Bobby Quinn Shows His Class

The Tour of Clydeside Series comprised of a race every evening from 14 May to the Friday that week.

Campbell Joss turned up on the first night with Bobby himself and John Bell too. Pity there wasnt any other big names in for the entire series. Bobby then emphasized that he wasnt in good shape but "probably around 16.10 5k shape". Aye whatever you say was my thoughts.

Anyway the first race was a 2.5 mile cross country and everyone else apart from me, bobby and john got lost and took a massive shortcut so when we came out the woods we were at the back of the pack. I then got lost again and managed to chase John down but lost too much time to bobby.

Second race was a hill race and my worst fears came true but chased boby as hard as I could before walking up the last section of steep track to the finish.

Third race was the road race. Benny from Ronhill Cambuslang turned up to add some heat as did Paul from Helensburgh. But Bobby instantly set a blistering pace on the last lap and I managed to stay within 28 seconds of him.

Fourth race was the riverbank race, out and back course near dawsholm park with a hilly finish. Bobby and John Bell set off doing the first mile in 5.05 with me behind in 5.20 and I managed to keep 30 sec ahead of benny with me 27 seconds behind bobby.

Last race on the Friday was a 2.5 mile hilly trail race which was really a muddy cross country. I didn’t bring spikes and this proved a mistake as both john mcmillan and Bobby had theirs. Anyway I decided to try and lead bobby until the muddy sections but could stay behind him then losing him in the woods.

Overall Bobby won the series with me in second and gave both of us a good wee endurance test with bobby back from injury and me feeling better from my low iron count a few weeks ago.

Obviously the future of the race depends on more people doing which I hope happens next year.

1		Robert Quinn	Kilbarchan AAC	M	V40
2		Mark McColl	Shettleston Harriers	M	S
3		Andrew Clugston	Kilbarchan AAC	M	S
4		Campbell Joss	Bellahouston Harriers	M	V50
5		Gordon J Gallacher	Kilbarchan AAC	M	S
6		Robert Wilson	Greenock Glenpark Harriers	M	S
7		James Taylor	Garscube Harriers	M	S
8		Michelle Hetherington	Helensburgh AAC	F	V35
9		Stewart Sloss	Dumbarton AAC	M	S
10		Heather McIntosh	Garscube Harriers	F	V35
11		Anne Murray	Clydesdale Harriers	F	V35
12		Robert Shaw	Inverclyde AC	M	V50
13		Lindsay C Wilson	Garscube Harriers	M	V40
14		Mark Turnbull	Garscube Harriers	M	V40
15		Colin Gray	Clydesdale Harriers	M	S

High Caves Training Run

Past three weeks been spent doing very hill runs in order to improve on climbs in a race.
The Circuit which takes no prisoners runs along Auchenhowie Road offering sub 6 min miles before the hard work begins on Dowan Road.

The climbing just never stops with some 12% climbs before going right onto the famous Tower Road, everywan knows this road well, even the local bams.

The road then goes left for the real stuff with the High Caves Summit up ahead at over 500 feet in altitude.

You are always rewarded with a great sunset on the summit.

Click here for the Google Map diagram

Mile Marker	Time Taken	Climb
1	6.18	89ft
2	6.17	174ft
3	6.24	178ft
4	6.30	130ft
5	6.56	231ft
6	6.03	42ft
7	5.56	69ft
8	5.55	105ft
TOTAL	50 min 24sec	1018ft

Shettleston Pick Up Gold @ The Masters

Shettleston Harriers continue to show why they are regarded as one of the top teams in the country not only at Junior and Senior Level but also at Veteran level.

It was good to see Andy pick up 3rd place at Bathgate although many of us will say that 35 year old athletes shouldnt really be competing in such a competiton. I firmly belive that 35 year old athletes are in their prime and that they have many many years still to give to senior atheltic level.

The winning team consisted of none more than Andy, Iain, Denis and Malcolm who is getting fitter each week and was a nice treat for the class veteran hill runner.

This now sets up an interesting time trial at the Dunky Wright for the 6 stage race.

I meanwhile finished in the top 10 at Lasswade in my first 10 mile road race for ages, a tougher course with a new uphill finish and strong winds took its toll. Dropping back from 5th at 6 miles, it now gives me an idea of the work still required to get back to the top level.

More news next week.....

Italian Re-Unite Lets Discuss !!!

Ok, a while ago I heard a certain person called Pietro discuss a possible re-union in Cambridge for a race then a few Peroni Nastro Azurro !

Well lets discuss this therefore with us all starting to find our racing legs again and Iain picking up a national medal there can be no excuses.

Ok when is this race ? Where is it ? and where will we all stay ? Iain and i could stay in Travel Lodge as we prefer the business class anyway.

Pietro, Benji, Iain, Mark that would be ideal, maybe even Mauro could apprear ??

I was thinking of a 10k perhaps as we could all recover for Monday training ?

Mark and Iain:
"Ha una lista degli alberghi e delle pensioni coi prezzi con un letto per un athletismo?

Hotel Manger:
"???????!!!****"....."see-amo al komple-to !!!!!!"

Mark and Iain
"arrghhhhhhh"

Better progress this week

Wednesday's session of 16 x 600m with 1 min recovery would test us all, requiring good judgement of pace throuht the session.

Glad to finish strongly but even more so with average of 1min 51sec for each one.

This is the best I have felt since the Lanarkshire Road Relay championships last year and the George Cummings Relays.

Ankle felt better too. Gordon was flying though on the last 5.

Back on track

My ankle has finally strengthened and healed up after many months of problems and frustrating race results.

Sunday was an eipc 16.8 mile hard run, going through the half marathon distance in 1 hour 24 min with much of the route off road and trails.

Click here to view the race in Google Maps or Google Earth

Monday was even betetr with a hard fartlek session with Roberto Soutar, Stuart, Martin, Gordon and myself. Average pace was 5.59min miles for 6.3 miles.

I'll be putting particular focus now on a few 10k's again, a half marathon and then the track in the spring.

Team gets Silver at the Nationals

Tired souls looking their best for the camera at the nationals two weeks ago, particular congratulations goes out to Jethro on a great effort !
(left to right: Iain, Dennis, Stuart, Me, Jethro, Martin, Peter, John, John Duffy, Paul, Avril, Andy and Gordon)

The Hill

Date: 26/1/2007
Location: Applecross

The highest paved Road in the UK is called the Beallach Na Ba (hill of the cattle).

It is 2500 feet high and me and Alan ran over it on Friday, the full course profile and photos will come soon.


Heart rate, pace, altitude and distance chart below:


Photographs from the actual run: Beware of the heights !