Sep Update

Club AGM: The Harmeny AGM will be held on Tuesday 29^th September at Currie Rugby Club, starting at 7.30. This is your chance to find out a bit more about what the club has done over the last year. It is also an opportunity to freshen up the club committee, so if you are looking to help shape our activities, then there will be an opportunity to volunteer. The current composition of the committee is:

Secretary:     Bob Douglas
Treasurer       Lorna Braodhurst
Membership Secretary:       Norma Bone
Welfare (Disclosure):           Catherine Barr
Junior / T&F:                         Gail Crosbie, Gerorge Miller, Jenny Barr
Adult / P.Runners     Frank Tooley, Ian May, Tom White
Pentland Tri: As nominated

 WOL club handicap run- thanks to  Gail Crosbie and her team for orgamising the WOL handicap race – results are on the website and winners are

Fast handicap:
Male: Kenny Tindall;       Female: Kirsty Stoddart

Slower handicaps:
Male: Ian McBride         Female: Lynn McBride

Reports from near and far (and short and very long)

Devil o' the Highlands Footrace – Karen mcKendrick

The Devil is the younger sister of the West Highland Way Race, covering the last 43 miles from Tyndrum to Fort William. It has a time limit of
12 hours and a field of around a hundred runners. I had been really nervous for the couple of weeks before the race but I actually quite
felt quite calm on the start line at 6am on 8^th August. The first stage, to Bridge of Orchy, was less than 7 miles and on good
terrain, so it allowed the runners to string out over a long way and allowed me to settle down into a pace that would be comfortable to
sustain all day. I found myself passing people on the uphills and then being passed again on the downhills – most runners at the back of the
pack seem to adopt a strategy of walking uphill and running the downhills and flats (not that there was much flat ground). I hadn't done
that in training so I didn't want to try something different now.

At Bridge of Orchy, the path rises more steeply uphill to a fabulous viewpoint before dropping back down to Inveroran. There were still
plenty of runners round about me, and while I didn't really run with anyone else, I had a few words with everybody I met, much friendlier
than any marathon I've ever run. The midges were out in force at Victoria Bridge so I just stopped long enough to tell my backup that I
was fine and didn't need anything.

From here, the path heads out onto the edge of Rannoch Moor and the scenery is so beautiful that I completely forgot that I was in a race
for most of it. The weather was pretty perfect, with the odd shower of rain but a good temperature to run in. I remembered to eat before I
needed it (Clif Shot Bloks mostly, they're now my fuel of choice), kept running at a comfortable pace and just enjoyed being there. I never
thought beyond the next checkpoint so that each stage was a perfectly manageable chunk.

At Glencoe I realised a hole in my sock was strangling my big toe, which forced my backup crew into a race to get to the Kingshouse Hotel before
me so I could change it – just like a Formula One pit stop. It was a bit odd meeting my backup crew (Bill and my sister) every so often for only
a couple of minutes and then running away again and it certainly confused Elli, the support dog. My support was fantastic though,
although it was their first ultra as well.

I found the path between the Kingshouse and the foot of the Devil's Staircase a bit hard-going and this is the only bit of the whole day
that I didn't really enjoy. The Devil's Staircase itself is just a slog uphill and I didn't attempt to run any of it, however, the view from the
top was magnificent. From there it's a long and steep descent into Kinlochleven, I'm slow downhill but I had done this bit before so I knew
what to expect. I had a longer stop at Kinlochleven for some real food (chicken noodle soup, cheese sandwiches and coffee and a can of
IrnBru32!) before another steep uphill stretch to the Lairig Mor. People shouted 'just a half-marathon to go' and actually as I started on the
last 13 miles Ifelt pretty good!

I felt very isolated on this bit, it's very wild and remote and although there must have been other runners on the same stretch, I went a long
time without seeing any. I don't mind running on my own at all, but I did wonder a couple of times if I had gone off the trail. My backup met
me again at Lundavra, it's not an official checkpoint but it made a huge difference seeing them there. There was fairly heavy rain at this point
and a lot of mud underfoot but I knew that I would finish and I never really had to dig deep until the last mile , which was along pavement.
Reaching the finish was truly emotional - tears of relief and joy (which I think is why I got a spot prize).

I finished in 9 hours 44 minutes which was faster than my most optimistic expectation and I was on a high for at least the next few
days. What next? I had a fabulous day. Everybody was so friendly, the scenery was stunning and I enjoyed almost all the race. I would do it
again in a heartbeat but it did take a much heavier training workload from the start of the year and right now I'm appreciating going up and
downstairs with fewer creaking joints than I've had in the past months.

 Allan Price from San Francisco - Another PW ( personal worst!)

 Sunday morning 530 am, jet-lagged, can't sleep? The cure - a marathon!

 I'd been planning to run the 2009 San Francisco marathon for about 18 months ever since I found it was around the time of a meeting I was going to at the beginning of August. So at 630am on a chilly and (as usual) misty Sunday morning I was lined up in wave 7 (4h30 to 4h45) of the start. This time my Garmin worked and told me the first mile was only just under 11 minutes, largely because we all had to stop about a minute in to funnel through a gate advertising one of the sponsors. As usual I didn't respond by thinking nice slow start save my energy for later but ohmygod that's slow and speeded up accordingly. The first hill (a 90 foot bump over about 300 yards) was at 2.5 miles, but otherwise the first 5 miles were flat, until the 250 foot climb from mile 5-6.5 up to the bridge. Despite having done the Forth Bridge 10k, I'd been worried about my fear of heights and being 250 feet above the bay. No need to worry, since the bay was almost invisible in the mist. The run across the bridge was 4 abreast in 2 lanes closed to traffic (there were still about 4 lanes open) and at this stage we seemed to be passing a lot of slower half marathon runners (there were pacing groups for 2h45 and 3h) so the passage over the bridge involved lots of short spurts to overtake - another mistake I'd regret later. Having come back over the bridge the road dropped down to the entry to the Presidio and then climbed again from 150-300 feet between mile 9.5 and 10. At this point there started appearing boards on the side of the road telling us useful information about San Francisco - highest building, where the Grateful Dead lived etc. The best said, the steepest hill in San Francisco is 31% - aren't you glad you're climbing this one? Then down almost to sea level at Baker Beach (still shrouded in mist) at mile 11, and back up to 200 feet at mile 12.5 at the entry to Golden Gate Park. Worryingly, my legs started feeling very tired about the half way stage in the park and several people passed me. So mistake number 3, rather than taking it easy and waiting to recover I speeded up to get back to the pace I thought I should be doing. I reckoned my half way split was 2h10, but my Garmin was already about a quarter of a mile longer than the markers and said 2h12 at the official half way. According to the official contour the lowest point of the park at 14.5 was about 50 feet and we climbed back to almost 300 feet at 16.5, although I hardly noticed this climb. The 4h30 pacing group passed me around this point (they were on 4h20 schedule according to my Garmin) and the only ones I caught were the 3h (who were walking) and 2 h45 groups in the second half marathon. My legs gave out around mile 18  - no conscious decision to walk, they just stopped running. At least this time I managed some sensible walk-running for the next 6 or 7 miles - helped by the spectators shouting "looking good, Allan" (I hadn't realised the Americans had a capacity for irony or lying but perhaps San Fransicans are different) and the number of official photographers for whom I felt obliged to run. After mile 18 the course was flat with only some very minor rolls, and a steep downhill out of Haight around mile 20. Around this point I latched on to a pair of runners where the younger was clearly pacing the older and encouraging him to the finish - while I walked I made sure I kept them within sight, usually caught them when I was running, and finally passed them and stayed in front when I managed to run the last mile and a quarter or so from just before AT&T. I hope they weren't too close when I was singing along with the band playing Free Bird around mile 24, although this may have speeded them up more than anything else - not wanting to be caught by that large tuneless cat - and not too annoyed; I felt like kicking somebody who did this tome at Loch Ness. There was quite a reasonable crowd in the last half mile or so, which helped keep the running going. The sun came out somewhere between 18 and 20 and at the end it was pretty hot - 70s I would guess although I didn't see it measured anywhere. 

 So as usual 17 or 18 miles of fun, and 7 or 8 miles of rapidly forgotten hell, although it didn't feel as painful as I think it should, and certainly less than at Loch Ness - presumably means I wasn't pushing hard enough at the end. High points the start, Fisherman's Wharf (mile 2) and sea lions with no crowds, crossing the bridge,  the hills at Fort Mason and Presidio and the run down to Baker Beach, Free Bird, and the finish from AT&T under the Bay Bridge and to the Ferry Building (I did this several other mornings running out on to the public piers). Low points, the half way stage in GG Park, the walks on the hot concrete from 20-24, and having to wait several days to get an official time ( I was one of 50 odd they didn't initially post). So (but not official until September 1st)

 26th July 2009, San Francisco marathon, 3032 (of 5094) Allan Price 4h40m 26s; 2214/3371 men and 162/267 M50-54.

 And Nicky Freedman’s first tri - Ladies Sprint Triathlon - Dalkieth (6th sept)

 Instead of doing the Glagow 10k, which I do every year, I opted for something different - the ladies only novice triathlon in Dalkieth.  While loading up the car with every bit of sporting equipment I owned, I did wonder whether the glasgow 10k or half would not have been much simpler!  After a really rough night with my 2 year old I was feeling pretty tired as I drew up too Dalkeith High School, however, as soon as I got out the car the buzz around the place was really exciting.

 I went to register, collect an excellent goodie bag, got numbered up (numbers written on my leg and arm) and got my swim hat and heat (2).  There were lots of people around to chat to and everyone was really friendly.  I then went back to the car to unload all my sports gear to neatly stack at the transition area.  There is just so much more to setting up at a triathlon - it seemed to take ages and be really fiddly.

After a brief information chat by the organisers the first swim heat got underway..  I have to admit it was really fustrating not to all start at the same time, although the first heat seemed fairly chaotic.  I didn't notice much in my heat, I only had three people in my lane so that made the swim fairly straight forward.  My supporters (mum and dad) said I was out the pool in under 8 mins which was a new pb for me .  

 As I got out the pool I must have looked drunk, especially as I was putting my shoes on - I kinda collapsed against the wall before awkwardly running round to the transition area where I tried to get on my waterproof (It had just started to rain - and yes I know I was already wet)..  I'm not very good on the bike and as I left the school I tried to get into the right gear and careered of the road onto the grass verge and narrowly missed a bush.  Nonchanantly I rejoined the road and race hoping no-one had noticed (I did this again later on while trying to change gears going down hill - that instance was a little more life-threatening!).  As I am not very strong on the bike I got overtaken by 3 people so I was glad when I had finished (25min 30sec).  I racked my bike and was relieved to start running - my favourite part.  I very quicky overtook 2 of the people who had overtaken me on the bike and then some other folks from swim heat one.  As it was an 'out and back' run it seemed very friendly with everyone saying hello and/or offering encouragement.  I finished the run in 24mins 41secs (another pb), making an overall time of 1hr and 53 secs.  My final finishing place was  15th - pretty successful I thought for my first triathlon. 

 Other Results

Scottish Gas 10k  2 Aug 09                   409 Runners

33     Robert Turner                 38.18
         Bill Murphy                       38.28                      
43     Alan Kerr                          39.53                      
119    Hugh Chalmers                45.48                      
120   Margi Leitch                    45.48                      
185   Bev Dodgson                    49.24                      
209   Kirsty Stoddart              50.48                      
210   Keiron Morgan                 50.48                      
214   Lorna Broadhurst           50.53                      
223   Nicola Freedman             51.19                       
304   Janis Brown                     56.32                      
328   Ian McBride                     57.59                      

Handicap winners Kirsty and Bill Murphy                                    

Scottish Gas 5k  2 Aug 09                     139 Runners
19     Ian May                            22.46                      
27     Alan Greirson                   23.37                      
117    Doreen McIntee              34.06                      
126   Sandra Lithgow               35.26                      
127   Mo May                             35.32     

Handicap winners Alan Grierson and Doreen McINtee

Donkey Brae 7m  2 Aug 09                                   
78     Ian Smith                         52.02                      
165   Lindsay Boyle                   59.27                      
179   Anne Douglas                   1.00.24                   
186   Shona Stewart                1.01.03                   
242   Shona Baird                     1.07.58
236   Gail Crosbie                      1.07.22  
264   Elaine Sandeman             1.14.53                   

Current handicaps are on the web-site.      Club handicap races below. 

September 20th       Stirling 10k
October 25th                         Jedburgh half Marathon and a 10K
November                  Cross-country

Info about a couple of other events

a weekly 5K run event in Edinburgh every Saturday starting soon.  

See http://www.parkrun.org.uk/edinburgh/Home.aspx

Edinburgh, the Urbathon, a 10k with a twist  will be unleashed on 18th of October web address for entries online is www.urbathon.com

And Edinburgh half is open for entry for 2010 – if you register before 15 Oct you get a free running top see

The 2010 Event website is now live at www.edinburgh-half.co.uk.

Race Dates – but check SAL website for complete listings

Sun 13 Sep     Linlithgow 10k
Sun 20 Sep    Stirling 10k
Sun 4 Oct      Loch Ness Marathon / 10k / 5k
Sun 18 Oct Aviemore Half marathon
Sat 14 Nov Glen Clova Half marathon
See the club website for more local races coming up this year. http://www.harmenyac.org.uk/prunners/events.htm

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