or assist (Sunday 25 May). So how about a New Year resolution - after running in 5 or 10 races, marshall at one?

World X-Country Championships, 30 March
Not a call to see if anyone wishes to enter, but a reminder that this will be a pretty spectacular event if you want to see some really lean mean running machines. And I will probably be contacted by the organisers about supplying marshalls or helpers from the club ..........

Membership Update:
The reminder in the las newsletter had the desired effect and memberships have been coming in at a steady rate. As at 18 Jan we had received membership subscriptions for the current year from the following Runners & Triathletes:

Performance Details

Portobello Promethon 1/1/08

This is always a test of willpower the night before, but a few of us nearly always make it. This ne'erday conditions were exceptionally calm with wavelets gently rippling in from the North Sea. No howling gale to battle against, so no excuses for xxxx times!

60 Kenny Tindall                     25.02
86 Tom White                          26.04
128 Ian May                             27.42
179 Bob Douglas                     30.51
191 Mo May                             32.02
193 Anne Douglas                   32.09
234 Pauline White                    36.01

A couple of race times for races Paul Houston took part in over Christmas/New year:
 
26 December 2007
Festive Frolicks - 14K Handicap
Beecraigs Country Park, Linlithgow
Time: 56:18  (before you go altering my handicap, my GPS logged the race at 12.92K not 14!)
 
1st January 2008
Aonach Mor Uphill Race (2.5m)
Aonach Mor, Fort William
Time: 30:04 (pos 33/109)

The Forthcoming Events page on this site will update race details for the most popular local events, including the ones we select as club Medal Handicaps.
The full Scottish Athletics fixture list for the coming season is at http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk