Lots of results and reports this month as May/June are always busy race months, we’ll get a bit of a rest in July.  First a reminder about the Runner’s council meeting  on Tuesday, 29 July 2008 at 7.30pm in the Riccarton Arms, Currie, put it in your diary now so you don’t forget.

 Club Socials

Mid-summer coffee & cake run, Sunday 15 June

For those not doing the Beltane 10k in Peebles, the Sunday jog-while-we-chat group are celebrating the re-opening of the WoL pathway by running down to the Water of Leith Visitors Centre for coffee & cakes. This is a downhill / flat run of 8.6 k. We’ll need to supply the cakes as they only have biccies. We’ll also need to organise some cars to be there to bring us back afterwords, so anyone who can leave a car there beforehand, get in touch (with Bob). Drivers should beat the Visitors Centre at 9.30 to get a lift up to the Balerno.

Club Social event: Suggestions are for a BBQ/sports event possibly in Malleny Park in July sometime, we’ll confirm this soon.  Also Iain is hoping to organise a social run during August and again more details will be sent soon. Social runs always end somewhere for some food and drink! 

Helpers required

Gail Crosbie has offered to organise this year’s Club handicap run from Balerno down the Water of Leith and the canal to Harrison Park on 19^th August.  Help will be needed especially on the day.

Rigg race next year – Alex Gordon has organised the Rigg for past 3 years  and has a very detailed file to pass onto someone ( or a few people) who is/are willing to take this on in 2009.   Great fun and worth doing!  Any volunteers?

Junior Water of Leith Mini-Marathon, Wed 11 Jun, 6:00

Your smaller clubmates will be having their annual mini-championship run round the Water of Leith this Wed, 11 Jun. This is open to youngsters from the age of 8 upwards, any grown-up members with children able to jog 4.2 km, here’s an opportunity. All youngsters completing the run receive a medal. We need several adults to accompany the youngsters so if anyone would like a warm-up run (before the usual 7.00 run) report to Bob in the Gym at 6:00 where we’ll be registering the juniors.

Reports from near and far

One of our international reporters  - Hamish from  Oz…

Warwick Pentath-run, Queensland, Australia 23/24 May 2008

For those of you at the Pentland Runners who remember Jenny and I, just thought I’d let you know about a cracking wee race I did here in Oz last weekend:

 It was in December 2007 that I decided I would do this event, just one month after emigrating to Brisbane. Warwick lies about 2 hours west of Brisbane. It is such a great idea. 5 races of various distance over 2 days which in total add up to marathon distance. So after a few months of training in 25-30 degree temperatures (so different from running up West Kip or East Cairn) the day arrived.

The first event was the half marathon. This was a fairly flat route and the race started at 7am so it wasn’t too hot then. Due to the camber of the road I got a bad hip about halfway through this race and so was pleased to finish in 1hr 28 mins. It felt like I was going backwards for the final 5 miles.

It was only a 3 hour rest then onto the next run which was a 4.6 km cross country race. This involved a lot of jumping over tree trunks and running far too fast considering I’d just completed a half marathon. Finishing time was 18 mins 58 seconds. Starting at 12 noon it was a bit hot for running but there was quite a bit of shade provided by trees luckily. This race was actually won by a 13 year old girl!

Then less than 3 hours later the final race of the first day was a 5km again on a very flat route. Back on the roads my hip started to play up again but once I switched on the ipod I found I was going along quite nicely and finished in 19 mins 7 seconds.

 A night to recover was most welcome before catching a bus at 6.15am to the start of the most challenging of all the races. It was an uphill 10km race. It actually started fairly flat for the first 2km and then got seriously steep, (think running up the beeches for 8km). I normally do a 10km in just under 40 minutes but this took me 55 minutes to complete. My hip again played up but I found it was better going uphill than running on the flat.

 So, to the final race which was a 1500m down the main street of Warwick. I have never been so pleased to finish a race EVER. My time for this was 6 minutes 12 seconds (never going to break any records) but so pleased just to finish.

My total time for the whole marathon distance was 3 hours 8 minutes so I was fairly pleased with that. This was a great event with a lot of camaraderie and a great atmosphere with all the runners sharing the pain of the 5 events. I would do it again next year but will be in Scotland for a wedding (and the rigg race, of course).

Hamish

 P.S. if any of you are planning a trip to Oz (brisbane in particular) then it would be great to see you.

 Paul T reports on Loch Leven half and the Edinburgh marathon.:
Lock Leven: Don't ask me why I did this one again, and so close to the marathon, but Willie seemed to think it was a good idea - actually, so did Norma, Bev, Alan (Price - too many Alan's, going to have to hand out numbers) and Karin. Unfortunately, this year Bev lost the orange leg trophy to one of the girls in front. Now I know we all like to share our thoughts, but when the topic of conversation is less than a yard in front, discussing whether or not a spray gun was used might have done shall we say a little more quietly...... though i did learn something, I didn't realise that there was such a thing as a spray on tan......!
 
Anyway, it was a good day for a run over a fairly scenic course. The weather was slightly overcast and cool, though I still managed to burn my head again - wonder if they do spray on sun block for your head? I even managed to pass orange legs at 10 miles and came in with another PB, bettering my Edinburgh half time by over a minute. All came home and Willie won a spot prize - a Tesco bag full of potatoes (I don't think he's ever seen them in the raw form, they weren't chipped and deep fried). 

Edinburgh marathon: It was one of those days that started off windy, and that was without having looked out of the window to see the trees bend over double in the hurricane outside. With echoes of East Kilbride hanging round, amongst other things, I set off for my first marathon in 2 years wondering how on earth I'd been dragged back into running this distance when I said I'd hung up my marathon boots (actually, the blame falls square on the shoulders of a certain Tom who somehow convinced me that it was a great idea...... if he was Pinocchio he'd have taken my eye out when he said that).

I think I arrived way before everyone else and stupidly handed my bags over so, by the time we all hooked up at the Scott Monument, I'd turned a rather fetching colour of blue that clashed terribly with the red and green - a small diversion for the fashion conscious amongst you. After that it was to the pens (fortunately no sheep, though the post race chats at the BBQ indicated that this might have been a bad thing for male race times) for a nervous wait for the gun to go. Actually, turned into rather an extended wait as the pens in front slowly vanished round the corner. Ours was finally released about 5 mins later and we stuttered off looking for the actual start.

 I'd love to say we were wind assisted but I'd have to define wind. Let's say I managed to reach equilibrium as I set out on my 4th attempt at actually getting round the whole course in one go without picking up an injury, knowing I'd trained for it and not getting to 17 miles and deciding that I'd stop to enjoy the scenery. To my utter surprise, and delight, I actually did it. I won't say I enjoyed it, not really masochistic enough, but I did get round and I didn't stop. To that I'd like to thank all those that gave me a wave on the way round, Darren for keeping me company for 8 miles or so (before deciding that trying to talk to someone firmly plugged into an i-pod was a non starter), and to Sandy even though I was nearly "ill" all over his bike. I'll let the others describe the actual race, suffice to say I knocked an hour and seven minutes off my previous best time.

 I can also safely say the only injury I picked up was the sunburn (a lack of hair doesn't help) and a dodgy stomach after eating too many gels. Congrats to all  

Anne’s day at the marathon:Had my toast and honey at breakfast as I read that was what Paula Radcliffe eats so reckoned it must be good.  Battled my way with Carol to the portaloos on Regent Road and then stood for what seemed like hours in the freezing wind waiting for the start.  (Tried not to complain as I remembered the heat in Paris last year tho). Kept up with Carol for about 5 miles by which time Willie had joined us and was chatting away.  Couldn’t keep up with them so plodded on admiring the sea on the left and either nothing on my right or at last some crowds cheering us on in Musselburgh Cockenzie Prestonpans and then Longniddry (good crowds there ).  Turned into Gosford House which meant I was nearly at the point where we turn round and head back toward Edinburgh (wind would be behind us at last), and suddenly saw Willie loitering at the side of the road – the thought of an old wummin overtaking him spurred him on for a while and it was good to have someone to chat to, but he started falling behind so I just kept going, wondering  when he would sprint past me.  Another few miles and I saw the Harmeny orange feather which Meant Bob was there with my next supply of paper hankies – think I said I had gone too fast and may struggle at the end.  Had my last gel about 22 miles and not long after that as I was getting really tired and legs were really sore, Gail popped up running the last leg for her relay team and as usual was chatting non stop – really helped get me through those last 2 miles but I didn’t have the energy to chat back, then when she said she would just go on ahead – I realised how slowly I was running.  The end was great as there were crowds on both sides shouting us on – although I just couldn’t sprint at the finish.  A guy who was finishing just beside me overtook me but gave me a pat on the shoulder and said well done  - a kind gesture.   And Willie hadn’t caught me up either but he did just beat Karin but if you look at the results below it’s 3-1 to Karin in their runs so far!  Actually sort of enjoyed it in a funny way -  But very painful going up and down stairs for several days after and the black toe is not attractive!

 Laggan 10K Ian  May: It seemed only sensible that on the way home from a family holiday in Speyside that I should have a go at the Laggan 10k with my son and his wife!   But when even the locals describe the course as undulating you realise that you are in for something special.  The course made even the Lasswade 10 look flat.  It also started at 2:00pm on the warmest day of the year so far. Having got my excuses in let me also say that the scenery was absolutely stunning, the organisation was excellent, and there was an excellent tea laid on after the run.  This really should be on everyone’s 10k schedule – not pb territory but a most rewarding fixture.

Our two grandsons entered the 1 mile fun run and even this was reported to be rather hilly!

Ian May  47:49    49th out of 134

Other Results

Galashiels 10k 20 April 08  105 Runners
84 Alan Price                                              50.26                                                                                                    

Balmoral 10k 26 April 08 
997 Wendy Gibson                                       58                  

Lochaber Marathon 27 April 08  
305 Karin Mckendrick                                  4.18.39          

Meadows 5K  30 April 08    99 Runners 
57 Andreas Wilhelm                                     20.54             

Edinburgh To North Berwick 3May 08 131 Finishers
13 Paul Houston                                            2.25.07
59 Kenny Tindall                                          2.45.28
64 Tom White                                               2.49.35
88 Paul Thompson                                         2.59.47
122 Karin Mckendrick                                   3.24.12
124 Willie Cummings                                     3.24.45                                                                                                  

Edinburgh 10K 4 May 08
623 Ian Smith                                              46.26
2398 Chris Doyle                                          54.5
2584 Morag Tweddle                                   55.36
3217 Lorna Broadhurst                                 58.3
4890 Breige Stewart                                    1.08.20
4979 April Birrell                                         1.09.10          

 This is a club handicap race, but because the results don’t include runners’ clubs, we don’t know who else did it. So if anyone else ran in this, please get in touch, then we can confirm the handicap results.              

 Meadows 2 Mile 7/05/08 65 Runners
41 Andreas Wilhelm                                      12.45              

Penicuik 10k 185 Runners
53 Andreas Wilhelm                                     44.08             

Heriot Watt 5k  Ian  May: This is probably one of the best value races in that the entry fee was very low – can’t remember exactly what it was, but it seemed very inexpensive at the time!  It is run round the University’s Campus, on a mixture of road and trail and partly through woodland.   It had been chosen to be one of the club handicap events but unfortunately clashed with a number of other popular events, including the Run forLife, in addition a number of club members were training for the Edinburgh marathon and were therefore not interested in such a short run, so there were only a few club runners.

Gail Crosbie had a tremendous run knocking off over three and a half minutes from her handicap time – the handicapper has noted this!!

 Perhaps next year we will get a few more runners for this event.

                             Time     Handicap    
Mo       MAY                 25:52       -                        
Gail      CROSBIE         27:52       31:26                 -3:34  
Ian       SMITH              21:14       -                        
Ian       MAY                 21:51       21:11                 +0:40
Bob     DOUGLAS      27:52       23:20                 +4:32

 Handicap winners: Gail Crosbie, Ian May                                                                                         

The observant reader will notice that Gail & Bob did identical times and will be thinking “Aye up, something fishy there”. Correct. Some will recall that this was one of the paced runs for May where we set a target of 28 minutes. To prepare, we did some paced work at the track sessions to get a feel for the target pace.  Cometh race day we did a full warm-up so we were onto our second wind when the gun went. We were spot on for 2 km, dropped a bit climbing through the woods, but got back towards the target as we levelled out. It was going to be tight.  I said nothing.  200 m to go I said something. “Time to switch on the turbo chargers” (which had also been practised at the track). Turbo chargers on we flew to the finish line. Eight seconds under target. Mission accomplished. A breeze.  (Bob)

Dunfermline Half 11/05/08  776 Runners
318 Bev Dodgson                                          1.46.26
416 Karin Mckendrick                                   1.51.20
463 Willie Cummings                                     1.54.07          

Meadows 2 Miles 14 May 08  70 Runners
44 Andreas Wilhelm                                     12.44                                                                                                 

Lochleven Half 17 May 08  431 Runners 
119 Paul Thompson                                        1.38.17
155 Bev Dodgson                                          1.43.14
248 Karin Mckendrick                                 1.51.56
265 Willie Cummings                                     1.53.40
268 Alan Price                                             1.54.03
356 Norma Bone                                           2.04.06         

Glasgow Ladies 10k 18 May 08  10206 Runners
2907 Lorna Broadhurst                                59.52
3953 Aileen Mcleod                                     62.23
3959 April Birrell                                         62.24
4082 Lindsay Middleton                               62.47             

Edinburgh Marathon 25 May 08 6610 Runners
77 Paul Houston                                          2.53.47 well done Paul 
700 Kenneth Tindall                                     3.23.57
853 Thomas White                                        3.27.36
1174 Paul Thompson                                      3.35.03
1187 Darren Cavaroli                                    3.35.20
1292 Bev Dodgson                                        3.37.26
1579 Gavin Orr                                             3.42.15
2095 Carol Blamire                                       3.50.16 3^rd in age group
3195 Anne Douglas                                      4.07.45
3790 Norma Bone                                        4.17.56 
3812 Willie Cummings                                   4.18.17
3832 Karin McKendrick                                4.18.45
4586 Pauline White                                      4.32.28
5087 Elaine Scott                                        4.44.57
5146 Lorraine Shekleton                               4.46.29
5430 Helen Robertson                                  4.54.36         

-Club handicap winners will be worked out soon.                        

Rigg Race 26 May 08  188 Runners 
21 Alan Kerr                                                 37.35
46 Caroline Dunn                                          40.15
67 Wendy Beardmore                                   42.11
72 Hugh Chalmers                                         42.33
76 Tim May                                                  42.58
81 Ian Smith                                                 43.16
132 Peter Mcgavigan                                     49.00
143 Claire Murdoch                                      52.22
146 Ian Gibb                                                53.57
147 Lorna Broadhurst                                   54.04
150 Monica Evans                                         54.59
151 Audrey Anderson                                    55.18
152 Sarah Nodwell                                       55.18
157 Ulla Dormer                                           55.57
158 Sybill Grey                                           55.57
162 April Birrell                                           56.39
163 Kirsty Stoddart                                      56.41
164 Rhoda Ross                                            57.05 
165 Lindsay Middleton                                  58.00
166 Aileen Mcleod                                        58.00
167 Bob Douglas                                           58.01
169 Ian Mcbride                                          59.06
171 Jane Mole                                              59.59
173 Ray Wyper                                             1.01.17 
174 Catherine  White                                    1.01.17
181 Helen Sturrock                                       1.05.30
182 Lynne Hampson                                      1.05.30
183 Pauline White                                         1.05.31
184 Jo Hogarth                                            1.06.14
188 Norma Bone                                           1.09.43          

Great to see so many from the club running the Rigg and well done to all those running it for the first time.

This was the second paced run for May. 60 minutes was the target for anyone wishing to join “Bob’s babes”. Cometh the evening we had a party of 10 “babes” plus Ray and Ian, honorary babes for the night. The first mile was deliberately slow (11 mins), but we overtook a junior soldier before the first mile. The second mile was …the hill …  slow & steady, but with the secret technique for hills passed around. The hill was conquered without stopping by many for the first time. Some folk were even able to speak, but the words aren’t repeatable. Target sub-60 is still on. The fast girls, led by fast Lorna go faster.  Mile three still climbs, so stay steady, but tailwind helps. We reach half-way a couple of minutes outside even pace. A fast time is beckoning. Mile four, we freewheel down the hill and start to claw back on even-paced time. We overtake someone. Mile five is hard.  “Where’s the bl….y marker, my legs are sore” comments someone. We pass the bl…y marker and some more crowds cheer (or was it the same crowd we saw earlier?).  Mile six, downhill.   Freewheel. Aileen’s street is out to cheer Aileen. Stretch out, ignore roads and take straight line across all the junctions for entrance to Malleny Park.  Last 200, Go in the right direction, the finish is that-a-way. Finish. Lots of exhausted babes (and Ian) not quite believing their times.  No doubt a few Pingu’s the next day, but pb’s for nearly everyone. Hill conquered, mission accomplished.   (PS: Pingu – A cartoon penguin who does an impersonation of how a runner walks the day after a hard run..)   - Bob

 Clydebank 10k 29^th May 591 runners
499  Morag Leitch 57.51

 Dumbarton 10k 5^th June
Morag Leitch 57. 14?  (results not on website yet)

And for the runners/triathletes: Stirling Triathlon 1^st June

Novice Females:
7 Katherine Ringham     54.38
29 Ulla Dormer              1.01.58
31 Sarah Pryde              1.02.49
36 Mairi Scanlon           1.03.21
78 Gail Crosbie              1.11.14

 Novice Males:
3 Bill Stobie     48.56

 Other bits and pieces:

For the female runners ( maybe the men as well?)  an email about a new magazine…

Hi, we would like to introduce your female members to our new online sports magazine for women. As you know women’s sport is given very little media coverage so we have decided to do something about this by launching a magazine ourselves www.sportsister.com. Its online and its free and we need your help to make it a success. Aside from giving much needed media coverage to our women athletes, Sportsister also aims to encourage women to get involved in sport via our get started guides and by presenting sport in a female friendly style

Tri a tri: The Pentland Tri club  are organising a Tri a Tri on  30th August for anyone who wants to have a go. It will be a pool swim, followed by a 10k cycle and 5k run.  It is a
fun event (no marshalls), for anyone over the age of 18 to have a go at this event.   As ever delicious cakes will be available afterwards.

 Next bog & burn run will be on Sunday 29^th June 10am at BHS as usual – Iain will have a great (hopefully not too boggy) route for us.

 Monthly Club Handicap

Remaining events for the club handicap medals are-

Sun 15 June     Beltane 10k, Peebles
Sun 3 Aug         Scottish Gas / Granton 10k and 5k
Sun 19 Aug       Club 10k-&-a-bit pursuit handicap race  down WOL
Sun 21 Sep       Linlithgow 10k
Sun 19 Oct       Aviemore Half

The Handicapper’s Musings   Ian  May

 As most of you will be aware I took over from Bob this year. I think I am slowly getting on top of the system!! 

For those of you who are not aware of the system let me try to explain how it works.

Each year a number of events from, this year 5k to marathon are chosen as handicap events, these are listed on the clubs website – occasionally an extra event will be added – you will be alerted if this occurs.  We also have a club handicap event which is normally run in August along the Water of Leith.

Any fully paid up member entering one of these events will be automatically included for the award of the handicap trophy for that event providing they have a handicap time, the winner being the member who improves best on their handicap time.  There are awards for male and female runners.

Those members who do not have a handicap time get one automatically if they enter a handicap event so they will be included in the next handicap event they enter.  If you haven’t entered a handicap event and require a time just ask me, I can usually, through negotiation, determine a suitable time. 

 If you beat your handicap time expect a new reduced time, if you are slower then an increase in time will result but times reduce faster than they increase!

I use a series of formulae to convert times from 10k to half marathon etc., or vice-versa.   The handicap times for the Edinburgh Marathon are generally considered to be a bit optimistic so if we include a marathon as a handicap event again we may need to look at the formula.

I ordered the trophies fairly soon after becoming handicapper – I am pleased to say they have now arrived so those who have won earlier events will get their trophy soon!

 You will notice elsewhere in the Newsletter a request to check if you have run in the Edinburgh 10k to make sure we have included you.  Most events put club name in the list of results and therefore we can easily find Harmeny runners.  So, a request, if you enter an event please enter as a Harmeny or Pentland Runner – this will help us ensure we have included all runners for both the club records and in any handicap event.

Finally - if you have read this far - let me know if you have any queries, comments, suggestions about the handicap system, or require a handicap time.  

Forthcoming races & events

 The British Heart Foundation Scotland is calling on all women in Scotland to take part in the Tri For The Heart event that is taking place at the University of Stirling on Saturday 21^st June 2008.

Brand new for 2008, BHF Scotland’s Tri For The Heart is a three activity challenge open to women of all abilities. Come and splash 75 metres in the crystal clear pool, ride 3K past the Wallace Monument and stride 800 metres while having fun and participating with friends.

To enter this new and exciting event please visit bhf.org.uk/trifortheheart

 JogScotland 5k challenge

Edinburgh - Wednesday 25th June  Inverleith Park

Run 1 - 6.00 pm

Run 2 - 7.30 pm

Sun 15 June     Beltane 10k, Peebles
Thur 19^th June Portobello 4 mile race Porty Prom 6.45pm
Sun 22 June     Dundee Half marathon
Wed 25 Jun Red moss revolution – Red moss car park   - no idea what this is, it’s organised by the Hunters bog trotters (www.hunterbogtrotters.com)

Sun 13 July      Famous Grouse Crieff 10k Morrisons academy ( sounds like a race for Kenny?)
Sun 3 Aug         Scottish Gas / Granton 10k and 5k
Sat 9^th Aug       Haddington Half marathon
Sun 7^th Sep      Glasgow half marathon, 10k and junior run
Sun 21 Sep       Linlithgow 10k
Sat 4 Oct         Dunbar 10mile multi terrain race
Sun 5 Oct         Loch Ness marathon
Sun 19 Oct       Jedburgh half marathon
Sun 19 Oct       Aviemore Half marathon
Sat in Nov        Glen Clova half marathon

 A race at Traquair House recommended by Bev Dodgson..
 http://www.dirtyweekendadventure.com/
http://www.dirtydozen12k.com/

 See the club website for more races coming up this year.

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