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Nigel Barge Road Race, 2008

As I was having a particularly bad plod around the Nigel Barge trail today (so bad that, to my eternal shame, I dropped out at the end of the first lap), my mind lapsed to musing over the many races organised by clubs to commemorate illustrious members. Not only is there the Nigel Barge( Maryhill), but there is the Dunky Wright (Clydesdale), the Jack Crawford (Springburn), the Tom Scott(Law) and the Allan Scally's(Shettleston). Surely Westies should get in on the scene and to make interesting events celebrating the unique character of various members?

So.for example, we could have the Chris Upson Race, where all competitors receive a personalised heart rate/race profile chart at the end.

Or there could be the Nigel Scott Road Race, where competitors would run under another runner's name to avoid paying their SAL levy?

Or the Manny Gorman Hill Race, with prizes to every runner who crunches his ankle en-route but still manages to hobble past the finish line?

Or the Muffy Calder Point-to-Point Road Race for the Spacially Challenged, with no trail markers and the winner being the first one who successfully manages to find their way to the finish?

Or the Grimorr Race, where everyone wears yellow shoes and runs with gear costing no more than £3.50 in total?

There must be other suggestons to add to the above???

Anyway, onto the race, which was held in fine conditions.Each competitor was given an eco-unfriendly cardboard carrier bag with volume considerably greater than the contents; one caramel wafer, one advertising brochure and one plastic drinks container of dubious usefulness.

Chris was first Westie home, followed by Johnston, ensuring a sub-40 minute performance with a fine sprint finish. Then came Stuart, Elsie R, Archie, Graeme and Ian. Former-Westie Fraser was also there after a lengthy absence, although his name doesn't appear in the results.

So,not a bad turnout. And, at this stage, it looks like Archie is heading for victory in the Winter League.

Results

14 Chris 35:58

50 Johnston 39:53

98 Stuart 43:40

114 Elsie 44:43

127 Archie 45:50

131 Graeme 46:16

185 Ian 51:44

DNF Dave

Posted by Dave Calder on Sat 3 Jan 2009 | 9 comments

Category winter league

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Comments

  1. Dave said...

    Whoops sorry, it's 2009 now, isn't it????

    Saturday 3rd January 2009 9.12pm

  2. Johnston said...

    I vote for the Dave Calder Road Race which is easier than it first seems as it only lasts for half the advertised distance.

    Why the DNF? Explain yourself, man!!

    I found the course to be nowhere near as hilly as people had made out, and posted a reasonable time which hopefully indicates I'm close to full fitness again and ready to banish the memories of an ill-starred 2008. Well done to Stuart on getting a PB, and to Elsie (aka the Westieez Wimmin's team) on a default PB in her first ever 10k! In general, looking at other race results, times seemed to be about 30-60 seconds down on comparable holiday-season races on pancake-flat courses.

    There were so many of the Purple Road Monsters in attendance that it was hard to keep track of who was who for racing purposes! On the subject of attendance, only 4 Westies at the Law Breaker, only one (Chris) at Greenmantle (although I note that others did seek transport for that one), and 7 finishers for a race on our home turf. Can't we get any more folk out? Where are you all???

    Thanks to Ellie for support and photos and comments on footwear. I think you'll find that my foul yellow shoes were far more vile than Grim's yellow zipper-slippers, and clashed wonderfully with my vest.

    Ritchie Nicholls of Dundee Hawkhill led the field home in a storming time of 30:30. Toni McIntosh was first female in an amazing 35:16 for 9th position.

    Full results are on the Maryhill Harriers website.

    Saturday 3rd January 2009 9.35pm

  3. Stuart said...

    My bag also included a medal for finishing, before I even started ! (I’m presuming you handed yours back Mr Calder ?)

    I’m happy with my time, kept it steady most of the way round with a sprint finish to beat some guy in a purple top as instructed by DC. 20 Seconds off the previous PB.So do I get extra PB points in the winter league then or do I have to have run the Nigel Barge before ?

    Thanks to the cheerleaders Ellie, David R & Dave C (Lap 2 only !)

    Sunday 4th January 2009 12.18pm

  4. Ellie said...

    Saturday afternoon... from my increasingly familiar position on the sidelines... equipped with over-sized Nikon camera and Merino woolly hat. Lap 1:Chris- check (and snap)Johnston-check (and cheer horrible shoes)Stuart -checkElsie - checkDave - checkArchie - check (although not sure he knew who I am)Graeme - check (note similarly startling slippers)Ian - checkAll present and correct. Swelling sense of maternal pride in fellow team mates.

    Sun dropping. Lap 2:Chris- check (neck to neck with nemesis Paul T- quiet shout for Paul!)Johnston - (put on sun-glasses to reduce footwear glare) checkStuart - check Elsie - check (really looks like she's enjoying that tarmac slapping)Long pause...Archie - check (definitely doesn't know who I am, but graciously nods in response to cheer)Graeme - check (rewarded with an amusing subtle disco diva-finger-pointing gesture)Ian - check

    Someone's missing.Momentary mother duck panic. Ebbs with realisation there are winners to snap at the finish line.Finish line...sweaty westies and flat-capped time-keepers collapsing...so much excitement!Mr Calder emerges, fresh as a daisy, with notebook in hand "leaden legs" "breathing not right" "decided to give lap 2 a miss"...continues authoritative discussion about who deserves additional winter league points!!!Cheeky Monkey! 'nuff said.

    Sunday 4th January 2009 6.11pm

  5. Chris said...

    I'm sure it wasn't just Dave who felt rubbish after the first lap.I was hanging onto the shoulder of Paul Thompson as we entered the 2nd lap, but faded after 7km or so, and allowed Paul to open a gap. The final 1km back along Maryhill Road was a gruelling flog to prevent dropping ang more places, with Robert Rogerson trying hard to close me down.

    Full results

    Monday 5th January 2009 8.29am

  6. Elsie said...

    I felt rubbish the whole way round, as last week was the most mental week of activity I have ever had having mountain biked 20k, ran the first six munros of the Glenshee 9, ran up Ben Ledi, walked up an additional 2 munros and been winter climbing twice, but I'm glad that despite that I managed to look like I was enjoying myself!

    And I managed to set a PB, this being my first ever 10k!

    Now time for some sleep.

    Thanks Ellie for cheering, think it was the only thing that got me to the finish line!

    Monday 5th January 2009 9.55am

  7. Ian Goudie said...

    Wow Elsie !! I'm not surprised you faded a wee bit right at the end.Well done on your first 10k, most are much easier, honest.I gave you a mention or two in my race blog here: http://www.freewebs.com/ian9657/blog.htm

    Monday 5th January 2009 2.55pm

  8. Stuart said...

    Jeezo Elsie !Given that it's quite a hilly 10k and with a bit of rest i'm sure you will beat your new PB no problem next time !

    Monday 5th January 2009 3.50pm

  9. The Grim Zipper said...

    Question: How do you know there's a recession? Answer: when yopu open your Nigel Barge "lucky bag"! a much inferior offering to last year's sumptuous cornucopia of delights.Also: when Dave finds the weather "calder" than his old lungs can hack, and he drops out, only to spill green BILE over my posh runner's gear. The bionic zipper slippers came from a bargain bin in a downtown Geneva supermarket, and cost 26 Swiss francs, ie maybe 12 quid. The blacks running shorts were from a female admirer some years ago when I was admir-able. (Unlike Dave, may I add! BAH!)...as maybe I still am! was proud to "slipstream" Archie nearly all the way, getting down to 2 places and under 50 yards adrift at 9k, before his loping gait left my soft-shoe shuffle for dead over the last killermetre.HOWEVER, I've computed my rate to be under seven-and-a-half minute miles...have now entered the Jack Crawford 10k along the Effin C canal in 2 weeks - BRING 'EM ON!!

    Tuesday 6th January 2009 1.25pm

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