Scottish Vets Half Marathon

4th October 2009

Results | Photos

This is a closed entry race for members of Scottish Masters Athletics, ie. old fogies who are a bit past it.

The race was supposed to be run as a handicap with each person nominating their own predicted time, but in the end all 21 runners started together to simplify matters.

The race starts at Clydebank and runs out for 6.5 miles to Maryhill along the canal towpath, before turning back the same way to the 13 mile mark, and from here it's only 0.1 of a mile to the finish, ie. about 160 metres.

I knew Paul Thompson of Helensburgh was going so we more or less arranged to run together. We set out a bit fast for the first mile (5:39), before settling into a more ploddy pace of just over 6 minute miles. Neither of us was really forcing the pace or taking the race on, preferring to stay within some sort of comfort zone.

At mile 12 it was clear the pace was starting to wind up, but I resisted making a move until we hit the 13 mile marker under the bridge, where the race had started. Suddenly from this point Paul started sprinting, so I matched him. Then Paul made his final move, which I managed to cover and then gutted myself to the line, pulling away by 3 seconds, finishing in 1:19:34. The time was nothing special, but I was pleased that I hadn't faded in the second half, like I usually do in half marathons, plus it was a fairly rare win over Paul these days.

Alloa Half Marathon

22nd March 2009
Results | Route details at EveryTrail

Another Sunday, another half marathon.

I'd not done Alloa Half before, but I knew it has reputation for always being windy, and today didn't disappoint. The calm conditions of yesterday had vanished and were replaced with a blustery westerly wind, perfect for ensuring that miles 6 to 10 would be tough going.

I tried to set off as conservatively as possible, and slotted into a largish group of 1:17/1:18 type runners aiming to shelter from the wind. I tried to sit on the back of this pack with Mark McColl, Dan Gay, Wull Hynd, George Taylor, Toni McIntosh, etc. but all these runners were too skinny to get any shelter and after 3 miles or so I couldn't keep up with them anyhow, so instead decided to jog alongside Ewan Jack who was keeping a nice steady pace that I thought I could live with.

My plan of running with Ewan worked fine until about mile 5 when we turned into the wind at Tillicoultry with a slight uphill rise. I was feeling jaded already and could feel myself falling off the pace, allowing a small but uncloseable gap to open between me and Ewan.

Neil Deerey caught me just before mile 10 which spurred me into action, and I managed to regain a bit of pace for the last 3 miles. I was fairly sure I had missed the 1:20 target but with 2 miles to go I decided to give it all I had left. As I arrived back into Alloa I knew I was getting very close to dipping back under 1:20 so gave an all out sprint for the last 400 metres, which saw me nip past Ewan just before the line to cries of "yah scumbag!".

My gun time was 1:20:18, so less than a second per km off my target pace, which I suppose isn't that bad, although I still think I should be aiming at more like 1:18. Toni McIntosh was first lady in 1:17:47, and the race was won by Eritrean athlete Tsegezeab Woldemichael in the incredible time of 1:07:42.

Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon

8th March 2009
Results | Route Map | Photos | More Photos (1) | More Photos (2)

Wild blizzardy weather first thing thankfully calmed down in time for the race.

I tried to run tactically by resisting the usual urge to hammer off too hard at the start. Instead I tucked in behind 2 of the many Bella runners, and sheltered from the wind during the first 5 miles down to Dumbarton. My other plan was to stay behind Paul Thompson for as long as possible, and resist any urge to overtake. This plan more or less worked up until the A82 Bowling Roundabout, but like last year at Mile 8 I started feeling tired, and could feel my pace dropping, which allowed Paul to open up an uncloseable gap, and Robert Rogerson to catch me around Mile 9.

I was overheating by now having started in a long-sleeved Helly, but I managed to extricate this and throw it to Muffy at the Mountblow roundabout. I then hoped to chase down Robert but instead was caught by Graham Kennedy of Motherwell. We ran more or less side by side until the final mile, but I couldn't keep the pace going and Graham got away.

My main goal was to get properly under 1:20 as part of the general marathon training. As I passed under Kilbowie Road with 250 metres to go, I was slightly stressed that I might miss 1:20 like last year. I didn't want to make the same mistake twice, so upped the pace and managed to cover the final 250m in 47 seconds, which is 5:02/mile pace - and by far the fastest I ran in the entire race!

So I finished 21st in 1:19:30, just 11 seconds behind Graham and Robert who were 3rd and 4th V40s. This was faster than any of the half marathons I ran last year, so I was reasonably happy with the result, especially seeing as I felt pretty comfortable with the pace most of the way, and all the kilometre splits were well within my target 4:00/km pace for a sub 2:50 London Marathon.

The race was won by Kerry Liam-Wilson of Ronhill Cambuslang in 1:12:30. The only other Westies running were Katy Mackintosh and Tony Ritchie who ran 1:33:17 and 1:40:20 respectively. Thanks for all the shouts of support from the Westie marshals on the second half of the course! And thanks to Davie Hall for some of the photos.

Forfar Multi-Terrain Half Marathon

1st February 2009

Results: 2009 | 2008 | 2007
Reports: 2008 | 2007

My third year in a row at this Forfar Half Marathon over a mix of surfaces. Last year flooding was a problem, whereas this year the heavy muddy underfoot conditions across the last few fields made it hard going. I finished 7 seconds slowers than last year in 1:22:06 for 7th position.

The very start of the race was rather vague when no-one was quite sure if the faint noise we heard was actually the starting hooter. So after a hesitant couple of seconds we collectively decided we might as well start running. I probably did myself no favours by leading the field for the first 2 miles, alongside James Britton of Moorfoots. James and I had been very close the whole way last year so I thought just maybe I could cling onto his pace. But clearly James has been training hard and is way stronger than me now, so after about 2.5 miles I started falling away. Graeme Bartlett went past and caught James and the 2 ran the rest of the race together.

Overcooking the first 2 miles meant I was caught by Scott Young after 3 miles, then Paul Houston around 6 miles, Adrian Davis at 8 and David Burgess at 9 miles. I could see these 4 runners not far in front on the climb up Balmashanner Hill. But on the long descent back towards Forfar I was feeling jaded and wasn't making any ground. After the final road crossing with about half a mile to go I could sense someone barreling down on me. I thought it was Peter Buchanan, and had to really press hard the final 400 metres to avoid being overtaken. I never looked round but realised afterwards that it was Fife AC's cake muncher Mr Brian Cruickshank.

Glasgow Half Marathon

7th September 2008

Results | Photos

The legs, mind and body were sore after yesterday's Ben Nevis race, so I just jogged down into towm and watched the Glasgow Half Marathon, which I never seen before.

Two Westies were running - David Riach who allegedly clocked 1:17:45 for 57th place, although David doesn't wear a watch, and wasn't wearing his ankle-strap chip, so we only have his word for that, and Stuart Burns who ran 1:39:14 for 1005th place.

I find it strange for a race that's so expensive and high profile, they don't bother publishing proper results. None of the runners have club or country against their name, or even what gender or age group they belong to.

Helensburgh Half Marathon

3rd August 2008
Results | Photos | View route in Google Maps

In the absence of any local hill races, and after a hard day's geographing on Bute yesterday, I decided to get up horribly early on a Sunday morning and head over to Helensburgh.

The weather seemed fine to start with. Dry, fairly warm, and a slight headwind for the first few miles. However soon after the race started the rain began - light at first, then unremittingly torrential.

For the first couple of miles I ran with Lindsay Cunningham and John McMillan, until I slowly lost touch, and was caught by the next group lead by Nick Reid. I tucked in with this crowd until the turning point near Faslane, and then ran with Clyde Marwick until about 10 miles, until we were being closed down by several other runners. I decided to latch onto Gerry Graig and Iain Cullen, and then had a good battle during the final mile as the pace ramped up, and 4 of us just squeezed in under 1:20. I was 14th in 1:19:54.

Robert Russell won in 1:06:22, almost 4 minutes clear.

Forfar Multi-Terrain Half Marathon

3rd February 2008
Results | Details

Early morning torrential rain abated to give a fine run along the roads and trails around Forfar. The "multi-terrain" challenges included slippy muddy fields, umpteen gates to open and close, huge muddy puddles, and one fairly long section of knee-deep icy cold water.

I battled along with James Britton of Moorfoots in 2nd/3rd place, after giving up trying to stay with local runner Craig Stewart who opened up an early lead. Craig was never challenged, and won in 1:19:12. James finished second in 1:21:38, and I was about 20 seconds adrift in 1:21:59 to finish 3rd. Ellie had a strong run to finish as 4th lady in 1:34:12.

Haddington Half Marathon

11th August 2007
Results

Pleasant cool rainy conditions for a jog around quiet backroads of East Lothian.

Scraped another half marathon PB, finishing 2nd in 1:16:45, but not without a fight - mainly with my bowels - which necessitated a diversion into a field at 9 miles. Thereafter I was chasing the remaining 4 miles, trying to claw back 2nd spot which I managed with a last ditch effort 400 metres from the finish.

The race was won by David Gardiner of Kirkintilloch Olympians in 1:14:04. In 3rd place, and breaking the women's course record was New Zealand athlete Rebecca Moore who finished just a few seconds behind me in 1:16:50. 4th overall, and 3rd male was Martin Ferguson of Edinburgh AC in 1:17:07.

Arran Half Marathon

1st July 2007
Results

The race was won by Stuart Gibson of Calderglen in 1:15:49. I finished 2nd in a PB of 1:17:17. 3rd was Clyde Marwick of Shettleston in 1:17:48.

First lady was Dhavala Stott in 1:28:19, followed by Rebecca Johnson 2nd in 1:30:07, and Ellen Homewood 3rd in 1:32:29.

Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon

11th March 2007
Results
Clocked a PB by exactly 2 minutes. Finished 16th in 1:18:17, and 1st V40 - although I was beaten by the first V50. Ellie finished 6th lady in 1:31:08. The race was won by David Millar in 1:09:03. Helen Stuart was first lady in 1:20:38.

Haweswater Half Marathon

4th March 2007
Results
A tough race in vile conditions. Strong headwind on the way out. Torrential rain on the way back. I felt tired and washed out after yesterday's cross country and only managed 12th in 1:21:16. Ellie had a great run to finish 9th lady in 1:33:27. The race was won by by Mike Scott of Border Harriers in 1:11:27.

Thanks to Jennifer Maclennan for standing in the rain getting soaked to take the photos.

Forfar Multi-Terrain Half Marathon

4th February 2007
Results
Another fine sunny day. Cooler than yesterday, but OK for running in a vest. Luckily no obstacle course of prams, dogs and people not looking where they're going like yesterday. Instead complex route finding assisted by numerous arrows and red tape.

The race was won by Ruaridh Campbell of Arbroath Footers in a course record of 1:17:01. Next was Craig Stewart of Forfar Road Runners in 1:19:17. Then Stewart Whitlie 3rd in 1:20:07, I came in 4th in 1:20:17 - closely followed the entire race by Brian Cruickshank who finished 5th in 1:20:54.

Strangely I knocked more than 2 minutes off my Half Marathon PB, despite all the gates, road crossings and slogging up Balmashanner Hill near the end. Perhaps the One Pound Challenge is having a curious side effect!

Photos courtesy of Brian Bonnyman

Helensburgh Half Marathon

6th August 2006
Results
Pretty tired after getting back late last night from Les Deux Alpes in France. Just about kept awake to finish the mainly flat course in 1:25:40. The race was won by Allan Adams of Clydesdale. Second was David Millar of Irvine, and 3rd was Alastair Morrison of Dumbarton. The ladies race was won by Julia Henderson of Helensburgh. Second was Dhavala Stott of Sri Chinmoy, and 3rd was Alison Winship of Garscube.