ALNWICK - 23rd JUNE - CLUB OUTING - UPDATED.

LAST CHANCE FOR A SEAT ON THE BUS.

 

A BUS HAS BEEN PROVISIONALLY BOOKED FOR SUNDAY 23RD JUNE.

IT WILL DEPART HALLHILL ABOUT 08:00 (ish).

WE HAVE STILL TO ARRANGE A PLACE TO GO FOR A MEAL AND A FEW DRINKS AFTERWARDS.

 

HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO CONFIRM THE DETAILS OF THE BOOKING BY THIS FRIDAY )7TH JUNE) IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY TOLD STUART THAT YOU WANT TO COME ALONG THEN PLEASE DO SO BY END OF PLAY ON THURSDAY (WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE AGM).

The Alnwick Trail Run on the 23rd June is a club championship event.
It's also been decided to try to make a bit of a day out of it. To this end we are thinking of hiring a "charabanc" to take us there and bring us back .... and stop off for a meal somewhere.

For £5 extra we could even get one with a roof.

The "race" itself is actually three. Runners can take their pick of the 5K, the 10k or the half marathon.

All races start at the same time (10:30)

Please let Stuart know if you wish to go one the bus, and how many places you want. However, please - don't simply shout at him as he runs along on a Tuesday or Thursday night - he is liable to forget. Best to email him or catch him in one of his rare quiet and contemplative moments.

The club will pay for some of the travel costs, but we would expect runners to contribute a minimal "fare" (we don't know how much yet).

It's up to the runners themselves to enter the race itself. Details and entry bumf here: http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?festivalID=262

ALSO - If anyone knows of anywhere decent to eat down in that neck of the woods - please let us know.

Fwd: Yetholm Hill Race

Another wee note from Norham....

 

Bugger!!!

Forgot to add the link for entry    http://www.norhamrc.co.uk 

Les

Melrose 13.1 KM Race

The 13.1km Road Race 2013 will take place on Sunday 25 August at 11:00 am.

The event took place for the first time in 2012 and there is the hope
that this event will grow in popularity - there was fantastic feedback
from the runners after the race last year.

Entries at : http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=101458

Fwd: Yetholm Hill Race

Anyone who is thinking of doing the Yetholm Hill Race this Sunday - please note the message recieved today from the organisers:

 

"Just a wee ( late) reminder that there will be no entries on the day for this years Yetholm race and online entry closes at 23.59 pm 29th May (that's today in case like me you can't remember what day of the week it is!!) could you forward this to your members please as we wouldn't want anyone to miss out on what looks like being a big day.

A' the best,"

OLDHAMSTOCKS HILL RUN

Springburn Harriers - Canal Canter 21st August 2013

The Mid Week Canal Canter Race is being held on Wednesday 21st August
2013, 7pm start, £2 entry fee.

More details and any updates will be on the website
www.springburnharriers.com on-line pre-entry available via Entry
Central (via link http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=101577
).

Exhibition

We are always keen to exercise the mind, as well as the legs, here at Dunbar.

And what better way to exercise the mind than some "appreciation of the aesthetic" type workout?

Why not pop along to the Edinburgh College of Art "Great Big Art Exhibition"? Works include some by HELPs very own Ray Harris.

Details at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/463113147097388/

Scafell Marathon

The inaugural Scafell Pike Trail Marathon was run yesterday, which as you might expect was a marathon, on trails, up Scafell Pike. This definitely was a mountain run, but unusually for a marathon was 27.6 miles long, making it longer than the Lairig Ghru… anyway, a splendid time was had by all.

The route was varied, winding along lakeside paths and country trails before making the climb up to Styhead pass and the corridor route to the summit of Scafell. Unfortunately, anything above 1500 feet was in the clouds, so map and compass were required to cross the summits over to Esk Hause and back to Styhead.

Luckily for me (but not for them) several competitors got lost, and even traversed the hill section in the wrong direction, allowing me to make up a few places. There was still several miles of boggy paths, extra-slippery rocks and small dogs on leads to negotiate before the final limp into Keswick to much fanfare and complementary flapjack. I got round in 05:22:49 which was good enough for 21^st place.

HELP 10K and Half Marathon

Two good runs for the summer :

The Haddington Festival 10K is on Saturday 1st June at 3pm.

The Haddingston Half Marathon is on Saturday 10th August at 2pm.

Registration and start for both races at Neilson Park.

Full details at http://www.entrycentral.com or www.helprunningclub.org.uk

A Marathon Month.....

On Saturday 13th, Stuart and Anne took part in the Pencaitland PTA 10K
Fun Run. Stuart finished first in 37:14 and Anne finished in 51:08.

There was much more serious running the next day as Rhona Anderson ran
the Lochaber Marathon again, finishing 25th overall in a time of
3:08:32. Rhona was 1st in her category and third female - another
great run. On the same day, Neil Jones ran in warmer temperatures as
he competed in the Brighton Marathon, finishing in 3:58:59, and coming
back home with a sun tan.

The following Saturday, Ian Sills and Jane Timms represented Scotland
in the Czech Republic, running in the Pardubice Half Marathon. Ian
finished 41st overall in 1:19:49 and Jane finished in 2:02:18.

The next day saw Mary Wood and Karen Page running in the Virgin London
Marathon in higher temperatures than they have trained in (and less
blowy). Mary finished her first Marathon in an excellent time of
3:31:07, with Karen taking a significant amount off her previous
Marathon time finishing in 3:48:42.

On 27th, Lee Curtis ran the 59th Annual Three Peaks Fell Race,
finishing the challenging course in an excellent time of 4:23:17. The
following day, Richard Taylor competed in the Marathon of the North in
Sunderland, finishing in 43rd place in 3:11:16. On the same day,
Stuart and Anne were battered by wind, rain and hail while running the
Heaven and Hell Half Marathon in Perth. Stuart lead from the start,
winning the race in 1:23:26. Anne finished in 1:58:14, winning her
age category.

A good running month with a lot of miles covered.

Flying the flag...

Not Quite the Marathon of the North

What's 264 meters between friends? Well according to Mr Cram's e-mail yesterday, it's the distance I should have run to complete the Marathon of the North. Some marshalling error seems to have been the problem. Put's you off marshalling doesn't it! As I was nowhere near a PB and I actually enjoyed the event, I can only feel sorry for those who did (or thought they did), and for the organisers. These things happen. Better start training for York, which will now become my first marathon of the year. http://news.sky.com/story/1089637/marathon-runners-sent-on-wrong-route

Stonehaven Half Marathon

This year's Stonehaven Half Marathon will be on 7th July at
Mineralwell Park, Stonehaven. This popular half marathon follows an
accurately measured, scenic route through the countryside on the roads
around Stonehaven.

All finishers receive a medal, refreshments and free entry to the
famous Stonehaven Outdoor Pool.

Entry can be made at https://www.entrycentral.com/stonehaven-half-marathon
or see http://stoneyhm.webnode.com/ for more details

Three Peaks Fell Race

A week ago was the 59th Annual 3 Peaks Race. It is proudly advertised as the "marathon with mountains", although the route doesn't traverse any mountains and isn't a marathon. 

However,  it is quite lumpy in places and is rather long so I'll let them off. Sideways snow on the first hill/mountain soon gave way to sunshine for the rest of the route, which had everything: Hands-and-knees ascents, country lanes, bogs, a river crossing, wide rocky plateaus and so on. A classic, if you will.

I finished in the top half in 04:23:17, once again pipped at the post by a phalanx of fitter, more committed runners. Still, fastest finisher from the club, so pleased with that.

Lee

Putton Mill 10K and Children's 2K

This year's Putton Mill 10k & Children's 2k races will be held on
Sunday 9 June in aid of our Radio Borders Cash for Kids. Further
information is available at www.puttonmill.co.uk/putton-mill-10k-race
with links to enter online or download the entry form.

There is a new route for the 10k this year which avoids the off-road
section and hopefully will make for drier feet and faster times! Still
a lovely run on very quiet county roads. The 2k will once again be run
around the golf driving range and adjacent fields to ensure children
are never on the main roads.

Times have been changed so that parents can watch their children take
part in the 2k and then run the 10k themselves. The 2k will start at
10.30am and the 10k at 11.15am.

Marathon of the North: Race Report

I headed south for the Marathon of the North in the city of Sunderland where the marathon, half marathon and 10k all started and finished at the Stadium of Light. This was one of Steve Cram's business ventures and it was good to see him marshalling and packing up the course like his other fellow club runners. It was a shame that some local youths extended their helping hand to helping themselves to his hire van....which they nicked, along with several boxes of marathon runners medals. There was a pasta party that was obviously catering for the local leprechauns, as the portions were tiny. Nevertheless it got people together and Cram and some other Question of Sport contestants were on hand to offer advice.

Race day arrived and the wind was blowing strong. In fact they ditched the hand over marquees for the relay as they were a health and safety risk. It was very cold too, so whilst it was right to have a minutes silence before the race started to remember the Boston bomb victims, as I stood in my vest and shorts my thoughts were beginning to shift to 'why didn't I put a base layer on?' Off we went and the course is quite diverse. It takes you over the landmark Monkwearmouth Bridge a few times, through parks, industrial estates, residential bits, shops and finally along a magnificent coastal and quayside path that loops back to the stadium. There are lots of twists and turns, dips and a few energy sapping hills to work against. The wind made these hard work. It's not a PB course but I liked it despite one or two less creative stretches where you run around a cone and come back on the same road. There were loads of water/isotonic gloop stations and plenty of marshals most of the way to help you along. The locals came out too with plenty of jelly babies and oranges on offer, adding to the strong 'feel good' factor of this event. I have since notified the organisers of any faults, but one that cost me time was a park where no marshals were present and it was anyone's guess which way to go. Aside to that they were pretty good and it was well organised.

My time of 3:11:16 was okay. I was happier with my position of 43rd than my time, which suggests others found the wind tough too. Looking back now I can see I made the schoolboy error of going too fast too early. I was under 7min miles for the first 15 miles and not surprisingly at around 18 miles the wheels fell off a bit when cramp struck. After that it was an exercise of damage limitation and avoiding DNF on my results. I eventually found my way to the last 400m, only to be confronted by a hump backed bridge, which led to cramp at the home straight. So I didn't finish strong as I like to do, but I've goto over it. Free massages and a quick wander through the stadium made it better. I got a t-shirt and medal, although I understand lots of people didn't. There's a load on auction on Ebay, along with a white van.

There were no Scottish clubs present, and with Sunderland being only 2 hours away from Dunbar, some of you might want to consider doing this one next year. I would, but I might take my thermals next time.
Richard Taylor

March Races

Brian and Theresa Davidson started the month both achieving PB's at
the Ron Hill Cambuslang Down by the River 10K on Sunday 3rd. Brian
finished 20th over all in 39:09 and Theresa in 54:46.

On the same day, Rhona Anderson and Neil Jones ran the Lasswade 10
mile, with Rhona finishing in 67:28, making her second female vet over
40, with Neil finishing in 81:00.

A week later saw Sheila Morrison, battling freezing weather conditions
at the Loch Katrine Half Marathon, finishing in 2:15:04.

The following Saturday,16th, Neil Jones ran the D33 Deeside Way Ultra
Run, taking the 33 mile route in his stride with a time of 5:21:10.
On the same day, Clare Miles ran the testing Deerstalker 5K at
Traquair House.

The next day at the Alloa Half Marathon, Stuart Hay finished in
1:18:44, Rhona Anderson in 1:27:01, Karen Page in 1:43:04, Anne Hay in
1:48:05 and Sheila Morrison in 2:08:21.

Ian Sills was the sole Dunbar runner at the Criffel Hill Race - 10.5 km with 550 metres of ascent.  Ian finished 12th out of 52 in a time of 1:11:22.

If anyone has been missed out for March - just drop Anne an e-mail.

Brig Bash 5

If you couldn't manage Heaven and Hell on Sunday (a great,
well-organised race), Perth Road Runners are hosting another event -
the Brig Bash 5.

Enter at www.entrycentral.com/brig-bash-5.

Tri Centre 17KM Trial Run

Just a wee reminder of the event happening at Foxlake on Sunday.
Organised by the TRI CENTRE, its a 17km Trial Run , in and around
Foxlake, Hedderwick Hill and the John Muir Park.

More info can be found at http://www.thetricentre.com/tritrail/