Balerno Rigg Race

I first heard of this race from Kevin Gemson's Strava feed and also knew of it via Craig Stewart who as a member of the local running club (Harmeny) seemed to be part of the organisers. The race being on a Monday evening meant that it would clash with any training plan as Sunday's are usually big days and Monday a rest, but with some juggling it was doable.

I headed up to Balerno arriving at 18:30 and parked outside the entrance to the school on the main road. There were already a few cars in the same spot. I walked along to the entrance to the Rugby ground Malleny Park and followed signs into the clubhouse to pick up my number. A chap I was following along the road was warmly greeted by one of the marshalls. It seemed the chap had run at the London Marathon, in 2h25min which was incredible.

I returned to the car to tog-up and take on some last minute water. A few runners trotted past on their warm-ups. Eventually it was time to head along to the start and I made sure to run a wee bit. Round the back of the clubhouse were the rugby pitches with plenty of club runners warming up. I headed to the start line when told, and lined up perhaps 30 places back. Lots of club vests and groups of friends.

There was a short briefing before a minute's wait for the hooter that would be blown by this year's Gala Queen. Then we were off for the long two mile uphill towards Threipmuir. I found the climb easier than expected and managed to settle in a steady group.

Powering up the hill - ahem. 

Turning right, the ground levelled off and the road was almost straight for a mile or so. Passing the water station just before 3miles, I ignored the cups and set my mind on catching the female in front. Slowly I gained on her until almost on her heels at the turn back towards Balerno. I posed for the camera at the turn.

About to catch Morag McClelland (maybe)

Who's the nobber in the new vest?

But the turn heralded the start of the descent back to Balerno and the female switched up a gear, very quickly disappearing into the distance. I tried hard to chase, and on the downhill it was fantastic running. I passed the 4mile marker and my watch beeped to tell me I'd just broken my mile record - 6mins1second!

I couldn't keep up that pace though and started to struggle on the flatter sections of the return to town. Thankfully there was good support on the pavements and I kept it going. More downhill into Johnsburn Road and finally a wee chicane into Malleny Park for a sprint finish.

I was fairly spent, but happy to see only a small group of 24 over the line ahead of me, mostly club runners. I gratefully took my goody bag and devoured the water therein. What a haul in that bag for such a wee race - very impressive.

Results were posted within a few hours, maybe even that evening. Photos the following day.

25 / 188 00:39:46

Saltire Trail Race 2019

In the Spring I started to plan out my races for the first half of the year and trawled all the usual sites like the Scottish Running Guide, Entry Central, SiEntries, Scottish Hill Racing and came across a few interesting looking events. One of them on the SRG was the 'Saltire Trail Race' advertised as an inaugural event to raise funds for the Athelstaneford Village Hall. The race information was fairly limited, and the entry system was via 'EventBrite' which I'd not used before. 

It was reasonably cheap at £11.25, but I knew a 10km trail race in East Lothian had to be good fun so quickly signed up. As the day approached, I got the usual email from the organiser explaining race timings and parking details. Crucially it was missing any form of route information. It did suggest the route was linked from their Facebook page, but I couldn't find it. Even a vague route description would have been good. 

Anyway, race day arrived with fine weather. Perhaps 12C and a light easterly breeze coming in off the North Sea welcomed me as I drove into the village. Cloudless skies. I followed the marshall's direction into a field to park in a line with the other racers near the start. An old steam-roller marked the actual start-line. 

The start-line steamroller - the whistle would launch all races

I trooped back along the road into the village to the grass in front of the Village Hall where the "Summer Fair" was just starting up. The Polis and Fire Brigade had turned up in their vehicles to spread the word. Bouncy Castle, Coconut Shy, Book stalls, Tombola, all the usual gubbins. Under a tree was a table with two seated administrators giving out the race numbers. I joined the queue and quickly started chatting to a fellow in front of me wearing a Glen Lyon Ultra 2019 shirt. I knew this race had been the weekend before, and was one I'd considered entering. Ian Burdett was a friendly chap and soon enough we'd established that he was the one who had led Roger Peppiette astray at the final Fox Trail race in March!! Even funnier was the fact that Emma Peveril was one of the administrators to give out our numbers - she had got 1st lady at that Fox Trail race, due to not following Ian.

I went back to the car to eat my lunch and gear up. I watched the 2km and then the 5km race start before taking my place. I soon realised there was a small field of runners, no-one seemed to want to actually stand on the start line, they all stood back. Not me. 

But then there was a delay; a pair were late, still coming up from the village. I decided to do some warming up on my own away from the start. Eventually it was time to go and the steamroller blew its whistle. Off we went along the side of the field, taking care not to stumble into tractor ruts. 

Within 200metres I found myself in fourth place and ran at a pace I was just about able to maintain. The route followed field boundaries for the most part, and only the odd road or track section. On a downhill, I managed to pass the 3rd place chap and stayed in the position until we reached the only water station at 5km. The leader was gone - he was stretching away into the distance. 2nd place stopped at the water station, so I and my follower in 4th took the opportunity to overtake. 

4th place chap very quickly overtook me on one of the ascents and he looked to be chasing down the leader. I was settled in 3rd. The course undulated round various field edges, not great ground but just about runnable. On some steeper ascents I resorted to walking as I was spent and soon enough got overtaken by 4th, and then 5th - Ian Burdett. 

We entered a forest where the trail disappeared and we were following rabbit runs through some thick gorse onto Kilduff Hill. I made sure to smile at the photographer.

Then there was a fast descent back to the fields and more solid ground. I had managed to consolidate my position in 5th and looking over my shoulder at the final turn realised I was safe.

I came in 5th out of 66 and the steamroller peeped its whistle as each runner crossed the rope.

Brilliant race. 00:48:16

Balmoral 15 mile Trail Race 2019

I had enjoyed myself so much at the 2018 event of this race, that I knew I had to return. Fortunately, it didn't disappoint. Once again, the weather was perfect with dry, bright conditions at around 13 degrees at the start line.

This year, I was slightly later arriving in Balmoral than before and was directed to the upper car park, a bit closer to the Castle. I ate my lunch in the car listening to Radio Four and putting my gear on and at 12:35 began to stroll towards the race area. I used the toilet at the visitor centre and wandered round to the start. I positioned myself well back from the front runners again, thinking that like last year I'd used the psychological boost of overtaking the slower runners to spur me on.

The starting hooter went, and we traipsed through the start arch. I moved to the grassy verge and began my overtaking which went well for the first mile or so, but quite quickly slowed down. Either I was being slow, or the runners ahead of me were faster.

The trail moves from tarmac to trail and soon passes a water station after 5k where I dumped my gum and stopped to drink. One of the good things about this race is they use half-filled paper cups. This means you can gulp quickly, and not feel too guilty about dumping the cup, although there are bins.

Onto the woodland path and now I started to struggle, losing some places as I tried to stabilise my pace. At the top of the climb at 10km, I actually stopped to walk and eat a gel. At the same time, a group of five talk/runners overtook me. I couldn't let them go and quickly chased after them on the downhill and settled on their heels, trying hard to remain.

On the climb up to 15k, that group had dispersed with three of them ahead, but me and two others playing cat and mouse frequently overtaking each other. I was fast on the descent to the river, but had to walk on the ascents up to the final water station.

On the easy descent towards the sting-in-the-tail, I actually managed to gain a couple of places, but as per usual lost these on the hill climb where I resorted to walking as others plodded past. I managed to smile for the camera though!

The tumbling descent back to the tarmac was as fun as I'd remembered it but there was no chance of a sprint finish as I was completely spent. Some fella overtook me in the final 50m too.

I got a PB by 20seconds surprisingly, as in 2018 this was 2weeks before Copenhagen, so I ought to have been in top form. I was pleased!

01:53:17 107 / 965

Alloa Half Marathon

The start of the 2019 Alloa Half - the winner in Fife vest

What fantastic weather to run a race in! This was my deferred entry to the Alloa Half from 2018, when I had entered it as a training race for the Copenhagen Marathon six weeks later. Unfortunately, the famous Beast from the East (polar continental) air mass blew in from Russia and the race was cancelled due to ice and freezing winds.

Finally the date had arrived for my deferred entry and thankfully the weather was kind. When I pulled up in the chaotic King Street car park, the sky was blue, the air temp was 5C and there was no wind. After a quick look at the 3D map the race organisers had provided, I found my way to registration and orientated myself with the start/finish line.

Back to the car to pin on my number (incorporated chip) and tog up. Plenty of others doing the same and lots of club vests. At 09:45 I decided to head over to the start and had a wee jog to warm up. The starting pen was already busy so I squeezed my way towards the archway, eventually stopping about 50metres short among people who looked capable.

There was a good countdown to the starting gun from 5 minutes out and within a minute or so I was over the line and jogging. The great thing about larger races (~1800 runners here) is that they get permission to close the roads. This means a wider area to run in and less jostling at the start. Unfortunately, the first mile or so is a loop around a residential area of Alloa, where there were a lot of cars parked (quite rightly). But it made the track narrower, and for a long time I was on the pavement.

Eventually the field started to thin out in to one lane width and I found myself amongst runners at a similar pace as me, although I was definitely working hard to maintain it. Watching the miles beep by on the watch, I was heartened to see 6min20ish on average.

I am in this picture, but it requires a magnifying glass

We hurtled down  the hill into Tillicoultry, passing the Sterling furniture place and then turning sharp left onto the A91 and ascend the main street towards the second water station at 9km where I chose to stop, drink and stuff a gel down my throat. Onwards to the looooonggg straight road towards Alva and then Menstrie. I managed to hold my pace, but there were still some stronger runners coming through.

At Menstrie we left the road briefly onto a cyclepath, then back onto the road for the main hill of the route climbing gradually up for 500m up to a large roundabout. There were many supporters here, cheering us on. Gently downhill through Tullibody left turn towards the final water station where I stopped again to hydrate from the wee Strathmore bottles. I was pretty nackered at this point, not really worrying about my position anymore, just trying to survive.

Another long incline, and then fast running downhill towards Alloa and the finish, well marked at 400m out etc. The finish was a 'sprint' towards the big yellow archway and I was spent over the line.

01:33:11 237/1816

KB5 Road Race

Whilst searching for results and information about the GU5 race in February, I came across this reciprocal race organised by the Edinburgh University Hare and Hounds club. With a minimal entry fee (£7) and a good, logical route, I happily entered.

As per usual, the best laid plans were overturned with a dump of snow on the Saturday morning between 03:00 and 10:00. It turned to rain soon after and turned to sloppy wet slush. When I reached the King's Buildings car park at 11:30, there was a mixture of deep puddles, tarmac and rutted slush on the pavements.

On the way to registration in the Common Room, there was a mixture of hardy shorts-and-vests and full covered runners. Not so many old duffers like me, but that was to be expected for a Uni race. At 11:55 I found my way to the start line where after the usual short briefing we were off.

Wet tarmac for the first 200m out of the campus, and then left onto the slushy pavement heading towards Blackford. There were some very fast runners in this field and I soon found myself amongst the old duffers, some females and larger young males. After a mile or so, I felt my shoelace loosening which was unusual. I couldn't run the race like that so took the decision to duck into a bus shelter to retie.

I lost about 5places in doing so, most of which I had already overtaken so I knew I'd be able to claw them back. We had to climb round the side of Blackford up the wide Midmar Drive and had to keep to the road due to the pavement slush. On the climb to the Braid Hills hotel, I finally managed to regain my position before the shoelace stop.

The route turned east onto Braid Farm road and the runners were spread out. Despite the race marshal asking us to run on the pavement (in the slush), we stayed on the clearer tarmac road for a short while, before the narrower carriageway meant we were forced into the pavement slush. It was heavy going, and I was only able to keep running due to being in a race. If I'd been alone, I would have surely taken a break.

There was a sharp left into Alnwickhill Road and I was overtaken by a vested HBT runner wearing a wide brimmed sun hat and long grey socks as we sploshed down the steep brae. Onto Liberton Brae for some more downhill and then into Mayfield Road for the final climb back towards the King's Buildings.

I had managed to keep my position, but the lack of overtaking indicated a fast field. I got through the finish and returned straight to the car.

No idea of my result since the organisers don't seem to think that important to publish, even 2weeks after the race.

Fox Trail Race#6

After returning from Norway, perhaps unrelated, I was struck down with 'flu and sweated in my bed for a weekend. The following Saturday I was scheduled to run in the Foxtrail Race#4. The good doctor said that was not gonna happen. I contacted the Fox Lake email and they kindly allowed me to defer to the final race of the series in March.

As a bonus, I discovered it was going to be a rematch of the first race back in November which was run in a gale. That would give me a PB target to beat, plus I'd be familiar with the route and be able to pace myself. Arriving in the car park at 08:30, I had plenty of time to pick up my number and prepare for the race. There's a 5km race that sets off ten minutes before the main race, so I watched them warming up.

The weather was dry, a light breeze but warm enough for shorts and t-shirt. At the start line, I was please to see Roger Peppiette lining up. I had just managed to beat him in November in the first race, so I would be able to use him as an indicator of my pace this time round.

Off we went with a clang of the bell, and quite quickly I sensed Roger was going strong (or I was slow) as he headed into the distance, reaching at least 100m in the lead after 2km. I kept him in sight though trying hard not to lose too many places.

As we reached the park in Dunbar, I noticed the route had slightly changed by avoiding the copse of trees we'd had to negotiate in November; presumably adjusted on safety grounds as there were a few branches you could run into. There was the usual clash of racers as we changed direction over the bridge running past the tail runners and canicross teams.

I struggled across the looser sand section and lost three or four places, Roger now a yellow speck ahead. Into the forest at halfway, and south to the sharp right-hander I remembered from the first race where I could see Nigel gaining on me. At the turn, I noticed Roger and his followers had gone the wrong way, contrary to the signage. I stopped and mumbled to the woman behind me that they had gone the wrong way and pointed at the sign. We both continued running the race route, and then shouted through the trees over to the wrong-wayers.

Whether they heard us was quickly forgotten as we were now following no-one with no more runners in view ahead. An odd feeling - thankfully I could remember the route otherwise I'd be dithering.

Whilst running the narrower coastal path, we chatted and she revealed she was the leading woman and was desperate to keep it that way. I let her overtake, but kept on her heels as far as I could. Leaving the fields and into the trees, one of the marshals let her know she had 40m on the 2nd place female. She asked me how far to the finish - "500metres!" I shouted. She cranked up the pace and was a long way ahead over the finish line.

I got my PB 58:19, and came in 16th of 190.

2019 Races

Date	Race	Dist(km)	Surface	Time	Position	Percent*	Price
05/01/19	Polar Night Half-Marathon	21.27	Ice!	1hr40:59	103/938	10.9	£50
16/02/19	GU 5mile road race	7.89	Tarmac	00:34:20	87/195	44.6	£9
02/03/19	Foxtrail Race#6	13	Trail	00:58:13	16/190	8.42	£17
16/03/19	KB5 road race	7.9	Slush	00:34:36			£7
31/03/19	Alloa Half	21.15	Tarmac	01:33:11	237/1816	13.0	£27
28/04/19	Balmoral 15 Mile Trail	23.62	Trail	01:53:13**	107/965	11.0	£26
12/05/19	Saltire Trail Race	10.59	Trail	00:48:16	5/66	7.5	£11.25
20/05/19	Balerno Rigg Race	9.45	Road	00:39:40	25/188	13.2	£10.25
26/05/19	Cateran Trail Run	18.48	Trail	01:33:13	6 / 71	8.4	£12
05/06/19	CAAC5	8.05	Road	00:33:21**	78 / 223	34.9	£6
09/06/19	Cheviot Trail Race	21.08	Trail	01:53:17	9 / 136	6.6	£12
16/06/19	7Hills	22.8	Road	02:08:41**	49 / 210	23.3	£7
3/07/19	Tain 10K	9.98	Road	40:59	12 / 103	11.6	£12
6/07/19	Glamaig	6.2	Bog	01:21:16	54 / 102	52.9	£4
27/07/19	FW Trail Half	21.99	Trail	01:40:48	6 / 136	4.4	£29.50
11/08/19	Lowther Trail Race	21.16	Trail	01:46:20	37 / 190	19.4	£15.50
8/9/19	Islay Half Marathon	42.2	Road	03:21:57	6 / 37	16.2	£30
28/9/19	Two Breweries Trail Race	30.7	Everything	03:57:21	72 / 179	40	£15.00
05/10/19	Penicuik House Trail Race	9.6	Trail	00:45:02	7 / 78	8.9	£10
02/11/19	Foxtrail Race#1	12.78	Trail	00:57:12**	23/242	9.5	£20
14/12/19	Foxtrail Race#3	15.4	Trail	01:13:58	31/218	14.2	£20

*lower percent generally means better performance
**PB