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 !

Probably the most beautiful run in the world

If I had a camera to show some of the scenery on this circular route with views to Barra then on the way back to the entire Cullin Ridge covered in fresh snow.

Another world !

Quickie run over the High Caves Circuit

This is almost a 5km and covers the notorious High Caves climb. The gradient is the killer here with ice found on the ascent today.

The summit of the climb is around 160m with only just under 2 miles of running in your legs, very tough.

Kirkintilloch Sunday Run

Not bad a run with John, a few wee hills to contend with which are part of the Kirkintiloch 12k road race route. Weather was nice.

Allan Joins Shettleston Harriers

Allan Adams, who previous competed for Clydesdale Harriers has now joined Shettleston Harriers this week and will be cleared to run for us in any future races.

Allan is still one of the country's top distance runners and many of us have looked up to him as the standard that we would all wish to acheive.

I would like to wish Allan the very best of luck for 2007 and for many wins and team trophies to come !

Weather Change

Getting colder , did an easy run at lunchtime just under 6.15min miles.

Tough session in the evening at Glasgow Green, 16 x 600m with 1 min recovery, aim was keep to 5min 15min miles or less.

Hailstones halfway through freshened things up a wee bit.

Easy day tommorrow for Thursday !

Sunday Run

Location: Barrhead over golf course

Very windy and slippery in places, cut short to 1 hour 29 min due to wind and rain and tired legs.
The course route is shown below along with the last climb on way back home.

Team Honours at Springburn Cup

Date: 13/01/2007 Location: Bishopbriggs Sports Centre

Shettleston won the team prize on a horrible day with gales and driving rain. This prevented many of the faster runners to get under 6min miles which showed on the results.

Iain, Martin, Mark and Dennis were the first four counters with John, Willie and Avril also out running in the difficult conditions.

More photographs to come, inlcuding a la trophy pic !

Sunday Run

Date: 07/01/2006
Location: Milngavie
Data Hyperlink: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/1857908
Google Earth: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkValues=1857908


I have wanted to put this run up on the net for a while as its a great wee route with road and trail and cross country. Includes the "Hangover Hill" which is a beast.

Turkey Trot 10K

Date:27/12/06
Location:Ayr Promenade

Iain, Dohn and I went down to Sunny Ayrshire for a run round the 10k course. I pulled Iain round until 5k and he then pulled away with Jeff Farhquar of Pitreavie.

Iain, me and John above in pictures

West Districts Cross Country Champss

Date:9th December 2006
Location: East Kilbride


Shettleston took the silver medal with Camuslang in Gold position. The team included Andy, Paul, Kenny, Stuart, Martin and Ian Johnston who travelled up from England to do the race.

The course was waterlogged and very muddy in places which made the going tough.

East Kilbride 10K Road Race

Venue: East Kilbride Date: 3rd December 2006

A fair amount of runners turned out for the club on a day with torrential sleet and rain and gale force winds. Times were all down by at least a minute for everyone.

First harrier home was Jethro Lennox, then Stuart Greenway, Paul Sorrie, Martin Graham, myself and Dennis Williams.

Lanarkshire Cross Country Championships

Venue: Drumpeilier Country Park
Date: 25th November 2006

Paul Sorrie won the men's race with the club winning Gold in the teams men event.

Glasgow University Road Race

A good wee turnout by the club with better performances by everyone. Martin managed to hold off Iain who is showing signs of improvement, Paul was coming back from a cold but still worked hard throughout the race to hold off Martin and Iain.


(Dennis and Iain on the latter stages of the race)

(Martin and Paul running strong)

(It was good to see Robert back for Cambuslang after injury)

Tinto Hill Race

With horrendous weather conditions, the club did us proud with Jethro winning ahead of Alasdair Anthony of Ochil Hill runners.

1

Jethro

Lennox

Shettleston

31.53

M

9

Des

Crowe

Shettleston

35.13

MV40

26

Robert

Monro

Shettleston

38.55

M

92

John

Duffy

Shettleston

44.40

MV40

148

Malcolm

Finbow

Shettleston

50.06

MV50

Allan Scally Road Relays

Measured at 4.8 miles, the annual Allan Scally Relays is the longest road relay championships on the winter road calander. It is also one of the most prestigious relay events to win.

Shettleston have an impressive history of performances over the years with a high pedigree of A and B team athletes in action.

"Inverclyde again proved that they are the team to beat this year with a convincing win in the 38th Allan Scally road race round the traditional Baillieston course. Shettleston A team finished in 2nd place thanks to a strong finish by Jethro in the last leg, his 24.08 catching a few on the way. Ken McCoy (24.13), Paul Sorrie (24.38), and Andy Little (24.44), all had steady runs keeping the club in contention but Inverclyde were just too strong.
For the B team Stephen Matthews had the fastest leg with 25:23, ahead of Marc McColl(26:43), Ian Mcfarlane(27.22), and Martin Graham (26:45). Good to see youngsters Mark McKelvie and Craig Stevenson tackle the Scally in a C team that finished 28th ."