3 weeks

Benjamin at 3 weeks old.





Devil's Burdens Relay

Route on Garmin Connect | Overall results | Fastest legs

My 12th consecutive Devil's Burdens, and my first attempt at running since becoming a father 12 days ago.

The day started inauspiciously enough, leaving Glasgow at 8am in darkness and pouring rain, in a sleep-deprived haze. It wasn't until passing Cumbernauld that I suddenly realised I'd forgotten my hill running shoes. My mind raced through the options, but there was only 1 choice, and that was to bite the bullet and head back to Glasgow. Once back at the flat I realised that I had also forgotten my leggings, gloves, hat, whistle, compass and map. So it wasn't a wasted journey.

Setting out for the 2nd time at 8.45am, I was slightly more wide awake, and daylight had broken, so in fact the drive to Falkland was reasonable, and I made it in just under an hour, albeit just missing the start for the slower runners who went off at 9:30am.

Having an hour's separation between the 2 starts was a good idea, and seemed to reduce the pandemonium for the main start at 10:30am. I hadn't run for weeks, or done any sort of hill running for about 3 months, so I knew I'd be struggling to keep my team-mate Manny Gorman in my sights.

We set off at a fast but steady pace, in around 3rd / 4th position to the forest, but quickly started losing places on the climb up East Lomond.  It wasn't until we reached the open hillside that Manny finally took the lead and started leap-frogging the teams ahead. Bit by bit we clawed back 5 or 6 places, and topped out more or less with Cosmics and Moorfoots.

Slogging up the steep bit on East Lomond

On the descent down the other side I lost my balance and took a tumble, and around the gates Cosmics and Moorfoots took the lead, but they both overshot the correct path through the lime kilns which handed back the advantage.

Once on the short uphill road section, I could really feel the sleep-deprived fatigue and lack of training, which allowed Cosmics to jump past.  I tried to press on and keep up with Manny along past the reservoir, and was grateful that Manny waited and held open all the gates. Once into the final muddy firebreak, Moorfoots made one final effort to get past, but when we hit the uphill tarmac we put in a strong finish to drop them, and arrived in 8th place to hand over to Sam Alexander.

It took a few minutes to get my breath back before cadging a lift with Grim Orr back to Falkland, and a hasty departure for Glasgow.

Day 10

Benjamin is now into double figures.
We even managed a short walk outside today, down to Byres Road and back.

Day 8

Today was Benjamin's 2nd Monday in the outside world:

One week old

One week since Benjamin entered the world.

Meet Benjamin

The wee man finally has name...  Benjamin Ruaridh Homewood.

Day 4 already

Having a well earned rest after keeping Mummy and Daddy awake all night.

Day 2 of a new life

The 2nd day of a new life. Photo taken at Ward 70, Princess Royal Maternity Unit, Glasgow.

It's a boy!

After a bit of a struggle, this little chap finally entered the world at 5:35am this morning (9th January 2012), weighing in at 7lb 12oz. Mum and baby boy doing well.

Glasgow Parkrun #155

Results
After doing 6 races in 9 days over Christmas / New Year, I had a really sore right foot and should have stayed in bed. But instead I rushed down to Pollok Park with Ellie, where she hiked around the course for the 5th time since her due date.

Seeing as my foot was super sore I didn't bother doing a proper warm up or stretch and was in 2 minds whether to start running. I thought I was going OK at first, and briefly lead for about 400 metres, but didn't feel at all right on the 2nd lap and running into the finish my right hamstring decided to self-destruct, and today feels like I've been shot in the back of the leg, so I don't expect to be doing much between now and the Devil's Burdens Relay on January 21st, apart from perhaps looking after a new baby.

Review of 2011

2011 was a fairly quiet year, although I did manage 76 races and an 800km traverse of the Pyrenean Haute Route.

Racing profiles: Power of 10 | Scottish Hill Racing | Parkrun

24 Hill Races
Greenmantle Dash 0:18:05
Devil's Burdens - Leg 3 with Niall 1:01:01
Carnethy 5 1:00:57
Beinn Ratha 0:55:11
Whangie Whizz 0:30:44
Dumyat 0:40:40
Ben Lomond 1:22:14
Cornalees 0:35:16
Goatfell 1:31:52
Dumgoyne Handicap 0:43:41
Helvellyn and the Dodds 2:49:10
Cort-ma Law 0:56:08
Glen Rosa Horseshoe 2:57:08
Arrochar Alps 4:16:25
Callander Highland Games 1:10:36
Lomonds of Fife 1:42:41
Ochil 2000s 3:13:17
Three Shires 2:23:46
Dalehead 1:00:46
Two Breweries 3:20:33
Pentland Skyline 3:07:28
UKA Hill Relays, Kettlewell, Leg 4 0:50:22
Run of the Mill 1:25:15
HBT Allermuir Grudge Match 0:25:43

21 Road Races
Greenock Battery Park 5M 0:28:07
Nigel Barge 10k 0:36:28
Lasswade 10M 1:01:07
Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon 1:18:15
Alloa Half Marathon 1:19:15
London Marathon 3:04:20
Helensburgh 10k 0:35:20
Clydebank 10k 0:35:24
Dumbarton 10k 0:35:45
Vale of Leven 10k 0:35:37
Kirkintilloch 10k 0:35:19
Glasgow Green 5k 0:17:09
Kilbarchan Cyclepath 0:31:04
Pollok Park 10k 0:35:48
Broadwood 4.5k 0:15:41
Cowal 5k 0:16:50
Graham Clark 3.9M 0:21:22
Millport 10M 1:00:56
McAndrew Relay 0:19:07
Lock 27 Time Trial 0:17:24
Allan Scally Relay 0:28:20

12 Parkruns
Glasgow Parkrun #103 (off road) 0:19:39
Glasgow Parkrun #104 (off road) 0:19:44
Glasgow Parkrun #105 0:17:56
Glasgow Parkrun #107 0:17:19
Glasgow Parkrun #112 0:17:41
Glasgow Parkrun #123 0:17:20
Glasgow Parkrun #124 0:17:22
Glasgow Parkrun #135 0:17:27
Strathclyde Parkrun #72 0:17:28
Glasgow Parkrun #151 0:17:51
Glasgow Parkrun #152 0:17:49
Glasgow Parkrun #153 0:17:37

11 Cross Country Races
West District CC (Irvine) 0:35:29
Bellahouston 4k CC 0:13:49
Masters CC (Kirkcaldy) 0:34:15
National Cross Country (Falkirk) 0:46:27
West District Relays (Drumpellier) 0:14:47
National CC Relays 0:15:53
Bellahouston 4k CC 0:15:01
Braid Hills Cross Country 0:38:17
British & Irish Masters 0:29:36
West District Cross Country - Irvine 0:36:25
Irvine Harriers vs Cyclists 0:31:28

7 Trail Races
In the Dark Handicap 0:25:15
Clydebank 4.8m Canal Towpath 0:27:48
Dawsholm 5k Trail 0:19:28
Ayr 5M Trail 0:29:06
Croftamie Handicap 0:47:22
Eaves Wood Trail Race 0:37:16
Westerlands Christmas Handicap 0:19:40

1 Indoor Track Race
Kelvinhall 3,000 metres 0:10:02

Race Series
I completed 3 race series:  Polaroid 10k, Tour of Clydeside and the Scottish Long Classics.

Road Racing
I ran twelve 5km races, with 16:50 the fastest at Cowal Games, and 17:56 the slowest at Glasgow Parkrun #105. I managed six 10km races between 35:19 and 35:48, and ran Balloch to Clydebank and Alloa half marathons in course PBs of 1:18:15 and 1:19:15.  I was ill for London Marathon, but shuffled round in 3:04:20 to guranatee a place for 2012.

Pyrenean Haute Route
During July, I disappeared to the Pyrenees to hike the Pyrenean Haute Route in 24 days, which was the highlight of the year.

Cross Country
I managed to get selected for the British and Masters Cross Country at Bellahouston Park in November 2011, but had a fairly awful run in dire conditions.

Indoor
On 28th December 2011, I made my track debut at the Kelvinhall Indoor Meet. I narrowly missed my sub 10 minute target with a time of 10:02:48.

Targets for 2012
My main target for 2012 is to achieve some decent injury-free training and racing.