Hello all, here is a slightly belated newsletter to all Harmeny Pentland Runners – we are reorganising some of the many admin tasks all carried out by Bob over the past few years so he has more time for the youngsters side of the club, so this email might have some race results missing, and not a full list of upcoming races.  Hope to catch up next month -  lots to read in this email so hope you have a spare half hour!

 
A report from Kenny Tindall on the Dumfries Marathon 3.34.22 - 23 March
 
A bizarre race this one, there was 87 finishers (me - 38th), so a small, small race....but not a bad one but perhaps Easter Sunday is not the best day to have it.  Very cold, nice route (think Loch Ness Marathon but not quite as pretty), well marshalled, good atmosphere and good soup at the end (the indicator of a good race is always the quality of the tea afterwards!)  Virtually no supporters and the last 10 miles were pretty lonely as there was really no-one to run with or talk to...but I don't really have much to say in the last few miles anyway, so not a problem.
 It is a pretty flat course and probably decent for a PB - I was on for about 3.30 but the last 10K was into a very strong headwind and this finished me off.  Worth doing (once anyway) for an early season tester, if you like that sort of thing.   Maybe do it again next year, maybe not.
 

Report from Beverley from the US:

America was brilliant and I survived both my runs! Fantastic weather for the majority of the time too ! The first one SurfCity along the Pacific Coast Highway was SO NOT what I expected. I expected to be running in a lovely warm climate with the sun shining - how wrong could I be ???? Got up in the middle of the night (3:45am) to be ready to leave at 4:30am - it was pitch black and tanking down withgale force winds and freezing cold !  My pal was doing the marathon which kicked off an hour before the half marathon ! It was still dark - 6:45am ! One miserable hour later I started the race completely drenched and freezing ! The only difference to running in Scotland was the palm trees bending in the wind and the pelicans surfing the thermals ! So I made it to the end completely soaked and freezing  (1:47.13)  I was so cold I couldn't even enjoy the free beer at the end and joined the coffee queue instead ! But the medal is AWESOME and so worth doing just for it !
The goody bag was great too - long sleeved technical running top etc. So I then had to wait on my pal finishing the marathon. For those who would like to do the marathon course - its basically the half marathon route with extra loops ............... around 5miles on the half you merge with the marathon and follow the same course to the finish - so the half marathoners see the finish and finish BUT the marathon runners get sent on another 10mile loop even though they can see the finish at 16miles ! Some of the Americans did the whole thing (half & full) in plastic bags/kagools etc On the plus side the t-shirts are different for each race. Also the marathon "surf board" medal is bigger than the half so they do differentiate between the races ! Oh the rain and gales stopped half an hour after we left ......... and then it was off to the Superbowl Party !
 The second run in San Diego - San Dieguito Half Marathon - was what I
 expected - sunny and gorgeous (very hilly though) but I had drank too much  wine the night before !!!! Again had to get up in the middle of the night in a drunken haze to set off at 5am ......... well organised and totally brilliant and so different from the week before ! At the end of that one you got fed chilli and could sit in the sunny beer garden at the end enjoying the free beer (hair of the dog) in the sunshine !!!! Even the drink station at mile 12 was a beer station ! Managed 1:54  feeling very hung over and so not in the mood for running! Superb medals and goodiebags again - the t-shirts are long sleeved technical ones again. This route took you through a national park and was away from the sea so quite sheltered and hot. Hitting the mexican restaurants for mexican fodder and margaritas afterwards in San Diogo was brilliant ! American runs are the best as you get free beer at the end so I'l definitely be back for more as I need a medal with Mickey Mouse ears to add to my collection !!
Cheers Bev

And another international reporter, Morag Leitch from the Virign Islands no less..

8 Tuff Miles Race, St John’s, US Virgin Islands, 23 February, 2008

(8 Tuff Miles = 8.4 miles = Sea level to 999ft for 6 miles = downhill for 2.4 miles) Temperature 29c

Runner: Morag Leitch

Time: 1.29.37, 2^nd in age group, 64/339 women

Overall: 228/726 runners

Travel to race (with another runner from Water Island) + husband, Ian!

4.15am:  Alarm goes off

4.45am   Walk 5 minutes to ferry

4.55am:  Picked up in little motor boat for 20mins travel to St Thomas

5.15am   In car to drive 30 minutes to Redhook ferry

6.30am   On ferry boat carrying runners only.  Sail time 25 minutes to  Cruz Bay,             St Johns

7.00am   Picked up bib and went to start of race.

Left my husband who took taxi from start to the finish line.  He panicked as the taxi could only go 4mph uphill so thought there was no way I would make it to the end so decided to go for coffee  to pass the time.

After the National Anthem, the gun went off and so did I. Most runners saw a rather large pig on the road but I guess I was so focussed that I missed it.  I ran for 3 minutes then it was uphill for the next 2 miles followed by a “flattish” 2 miles.  After that it was uphill till the 999ft mark and I made it.  Happily, after 40 minutes there was a tropical downpour and if I had breath I would have shouted YEEEESSS!  As soon as I reached the top I knew I would make it downhill and if I did a sprint at the end I would get under 1.30 which I managed so I felt I hadn’t let Harmeny Athletics down.

It was fun and I intend to run again next year as I move into the next age group and would like to better my position.

After the event, I heard comments from the elite runners bemoaning the fact their feet were wet and some even dropped out in case they slipped on the wet downhill – wimps. Is there any other way to run other than with wet feet? Running round Arthur’s Seat and Pentland Hills, then running at 6.30am on the hills of Water Island definitely prepared me for this race.  Anyone want to join me next year?

Report from Ian May – Edinburgh half marathon 16^th March

Everyone knows that the prevailing wind in Scotland is from the west so the fact that the Edinburgh 10k is an end to end race running from Cramond to Mussleburgh means that it is a flat fast course with the wind behind you – therefore guaranteed to produce some fast times.  Occasionally the wind does blow from the east and of course on the day of the race it chose to do so.  So it was a cold windy day with a bit of rain in the air that greeted the nearly 3000 runners.  The club was well represented and despite the weather there were a number of excellent runs.

The organisation of the race was excellent plenty of marshals, water stations etc.  However, the scrum for baggage at the end was shambolic, and even more disappointing was the failure of the timing chips for 2 of our members.  However, on the plus side for me was the inclusion of the tin of Green and Black biscuits in the goody bag and a tee-shirt that fits!  I also liked the use of the MPA conversion factor to produce times for all runners to equivalent open – age time.

Perhaps next year it will be warm and the wind will blow the correct way!     

And finally my report from Arbroath (Scotland!).

Arbroath Smokies Ladies 10 mile race – a trophy and a fish!

4 of us set off early on Sunday 2^nd March to drive up to Arbroath to run the Ladies smokies 10 mile race which we had heard much about but had never been organised  enough to get places in this race.  Rain on the way up led the conversation to suggestions of coffee shops instead of running.  But once we got to Arbroath the sun was out although there was a fairly strong wind.  Plenty time to collect our numbers, for Carol to visit the loo several times and for Anne to persuade everyone that we should warm up!

The route goes up behind Arbroath for about 5 miles of undulating (mostly uphill against the wind) roads with great views over the silvery Tay and farmland.  Then down and turns back towards Arbroath with the wind on our backs pushing us to the finish beside the sports centre.

Lindsey had spotted the sign for buns and cakes as soon as we arrived, so once we all finished, a quick shower and changed, we headed for the sports hall where the sandwiches, cakes, buns and tea and coffee were laid on.  Carol had run a really quick time so we had a hunch we should stay for the prize giving.  Sure enough Carol was 1^st in the over 55 age group (yes she is over 55!)  and was presented with a trophy, bottle of wine and Body Shop gift pack.  There  were also about 20 spot prizes and Lindsey said she had a feeling she might get one.  Sure enough, about the second last number called was Lindsey’s and she was presented with a sport drink and a …..smokie!  Lindsey was as pleased with her fish as Carol was chuffed with her trophy. Anne and Janis were very happy with their goody bags!

A great race, well organised, loads of prizes, and great food.

Times were:

Carol  Blamire 79.42 (45^th)

Anne Douglas 83.54 (79^th)

Lindsey Boyle 88.03 (108^th)

Janis Graham 94.02 (163^rd) 281 runners

Upcoming races and events:

Next Bog ‘n Burn run is Sun 27^th April (details will follow)

Isle of Mull - Mull Grand Traverse
Please check out the website at www.mullgrandtraverse.com

Heriot Watt Round the Grounds Trail Race on Sunday May 11^th 2008.   

The Pentland Triathletes 'Do a Du', at 10 am on Saturday 26th April at Harlaw Farm , register, £2 entry fee from 9.30 to 9.45 am.  If you would like to take part, simply note your interest in a brief e-mail to ali@pentlandtriathletes.co.uk.  

Edinburgh 10k on 4th May

Trossachs 10k ( in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust) Sat 31^st May – Aberfoyle Car Park 10.30am, contact jillian06@btinternet.com – I’ve got an entry form which I’ll photocopy, this is a lovely scenic 10k and if you wish, you can either get sponsored or just add a donation to your entry fee towards this worthwhile cause.

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

Also a few of is will be running the Chicago and Amsterdam marathons in October this year, so if anyone wants to join us then please do, I think you can still enter both marathons and we can let you know about travel and accommodation etc.

Results from the past few months:

19th jan 08 east dist x/c livingston
56 Bob Turner          32.55
72 Paul Houston       34.15
126 Dave Gibson       37.22
133 Alan Kerr           37.43
138 Stephan Knupfer 37.53      221 runners
157 Richard Grey      39.11
170 Gavin Orr          40.06
174 Paul Thomson    40.21
206 Ian May            43.56

Great Winter 5k Run on 12 Jan

 Chris Doyle  27:10.  

Fiona  Donaldson 27.37

Buchlyvie off road 10k on 26 Jan

Chris Doyle   52:14. 

Alan Price   51:51.
 
Forfar Multi Terrain Half Marathon 3rd Feb 08
28 Iain Morrice       1.36.30
68 Paul Thompson   1.48.56   123 runners
83 frank Tooley      1.53.40
118 Norma Bone     2.13.54
 
Grangemouth 5k 17 feb
85 Audrey Anderson 30.43
107 Norma Bone      34.33
122 Mary Dick         36.56  124 Runners
123 Pauline White    36.58
112 Frankie Rose     35.23

Grangemouth 10k 17 feb
195 Tom White         42.35
347 Alex Gordon        47.47
654 Lorna Broadhurst 1.03.30  684 Runners
663 April Birrill           1.04.52
664 Breige Stewart    1.04.54
665 Aileen Macleod    1.04.55
 
 National X/C Falkirk 23 feb
93 Bob Turner     44.22
236 Alan Kerr     49.21
311 Dave Gibson 52.38    398 runners
346 Tom White     55.32
357 Andreas Wilhelm 56.15
 
Mighty Deer Stalker 1 mar 08
30 Stephan Knupfer 1.43.26
82 Andrew Neilson   1.54.42
97 Iain Morrice        1.57.12
258 Sally May        2.22.52
369 Neil Wilson       2.40.26

No report about the Deerstalker received, but apparently it involved wading in waist deep water,  fields, mud, hills  and running in the dark. Maybe someone who ran could tell us about it for the next newsletter?

Lasswade 10 mile 2 mar 2008
51 Alan Kerr 66.31 Men 12th Team
119 Tom White 72.48 Ladies 6th Team
123 Darren Cavaroli 73.03
157 Paul Thompson 75.46

 303 Margie Leitch 79.39
246 Fiona Donaldson 84.02 372 Runners
269 Karin Mckendrick 86.31
291 Willie Cumming 89.58
294 Bev Dodgson 90.05
353 Norma Bone 101.42

Inverness Half Marathon 9/march 08
12 Robert Turner 1.15.50 1053 Runners

Edinburgh half marathon 16^th March 08

Kenny Tindall  01.31.40

Alan kerr               01:28:07

Hugh chalmers      01:37:31

Paul thompson       01:39:30

Ian may                 01:41:41

Frank tooley         01:42:59

Verity missen        01:43:26

Karin mckendrick  01:51:05

Allan price             01:51:50

Fiona donaldson    01:51:48

William cummings  01:54:09

Elaine scott           02:01:13

Norma bone          02:02:39

Alloa Half Marathon 23 March 08

353 Bev Dodgson 1.46.27
617 Norma Bone 2.08.57 690 runners
690 Fiona Quinn 2.12.21