Glenshee 9 →

Ouf!

A smattering of 9 yellow vests were amongst those gathered on the start line at Glenshee ski centre on Sunday morning for the long and demanding Glenshee 9 hill race. The car had scraped the underside of a low lying cloud base on the drive into the glen prompting a certain amount of map referencing driven by anxiety of a navigational disaster in these featureless hills. Although the first climb along the ugly scarred ski area was in the mist, the cloud burnt off fairly quickly, allowing the usual sheep mentality to route finding for the rest of the afternoon.

I was surprised at feeling quite content over the first half of the race which covers 6 Munros to the east of the road, covering a wild, barren terrain of tussocks and peat hags. I took a slightly daft route off Carn a Turic, heading straight for the road crossing in my sight, taking me (and some others) over a boulder field and down a marshy, slippery burn. No matter, I popped out on the path just behind those I'd been with at the summit. Lifting a fresh bottle of juice, I began the traipse up Carn Aosda, suddenly aware that the five races of the week were taking their toll as a breakdown in communication ensued between my leg muscles and my brain's commands. I was grateful to Alayne Finlay for taking the lead at this point through the deep and springy heather and fell in behind her step. Making a decision to 'potter' the remaining 2 summits, Alayne and I jogged along together, and I resisted the urge to visit the extra outlier that I'd summited in last year's race. On the return leg from the 8th top, I encountered Chris, who had climbed to the ridge above the ski centre to take photos. With his encouragement, I was able to dig in to overtake the two runners I'd been following and who strangely decided to walk very slowly up to the last checkpoint. I managed the very steep and messy descent over rough ground without pranging either ankle and finished more or less intact and delighted at completing my second hill race of the year. Congratulations to Brian B, Manny, Elsie B, Steffen and JD who also completed the race and commiserations to those who gubbed out in various different ways.

Posted by Ellie Homewood on Mon 9 Aug 2010 | 2 comments

Category Hill Race

Tour of Cydeside: Bellahouston Belter →

The 10K finale to the Tour of Clydeside is hosted by Bellahouston Harriers in Pollok Park on the Friday evening. This year, the 'tourers', now feeling properly warmed up by the three (or four) races of the week, were joined by a good crowd of random runners. This route, running anticlockwise this year, follows two loops of the road through Pollok and most of it seems to be on the pavement that contours the park. My cumulated total time from the previous races meant that I was pretty safely sitting in third female position and as the race began, I fell quite quickly into a comfortable pace trailing the second woman, and found myself passing some of the vests that had been well ahead of me throughout the week with relative ease. I find it so interesting that some folk you race alongside seem to drain your energy by running erratically and reactively against you, whilst others help you retain pace by matching you cooperatively. Reaching the final road section for the second time however, I felt able to ignore the elbows and spurts of those around me and retained sight of the second woman up to the final corner. I knew she had a good 38 seconds ahead of me and hadn't closed the gap between us at all during the race so was happy to trot in behind. Paula, Pat and I completed the series and although not officially recognised, had there been one, we would have taken the women's team prize for our tenacity and determination. Paula did take the V40 women's prize. Well done ladies on your excellent week of training and to Chris for your great performance over the week.

Posted by Ellie Homewood on Sat 7 Aug 2010 | 1 comment

Category road race

Tour of Clydeside: Garscube Gallop →

With legs well and truly gubbed from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday's races, Chris and I jogged up to Thursday's 5K trail race around the familiar stomping ground of Garscube woods behind Dawsholm Park. The route is reassuringly undulating and takes in three loops along the paths which meander through the woods. With six minutes to kick off, we turned back from our warm-up toward the start line catching a marshal's wry comment that the race had started. Ha ha! Safe in the confidence that Chris's watch is reliably coordinated to the satellite that sits above Greenwich, we jogged on, but were somewhat puzzled by the fact that there was no one on the start line apart from a few marshals gesturing wildly at us. Some twenty odd minutes later, it was explained that, in a twist, which is admittedly unconventional in normal racing circles, someone had decided to start the race five minutes early. Interesting. However, starting a race at the back turned out to be quite an experience. Rather than spending most of the race desperately hanging on to my peers and trying to keep focused in the zone needed to retain a steady pace, I had the glorious and unfamiliar experience of reeling in runner after runner, most of whom appeared to be walking on the spot as I nipped past. I was glad to happen upon Pat and later, Paula, although didn't stop for a natter, pressing on through the undulating terrain, and feeling disconcertingly unaware of where I sat relative to my peer runners - I had no idea at this point when the race had begun. In contrast to last year, when I found this trail run unbelievably hard work, the 'handicap' system gave the race a much greater sense of movement and progression which added immensely to the enjoyment and served to tone down the seething irritation at missing the premature start...and at least no one overtook me!

Posted by Ellie Homewood on Thu 5 Aug 2010 | 10 comments

Category Trail Race

Narnain Boulder Handicap →

Nine Westies made the effort to get to scenic Arrochar for the bash up and down to the Narnain Boulder, in the heart of the Arrochar Alps. We were all rewarded with a lovely evening, and the midges weren’t too bad either. I was personally rewarded with an insulting handicap, despite my protestations of old age/tiredness/weary leg syndrome and even some begging on my knees. I proceeded to live up to this handicap by trundling in last; having ran so slowly that the others had even started to head up track to look for me. Despite my leaden legs I enjoyed the stunning views all around, including Loch Long and Ben Lomond. The best view of all, though - apart from Don’s impressive array of cuts, scrapes and bruises – was the pint of Loch Fyne Avalanche Ale and plate of fish and chips in the Village Inn afterwards. John Quinn had obviously paid off the handicapper handsomely, and came home in first place, getting the new Narnain Trophy, courtesy of sponsors Asda. He was so overawed by this impressive display of plasticware, that he declined the beer and food in favour of rushing home to show his wife his new trophy. Or maybe he was just rushing Don off to A&E at Hairmyres Hospital.

Posted by John Donnelly on Thu 5 Aug 2010 | 7 comments

Category handicap races

Tour of Clydeside: Canal Bank Canter →

Tuesday night saw another healthy Westie turnout of 6 for the second Tour of Clydeside race hosted on the towpath at Clydebank. With nostrils full of fish and chip scent wafting from the nearby McMonagles, we set off eastbound along the canal on another delightful out and back route. For the second night running I found my pace dropping away after the initial 10 minute blast and being overtaken by a group of four. I managed to hold on behind them (well, I could just about see them in the distance)and made up a place on the return journey placing me in fourth female position. Without my contacts, again I couldn't work out where the finish line was (although this wasn't helped by the fact there wasn't one, just some men gesturing vaguely at the ground) so just had to attempt to hold some pace until someone told me to stop and hope that I wasn't overtaken in the last few painful moments. Ahead of me, Chris had finished strongly, followed by Rob (and his pal) and behind me Paula rolled in with a comic mock-sprint followed by Rhona and Pat. Of course the scheduled rest-day, won't be such for those of us heading up for a bit of boulderbashing tomorrow. Hoping this may sharpen up the legs for the Garscube Gallop on Thursday.

Posted by Ellie Homewood on Tue 3 Aug 2010 | 5 comments

Category races

Tour of Clydeside: Kilbarchan Klassic →

Monday evening saw five Westie women and two Westie men don their trainers for the first of the four Tour of Clydeside 2010 races which run throughout this week. This course is arguably the hardest and least appealing of the races, as it involves a simple out and back route along the almost entirely flat cycle path 7 starting from Kilbarchan. The identikit overhead railway bridges are the only landmarks which make it almost impossible to get any sense of distance covered/remaining. However, the path was not busy and was lined with wild flowers and the race organisers must have cleared away the usual remnants of smashed bottles, so I guess it could have been worse. The field was slightly bigger than last year, with the usual mix of club runners and unattached locals out for a jog. For brevity, Captain Chris was in as the first Westie, followed by Neil Adams. The women swept in shortly after with Paula coming in after me and Elizabeth kicking at her heels. Rhona had a great run less than a week after nearly jacking the whole thing in at Mugdock, and Pat rounded us up. After that delightful baptism of Renfrewshire pollen and tarmac, we transfer to Clydebank for tonight's 7.364K run along the canal bank...

Posted by Ellie Homewood on Tue 3 Aug 2010 | comments are open

Category Trail Race

Dollar Hill Race →

The lean mean racing machine that is the revamped and recently retired Brian Brennan, was bemoaning the lack of fellow Westies racers early on Sat, but one by one a few of us crawled out of the woodwork to race this British and Scottish Champs race round the Ochils, though we were all Vets!!!, where are the youngsters??. Yours truly had an averagely good race, I think, just managing to stay ahead of slimline BB, but behind Murdo and my eternal racing rival Davy Duncan of Ochils HR. Manny led us home, followed by Steffen while Pauline and Pat were the sole Westies women.

The numbers were swelled by the ranks of super fit English, Welsh and Irish runners, and this led to congestion in the narrow footpaths of Dollar Glen. We fanned out plenty by the time we hit the steep trudge up to Saddle Hill and Whitewisp Hill. It was a real effort to haul my legs up here step by slow step, but heh, it was the same for everyone I suppose. Once on the ridge the running was easier and I started to chase down a few runners in front. With the larger numbers this year there were always runners around, making for good competition, both from in front and behind. From Tarmangie Hill there was a great runnable descent to the deer fence, and a bit more effort was required for the slightly uphill traverse over to the foot of Andrew Gannell Hill.

At this point I couldn’t quite remember if we headed over to Ben Cleuch or not, so it was a relief to see runners rounding at the top and heading in the direction of Maddy Moss. I bashed down this great descent feeling great as we all do on a downhill, passing a few only to have to the reality of tired legs reappear for the slog back up to the last top of Kings Seat.

Davy Duncan was right beside me at this point, and I tried to shake him off by putting in a burst on the first part of the descent, but the old man just bided his time and raced away from me as my quads started to protest at the bashing they were getting.

A Carnethy also passed me just before the return to the Glen, as did Anita Hamilton of Cosmics, but I tracked her down to the road, where she seemed to tire. I got away from her and managed to catch one other to finish 150th out of 252 in 1hr 43m 54s. The winners' times were 72m 48s (M) and 84m 01s (F). A great spread of cakes and goodies were laid on by organisers Ochil Hillrunners.

Results and photos

 

22 Manny Gorman 01:21:36

103 Don Reid 01:35:00

124 Steffen Gorgas 01:39:09

144 Murdo MacLeod 01:42:04

150 John Donnelly 01:43:54

156 Brian Brennan 01:44:57

190 Hamilton Semple 01:52:17

221 Pauline McAdam 02:01:09

248 Pat McLaughlin 02:26:20

Posted by John Donnelly on Mon 2 Aug 2010 | 6 comments

Category Hill Race

Helensburgh Half Marathon →

1st August 2010

Bumped into fellow Westie Ken MacMahon on the start line and discovered we had both entered for the Loch Ness Marathon, but both agree that this may be a fairly pointless race as it'll leave us both gubbed for a month afterwards! Also thought I heard Ivan Chindurza's name being mentioned at the finish, but as a Bella Harrier, not a Westie...

Weather pretty much ideal today for the Half, being fairly still and neither too hot nor too cold. Nothing spectacular from Ken and I on the racing front, Ken recovering from a long bout of the cold, and me stopping repeatedly with a stitch after a very promising first 6 miles. However, another 16 mile training run in the bag for the day, and the chance to stretch the legs a bit more than usual.

Ben Melby looked to be well clear as he raced to victory in the men's race, and Leanne Hamilton took the women's title.

Impressive and noisy support from the peace camp at Faslane!

Posted by Johnston Orr on Sun 1 Aug 2010 | comments are open

Category road race

Captain Chris on the GR11 →

We met Captain Chris at Espot (Spanish Pyrenees) last Friday, in the middle of his GR11 "sprint". He is covering phenomenal distances every day. We were supposed to meet him on the trail, but we were sitting having a leisurely breakfast when he popped up in the village (of course he had started walking at 6am!). How embarassing. We gave him a shower, relieved his heavy rucksack of a few items, and then set off on the next 10K with him. Chris is in fine form. He had a a problem with snow at one point (too much), and had to lose a day through a detour, but he is still at least a day ahead of schedule. Made Dave and my foray into the mountains seem pretty tame. Probably the first and last time I will ever be at Chris's side on a 10K! ps. Beware men bearing gifts. Chris gave me a sunhat he had found on the trail, it fitted perfectly and I wore it immediately (I could no longer bear Dave's comments about my pirate buff look). At the end of the walk I took it off and to my horror discovered some form of dead animal inside. yuk yuk yuk

Posted by Muffy Calder on Thu 22 Jul 2010 | 2 comments

Category hill walk, trail walk, road walk

Paddling round the Pad →

One thing is clear: the Gods have decreed that Westies is a north Glasgow club, and any venture south of the river will be punished by flood (but not famine: thanks Ashoka Darnley!).
At approximately 6.45pm, some 7 drookit Westy men set forth from the Neilston station car park, soon to be joined by John Hutchinson. Where were the Westy women? had Pat taken cold feet? (well, she had, but that was the result of following in our wake with Cat, at some minutes' handicap.
Neilston Pad was successfully climbed, into the clouds, then my almost-washed-away flour markers guided us back to the trail. I had to describe the views, as the rain was incessant and we soon were subjected to a foot-wash on the riverside trail. The last mile or so through woodland (the old Crofthead Estate) featured a brief encounter with a yellow-clad young lass, but this was no Westy wummin, just a wet one! A final charge(?) up the Brae, then 6 muddy Westies tried to share my shower in preparation for the Ashoka assignment.
The curry was certainly a necessary postscript to a serious wetting, and was enhanced by the arrival of token Westy wummin (sorry Pat!!) as we furtively tore up a Peshwari naan amongst us.
The general verdict was that the new club run route was quite acceptable, and could maybe be repeated in September.

Posted by Graeme Orr on Wed 21 Jul 2010 | 5 comments

Category club runs