Harmeny Pentland Runners

Jan 2010 Update

January has not been the easiest month to get out running but some have carried on much as normal while the rest of us have either had a bit of a rest or been champing at the bit to get rid of the ice so things can get back to normal. Hopefully February will be better running conditions. Since we started the running group back in 1998 I think it’s the first time we have had to say that our organised sessions are cancelled!

There are quite a few new members over the past few months so as there are not race reports  we’ve included   details of the various things organised by Harmeny Pentland runners.

Reminder of running group times

Sunday morning at 10.00 am Balerno HS Car Park:
Monday morning at 9.00pm Malleny Park (Currie Rugby club) Car Park
Monday evening at 7:00pm Balerno HS Car Park
Wednesday evening at 7.00pm  Balerno HS Car Park
Thursday evening at Saughton Track:  Harmeny AC track sessions for endurance runners. 6.45pm - 7.45.  Anyone who wants to try out a bit of track work to increase their speed (whether you’re a fast or slower runner) is welcome.

Friday morning at 9.00am Malleny Park (Currie Rugby club) Car Park
Saturday morning – 8.45am at Threipmuir car park hill runs led by Iain Morrice

Runner council – next meeting is on Sunday 14^th Feb at 8pm in, Riccarton Arms, Currie, – please come along and join in everyone is welcome . Your ideas and suggestions will help to make the club work for everyone.

Monthly Club Handicap

For newcomers (and a reminder to everyone else) we designate some local races, plus our own pursuit handicap race, as club medal handicap events. “The Handicapper” maintains a list of 10k target times based on performances. For the designated races we calculate how everyone performed relative to their target times. The leading male & female win a very prestigious medal,…then get their target time reduced. It’s only open to club members. To get a Handicap please forward some verifiable times from recent 10k or half marathon races to Ian May (ianmay@talktalk.net). Handicaps are updated regularly during the season according to performances (in handicaps).

Final list of races still to be decided for 2010,  but will be  on the website, facebook and in next newsletter soon.

See the pentlandrunners website for more information and current handicaps.

And results for Broxburn cross-country which was the last handicap race for 2009 season were

                                                  10 k hcap        race time        time over

Jonathon   CARPENTER               0:36:00          0:37:22   0:01:22

Gavin         ORR                           0:39:45          0:44:47   0:05:02

Alan          KERR                          0:40:00          0:41:27   0:01:27

David         GIBSON                     0:43:30          0:43:30   0:00:00

Thomas      WHITE                      0:45:30          0:49:00   0:03:30

Male handicap winner                 David Gibson                 

                                                  7.5 k hcap       race time        time under

Margi        LEITCH                      0:33:57          0:29:18   0:04:39

Lorna         BROADHURST          0:35:37          0:32:11    0:03:26

Kirsty        STODDART                0:36:21           0:32:58   0:03:23

Female handicap winner              Margi Leitch                   

Entry form for races:  Please put in “Harmeny” for the club as it:

(a) makes it easier to find everyone on result websites,

(b) when race organisers calculate club trophies based on first “nn” finishers from a club, it means they can readily identify everyone from a club.

(c) it’s our official club name

“C&B News” Trophies

Last year we started awarding a trophy to the Male and Female who have improved the most over the last year – these trophies were bought courtesy of the Currie & Balerno News. Winners for 2009 were Gavin Orr and Kirsty Stoddart. They were presented with their trophies at the club ceilidh.

A 'Facebook Group' has been set up in the name of 'Harmeny Athletics, Pentland Runners'.

This is a forum to chat to other members about finding lifts to races, info from Frank and the Runners Council, nights out and anything else. 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=46768682967

JogScotland groups

Several of us are qualified JS leaders and as well as taking the regular groups on Wednesdays and Sundays every so often we start a group for complete beginners, so if  you know anyone who is keen to give running a go then let us know and we will start a new group early Spring sometime.

Bog n Burns

Iain Morrice usually organises an even more wet and muddy run than normal on the last Sunday of each month, and often  a route that is new to most of us.  Sometimes in the summer we do routes in nearby places such as Roslin etc.

Coffee n Cake runs

Every so often Bob organises a fun run on a Sunday which finishes at a suitable coffee and cake place – usually about 6 miles or so, flat (or downhill), at a slow pace, to allow everyone to join in if they want.

Social runs

We’ve done runs such as down the water of Leith which is 12 miles and then have food and a pint in a pub,  others have been starting at Carlops and running back over the Pentlands to Balerno, or over to Flotterstone.   Good fun!

Best performances – Chris Morgan keeps records of club best performances by age group and males/females – you can see the lists on the website.

Club tops & running vests

Norma keeps a stock of these so contact her for sizes and prices etc.

Club trip:  over the past few years some of us went over to do the Paris marathon, and then a group went to Amsterdam for the weekend where there was both a half and full marathon.  Suggestion for 2010 is to go over to Amsterdam for the dam tot damloop a 10 mile run in Amsterdam run by thousands very well organised and the local support is great.  Any other suggestions welcome.

Prize Fund: The junior side of the club has been active for over 30 years and we currently have about 60 youngsters aged 8-16 attending regularly. Over the years many have won Scottish titles and gone on to represent Scotland (& not just in athletics). To help defray the costs of coaching, equipment and the hire of facilities at BHS the club introduced a monthly 50:50 prize draw. If you’d like to participate and support a future generation of sportsmen & women then goto http://www.harmenyac.org.uk/prize%20fund.htm

Race Info from other clubs:

1) Meadows Marathon 2010, an entirely student run project which aims to raise as much money for charity as possible. We are organising a half marathon and 5k fun run in March, with the intention of getting around 1,000 runners to participate. The event has been running successfully for three years, and this year we want to make it bigger and better.  If you would like any more information then Please email  on launch@meadowsmarathon.org.uk

2) The Poppy Scotland Hearts & Heroes Challenge

On the 15^th May 2010, hundreds of heroes will take to the stunning hills of the Scottish Borders to show their support for Armed Forces veterans and rugby players, whose lives have been drastically changed through injury or hardship.

 We are looking for running clubs or members that are willing to take up the challenge

 The Poppy Scotland Hearts & Heroes Challenge takes you along 29 beautiful miles of the Southern Upland Way, from St Mary’s Loch to the famous Greenyards at Melrose Rugby Club.  It's a challenge alright, but an event open to anyone whatever pace you want to go at.

 Hearts & Heroes is a joint venture between leading veterans’ charity Poppy Scotland and Hearts & Balls, Scotland’s top rugby charity. 

 In addition to the full 29 miles there are also shorter 21 and 12 mile routes, so there really is something for all abilities.  Find the challenge that’s right for you, get together a team of 4 and register online today. 

 Log on to www.heartsandheroes.co.uk or call Colin Whybrow on 0131 550 1559 for more information. 

3) I'd be grateful if you could pass on to your club members that entries are NOW OPEN for the 2010 Dunblane Hydro 7.5 mile road race. This year the race takes place on Sunday 30th May at 1pm. Places filled quickly last year and we were oversubscribed well before race day, so early entry is recommended - it is also cheaper, as entry cost increases closer to race day.

 You can enter online at www.dunblaneroadrace.com or www.entrycentral.com

4) Entries are now open for the Dunbar 10, the traditional harbinger of spring. They’ve changed the course this year, less “sur mer” more “a la montagne” judging by the number of contours on the routemap. Details at http://www.dunbarrunningclub.com/2010/01/dunbar-10k-2010-new-route.html 

5) There’s a new event in the calendar this year with the inaugural Glenlivet 10k. See www.glenlivet10k.com for further info.  Looks scenic, if a bit remote.

Scottish Masters Indoor Championships, Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Sun 24 Jan

Bob made his annual pilgrimage to the Indoor Track & Field Championships for older folk, and came away with three medals:

Bronze in the 60m – 8.39 seconds; Silver in the Shot Putt - 9.26, metres; Gold in the 800 – 2min 49.5seconds.  (em very good tho not much competition in the 800m- first out of one – says Anne!)

There are a few others who should think about “the Masters” as I’m sure we could gather in a few more medals. The Scottish Masters Outdoors T&F will be the second weekend in July, the “British” the previous week in Cardiff.

 Race results

Park Run 5k 26 Dec 09 Cramond           77 Runners

31      Ian Smith                           23.22   

Park Run 5k 2 Jan 2010 Cramond                 82 Ran

17        Keiran Morgan                         22.24  

23        Ian Smith                                23.44  

30        Chris Morgan                           24.55  

36        Graham Tait                            25.57  

Park Run 5k 9 Jan Cramond                           52 Ran

13        Keiran Morgan                         20.43  

17        Colin Barber                             21.04   

29        Chris Morgan                           23.23  

Great Winter Run 9 Jan                                

88        Margie Leitch                          17.23   

272      Lorna Broadhurst                   19.30   

447      Fiona Donaldson                      21.11    

511       Bev Dodgson                            21.40   

597      Brian Yates                              22.21   

780      Sarah Broadhurst                   23.36   (u16)

1177    Breige Stewart                        27.03  

Park Run 5k 16 Jan Cramond                        120 Ran

27        Donald Sandeman                   21.19   

35        David Boyle                              21.58   

40        Graham Tait                            22.29  

62        Alan Price                               24.32  

71        Lindsay Boyle                           25.26  

East League X/C 16 Jan Broxburn  3rd Race

Under 11 Boys                                                                                                             

35        L.Johnston                               8.50      36 Ran                                               

Under 13 Girls                                                                                                            

22        Alison Broadhurst                   12.55    36 Ran                                               

Senior Ladies                                                                                                             

33        Margie Leitch                          29.18    73 Ran                                               

52        Lorna Broadhurst                   32.11                                                               

61        Kirsty Stoddart                      32.58                                                              

63        Amanda Pennycott                 33.07   Ladies finished 11/27 team for season

Senior Men                                                                                                                  

60        Johnathon Carpenter             37.22   195 Ran                                             

69        Peter Kadobinskyj                  37.58                                                              

104      Richard McGregor                  40.22                                                              

117       Alan Kerr                                 41.27                                                               

137      David Gibson                            43.30                                                              

152      Gavin Orr                                 44.47                                                              

161       Colin Barber                             45.50                                                              

177      Tom White                              49.00   Men Finished 15/36 Teams For Season            

Parkrun 5k 23 Jan Cramond                           200 Ran                                             

56        Donald Sandeman                   21.22                                                               

70        Ian Smith                                22.04                                                              

78        Lorna Broadhurst                   22.35                                                              

98        Alison Broadhurst                   23.25   (u14)                                                  

Parkrun 5k 30th Jan Cramond                       182 Ran                                             

29        Keiran Morgan                         19.59                                                               

45        Donald Sandeman                   20.57                                                              

61        Johnathon Page                      22.01                                                               

76        Sandra McDougal                   22.54                                                              

90        Gavin Orr                                 23.48                                                              

Membership Update

Memberships for 2009/2010 have been received from the following (as at 31 Jan). There are a few “overdues” so please check if your name is NOT on the list below. If there’s any queries please contact Norma.

Reminders from Balerno High School..

.. to use the toilets by the Drama Studio rather than “the office” toilets (bear right after entering from the car park.)

There’s a second car park at the far end of the school (opposite end from the swimming pool).

2010 Race Dates – but check websites in case I’ve got any wrong

Nat x country Champs 20th February Falkirk (Falkirk VH)

Sun 21 Feb Kirkintilloch 12.5k

Sun  7 March             Arbroath Footers 10 mile Ladies Only race.

Sun  7 March             Lasswade 10 miles

Sun 14  Mar Balloch to Clydebank half marathon

Sun   21 Mar  Alloa Half

Sun  14 March Inverness Half Marathon

Sat  20 March Mighty deerstalker (http://www.themightydeerstalker.com)

Sun  28 Mar  Grangemouth 10k

Sat  3 April Dunbar 10k

Sat  17 April Edinburgh half marathon

Sun  11 Apr     Heaven & Hell half marathon (Venue : Stormont Hall, Perth aerodrome, Scone, Perthshire) 

Sun 11 Apr Glenlivet 10k( new race in cairngorm national park)

Sun  18 Apr Lochaber Marathon

Sun ? Apr Gala Harriers 10k and 3k fun run

Sat  24 Apr Balmoral 10k 5k 2.5k and 1.5k

Sun  ??April  Angus half marathon (at www.eventfull.biz)

Sat 24 April Highland Fling

Sun  2 May BUPa Edinburgh 10k

Sat 1 May Edinburgh to North Berwick road race

Mon 24 May Rigg Race ( Balerno gala)

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