tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126789862024-03-14T12:31:26.310+00:00Chris's BlogChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.comBlogger636125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-10363000458258430312019-12-29T13:14:00.000+00:002019-12-30T16:11:24.550+00:0057 Varieties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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57 is the number of races I've completed in 2019, starting and finishing with <a href="https://www.parkrun.org.uk/victoria/" target="_blank">Victoria Parkrun</a>.</div>
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This keeps my batting average going of <i>more than 1 race per week for the past 20 years</i>.</div>
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The shortest sharpest race was 4:44.73 in <a href="https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=263010&event=1500&venue=Emirates+Arena&date=12-Jan-19" target="_blank">Heat 4 of the Scottish Open 1500m</a> on 12th January. </div>
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Only 2 races were longer than 10k. These were the Round Cumbrae and Derwentwater 10-milers. A good bit over the hour for each, with 63:26 and 64:24 minutes respectively. </div>
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The longest race time-wise was Cort-ma Law, my only hill race of the year, in 1:08:43.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XCIurKFh3-Ffbglha6dXJlGfe7NOTO_6OPdzDP_9C4AYir1tV9OG6WfxfayyHe6vW12UNIZvpL5aMWhe376PQnXDjap4aYmvFqm_U5PkKzrNrQdbNlPM0IHbOZmE0Lrltg/s1600/57_varieties.jpg" target="_blank">Link to more legible table</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XCIurKFh3-Ffbglha6dXJlGfe7NOTO_6OPdzDP_9C4AYir1tV9OG6WfxfayyHe6vW12UNIZvpL5aMWhe376PQnXDjap4aYmvFqm_U5PkKzrNrQdbNlPM0IHbOZmE0Lrltg/s1600/57_varieties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="946" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XCIurKFh3-Ffbglha6dXJlGfe7NOTO_6OPdzDP_9C4AYir1tV9OG6WfxfayyHe6vW12UNIZvpL5aMWhe376PQnXDjap4aYmvFqm_U5PkKzrNrQdbNlPM0IHbOZmE0Lrltg/s640/57_varieties.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
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I managed to pick up 4 individual national Scottish medals in the M55 category:</div>
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<li><b>Gold</b> in the 10,000m track race at Carluke - 37:41 in very windy conditions</li>
<li><b>Silver</b> in the Emirates 3000m on 4th January (Guy Bracken took gold)</li>
<li><b>Silver</b> in the Emirates 1500m on 17th February (Dave Clarke took gold)</li>
<li><b>Bronze</b> in the Masters XC at Hawick (behind Colin Donnelly and Stan Mackenzie)</li>
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I also collected 3 national team medals:</div>
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<li><b>Senior Team Silver </b>for Cambuslang in the National Trail Championships (with Alasdair Campbell, Justin Carter and Richard Cooper)</li>
<li><b>M50 Team Silver</b> for Cambuslang in the National Cross Country Relays at Cumbernauld (with Mick O'Hagan and Colin Donnelly - Perth RR took gold)</li>
<li><b>M55 Team Bronze</b> for Scotland in the British & Irish Masters Cross Country at Aintree (with Ted Gourley, Denis Williams and Dave Eckersley for Team Scotland, behind England and Republic of Ireland) </li>
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Not sure what 2020 has in store. All being well, it will be my 21st year of racing.</div>
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I'm contemplating entering the European Masters in Braga, Portugal in March 2020 with a view to racing the 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 5k XC.</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-41826835009611642302018-03-30T18:52:00.003+01:002018-03-30T19:07:54.564+01:001000th race - European Masters, Madrid<a href="http://www.fidalservizi.it/risultati/2018/Madrid_2018/Day0661.htm" target="_blank">M50 3000m results</a><br />
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20th March saw me complete my 1000th race in 18 years at the <a href="http://www.fidalservizi.it/risultati/2018/Madrid_2018/Index.htm" target="_blank">European Masters in Madrid</a>.<br />
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It was a close run thing making this my 1000th race. The previous weekend I'd notched up Valentines Parkrun plus British Masters 1500m and 3000m to place me on 999 before heading out to Madrid.<br />
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The evening of Monday 19th I went out for a meal with seasoned campaigners <a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=1452" target="_blank">Brian Scally</a> and <a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=24546" target="_blank">Anthony Treacher</a> who have both been there, done it, and worn the T-shirt when it comes to winning world medals at masters athletics.<br />
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I felt very much a novice in their company, this being my first track race in a GB vest.<br />
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On the morning of the event, Brian and I left the hotel soon after 7am and wandered along to the stadium at Gallur. There was a sobre mood at the warm up track, with GB athletes pottering around, trying to get inspired at 8 o'clock in the morning.<br />
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The M50 3000m race was split into 2 heats. I ended up at the back of the medal-winning race, with 18 runners on the track. The pace was not fast for the first 3 laps, but eventually heated up. I settled in behind an Irish runner before passing him near the end, and lapping the French runner in the photo below. I was also lapped by the first 5 runners, with just under 500 metres to go, so as they hit the bell I still had 2 laps to go. I managed to speed up a bit for the final 400 metres to finish 15th out of 18 starters in 10:16.<br />
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Despite being my slowest ever 3000m on the track, I was pleased to go through with the event, and come out the other end without feeling too disappointed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madrid European Masters 3000m. Photo: Alan Ramage</td></tr>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-86960906079701283182016-04-04T21:10:00.002+01:002016-04-07T21:10:47.433+01:00National Road RelaysA quite exceptional day for Ronhill Cambuslang, and possibly the most exciting event I've been part of.<br />
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After my horrific dose of flu in February, it was touch and go I'd make the team. I'd done no racing in 2 months, apart from an 18:17 Springburn Parkrun the previous weekend. So I was far from being race fit.<br />
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Anyhow. The team selection was made. I was placed on the long (9.3km) 2nd leg. With Paul Thompson and Colin Feechan on the short legs, and Stan MacKenzie heading off last on the anchor leg.<br />
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Our main rivals were Shettleston, with John Oates, Denis Williams, Billy Coyle and Andy Little.<br />
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It would be a finely poised competition.<br />
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Paul handed over to me in a good mix of runners. All the warnings of going off too fast were ringing in my ears, so perhaps I settled into far too easy a pace. But I wasn't sure how I'd survive the 34 minutes or so. I'd thought I'd be chasing down runners, but apart from passing one Kirkintilloch vest, I'm not sure I caught anyone. I could see Paul Carroll and Alex Lamond about 100 metres up the road, but couldn't seem to close the gap.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul leading out on Leg 1<br />
Photo: Alan Ramage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW549Un4707FC5fSDIBgJwIUR_GIxnvbCmF3OrbLaN9s4ITtMasPGdwEaJLzKLA7ziamQfbRuFeTuKCYuAkiJ5QicaOedUSCBV0Th8UVFPy0Y2Ewe58pVCxOgT5QQ_Zza9A/s1600/25630722854_db18dd882f_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW549Un4707FC5fSDIBgJwIUR_GIxnvbCmF3OrbLaN9s4ITtMasPGdwEaJLzKLA7ziamQfbRuFeTuKCYuAkiJ5QicaOedUSCBV0Th8UVFPy0Y2Ewe58pVCxOgT5QQ_Zza9A/s640/25630722854_db18dd882f_k.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting hunted down by Denis Williams on Leg 2<br />
Photo: Colin Stephen</td></tr>
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Only with about 300 metres to go when I heard a shout of "Go on Denis!" right behind me did I finally properly wake up and start shifting, to ensure I was handing over a lead to Colin.<br />
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I was well down on the time I'd estimated, so it was looking ominous giving Colin such a slender advantage to defend. To be honest, at this point I thought we'd totally blown it, and Shettleston would romp away with the victory, so I was astonished and delighted when 18 minutes later Billy Coyle emerged on the home straight with Colin right on his shoulder, hanging on for grim death, limiting the loss of every second.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin digging deep on Leg 3, hanging onto Billy Coyle's coattails<br />
Photo: Colin Stephen</td></tr>
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There was a bit of chaos as Andy jumped the gun on the transition, got called back, stopped, and restarted, and immediately Stan was chasing after him.<br />
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I didn't hold out too much hope of Stan keeping pace with Andy, who is almost unbeatable in the V50 category, but I dashed off to give Stan every shout of encouragement. At around 800 metres in, it looked like Stan had been dropped already, but Colin was confident he would put up a fight.<br />
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We jogged across to 7km on the route, and waited. When the pair emerged, Stan was sitting right on Andy's shoulder. Both guys looked wrecked. But neither was giving an inch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stan MacKenzie and Andy Little, locked stride for stride on Leg 4<br />
Photo: Colin Stephen</td></tr>
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Next for me and Colin was a mad sprint back to the finishing area to catch the closing stages. We split up to give our shouts the maximum effect. With 300 metres to go Andy was launching his attack up the final hill, but Stan was still in the game and timed his move to perfection. Just as the angle eased, Stan used the change in gradient to slingshot Andy and for the first time took the lead. At this moment it could have gone either way. It was down to who wanted it the most.<br />
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Stan rose to the occasion, and didn't look back. Stretching away in the final 200 metres.<br />
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It was nail-biting stuff. I can't remember any M50 team event going down to the wire like this before, so it was great that we had 2 teams testing each other to the limit.<br />
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With our job completed, and the drama of the M50 race over, it seemed almost a formality that Kyle McLellan and Kenny Campbell coasted home to win the seniors and M40 races to complete an historic treble, with Ronhill Cambuslang taking home all 16 of the men's gold medals.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ronhill Cambuslang Team Winners: Seniors, M40 and M50<br />Photo: Colin Stephen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M50 team<br />Photo: Bobby Gavin</td></tr>
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Round up at Scottish Athletics: <a href="http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/cambuslang-land-a-treble-at-livingston/" target="_blank">Cambuslang land a treble at Livingston</a><br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-83929474642312810212015-10-26T17:14:00.002+00:002015-10-26T17:21:01.556+00:00National Cross Country RelaysThis was my 9th shot at the National Cross Country Relays in Cumbernauld Park, and 2nd time running for Cambuslang Harriers.<br />
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Last year we won M50 team silver, after being overhauled by Shettleston's Andy Little on the final leg. This year we fielded the exact same team - myself, Paul Thompson and Colin Feechan - with the minor tweak that Paul and I swapped legs, with me going off first.<br />
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Earlier in the week I had been feeling fit and strong and relished the idea of Leg 1, but come the day I wasn't feeling at all well. Obviously I didn't want to let the team down, so tried to blot out of my mind how dreadful I was feeling.<br />
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I had hoped to run around 14:40~ish on Leg 1, but instead it was damage limitation, and just trying not to throw up with a horrible pain in my stomach and overwhelming sense of nausea.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying not to throw up on Leg 1</td></tr>
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I went out steady for the first 2km,with the original plan of then chasing runners down, but instead was myself hanging on for grim death, and just trying to ensure I didn't drop any places to keep the team in the running. I did manage to finish 1st M50 in 15:05, which was enough to give the team a chance. Paul was not firing on all cylinders by his high standards but managed 15:33 to keep us in the lead, and then Colin put in the star performance of the day with 14:57 to bring the team home 33 seconds clear of 2nd-placed Strathearn Harriers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUKjRekQuiVp6L78e8hoTXWt_46BvHU57EvMUs83oZvdLidMqEkwNPWB0FCnAbsdH9D_rJkXS9WieeYVIwxfn4t4p0pnCJNFkOSgAWcQjTQo0euskq-0VBy1a4rYmHDAtvQ/s1600/12038904_983080025069271_3588183347060405550_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUKjRekQuiVp6L78e8hoTXWt_46BvHU57EvMUs83oZvdLidMqEkwNPWB0FCnAbsdH9D_rJkXS9WieeYVIwxfn4t4p0pnCJNFkOSgAWcQjTQo0euskq-0VBy1a4rYmHDAtvQ/s640/12038904_983080025069271_3588183347060405550_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Podium finish</td></tr>
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Quite how I managed to run the 3rd fastest M50 time on the day feeling so ill, I'm not quite sure.<br />
<br />
When I got home I went straight to bed in all my clothes, aching and sweating, and spent the night throwing up repeatedly.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-91901897571774397582015-08-17T21:36:00.000+01:002015-08-17T22:43:14.277+01:00World Masters Half Marathon<a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/370729194" target="_blank">Strava track</a> |<br />
<br />
Not all races go perfectly according to plan, and this was no exception.<br />
<br />
For various reasons, not all of which I can remember, I didn't do anywhere near enough training beforehand. I had grand plans of high mileage weeks, and long runs, but only ended up with a few 25 to 30 mile weeks, and one longish run at Dunoon Half Marathon, 2 weeks before Lyon with 1:21:35 in a gale force wind. So I was fairly sure I could run faster than this at Lyon.<br />
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Straight after Dunoon, I ran the Tour of Clydeside - 5 race in 5 nights - which made both Achilles exceedingly sore. So I didn't run again for 9 days prior the Lyon Half. Not exactly ideal preparation, but I thought I might get away with it on the day.<br />
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The day of the race, Sunday 16th August, started at 4am with a couple of bananas, some biscuits and 800ml of Go Electrolyte. At 6am I was down at Parc de Parilly in cover of darkness. I bumped into Northern Irish twin sisters Lisa and Sian Finlay from Dumfries, and we went for a warm up jog, and to find some toilets.<br />
<br />
We then bumped into Colin and Scott. More warm up jogs and toilet visits, and with 10 minutes to go it was suddenly time to get on the startline.<br />
<br />
Imagine my dismay when I realised I was stuck at the back of this crowd, with no plausible way of jumping up to the front line.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpINBf4ZC8RG3WTywyfQ6v25nkZfgLu3vYQZihTbgShAxFxy6q9rbagG3a0g1vhXP6Qno8yptCm3xJT06sS-XYYKfprUXbv91qh7WGyjuSAOunQyH1WucOdAaO5gfX7IWhSQ/s1600/11907135_408909772634907_5791858681503056475_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpINBf4ZC8RG3WTywyfQ6v25nkZfgLu3vYQZihTbgShAxFxy6q9rbagG3a0g1vhXP6Qno8yptCm3xJT06sS-XYYKfprUXbv91qh7WGyjuSAOunQyH1WucOdAaO5gfX7IWhSQ/s640/11907135_408909772634907_5791858681503056475_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Log jam at start of half marathon / marathon</td></tr>
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The starting area was barriered off, and totally solid with people. There was no possibility of moving up and getting a decent starting position. Once the gun went off, it seemed to take 20 seconds or so to reach the start line. I was then running into a wall of slower runners, dodging street furniture, and generally jostling for position. Not the best way to start the race, but after a kilometre or so things started to settle down. <br />
<br />
I could see Colin Feechan around 50 metres ahead, and it took me until about 4km to finally catch him. After briefly overtaking Colin, I sat right behind him to 8km, before a slight gap opened up, which I didn't work hard enough to close down again. Just before halfway, I was caught and passed by Lisa Finlay, and noticed my first 10km was much slower than expected at nearly 39 minutes.<br />
<br />
This didn't bode well for going sub 1:20. In fact some instant maths suggested I'd be struggling to go sub 1:22 at this pace.<br />
<br />
I did try to pick things up for the second half, but so many twists and turns, I never got another site of Lisa or Colin, plus all the other runners in the way. So I had no idea how far ahead they were.<br />
<br />
I finished strongly enough, but somehow felt like I never really got properly into the race, what with the duff start, followed by all the jostling on the corners, and then being so far back in the race I got into too much of a comfort zone with slower runners, rather continually pressing and pushing on.<br />
<br />
My finish time of 1:21:38 was not a complete disaster, but was 3 seconds slower than at Dunoon 2 weeks previously, where I felt like I'd been taking it deliberately easy. So it was not a great time either. Just something fairly average in the middle.<br />
<br />
Despite the slowish time, I did finish as 1st M50 in the British team. And 19th M50 overall.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpoOxWeUYreHwdNOOcpkFu_9Zedl88V-FL5H-nHx5GRjwsKXh42Hjte-Im136r6CB28a5mk4kVNBFX8A2Xu9YNbokmNfZLZ3x4Vajluy5bPiqGC-JOQMB3jc-kbH8Fb3t2g/s1600/ChrisLyon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpoOxWeUYreHwdNOOcpkFu_9Zedl88V-FL5H-nHx5GRjwsKXh42Hjte-Im136r6CB28a5mk4kVNBFX8A2Xu9YNbokmNfZLZ3x4Vajluy5bPiqGC-JOQMB3jc-kbH8Fb3t2g/s640/ChrisLyon2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 2km to go. <br />Photo: Alan Ramage</td></tr>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/activity/embed/868103429" width="465"></iframe></div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-29817160899904233162015-06-16T19:37:00.000+01:002015-08-03T07:16:21.160+01:00Via DinaricaThis trip is now fully written up at <a href="http://viadinarica2015.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://viadinarica2015.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oEEebG63ELAds0gGiMRLuJNTzpewW6e21gIol8woazoHnd6eAA8LzVOwKNq4LPh_rfC3rAmsd0pocoCXs62VGLx-h3V2TvEGLDrNHOeWLrD2cruT6Hu87fDfFudOTJBAxw/s1600/MajaJezerce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oEEebG63ELAds0gGiMRLuJNTzpewW6e21gIol8woazoHnd6eAA8LzVOwKNq4LPh_rfC3rAmsd0pocoCXs62VGLx-h3V2TvEGLDrNHOeWLrD2cruT6Hu87fDfFudOTJBAxw/s640/MajaJezerce.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maja Jezerce 2694m - Photo: <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/maja-jezerce-climbing/706292" target="_blank">SummitPost</a></td></tr>
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Starting on Friday 19th June, I'll be attempting to hike from Tjentište in Bosnia & Herzegovina to Valbona in Albania along the highpoints of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinaric_Alps" target="_blank">Dinaric Alps</a>. A distance of around 280km (plus a few extras).<br />
<br />
The route will link up the massifs of <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/magli-263/503383" target="_blank">Maglić</a> / <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/magli-263-bio-269-volujak-trnova-269-ki-durmitor-vlasulja/152180" target="_blank">Bioč</a>, <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/durmitor/152176" target="_blank">Durmitor</a>, <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/sinjajevina/155298" target="_blank">Sinjajevina</a>, <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/bjelasica/155286" target="_blank">Bjelasica</a>, <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/komovi/153972" target="_blank">Komovi</a>, and finally the <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/prokletije/153694" target="_blank">Prokletije or "Accursed" Mountains</a> on the border with Albania.<br />
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Hopefully I'll manage to climb all the main peaks along the way, the highest being <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/maja-jezerce/153173" target="_blank">Maja Jezerce 2694m</a>, which is the highest peak in the entire Dinaric Alps.<br />
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If I have time, I'll also attempt an out and back from Plav to <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/272-eravica-gjeravica/173204" target="_blank">Đeravica 2656m</a> the highest peak in Kosovo, and <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/kolac-kolata/155151" target="_blank">Zla Kolata 2534m</a>, the highest peak in Montenegro.<br />
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After reaching Valbona, I hope to catch the amazing-looking <a href="http://www.komanilakeferry.com/en/" target="_blank">Komani Lake Ferry</a> to reach Tirana for the flight back home.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNthG2fjkcbbJJXHRR1zxE5PvaNQEfdrQbYn6D00TcRHTTrRo2tl2rigDLQbD30Fu4Enb4dfShZ0fHb6VyRDvBBWtaE5-RdO1nVfrllo3XPEv73jNcUG3Cfm7_0xbqNgICQ/s1600/ViaDinarica1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNthG2fjkcbbJJXHRR1zxE5PvaNQEfdrQbYn6D00TcRHTTrRo2tl2rigDLQbD30Fu4Enb4dfShZ0fHb6VyRDvBBWtaE5-RdO1nVfrllo3XPEv73jNcUG3Cfm7_0xbqNgICQ/s640/ViaDinarica1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Route from Tjentiste to Valbona</td></tr>
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More detailed route map:<br />
<iframe height="400" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zN8pYn7xCzGk.kWO8g_kT8bZA" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zN8pYn7xCzGk.kWO8g_kT8bZA" target="_blank">Link to route map in new window</a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-65519111179518582992015-02-08T20:41:00.000+00:002015-02-08T20:48:12.264+00:00Scottish Masters Cross Country<a href="http://www.salroadrunningandcrosscountrymedalists.co.uk/Archive/Cross%20Country/Masters%20XC/Results/2010s/Masters%202014-5.xls" target="_blank">Results</a><br />
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This was my 8th attempt at the Scottish National Masters Cross County.<br />
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My first was back in March 2004 when I finished 30th V40, and 48th overall, on a heavy muddy course at Cupar before I even had any cross country spikes. Things improved a good bit for my next attempt where I placed 5th V40 at Bathgate in 2007. For the next 4 events at Irvine (x2), Kirkcaldy and Kilmarnock I was always 5th or 7th in my age category. And then in 2014 was the horror show at Hawick, in the worst conditions anyone had raced, where I was happy just to finish and get off the course. My position was way down as 11th V50. So apart from 3 times getting 5th age category in the past, I'd never really been close to a medal.<br />
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For 2015, I felt much better prepared than the previous few events, and determined to run more positively from the start. I'd run most of this course before as the West Districts in 2013, and knew there was plenty of good running, but it was important to get out fast at the start, since there are a few pinch points.<br />
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I found myself well up, without trying too hard, and reeling folk in early on. It was tempting to keep on overtaking on the first small lap, and also tempting to hold back a fraction, but I ignored any voice hinting at sitting back and forged on, and getting higher up the field than I'd expected.<br />
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I sometimes find that running hard and aggressively produces its own positive feedback loop, where having committed the effort, you need to hang on to reap the reward. Going into the last lap, I still felt reasonably good and strong, and ready for any final battles. I was swapping places with Greig Glendinning, and was aware of more vests right on my shoulder. I attacked the final hill to try to slingshot a gap at the top, but runnng off Eddie Stewart drew level alongside. For an instant I could imagine him passing, but then responded and surged away, and made the last 800 metres count to hold position, and to finish as 1st V50 in 13th place overall, with no older athletes in front.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-92188449239650677912015-01-18T19:33:00.002+00:002015-01-18T20:41:44.753+00:00Scottish National Open 1500m<a href="http://events.scottishathletics.org.uk/media/fixtures/17669-1421516969/unscrutinisedresults-track.pdf" target="_blank">Results</a><br />
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After running the Yuletide Meet 800m, the Miler Meet 3,000m, and training last Monday, this was my 4th trip to the Emirates Arena in a month.<br />
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It was also my 2nd attempt at running a 1500m race. My first was 2 years ago when I ran 4:44 with a cold, so I was fairly sure I could beat that time.<br />
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My target time was 4:30, i.e. 3min/km pace, since I'd run faster than this at the 800m. My plan was therefore to go through 500 metres in 1:30, then press on in the middle 600m, and finish fast in the final 400m. In hindsight, I should have started running faster sooner.<br />
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I had hoped to be place in the same heat as John Thomson, so I could use him as a pacemaker. But John was in the heat before mine. When I saw that John failed to get under 4:30, this psyched me out slightly that I shouldn't be aiming for 4:30, since I know that John is faster than me.<br />
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Anyhow. It was slightly amusing trying to collect my race number and get into the call room, where the officials thought I must somebody's father, and I was told "only athletes beyond this point"!<br />
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I watched the Kelly Holmes video from Athens 2004 for ideas & inspiration (unfortunately very poor quality on YouTube), and tried to follow suit by lolloping along at the back from the start, and then gradually winding it up.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nAyVaHoX6YM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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There were 9 other runners in my heat who all shot off from the gun way faster than me. I tried to stick to my task of getting to 500 metres in 1:30 before starting to chase them down. Things became a blur quite early on, and it was not that easy to read the clock at the finish line, to gauge exactly where you were, but time was running out so I made a big move, and passed all 9 runners ahead of me over 2 laps, such that when I hit 600 metres to go I was in the lead. For a moment I felt pretty good, but then started getting challenged by Harry Nimmo of Giffnock with 400m to go. I held off a couple of attempts for him to get by, but then buckled with about 300m to go. I could feel more footsteps on my heels, so really had to get up on my toes to finish off the final 200m lap without losing any more places.<br />
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I was pleased enough to get a PB of 4:39.30, but feel that I could get closer to 4:30 if I understood better how to survive that combination of pace and distance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ToCMMWayOnlqZM4rG-ZaTyedqqnam7hGAQf7wfpgU0zbVhVliIXCfT97qxtfAMZvxuxr8ibspwIctLkRGcbSY3DaFx4dZISHLFYfBORx5nHieIrgoYxGwMRIaJLc-YqKJQ/s1600/download19350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ToCMMWayOnlqZM4rG-ZaTyedqqnam7hGAQf7wfpgU0zbVhVliIXCfT97qxtfAMZvxuxr8ibspwIctLkRGcbSY3DaFx4dZISHLFYfBORx5nHieIrgoYxGwMRIaJLc-YqKJQ/s1600/download19350.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <a href="http://www.thatonemoment.co.uk/portfolio373797p5.html" target="_blank">Bobby Gavin</a></td></tr>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-26297050047544882822014-11-27T18:30:00.002+00:002014-11-27T18:43:50.484+00:00British & Irish Masters Cross Country<b>22nd November 2014 - Wollaton Park, Nottingham</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2014/bimi.pdf" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/222058088" target="_blank">Track on Strava</a><br />
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This was my 3rd time representing Scotland at the British & Irish Masters. Previous efforts were Dublin 2010 and Bellahouston, Glasgow 2011. So this was my first time in the Over 50s race.<br />
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Friday was quite tiring with an epic coach journey down to Nottingham from Glasgow, arriving in the dark and pouring rain. I checked into the Travelodge before heading out in the dark and rain to track down food and drink with several Clydesdale runners.<br />
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I had already started going down with the lurgy mid-week and woke in the night feeling grim with sore throat, so wasn't confident about the race.<br />
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The Scotland team convened at Wollaton park at 10am for pre-race photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxOiTySsgqdXWKG9sPfEDdf48wz3vBM0ZIHb81hIq9OKGei9Qydn7lbpaY_CrD1RhYN31FiywOVpazFcjif0CB9gvQKToa1ftp0VZIAOgrJCd2MP3hPx8_crkJf9U_PP1Yw/s1600/ScotlandTeam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxOiTySsgqdXWKG9sPfEDdf48wz3vBM0ZIHb81hIq9OKGei9Qydn7lbpaY_CrD1RhYN31FiywOVpazFcjif0CB9gvQKToa1ftp0VZIAOgrJCd2MP3hPx8_crkJf9U_PP1Yw/s1600/ScotlandTeam.jpg" height="334" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotland Team Photo</td></tr>
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My race started at 12:30pm<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of M50-64 race</td></tr>
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With 4 laps of a 2km course, I set out at conservative pace. After 300 metres, I'd passed all the Scottish runners except Stan Mackenzie and Peter Buchanan. I had to hold back a fraction to avoid passing any more runners, and settled in behind Peter. After maybe 500 metres, I passed Peter, and then focussed on closing the gap to Stan. The gap didn't change much for the first 2 laps, and at the start of the 3rd lap I briefly passed Stan going up the hill, but he passed me straight back going down the other side. After that I just plugged away, trying to hold position, whilst leaving something for a strong finish. I did get passed by one Northern Irish runner, but don't remember too many other going by.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-noxl4HgtTWNkZwex-hiwDMXD_QX6pjZckCyBlFh3UIrZif8eSqaX6O2-jgQNuAelgEH5SW_2bapeJL7evveqa2fMV0Ac2jy8QzoVLs1pjcmXlg4eVCh4FvadFlSxgwvGg/s1600/Chasing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-noxl4HgtTWNkZwex-hiwDMXD_QX6pjZckCyBlFh3UIrZif8eSqaX6O2-jgQNuAelgEH5SW_2bapeJL7evveqa2fMV0Ac2jy8QzoVLs1pjcmXlg4eVCh4FvadFlSxgwvGg/s1600/Chasing.jpg" height="398" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chasing Stan Mackenzie (Peter Buchanan behind)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strong finish</td></tr>
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The 4-lap course at Wollaton Park:<br />
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The end result was I finished 2nd in the Scottish Team, 11th M50 overall, and we picked up Bronze team prize, the team being Stan, me, Peter and Ted Gourley.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-51148991271294143932014-10-25T21:44:00.000+01:002014-10-30T21:51:22.442+00:00Scottish National XC Relays<a href="http://events.scottishathletics.org.uk/events/17544-16367-scottish-national-xc-relay-championships#results" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://www.thatonemoment.co.uk/scottish-athletics-xc-relays-cumbernauld" target="_blank">Photos</a><br />
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My first time representing Ronhill Cambuslang at the National Cross Country Relays. The weather was largely dry with the odd blustery shower passing through.<br />
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I was running in the V50 team along with Paul Thompson and Colin Feechan. Paul went off first and came in well up the field. I went out steady, and found myself running with Marc McColl and Paul Carroll. I thought I would be able to hang onto them both, but somehow let them both slip away. The only runner to come past after the opening tussle with Marc and Paul was Graeme Murdoch of Gala who seemed to make up a huge number of places. I thought I'd run reasonably hard enough to give us a good chance of team gold. Colin gave it his best shot on Leg 3, running 1 second faster than me in 15:40, but it wasn't enough to stop Andy Little of Shettleston snatching the lead in the final 800 metres or so. We therefore had to make do with team silver.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the end of Leg 2. Photo: <a href="http://www.thatonemoment.co.uk/cnauld-62809" target="_blank">Bobby Gavin</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambuslang M50 Team Silver</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambuslang M50 Team Silver</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battling in the wind on Leg 2</td></tr>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-92200044363503512832014-09-28T19:23:00.002+01:002014-09-29T21:27:10.538+01:00Swiss Alpine Pass RouteAn 11-day hike across Switzerland via the so-called <a href="http://activityworkshop.net/hiking/alpinepassroute/" target="_blank">Alpine Pass route</a>, or <a href="http://www.via-alpina.org/en/page/15/the-trails" target="_blank">Via Alpina</a> (marked as National Route #1). The hike started at Sargans near Liechtenstein, and finished at St Gingolph by Lake Geneva. <a href="http://map.wanderland.ch/?layers=Wanderland&bgLayer=pk&scale=2500000&X=622614.5&Y=176478.25&lang=en" target="_blank">Link to online map</a><br />
Roughly 360km with 21,500 metres of ascent.<br />
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<b>Photo albums:</b><br />
<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064397383148026897" target="_blank" title="Sargans to Weisstannen">Day 1</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064403058215358241" target="_blank" title="Weisstannen to Martinsmad Hutte">Day 2</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064410633127947809" target="_blank" title="Martinsmad Hutte to Klausenpass Hotel">Day 3</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064415881237840017" target="_blank">Day 4</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064420969511912417" target="_blank">Day 5</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064426957771881905" target="_blank">Day 6</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064433946968110577" target="_blank">Day 7</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064553487059009441" target="_blank">Day 8</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064568774867983969" target="_blank">Day 9</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064574571357077585" target="_blank">Day 10</a> | <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064579866199723169" target="_blank">Day 11</a><br />
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<div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="280" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210465719773367959358.000502426933a0eb610ae&ie=UTF8&t=m&source=embed&ll=46.815099,8.459473&spn=2.10521,6.591797&z=7&output=embed" width="600"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=210465719773367959358.000502426933a0eb610ae&ie=UTF8&t=m&source=embed&ll=46.815099,8.459473&spn=2.10521,6.591797&z=7" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Alpine Pass Route</a> in a larger map</small>
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<b>Day 1 - Sargans to Weisstannen (Sat 6th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064397383148026897" target="_blank">Photos from Day 1</a> </b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">2h10m, 14km, 640 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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The trip started at 5am in Glasgow with a train and bus to Edinburgh Airport. Then an Easyjet flight to Geneva, and 3 trains to Sargans, via Biel and Zurich. So it was after 5pm before I started hiking. I faffed around a bit leaving the train station at Sargans, trying to decide to whether to buy any food, but decided on balance it was better to get a move on since I was pressed for daylight hours. I reached <a href="http://www.weisstannen.ch/" target="_blank">Hotel Gemse</a> after 2 hours, just as the light was starting to fade. I was in a shared dorm, but nobody else was staying. Dinner was schweineschnitzel, beer and chips, accompanied by traditional folk music.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aIRi2jxCx4A/VCkRvBsGWqI/AAAAAAABC28/Ho6HnnHFnKE/s1600/DSCF7695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aIRi2jxCx4A/VCkRvBsGWqI/AAAAAAABC28/Ho6HnnHFnKE/s1600/DSCF7695.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Sargans on Day 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEcp39T1_8E/VCkR4DMy47I/AAAAAAABC28/M-7SOtGKsuI/s1600/DSCF7697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEcp39T1_8E/VCkR4DMy47I/AAAAAAABC28/M-7SOtGKsuI/s1600/DSCF7697.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Weisstannen on Day 1</td></tr>
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<b>Day 2 - Weisstannen to Martinsmad-Hütte (Sun 7th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064403058215358241" target="_blank">Photos from Day 2</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">6h58m, 30km, 2193 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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I set off at 8:25am just as the locals were heading to church. The trail was wooded and cool with heavily dewed grass. Gradually the trail climbed above the treeline to the Foopass at 2223m, the first major pass of the route. On the descent I stopped for a while at a small farmstead to eat bread and cheese, and chat with some local hunters and cheese-makers (<i>blessed are the cheese-makers</i>), before battering down a long stony track towards Elm. Just before reaching Elm, I decided to head steeply back uphill again to the Swiss Alpine Club <a href="http://www.sac-randen.ch/Huetten_Martinsmad.htm" target="_blank">Martinsmad-Hütte</a> at 2002m. It was a good sociable evening chatting with Swiss hikers, who were all doing short multi-day hikes in the region.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foopass 2223m</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martinsmad Hutte 2002m</td></tr>
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<b>Day 3 - Martinsmad-Hütte to Klausenpass Hotel (Mon 8th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064410633127947809" target="_blank">Photos from Day 3</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">12h27m, 45km, 3055 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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7:10am start with a steep descent to Elm. A quick snack at the village bakery in Elm, then upwards and onwards towards the Richetlipass. The pass has a false col then flattens out before the real pass at 2261m. The descent entered some slightly wilder country, and a short sharp rain storm added to the effect. Once down in Linthal I re-grouped for a few minutes, then decided to head for the Klausenpass, having read that the Klausenpass Hotel is "unmissable". I summited the Klausenpass just as it was getting dark, only to discover the hotel is still another 2km down the other side. Schweineschnitzel, beer and chips again for dinner, although I was too exhausted to finish the beer. The night was creepily quiet in the bunkhouse on the opposite side of the road.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richetlipass 2261m</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Klausenpass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Klausenpass Hotel</td></tr>
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<b>Day 4 - Klausenpass Hotel to Spannort Hutte (Tue 9th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064415881237840017" target="_blank">Photos from Day 4</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">11h02m, 42km, 2506 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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After a leisurely breakfast in the Klausenpass Hotel, I was away just before 8am. The route fiddled around below Schachentaler Windgallen before dropping into the Schachental valley. Unfortunately I was day-dreaming so ended up in Unterschachen and had to hike along the road to Spiringen. There was quite a bit more hiking down the road to get to the outskirts of Altdorf. I missed out going to the town centre to see the famous statue of William Tell, but instead headed straight across to Attinghausen for the steep slog up to Brusti. I had thought of staying the night in Brusti, but instead decided to press on over the Surenenpass 2291m. The weather got iffy on the descent. Misty. Pouring with rain. Full waterproofs required. I got a bit confused in the mist, but eventually found a sign pointing upward to the Spannort Hut. It was getting pretty late by this stage, and the climb to hut was steep and rocky. I arrived just as it was getting dark. The guardian was surprised to have a visitor. Nobody had visited the hut for several days. It was a very quiet night, with just the sound of rain and running water outside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDZ3smK23EQ/VCkiLy_EFyI/AAAAAAABDCg/PjbDQbeiYxw/s1600/DSCF7792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nDZ3smK23EQ/VCkiLy_EFyI/AAAAAAABDCg/PjbDQbeiYxw/s1600/DSCF7792.JPG" height="436" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at Klausenpass (Schärhorn)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w7KUrCM8Roc/VCklZ6Vu9RI/AAAAAAABDJQ/i_ixBm-equA/s1600/DSCF7860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w7KUrCM8Roc/VCklZ6Vu9RI/AAAAAAABDJQ/i_ixBm-equA/s1600/DSCF7860.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surenenpass 2291m</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_a1VZLN2VzA/VCkmHoUO34I/AAAAAAABDKw/GeoK5IodV5U/s1600/DSCF7872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_a1VZLN2VzA/VCkmHoUO34I/AAAAAAABDKw/GeoK5IodV5U/s1600/DSCF7872.JPG" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Spannort Hutte (Titlis)</td></tr>
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<b>Day 5 - Spannort Hutte to Meiringen (Wed 10th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064420969511912417" target="_blank">Photos from Day 5</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">11h43m, 45km, 1864 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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Misty, murky weather leaving the <a href="http://www.spannorthuette.ch/" target="_blank">Spannort Hutte</a>. Mass migration of cattle, bringing them down for the winter, as I dropped into the Surenen valley. A long gradual descent to Engelberg, then quick supermarket stop before heading back uphill towards the Jochpass.<br />
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The Swiss have an uncanny knack of converting their wonderful natural landscapes into industrial building sites, and the Jochpass was no exception with an enormous new hotel in mid-construction. I headed on past various lakes to the Tannensee at which point the weather really closed in. One minute it was quite tolerable, and the next I was scrambling for full waterproofs and getting a real pelting from the rain and wind. The route headed along an undulating ridge to Planplatten 2245m on the edge of a ski area. It really was pretty grim, and I was glad when the trail finally started descending towards Meiringen. It took a fair old while to descend the 1650m to reach the "Sherlock Holmes" town of Meiringen, and then I had to try a few hotels before finally getting a very quiet room at the Hotel Rebstock.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Okghg3cQlcE/VCkoElJXvKI/AAAAAAABDOM/dBXF5bsYF_M/s1600/DSCF7902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Okghg3cQlcE/VCkoElJXvKI/AAAAAAABDOM/dBXF5bsYF_M/s1600/DSCF7902.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trübsee before the Jochpass </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIRmEUuuufA/VCkpNyjOi_I/AAAAAAABDQ0/E4MF4wRYfTw/s1600/DSCF7922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIRmEUuuufA/VCkpNyjOi_I/AAAAAAABDQ0/E4MF4wRYfTw/s1600/DSCF7922.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending to Meiringen after the storm</td></tr>
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<b>Day 6 - Meiringen to Lauterbrunnen (Thu 11th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064426957771881905" target="_blank">Photos from Day 6</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">10h13m, 42km, 2477 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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Another fairly cloudy overcast day. Pretty cool dull weather all the way to the Grosse Scheidegg 1962m, which I hadn't appreciated has a road up it from both sides, so not exactly a wilderness experience. The view from the pass must be stunning on a clear day, but we had to make do with fleeting glimpses of the Eiger. The descent to Grindelwald was pleasant enough, with great views of the Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and Lauteraarhorn taking me back to 1997 when I climbed the Wetterhorn with Jeff Knight and Micky Ross.<br />
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Entering Grindelwald was awful after solo-hiking for several days. Far too many people, and commercialisation gone mad. I stopped to grab food from the Coop, then kept walking without stopping for a break. The trail to Kleine Scheidegg couldn't have been more straightfoward. A steady trail of tourists. It does feel bizarre when you reach the col, and the Swiss have built a major railway station, with hordes of people, and cigarette smoke blowing in your face. Needless to stay, I kept on hiking straight over the other side and down towards Wengen and Lauterbrunnen. It was quite late, and getting dark when I reached Lauterbrunnen, but I found a room at the <a href="http://www.hotelschuetzen.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Schutzen</a> right beside the very spectacular Staubbach Falls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fFK4OFkc6s0/VCks1BB1J7I/AAAAAAABDS4/A4I9ltmh9Hc/s1600/DSCF7938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fFK4OFkc6s0/VCks1BB1J7I/AAAAAAABDS4/A4I9ltmh9Hc/s1600/DSCF7938.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Rosenlaui </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjL3J80G4oA/VCktnppfM9I/AAAAAAABDUg/FPfLrE_NUMo/s1600/DSCF7953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjL3J80G4oA/VCktnppfM9I/AAAAAAABDUg/FPfLrE_NUMo/s1600/DSCF7953.JPG" height="452" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eiger from Grosse Scheidegg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UOwIrI8W2hw/VCkuqsLOirI/AAAAAAABDWs/PK-BpPrsDMU/s1600/DSCF7971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UOwIrI8W2hw/VCkuqsLOirI/AAAAAAABDWs/PK-BpPrsDMU/s1600/DSCF7971.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wetterhorn above Grindelwald</td></tr>
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<b>Day 7 - Lauterbrunnen to Griesalp (Fri 12th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064433946968110577" target="_blank">Photos from Day 7</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">7h02m, 28km, 1866 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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The day dawned with torrential rain in Lauterbrunnen. I faffed around getting waterproofs on, by which time the rain had more or less stopped. It was still pretty damp and cool for the hike up to Murren. For a while on the hike to the <a href="http://www.rotstockhuette.ch/" target="_blank">Rotstock Hut</a> the weather threatened to improve with the odd fleeting of a snowy peak. I stopped at the hut for a bowl of soup, and chat with an American guy from San Francisco, and then ventured out into the increasingly cold and grey conditions for the climb to the Sefinenfurgge 2612m. The rain was turning into sleet, and the descent was on black shale for a while. Lower down it started raining properly for the hike out to Griesalp. I checked into the <a href="http://www.naturfreundehaeuser.ch/en/gorneren/welcome/" target="_blank">Naturfreundehaus Gorneren</a>, which turned out to be a good evening chatting with an American guy Damon, and Swiss guy Chris over dinner and a few beers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_0Yg0Hce530/VCkynPr4-gI/AAAAAAABDaE/_Qo2EW2MK5w/s1600/DSCF8001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_0Yg0Hce530/VCkynPr4-gI/AAAAAAABDaE/_Qo2EW2MK5w/s1600/DSCF8001.JPG" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staubbach Falls at Lauterbrunnen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fWv5nf4I88/VCkzy3jc2HI/AAAAAAABDcc/dRWZ-pJfcbc/s1600/DSCF8025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fWv5nf4I88/VCkzy3jc2HI/AAAAAAABDcc/dRWZ-pJfcbc/s1600/DSCF8025.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gspaltenhorn above Mürren</td></tr>
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<b>Day 8 - Griesalp to Adelboden (Sat 13th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064553487059009441" target="_blank">Photos from Day 8</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">11h08m, 36km, 2671 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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An early 6:45am start for the climb to the impressive Hohtürli Pass 2778m, the highest point on the Alpine Pass Route. For once, the weather didn't disappointment. Great views of snowy peaks, with wispy low-lying clouds. I pottered down the other side the outstandingly scenic Oeschinensee, then continued down to Kandersteg for a supermarket stop. After eating as much as I could in 10 minutes, I headed up to the surprisingly dramatic Bunderchrinde 2385m, and impressive rocky gash reminiscent of the Breche de Rolande. The hike out to Adelboden had an uphill sting in the tail. It was not the kind of place to find cheap accommodation, so I checked into the <a href="http://www.waldhaushuldi.ch/" target="_blank">Hotel Waldhaus Huldi</a> at the end of the main street.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bJdSA1FalM/VCmgUvjcuEI/AAAAAAABDh0/8pkMVtDja-s/s1600/DSCF8075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bJdSA1FalM/VCmgUvjcuEI/AAAAAAABDh0/8pkMVtDja-s/s1600/DSCF8075.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hohtürli Pass 2778m</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCkhPHEnpxc/VCmgw8uzRYI/AAAAAAABDis/F2WvoBM9GnI/s1600/DSCF8082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCkhPHEnpxc/VCmgw8uzRYI/AAAAAAABDis/F2WvoBM9GnI/s1600/DSCF8082.JPG" height="434" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hohtürli Pass 2778m</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SoQDpfnksm0/VCmjJlHVO2I/AAAAAAABDnU/QpR7E-rqCFI/s1600/DSCF8126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SoQDpfnksm0/VCmjJlHVO2I/AAAAAAABDnU/QpR7E-rqCFI/s1600/DSCF8126.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oeschinensee above Kandersteg</td></tr>
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<b>Day 9 - Adelboden to Gsteig (Sun 14th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064568774867983969" target="_blank">Photos from Day 9</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">9h20m, 36km, 1984 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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A leisurely breakfast at the Waldhaus Huldi then an easy hike over the Hahnenpass 1956m to Lenk. Everything was shut in Lenk, apart from a bakery with virtually nothing left, so I just kept on hiking, for once in pretty hot and sunny conditions. I crossed the Truttlisberg Pass 2038m to Launen, then kept going straight over the Krinnen Pass 1659m to Gsteig, where I checked into the <a href="http://www.baerengsteig.ch/HotelRestaurant/willkommen_E.html" target="_blank">Hotel Bären</a> which had an incredible chilled-out atmosphere, with great music in the bar restaurant.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBhUodFT2Fk/VCmusTJib7I/AAAAAAABDuw/ua6rU0ARggM/s1600/DSCF8190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBhUodFT2Fk/VCmusTJib7I/AAAAAAABDuw/ua6rU0ARggM/s1600/DSCF8190.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending towards Lenk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMGrg8y-QeE/VCmxOImeAtI/AAAAAAABDzo/Uw29hpWSf64/s1600/DSCF8231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMGrg8y-QeE/VCmxOImeAtI/AAAAAAABDzo/Uw29hpWSf64/s1600/DSCF8231.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Bären at Gsteig</td></tr>
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<b>Day 10 - Gsteig to Col des Mosses (Mon 15th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064574571357077585" target="_blank">Photos from Day 10</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">6h31m, 23km, 1366 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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Today marked the transition back into French-speaking Switzerland after crossing the Blattipass 1900m. After the Col des Anderets 2034m the trail fiddled around contouring for a while before reaching some chalets at Chersaule, where I took a break to sit out of the sun and relax for a few minutes. It was quite hot and oppressive when I reached Col des Mosses a short while later. It was early afternoon, but there was no point in continuing today, so I checked into the Hôtel Le Relais Alpin and watched a re-run of yesterday's Vuelta final time-trial in my room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHJWw6Cki1Y/VCmzOlLP-1I/AAAAAAABD1k/9D9vctlBqFc/s1600/DSCF8243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHJWw6Cki1Y/VCmzOlLP-1I/AAAAAAABD1k/9D9vctlBqFc/s1600/DSCF8243.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arnensee after the Blattipass</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QACTbviLwzs/VCm1CtyEo6I/AAAAAAABD5U/uUYerXxXOck/s1600/DSCF8275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QACTbviLwzs/VCm1CtyEo6I/AAAAAAABD5U/uUYerXxXOck/s1600/DSCF8275.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Col des Mosses in pouring rain</td></tr>
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<b>Day 11 - Col des Mosses to St Gingolph (Tue 16th Sept) <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108728657693519667799/albums/6064579866199723169" target="_blank">Photos from Day 11</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">8h45m, 35km, 816 metres ascent</span></b></div>
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The final day. A gentle descent to Lac de l'Hongrin past some sort of Swiss Army training camp. Around the lake some huge barrages, then through a tunnel, and down a road to a scruffy farm at Vuichaude d'en Bas. Some nice autumnal colours on the hike up to Col de Chaude1621m, when Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) opens out below. The 1200m descent lead down to the vineyards above the historic town of Villeneuve. I took a break for a while looking out across Lake Geneva, before hiking around the lake through the Grangette Nature Reserve and over the Rhone to reach St Gingolph on the French border, and where I started the GR5 hike to the Mediterranean 2 years ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UfxywzYDkto/VCm3hPzkteI/AAAAAAABD6I/aS3n0TxdUTM/s1600/DSCF8280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UfxywzYDkto/VCm3hPzkteI/AAAAAAABD6I/aS3n0TxdUTM/s1600/DSCF8280.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Col des Mosses</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxU0IgHK3Kg/VCm3_FAOkvI/AAAAAAABD7E/oifkw6gBIKg/s1600/DSCF8287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxU0IgHK3Kg/VCm3_FAOkvI/AAAAAAABD7E/oifkw6gBIKg/s1600/DSCF8287.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lac de l'Hongrin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHTSvvr3kNk/VCm5VfdvEbI/AAAAAAABD9s/lLI5HfA3dVs/s1600/DSCF8307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHTSvvr3kNk/VCm5VfdvEbI/AAAAAAABD9s/lLI5HfA3dVs/s1600/DSCF8307.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Col de Chaude</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XNyaxlkSQj8/VCm5lotGE6I/AAAAAAABD-M/gU4IGhSG8Ig/s1600/DSCF8311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XNyaxlkSQj8/VCm5lotGE6I/AAAAAAABD-M/gU4IGhSG8Ig/s1600/DSCF8311.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Col de Chaude</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKeuCMfrppM/VCm69nqNnZI/AAAAAAABEA4/3DngFoCDF5U/s1600/DSCF8334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKeuCMfrppM/VCm69nqNnZI/AAAAAAABEA4/3DngFoCDF5U/s1600/DSCF8334.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Geneva at Villeneuve</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gSm5mmF76w/VCm7NzTLRSI/AAAAAAABEBY/4joFWMz7rz0/s1600/DSCF8338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gSm5mmF76w/VCm7NzTLRSI/AAAAAAABEBY/4joFWMz7rz0/s1600/DSCF8338.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to Col de Chaude from edge of Villeneuve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zg2k46jlug0/VCm7eeED-lI/AAAAAAABEB4/hsVepEKIYCU/s1600/DSCF8342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zg2k46jlug0/VCm7eeED-lI/AAAAAAABEB4/hsVepEKIYCU/s1600/DSCF8342.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Canal at Les Grangettes</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdGb0Jg8qac/VCm8HR_OGfI/AAAAAAABEDI/jQ7cgV4XBnE/s1600/DSCF8354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdGb0Jg8qac/VCm8HR_OGfI/AAAAAAABEDI/jQ7cgV4XBnE/s1600/DSCF8354.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Geneva at Le Bouveret</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kHEVlaqW43Y/VCm8oZA39yI/AAAAAAABEEI/SqeEDFOFiCY/s1600/DSCF8363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kHEVlaqW43Y/VCm8oZA39yI/AAAAAAABEEI/SqeEDFOFiCY/s1600/DSCF8363.JPG" height="450" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Geneva from St Gingolph</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-42757619962881907832014-08-31T20:35:00.003+01:002014-08-31T20:35:42.488+01:00Paisley 10k<a href="http://www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/results/Paisley%2010K%20Road%20Race/1419" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/579348333" target="_blank">Garmin track</a><br />
<br />
My 5th 10k race in just over 2 weeks after Bella Belter (36:18), SVHC Glasgow 800 (36:57), Irvine Marymass (36:13) and Bute Highland Games (36:12).<br />
<br />
My 2 targets today were to dip under 36 minutes, and if possible to get 1st V50.<br />
<br />
I'd not run the Paisley 10k before, but the weather was perfect. Bright and sunny, and not too warm. Plus it was nice to be running on closed off streets for much of the route.<br />
<br />
I realised as soon as I arrived that my main V50 rival would be <a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=11563" target="_blank">Alex Robertson</a> of Motherwell. Given that Alex had been completely out of sight at the Calderglen 10k and Bella Belter, I wasn't sure how I'd get on with keeping him within sight this time.<br />
<br />
The start was all pretty frantic with a high quality field leading out, so the first km was quick-ish, but not too mad. I got drawn into passing Alex a couple of times early on, which I suspected was not a great idea.<br />
<br />
By 2km I'd dropped back from directly chasing Alex and George Pettit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiabUKIpJTX_y-3N6-iuskx2XWdV-ubZoZtrPHR90chjCNtdh_FXEBHXVHJ5513aT6zTyYM0X0_jtI2AVgpIFQ56jnjMjE_vUKdGDc8EEXWtso3BKFGJtQdzDz8fz3vI-MqA/s1600/Paisley10k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiabUKIpJTX_y-3N6-iuskx2XWdV-ubZoZtrPHR90chjCNtdh_FXEBHXVHJ5513aT6zTyYM0X0_jtI2AVgpIFQ56jnjMjE_vUKdGDc8EEXWtso3BKFGJtQdzDz8fz3vI-MqA/s1600/Paisley10k.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I went through the 5k marker on 17:45, which I thought meant sub 36-min was on the cards.<br />
<br />
James Healy caught me around 7km, so we worked together on the disused railway.<br />
<br />
I could see Alex and Andrew MacKenzie almost within catching distance just ahead.<br />
<br />
As we crossed Canal Street with 1km to go I realised we were on 32:36, which meant a sub 3:24 final kilometre to break 36 minutes. I gave it more or less all I had, and closed down Alex to within 5 seconds, but finished in 36:06. Still it felt like another good steady 10k, without exerting myself too much.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MDwdEw1POz8G8O6dlaelDL5Dfl6hIiw6eSY0Tfyqlu1I7TCvw_vGaELLrB6SqpfWczCLlpXrEfBgixS-zZ6CS4EIfIVNy3fhzKJDNxzcU8HFFY1ohY4nKVYjIYZAxQo-SA/s1600/Paisley10k_route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MDwdEw1POz8G8O6dlaelDL5Dfl6hIiw6eSY0Tfyqlu1I7TCvw_vGaELLrB6SqpfWczCLlpXrEfBgixS-zZ6CS4EIfIVNy3fhzKJDNxzcU8HFFY1ohY4nKVYjIYZAxQo-SA/s1600/Paisley10k_route.jpg" height="346" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paisley 10k route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-87311572414661745052014-07-07T21:17:00.004+01:002014-07-08T23:58:43.939+01:00800 races (of sorts)Here's a full list of my <a href="http://chris-upson.com/results/All_Races_07Jul14.xls" target="_blank">800 races</a>, as of 5th July 2014.<br />
<br />
It all started back on 14th May 2000. A lone figure approaching along the <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1420283" target="_blank">Ben Dronaig track</a> like Omar Sharif in that haunting scene from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud1zpHW3ito" target="_blank">Lawrence of Arabia</a>.<br />
<br />
With tension rising, and wondering whether to stop for a chat, I realised I'd bumped into this chap on <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1812067" target="_blank">Cairnkinna Hill</a> about 6 months previously. He was one of those elite hardy folk known as "fell runners" who do things called "fell races". At that time I had absolutely no idea how you would go about entering a fell race, but this seemed like a good time to pick <a href="http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RunnerDetails.aspx?RunnerID=R1112" target="_blank">Eddie Dealtry</a>'s brains for top tips on where to start.<br />
<br />
So, I came away with a short-list of Borrowdale, Glen Rosa and Jura as good entry-level hill races.<br />
<br />
Jura was in 2 weeks time, but race organiser Andy Curtis quite rightly wouldn't let me race without previous experience. I therefore begged Paul Emsley to allow me a run at Glen Rosa 3 weeks later. I finished 5th last out of a field of 32 runners with only one male runner behind me: the legendary <a href="http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RunnerDetails.aspx?RunnerID=R1034" target="_blank">Drew Turnbull</a>. My back was in agony the whole way round, and I missed the turning below the deer fence coming off Goatfell at the end, and got lost in the woods above Brodick Castle at the end, but at least I'd finished the race and left plenty of room for improvement.<br />
<br />
So, fast forward 14 years, and I've just completed my 800th race (of sorts) at <a href="http://www.parkrun.org.uk/victoria/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=35" target="_blank">Glasgow Victoria Parkrun</a> on 5th July 2014. I've used the term "race" loosely to include club handicaps, grudge matches, time trials, etc., as well as officially organised events.<br />
<br />
Events have ranged from Scottish National Indoor 1500m track race at Glasgow Emirates Stadium (shortest and highest number of officials), to 10-stage high altitude Everest Sky Race in Nepal (longest, highest and worst organised).<br />
<br />
Possibly the most enjoyable was the Defi de l'Oisans 200km stage race in France, which I've completed 4 times (2004 to 2007). 6 fantastic scenic stages around the Ecrins Massif on the GR54, starting and finishing at Les Deux Alpes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCh2uoNZ8vun7-yN9hA3hByqPk0xhmUBQwqPl6l_5PRhZ76gbpSZMGQrZoZHioz0R3G2s0SM6xO_PcaRd24HxapbcoYvO6MXTgrl3xnu371ZDs5skH8r5roMEubOGw6VxEA/s1600/ChrisDefi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCh2uoNZ8vun7-yN9hA3hByqPk0xhmUBQwqPl6l_5PRhZ76gbpSZMGQrZoZHioz0R3G2s0SM6xO_PcaRd24HxapbcoYvO6MXTgrl3xnu371ZDs5skH8r5roMEubOGw6VxEA/s1600/ChrisDefi.jpg" height="375" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Defi de l'Oisans<br />
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<br /></div>
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I've run London Marathon 7 times, and Ben Nevis 8 times, as well as completing the Two Breweries and Pentland Skyline the past 12 years in a row.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUCLfSXDvslyocVggIfW9svqqVnmgTb3k0eiHeGSYaxAl2PCN4PcnEdzAkMUVbXT2z2FO-OrTkvlU6iWHy3Scm-2QocLOi-brlr5HXnVFKNmEYVhOGQu11abAwS7gPtkG9w/s1600/ChrisBenNevis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUCLfSXDvslyocVggIfW9svqqVnmgTb3k0eiHeGSYaxAl2PCN4PcnEdzAkMUVbXT2z2FO-OrTkvlU6iWHy3Scm-2QocLOi-brlr5HXnVFKNmEYVhOGQu11abAwS7gPtkG9w/s1600/ChrisBenNevis1.jpg" height="400" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Ben Nevis Race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I've completed more than 330 different race routes or courses, and have raced in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, France, Corsica, Slovenia and Nepal.<br />
<br />
So, having not been sure how to enter a race in 2000, I'm quite pleased to have managed to complete a variety of races now over most distances and terrains from indoor track to the horrors of Glamaig.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RunnerDetails.aspx?RunnerID=R1169" target="_blank">Scottish Hill Racing races</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=41664" target="_blank">Power of 10 races</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLgJEEROE43zYAY3RrK2ToRrdu6oCRrOF9EOHAe50hWONbLFVGCwhmnkj98l5zJlDbZ23f-vQHLTsMDl6STDEYH9kz18bbo8ZHtXRXRXJesGXPHfqzJLZonStl4RvDe4_vg/s1600/ChrisSedbergh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLgJEEROE43zYAY3RrK2ToRrdu6oCRrOF9EOHAe50hWONbLFVGCwhmnkj98l5zJlDbZ23f-vQHLTsMDl6STDEYH9kz18bbo8ZHtXRXRXJesGXPHfqzJLZonStl4RvDe4_vg/s1600/ChrisSedbergh.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sedbergh Hills</td></tr>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-33189081657840908562014-04-28T21:51:00.001+01:002014-04-28T22:26:40.615+01:00Glasgow Miler Meet - Scottish 10,000m Championships<a href="http://www.thatonemoment.co.uk/glasgow-miler-april-25" target="_blank">Photos by Bobby Gavin</a> | <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/134366061" target="_blank">Activity on Strava</a> | <a href="http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=104471" target="_blank">Results</a><br />
<br />
My first attempt at racing on a 400m track. I was slightly daunted by be running in the "B" Race, since I could immediately see I was the slowest runner. I was also nervous about the idea of trying to run fast, since I haven't run fast in any races this year, still not fully trusting my hamstrings.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, the weather was pretty appalling. Cold, wind and raining. So it was a bit grim hanging around watching the "C" Race. I was actually glad not to be running in the "C" Race, since this gave me more time to get ready, and I'd rather be chasing from the back, than leading from the front.<br />
<br />
Once we stepped onto the track, nobody seemed to know the protocol of how the race started, or where the start line was, but we were soon on our way, with Mark Pollard pace-making at 33 minutes, which equates to about 79 seconds per lap.<br />
<br />
I just about hung on for the first lap before slipping off the back, chasing after Iain Burns of Bellahouston RR. For several laps I thought I might catch Iain, until the gap became too big to close. For the next few laps, it was just a question of waiting until I was lapped. It wasn't until my 10th lap that Mark Pollard and Barney Phillips came past.<br />
<br />
At the halfway point I glanced at my watch to see 17:53, so was thinking at this point that sub 36 minutes would be close. I tried to keep pressing all the way, and it was helpful when Shaun Butler went by, so I could latch onto him for a while.<br />
<br />
Before I knew it, we were down to 8 laps (2 miles), then 4 laps (1 mile), and then the bell and the final lap. For the last 200 metres, I was the only runner left on the track, so made the most of it to finish in 35:55.<br />
<br />
It was also my first outing in the new club colours of Ronhill Cambuslang.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQgu5-xY4sMBkv4SzDrNSVEs5lD7nCOikaM2CLpM3krWokpkYEF-QXPwQkDMkmIEaG_ZdMCaI3ng9UMfJymnagpD0yVOIMSUwSrrmVxRTI236Iqyh_c96Tj8VvI1-eOLlMQ/s1600/download9040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQgu5-xY4sMBkv4SzDrNSVEs5lD7nCOikaM2CLpM3krWokpkYEF-QXPwQkDMkmIEaG_ZdMCaI3ng9UMfJymnagpD0yVOIMSUwSrrmVxRTI236Iqyh_c96Tj8VvI1-eOLlMQ/s1600/download9040.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glasgow Miler Meet - Hutchesons' Grammar School</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-90531268237584367962014-03-09T21:19:00.004+00:002014-03-09T21:27:00.192+00:00Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon<a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/119213253" target="_blank">Activity on Strava</a><br />
<br />
This was my 6th Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon.<br />
<br />
Previous times were 1:18:17 (2007), 1:20:04 (2008), 1:19:30 (2009), 1:18:15 (2011), 1:19:54 (2012).<br />
So I'd only once gone over 1:20, and that was by 4 seconds in 2008.<br />
Anyhow, given that I've hardly run at all since the hamstring injury at Christmas, I had no intention of racing today, so this was purely an experiment to see if I could run 13 miles at even pace without my hamstring packing in. I almost got away with it, but for some reason suddenly felt really washed out after 10 miles, and the last 3 miles were tougher than I'd expected.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-qwGqvoL65bPPlJuXq5YYC6SZuPMIJY9TjZd6TbDNFDMd6TLUFQK6R95lZP0rxRBoFItsuTh-74_rSLEHc4-UJmu3k4fNdTBeK1Jcrj9Wo5FN-tW10ZO8A7_ZQ2hGqCCpw/s1600/Chris_B2C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-qwGqvoL65bPPlJuXq5YYC6SZuPMIJY9TjZd6TbDNFDMd6TLUFQK6R95lZP0rxRBoFItsuTh-74_rSLEHc4-UJmu3k4fNdTBeK1Jcrj9Wo5FN-tW10ZO8A7_ZQ2hGqCCpw/s1600/Chris_B2C.jpg" height="400" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Gillian Scott<br />
<a href="http://www.scottsportphotography.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.scottsportphotography.co.uk</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-22356552030129557242014-01-26T21:17:00.000+00:002014-01-26T23:30:19.201+00:00Devil's Burdens Relay<a href="http://chris-upson.com/results/2014/DBResults2014.pdf" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/108895487" target="_blank">Strava track</a> | <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/435530423" target="_blank">Garmin track</a><br />
<br />
I haven't blogged in ages, mainly because I haven't done any running in ages.<br />
<br />
Thankfully I managed my first successful run of the year at the Devil's Burdens Relay yesterday. This was my first run since 27th December when I bust my right hamstring at the Lancaster Festive 4km, and limped off the route.<br />
<br />
I was feeling slightly apprehensive on the startline at Falkland, wondering if my hamstring would be OK, and duly started off super-slowly not wishing to shock-load my leg at all. Anyhow, I plodded along waiting for some twinges or ill effects, but nothing much happened, so I gradually pressed on passing Tess Hill, another runner, then I ran alongside Craig Mitchell for a while, before Ewan Jack caught us both. I tried hold position with Ewan, but he was that bit stronger, and I didn't want to force anything, so just ran as relaxed as I could.<br />
<br />
Just before entering the finishing field, it was good to see James Callender and Steve Halsall heading out in the lead, meaning that Gwyn Bellamy must have run the fastest time on Leg 1 for the Westerlands A+ Team.<br />
<br />
I finished in 13th position in a time of 28:31 for the 7.2km hilly trail run.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaENkhNiahyCQ1E5X3obZhe3n-1uJ_YuYnJAP5YqHDwLIQavfh5DfVbWyd6GRudeDwUgz85toSmkwIc1HvlnRFlXVCYgsI3WROLY16cY9Sk_cLxg4OV7Ow3Ygw7F4-yc68Q/s1600/Leg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaENkhNiahyCQ1E5X3obZhe3n-1uJ_YuYnJAP5YqHDwLIQavfh5DfVbWyd6GRudeDwUgz85toSmkwIc1HvlnRFlXVCYgsI3WROLY16cY9Sk_cLxg4OV7Ow3Ygw7F4-yc68Q/s1600/Leg1.jpg" height="328" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Burdens Leg 1 - Route & Profile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEied0N6U2XZyBD9f2bvCfLrgwkr-wPrKqWafF1N-kG7LTrjv095xTw0wX-dWiJWYZdiNLuTk-Vf3NwSw5cgfjxGFButlY9c8BS9t1-Q4QTd8LFLyXUA4QZAiStPXMbMT3Unew/s1600/Leg1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEied0N6U2XZyBD9f2bvCfLrgwkr-wPrKqWafF1N-kG7LTrjv095xTw0wX-dWiJWYZdiNLuTk-Vf3NwSw5cgfjxGFButlY9c8BS9t1-Q4QTd8LFLyXUA4QZAiStPXMbMT3Unew/s1600/Leg1a.jpg" height="308" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Burdens Leg 1 - Route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-47818361070656250202013-12-07T22:09:00.000+00:002013-12-08T22:26:58.417+00:00West District Cross Country<a href="http://chris-upson.com/results/2013/WestDistrictCC_2013.xls" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/99090126" target="_blank">Strava Track</a><br />
<br />
The last time I ran the West District Cross Country was in 2011, when it was held twice, both times at Irvine Moor. The first was in January as the postponed 2010 race, and the 2nd was in December at the usual time of year. I missed out on last year's event, which sounded like a mudbath at Ardgowan Estate, Inverkip.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, in December 2011, I finished down in 76th place (<a href="http://chris-upson.com/results/2011/WDCC_Dec2011.pdf" target="_blank">2011 results</a>), so I was hoping to do a bit better than that today.<br />
<br />
My plan for today's race was to aim for 1st V50. The only way this would be possible was if I shadowed Paul Thompson (now running for Cambuslang) right from the start. I knew that if I let any gap grow, I would never close it down again.<br />
<br />
There was the usual scramble for positions at the start, with everyone trying to slot into a sensible pecking order. I worked to position myself a couple of places behind Paul, but couldn't quite get right on his shoulder, due to the general congestion and jostling. I thought that if I held back on the first lap, I would have more left to close down places as the race progressed.<br />
<br />
Colin Feechan was working hard on the first lap, and passed both myself and Paul briefly. I used Colin to pace me for a while, but bit by bit I was losing contact with Paul. Marco Consani, Greig Glendinning and Niall McAlinden all came past, and I was starting to wonder if I had enough strength for 2 more laps.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbQcbpqr48XkvoVlQWNwleqkL4j1cf7LaVZWjSGEyZp4u0hQodVR-FwV4h5XJt1X6o26Siy6W-MXCEI3-JZcc3nZFUHlX_DzdB0L1R6Y3Li2kBDzDtHxcUAdfjTgOi9ChvA/s1600/WD_Route2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbQcbpqr48XkvoVlQWNwleqkL4j1cf7LaVZWjSGEyZp4u0hQodVR-FwV4h5XJt1X6o26Siy6W-MXCEI3-JZcc3nZFUHlX_DzdB0L1R6Y3Li2kBDzDtHxcUAdfjTgOi9ChvA/s640/WD_Route2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilmarnock West District Cross Country - senior men's course</td></tr>
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I did briefly catch Scott Martin at around the halfway point, but Scott shrugged off my challenge, and I spent the final lap with Scott just ahead, and Colin just behind, and working hard to catch me again.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flogging through the mud</td></tr>
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I did just enough to keep Colin at a comfortable distance, but didn't have the strength or speed to catch Scott, so spent the final lap maintaining an even gap ahead and behind.<br />
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Final result was 40th place and 2nd V50. Paul Thompson was 1st V50, 35 seconds ahead.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-64233155392142780922013-09-28T22:29:00.000+01:002013-10-05T09:10:07.184+01:00Two Breweries Hill Race<a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/85566720" target="_blank">Strava track</a> | <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/382620242" target="_blank">Garmin track</a><br />
<br />
This was my 12th Two Breweries in a row, and the weather was about as perfect as you could imagine, if a fraction on the warm side.<br />
<br />
It was slightly daunting and frustrating setting off with my back in pain after the fall at Three Shires last weekend. I had no idea how I would complete the race, given how much my back was hurting just getting out of the car. The only hope was to set off ridiculously slowly and see if I could survive.<br />
<br />
The problem was that every time my foot hit a tussock or slipped on the path, I got a wave of pain jarring through the ribs in my back. And the Two Breweries race route is not known for being totally smooth and tussock-free.<br />
<br />
I reached the summit of Birkscairn Hill way down the field, and dreading the descent to Glensax. I pottered down through the heather with shooting pains through my back, watching lots of folk gallop past, including Steffen and Graham Kelly from Westies, and Gordon Pryde & Dom Ketley amongst others.<br />
<br />
Once on the bowling green smooth ascent, I took a gel and drink and then overtook about 10 runners on the climb to Hundleshope, almost but not quite catching Morag McCracken.<br />
<br />
After Hundleshope, the heathery traverse round to Stob Law was a joke. The muddy slippery trod was playing havoc with my back, so I stepped off the path and let all the runners go by who I'd past on the previous climb. I then just about caught them back again on the climb up Stob Law, before once again they all disappeared on the long descent to Glenrath Farm.<br />
<br />
Once you hit the Glenrath farm track, the route suddenly becomes extremely runnable, barring 2 short steep climbs up Whitelaw and Trahenna. I therefore decided to start pressing, and reeled in 8 or so runners before the firebreak up Whitelaw, getting just ahead of Morag McCracken at last. After Whitelaw I wasn't that keen on having anyone catching me, so managed to get to Stobo without dropping any places, and passed Iain Gilmore who was clearly struggling, just before the road to Stobo.<br />
<br />
I grabbed a bottle at Stobo and then set a target of catching the 2 runners ahead, one of whom was Duncan Ball of Penicuik Harriers. Once across the dam I headed for the left edge of the wood, with a Westie runner not far ahead - I think this was Cameron Burt, but couldn't get close enough to be sure.<br />
<br />
Peter Mackie was also not far ahead, and by taking a better line, I reached the summit of Trahenna ahead of him. I could see Gregor Stewart over to the right, clearly having a bad day at the hill office. It was good to get a shout and some banter from Muffy & Dave Calder at top of Trahenna, before beginning the final descent.<br />
<br />
My pedestrian approach this year, combined with gels and powders, meant I did not have the slightest flinch of cramp on the run off to Broughton. Only the nagging pain in my back, meaning I had to walk any rough bits, and run very gingerly where I could. I passed Gregor Stewart and John Binnie who were both hobbling with cramp, before Peter Mackie caught me. I stepped off the path to let him go by, but once on the Greenmantle Dash descent, he also pulled up with cramp, allowing me to pass and then to press on and grab a couple more places on the road. <br />
<br />
So, despite it being almost exactly 27 minutes slower then last year, I was pleased I managed to complete the route without having to drop out, and must have passed about 20 runners from Glenrath to the end, without dropping any places.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-46881780117116609842013-09-21T21:16:00.000+01:002013-09-24T22:37:38.217+01:00Three Shires Fell Race<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/379014514" target="_blank">Garmin track</a> | <a href="http://www.strava.com/activities/83925665" target="_blank">Strava track</a> | <a href="http://www.amblesideac.org.uk/3shires_2013_results.htm" target="_blank">Results</a><br />
<br />
My 8th shot at the classic Three Shires Fell Race. Everything a Lakes hill race should be. Low key. Entry on the day. Selwyn Wright commentary. Pasties and tea afterwards. In fact a more or less perfect day. Spoiled only by the 18km run over rocks and bog.<br />
<br />
Without doubt, this was the mistiest hill race I've done. So misty it was like a scene from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRsXU4Q6a0Q" target="_blank">Hedgehog in the Fog</a> where random runners would loom out of the murk at various random times, so you had no idea who was behind and who was ahead.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dRsXU4Q6a0Q" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
The start was a classic piece of Selwyn Wright comedy. The runners were mingling and chatting in the road, awaiting further instructions, when suddenly and without warning Selwyn shouted "Go". I was in the middle of showing my map to Konrad Rawlik as the stampede kicked off, so had to hurriedly stash the map, start my GPS, and chase after the pack of runners disappearing off down the road.<br />
<br />
The comedy start did allow me to begin slower than usual, with a bit of queuing to get across the bridge, before I could start picking off runners as we hit the trail on the other side of the river. Bit by bit I was passing all the usual suspects, including Adrian Davis and Chris Reade. Once I'd caught up Dan Duxbury I figured I was as far up the field as I should be, so decided to consolidate my position.<br />
<br />
Once over the stile at the fell gate, Dan turned sharp left into the bracken so I followed him and Paul Knowles in their Ambleside vests. A bit higher we merged back in with the other runners. As the slope steepened towards the summit of Wetherlam, I was caught and passed by Jane Reedy. As we crested Wetherlam I quickly lost contact with Jane and the other runners ahead, so dawdled slightly to allow Chris Reade and Paul Neild to catch me to have somebody to chase.<br />
<br />
This was enough to get me down to Prison Band for the rocky climb up to Swirl How. I vaguely remember descending just behind Matt Beresford before Dave Armstrong caught me. I then tagged along behind Dave at what felt like a very pedestrian pace, but I wasn't keen to charge off into the mist and risk getting lost. As it happens a large group caught us, passed us, and then promptly took the wrong path which forks rightwards and doesn't drop you down to the Three Shire Stone.<br />
<br />
I had drifted off the back when I realised what had happened, cut back leftwards to hit the road, and hey presto I was now leading that group! I scuttled along the road to pick up the path towards Pike o' Blisco, and then tried to push on to clear myself of the group behind. I met up with Ross Litherland and Dave Nuttall for this section, and we worked well together on the climb to catch and pass a few folk, including Leigh Warburton who must have got in front when I took the detour at the road crossing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Shires 2013 GPS Track</td></tr>
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It was slightly galling at the summit of Blisco to see so many runners returning who I thought I'd been ahead of, but anyhow it was all very greasy on the rocks, and very poor visibility, so mainly a question of trying to stay upright and keep on the right bearings. The section after Blisco is always difficult in mist, so I hesitated to allow Leigh Warburton to show the way.<br />
<br />
I was just about keeping Leigh in my sights, although everyone else seemed to have the same idea about slip-streaming him. This meant I was fighting for path space, and getting repeatedly blocked and boxed in by slower descenders. After the stile into the bracken, my path was once again blocked and my line chopped by the runner in front, so I decided I needed to take evasive action. Unfortunately just as I made my move, I hit a section of steep greasy rock that spat me off my feet, landing me hard on my back and then shooting me off clattering down the hill. I was winded and could hardly breathe when I stood up, but pottered on down not wishing to fall again, only once again finding I was boxed in again by the same runner. I couldn't afford to fall again, so got round more tentatively and then headed off trying to catch Leigh and Ross.<br />
<br />
All the group pretty much came together again on the climb up Lingmoor. I scrambled for my gel and Lucozade to hopefully to get a boost for the final climb. I hadn't been running hard, so had expected to have a bit more oomph for Lingmoor but the pain in my back from the fall was making it difficult to breathe. Anyhow, I pushed on enough to make sure Leigh was out of sight.<br />
<br />
At the top of Lingmoor I couldn't see anyone behind, so thought I might have a clear run down to the finish, but not so. I dithered around on the descent, not 100% sure I was taking the right paths given there was nobody around and no markings. But then suddenly I had Jane Reedy, Dave Armstrong, Chris Reade, Leigh Warburton and a few others all barreling down on me. The pain in my ribs across my back was too uncomfortable to push the jarring descent, so I let the whole lot go past. <br />
<br />
Once we hit the level track I injected some pace to fly past Leigh, and set me sights on catching Jane Reedy before the finish. She was probably 200 metres ahead with 1km remaining, so it was an almost but not quite impossible task. I aimed to run at my best 800m pace, to see if this would close the gap. The gap was coming down, but nowhere near fast enough. When I hit the road with 200 metres to go, the gap was still not really catchable, but with a short burst of sub-30min 10k pace, I edged past just as we turned into the field.<br />
<br />
It felt rather unchivalrous to nip past just before the line, but it was really just an experiment in pace management, and gave me something to think about for the final kilometre. My time was 2:29:55, which is more than 6 minutes slower than I've ever run before, but I was quite pleased to get round, and felt strong at the end of what was my longest run of the year timewise.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Shires Race Times</td></tr>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-91447544882339803702013-07-31T22:35:00.000+01:002013-09-06T20:32:26.479+01:00Kilmaurs Gala 5k<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/351370178" target="_blank">Activity on Garmin Connect</a><br />
<br />
After running this race last year, I thought I'd give it another shot and perhaps run a bit faster.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race Route</td></tr>
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After the low-key phlegmatic race brief from Dave Mitchell, we were quickly underway and I decided to get up to speed as soon as possible, so found myself on David Phee's shoulder for the first lap of the track before Robert Gilroy and another guy overtook. I then held onto 4th place for a short while before various Kilmarnock and Ayr runners started passing. After 2km I was holding position again, until Kara Tait caught me at more or less the same place as last year. We then traded places several times before I made my move with about 800 metres to go as we turned onto Mill Avenue. I just managed to hold on for the lap of the track and finished in 17:40, which was about 8 seconds quicker than last year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 400 metres to go</td></tr>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-14053966870005296272013-06-22T23:15:00.004+01:002013-06-23T11:00:30.856+01:00Largo Law Hill Race<a href="http://www.scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceResults.aspx?RaceID=RA-0084&Year=2013" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/331575549" target="_blank">Garmin track</a><br />
<br />
Having done a new Parkrun in the morning at Tollcross, I thought I might as well do a new hill race in the afternoon, so drove over to Fife and got lost for a while trying to find the Crusoe Hotel in Lower Largo.<br />
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It was a completely different scene to the grim grey Glasgow rain in the morning. Bright sunshine, blue skys and dazzling light sparkling off the harbour. I was a bit spaced out after the Parkrun and the drive.<br />
<br />
The race started up a fairly steep road, before turning through a bottleneck gate into a glade leading into an interesting wooded valley with a couple of stream crossings.<br />
<br />
It took the precaution of starting fairly fast, so was in 4th place at the gate and running through the woods for the first 3km or so. I could hear panting noises close behind, unless they were some sort of strange echo. Eventually after a road crossing there were several kissing gates in close succession, at which point I realised Graham Nash of Carnethy was right behind me.<br />
<br />
Graham got past just before the 2nd road crossing, at which point I realised Jonny Knox was right behind me, given the shouts he was getting. I resigned myself to getting caught by Jonny just before the really steep hill proper.<br />
<br />
Once flogging up the steep hill I looked back and saw Charlotte Morgan approaching at a rate of knots. I almost held her off until the twin summits, and assumed she would totally drop me on the descent, but the gap never really changed much, so I thought I would probably catch her on the 4km run back.<br />
<br />
I made a reasonable effort, and kept the gap down to about 20 seconds, but never really closed her down, so Charlotte finished 6th in a new women's record of about 50:32, and I was 7th in 50:54. Kyle Greig won the race in a new record time of 43-something.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Largo Law</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mftF6tIuke_EvDKF-ZljRaMNEREXHJP5qZ-5IU6oP-5_QRo1YeHuWZ949HW9rHm-yW304Zbjw6XiwSmnH18kP9U8Uk9eUSHxbBm6soUWW6EGEY5pILimu5ybDmOf_LqmHQ/s1600/RA-0084-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mftF6tIuke_EvDKF-ZljRaMNEREXHJP5qZ-5IU6oP-5_QRo1YeHuWZ949HW9rHm-yW304Zbjw6XiwSmnH18kP9U8Uk9eUSHxbBm6soUWW6EGEY5pILimu5ybDmOf_LqmHQ/s320/RA-0084-main.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Largo Law Race Route</td></tr>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-89210129350919166452013-06-22T23:12:00.002+01:002013-06-22T23:12:29.660+01:00Tollcross Parkrun #8<a href="http://www.parkrun.org.uk/tollcross/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=8" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/331334062" target="_blank">Garmin track</a><br />
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It took a while to find it, but eventually I tracked down the immaculately well-kempt Tollcross Park, amidst the grim east end of Glasgow.<br />
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Luckily only about 40 runners turned up, which was about the number of people who could shelter under the tiny bandstand in the pouring rain.<br />
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I thought I might be in with a shout at a win until I saw Shaz Hakeem from Ronhill Cambuslang, who I knew had won it a couple of times before in times quicker than I could run. There was also a quite fast looking Garscube runner on the startline who I'd not seen before.<br />
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The course follows 2.5 laps of the park, meaning that you have to tackle the first kilometre 3 times, which was uphill from the start. I set off fast-ish, holding position with Shaz and the Garscube runner (Andrew Gibson) up the first hill. I tried to break away from them too soon, which back-fired, since they just went past again. I then spent the next 4km chasing Shaz at an almost catchable distance, whilst Andrew disappeared out of sight.<br />
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The course was severely undulating, so by the 3rd lap it was a struggle climbing the last hill. I closed the gap down at the end to 3 seconds, but was never going to Shaz, so I finished 3rd in 18:23, whilst Andrew Gibson set a new course record with 17:41.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-42356654393435212192013-06-09T21:40:00.000+01:002013-06-09T21:43:22.195+01:00Vale of Leven 10k<a href="http://www.stuweb.co.uk/race/u4/" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/325374810" target="_blank">Garmin track</a><br />
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4th and final Polaroid 10k, and apart from my aberration at Dumbarton, my other times were within 14 seconds of each other with 36:57 at Helensburgh, 36:43 at Clydebank, and 36:50 today at Vale of Leven - so at least fairly consistent if not exactly back to full speed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTUN6lotVcR9Ntxp4RXJlwlE6lSX7n7u0L7-BV12Fodr1K2YqV9Njdr2Vd-QZQzaPgtPHqSOUn4ZAux4w8apUcNS1haLrb2SsdJoAZYmGUfWonqcjrBPBq1QTwgysC-p4qA/s1600/Leven10k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTUN6lotVcR9Ntxp4RXJlwlE6lSX7n7u0L7-BV12Fodr1K2YqV9Njdr2Vd-QZQzaPgtPHqSOUn4ZAux4w8apUcNS1haLrb2SsdJoAZYmGUfWonqcjrBPBq1QTwgysC-p4qA/s640/Leven10k.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: <a href="http://www.scottsportphotography.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gillian Scott</a></td></tr>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-53491973502695023462013-05-30T21:55:00.002+01:002013-05-30T21:55:51.905+01:00Dumbarton 10k<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/320408088" target="_blank">Garmin track</a> | <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/57180357" target="_blank">Strava track</a><br />
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Dumbarton is the 3rd race in the Polaroid series, and ought to be the quickest. Back in 2007 I ran my 10k PB here with 34:38, but tonight my mind and body were not up to the challenge.<br />
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I'm not quite sure how, but I seem to have put on 5kg in 5 months. This must be due to lack of exercise over the winter, combined with no let up in calorific consumption. I daresay that humpfing 5 extra kilos around must partly explain why I feel like I'm running like a sack of potatoes at the moment.<br />
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Anyway, the combination of extra weight, not much training, and running the Kilpatricks Hill Race last night meant I felt very flat tonight, and couldn't find any extra gear for the last 4km.<br />
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On a more positive note, it was a beautiful night for running, and apart from running a ridiculously slow time, I did quite enjoy being out for a bit of social exercise.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12678986.post-18603548096067757362013-05-25T21:43:00.000+01:002013-05-27T22:03:16.938+01:00Scottish National Trail Championships<a href="http://www.fifeac.org/events/other-events/trail/scottish-trail-championships/159-scottish-trail-championships-2013.html" target="_blank">Results</a> | <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/317836747" target="_blank">Garmin Track</a> | <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/56210744" target="_blank">Strava Track</a><br />
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A new Scottish Athletics event consisting of 10km trail race for the women, and just over 14km for the men.<br />
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The trails would be pretty familiar to anyone who has run the various Leg 4 options of the Burdens over the years.<br />
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The weather turned out a real scorcher, by Scottish standards at least.<br />
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The women were off first at 12 noon. First back was Edel Mooney of Lothian, although Gaynor was unfortunately already back having dropped out with hamstring problems. Ellie came in strongly in 13th place in 46:00, and Sarah Adam was not far behind in 30th place in 50:25.<br />
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I was the only Westie in the men's race, and was slightly daunted by the prospect of 15k intense trail running. I therefore once again started off slowly, thinking I might pick people off later on. I enjoyed the run and the route, albeit the mix of short tough climbs and fast runnable trails really knocked the stuffing out of me.<br />
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I had hoped/expected to run under an hour, but finished way down the field in 42nd place in 1:02:45. I can't say I was disappointed though, since it's the toughest hour of running I've done recently.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiTH7nKxBls6bgrqfXyUfBvj1ee-AmH1O8CLVigbcnLJY3qYVL9ybROAaLZ8MFkoULFNepK2jJtsim2zVKm4_WUuctUGFiUZqi5Pd56nuJpwIMBLSIjCMMYWzbDzZh4sFIQ/s1600/Trail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiTH7nKxBls6bgrqfXyUfBvj1ee-AmH1O8CLVigbcnLJY3qYVL9ybROAaLZ8MFkoULFNepK2jJtsim2zVKm4_WUuctUGFiUZqi5Pd56nuJpwIMBLSIjCMMYWzbDzZh4sFIQ/s640/Trail1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling the heat at around 7km</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrZaXdI2g68u3uGmaaVwN_WNWpIxiGbjVFdJlY6CM6uUEJMcxVUdgnhQUUeb6FIj_1jHhv8m6wus5rVg0x1HCq74HsOC_XE2y4iyuplMxPvuIQbZTvuGIsAX47_fJQyg39A/s1600/EllieTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrZaXdI2g68u3uGmaaVwN_WNWpIxiGbjVFdJlY6CM6uUEJMcxVUdgnhQUUeb6FIj_1jHhv8m6wus5rVg0x1HCq74HsOC_XE2y4iyuplMxPvuIQbZTvuGIsAX47_fJQyg39A/s640/EllieTrail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellie looking far more comfortable </td></tr>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07603180830781000928noreply@blogger.com0