Cuerden 10k Trail Race

19th July 2007
Results | Race Website

My 52nd race of the year, a Thursday night trail race around Cuerden Valley Park just south of Preston. 151 runners. I accidentally set off in the lead for the first few 100 metres, until we'd crossed the footbridge over the River Lostock running through the park. I then let 5 runners go by and attempted to sit behind them.

The route was flagged with faint sawdust arrows that required concentration to spot, plus there were dozens of kissing gates, plus a few flights of wooden steps. The group of 5 slowly drifted away, although I kept 2 of them almost within range.

I finished 6th in 37:23, with Rick Hayman winning in a course record of 34:24 - fresh from finishing 2nd at Rivington 5-miler last night.

Horwich Jubilee 5-mile Road Race

18th July 2007
Results | Event Details

Warm sunny warm evening at Rivington for Horwich Jubilee 5-mile road race.

A hilly course. Set off a bit too fast and suffered first couple of miles, before stabilising for the second lap.

Ben Fish of Blackburn Harriers won the race in a frighteningly fast course record of 24:41. I was 16th in 28:23, and 1st V40, although I did get beaten by 2 V50's and a V45.

Crieff 10k Trail Race

15th July 2007
Results | Race Details

Crieff 10k reports: 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Lovely sunny warm day in Crieff. Managed to jog round 3½ minutes quicker than last year, finishing 6th in 37:31. Ellie was 2nd lady in 43:42.

The race winner was never in doubt, with course record holder Robert Gilroy disappearing off into the distance early on. I tussled with the next 3 or 4 runners, arriving at the brow of Laggan Hill with a slender lead in 2nd place. This lead was short-lived as both tailing Carnegie runners - Lewis Lawson and Ian Stewart soon overtook, then followed by Ben Hukins of Aberdeen and John Macnamara of Cambuslang. I tracked Ben for the remaining 6 or 7km, but could never quite close him down, and I couldn't get any closer to the group of 3 ahead of him who seemed to be working together as a team.

Sandy Slither 10k

13th July 2007
Results

Soggy Sandy Slither - 6 mile beach and coastal path run from Lower Largo to Elie in Fife. Very wet and windy throughout, with headwind most of the way.

Set out with lead bunch of John Hargreaves, Chris Russell and Jeff Farquhar. The pace seemed slow, but running into a headwind, I didn't want to go off the front, so just sat in across the first bay.

After the caravan park and coastpath the other 3 made a slight gap, but I caught Jeff on the slippy steps after the mast hill. Jeff caught me back just before the final mile of beach, and it was pretty much neck and neck until the last few metres where I just managed to open up a slight gap as we hit heavy soft sand for the run into the finish.

Torrential rain scuppered the post-race barbeque. Instead we were crammed in the Ship Inn with steam rising from the recent activity.

Thanks to Adrian Stott of Run and Become for taking the atmospheric photos!

Chatelherault Handicap

11th July 2007
Results

25 Westies turned out for a sunny evening club run around Chatelherault Country Park.

The route is about 10km, with nearly 250 metres of ascent, and follows a figure-8 crossing White Bridge, Green Bridge, White Bridge and finally Duke's Bridge. Starting and finishing in front of Chatelherault House.

Dollar Hill Race

7th July 2007
Results

The first time I've done this race. It starts off with some road then trail before crossing Burn of Sorrow and thrashing up through dense bracken. Recent West Highland Way Race winner Adrian Davis stormed off into the lead with Stuart Simpson, Bob Wiseman, Mark Johnston, Bruce Smith and myself trailing in his wake.

After the first couple of tops I thought I was more or less established as 5th in the race, but gradually faded away to 9th as Bruce, Jon Ascroft, Caspian Richards and finally Ewan Jack all passed. Felt quite unwell by the finish. Trying to run hard with a stomach bug is not an experience I'd recommend.

Dumgoyne Handicap

4th July 2007
Results | Photos

Fun club run from Blanefield Monument out and back to Dumgoyne.

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.