News from Abroad PageLoch Katrine 12k 25/3/06
Robbed by absent teammate...
Ex-PRCer Julia Henderson was first lady past the post on Saturday when she took part in the Loch Katrine 12k race. Tapering for Rotterdam Marathon which is on Zontag 9 April, in her own words,
"I did a sharpener last Saturday – Loch Katrine 12K and believe it or not I actually won it! Yes it takes some doing to find a race so ill attended and off the beaten track. However, the ultimate injustice is that the blinking Herald and Athletics Weekly reported the winner to be my better known and speedier club mate Michelle Hetherington!! You can imagine the sense of injustice I feel. She was not even there though she had entered, which is where the confusion probably arose as I noticed that we were next to each other on the registration list."Well done Julia, terrific result, and if you look here, you can confirm Julia's well won position. We look forward to hearing how Rotterdam goes.
151 J Henderson 50.03
110 J Fellows 56.07No sign of any (real) PRCers there.
Photos Andrew Henderson
A good marathon: pretty flat as you can imagine and definitely not a fun run. There was only one fancy dress 'fun runner' in the whole race apparently, Elvis, and even he finished around the 4 hour mark. The weather was pretty good, fresh (cold enough for gloves at times) but sunny though a bit windy along some of the straights. I got a place at the start fairly near the front thanks to my time at Edinburgh last year. It wasn't the most friendly race I've ever run - not much chat though I'm sure Rab and Karen could have bucked that trend.
I did run with a guy from Norwich who took off at half way but crossed the line at the same time as me having slowed in the last 2 km. Apart from bumping into an over eager marathon relay runner as he took off at 5 km it all went pretty smoothly and I felt relatively good all the way and didn't hit that wall. I took 4 of the PRC recommended Honey Stingers en route and a dose of ISO Torque before the start. I had written down split times for a 3.12 finish time (on a Runners World DIY home made wrist band - good idea) after Andrew balked at my proposed 3.16 splits! I hate to say that he was right but 3.10.41 and 30th lady overall proves that he was.
There were plenty of water and blue neon energy drink stations and even tea at 30 km, which I passed on. My fellow Helensburgh runners had mixed results - Mary was pleased with 4.08 and David not pleased with 4.09 (a. because he didn't get under 4 hours - again and b. because Mary beat him). Having missed key training through a football injury, Arthur valiantly brought us home in 4.30 and managed to completely confuse a Dutch TV crew who stopped him to ask if he would finish to which he answered "Maybes aye, maybes no".
Unfortunately Andrew only managed to get photos of me from the rear. I'd like to think this was because of my speed but apparently it was my fault for running behind other runners in a group! Andrew did stumble across the PRC Rotterdam hang out (see photo). I took the week after the run off and ate and drank far too much in Amsterdam and at home. I'm now back looking at the race calendar and wondering whether Edinburgh to NB would be a good or bad idea? I know what answer I'd get from Graeme Henry so I'm not asking: "It's not a bloody mountain marathon".
Report Julia Henderson
Photos Andrew Henderson
I have to admit delaying responding to Peter's request for a report in Ben's absence on holiday. The reason being my own stupidity in managing to delete the first few photos of the race finish and hence those of Ben! I have been hoping for divine intervention but none has come and so my only photos are of Helensburgh's finest. I should also say we have no 'on course shots' due to Andrew having had to work (night out) the night before and arriving for the end of the race. [Peter - he will be back in his official capacity at Black Rock!]
Temperatures soared to 26C for the Skye half marathon at Portree on Saturday 10th June. I think we all wondered what we were doing at the start line in the baking heat - no wind at all. Very unlike Skye. A team of intrepid Helensburgh AAC athletes (plus Ben the sole Porti and his courageous wife Alison) slapped on the high factor sun screen to put in a sterling effort in very challenging conditions round the unforgiving but very scenic hilly course. Fortunately organisers had laid on plenty of water around the 13.8 mile route ( as if the weather was not punishment enough). The organisation was superb and there were plenty of marshals around the course along with medical help and the local coastguard should things go very wrong. I did wonder around the 3-4 mile mark if I would make it round. The heat was intense and there was absolutely no shade given the treeless terrain. I couldn't believe that I had run the first 6 miles in 40 minutes. However, my time went downhill from then on as the course went uphill between 8 - 11. Turning the corner at 7 miles we thankfully had a hot wind blasting in our faces as we ran uphill. Just beyond 11 miles you reach the crest of the hill and you can see Portree out in front of you and downhill. The 13.1 mile point is marked and I think my watch said 1h 34 at that point, but I was not finished yet. I ran the whole race on my own from about 2 miles until 12 miles when an Italian guy ran past me. Did I chase after him - like hell I didn't and 'sprinted' (poetic licence) past him to the finish line in 1h 38.15. Times did not matter that day. Finishing was enough and I was 2nd lady! Helen Stuart of Bellahouston who is having a fabulous season (another plucky West coaster) was 1st lady in a very respectable 1h 32.43. Ben was 2nd finisher. He had run a lot slower than usual (1h 27.23) and like me was glad to have made it and somewhat concerned about Alison still out on the course. Paul Thompson from Helensburgh was 3rd behind Ben. He clocked 1h 29.04, which was 5 minutes down on his time last year. Paul is Helensburgh's fastest man who unbelievably (though he will not thank me for this) moves into the V50 age group next year.
Thankfully Alison and the Helensburgh team made it round in one piece. In fact organisers reported only 4 NFs. I think some folk had taken the sensible decision not to even start. The catering was great as it tends to be up North (Karen you need to travel further a field for your scran ratings!) Organisers encouraged runners to take left overs away with them and Ben and Alison were seen leaving with a large bag of homemade muffins and sandwiches for their trip to Cornwall.
The prize giving saw Helensburgh's ladies win the team prize to our great delight/shock though 2 bottles of wine between three took some sharing! My Italian friend and his team were the winning men's team from Udinesi. A long list of winners all got framed photos of themselves running towards the line with their time etc - nice touch though I'd prefer if mine explained the heat and length of the race to justify the time! Ben got a rather nice bottle of whisky too, though no such luck for the 2nd lady! I shouldn't complain - great organisation, fab spread, enthusiastic supporters and marshals, lovely scenery and good camping and beers later on.
See you at Black Rock.Report Julia Henderson
Photos Andrew HendersonLinks to other 2006 Heb3 races;
Stornoway
Benbecula
Barra
Harris
No PRC representatives at Oban half, but worth mentioning, as Julia H came first lady in a spritely 1.27.01. Just 3 secs slower than her best half this year (at Harris), J was on course for a pb, going well until the 10 mile mark, when she began to feel the pace. A sharp hill in the last half mile robbed her of a sub 1.27 result but the handsome rucksack she won as 1st prize was a pleasant compensation. Julia has forsaken pb chasing for the rest of the year and instead is looking forwards to representing Helensburgh on their cross country team. She may well be running at the Braids if sufficiently race-fit after the social engagement the night before. Watch this space...
Photos Andrew Henderson
Julia didn't mention what is happening here - maybe she felt it was self explanatoryNot long back from a couple of weeks in Dubai visiting friends, our favourite ex-porty did some running while overseas...
"....I also took in the Dubai 10k. Ran a PB, 38.32 and won £200, but there is a story attached. I didn't stand near enough the front and got beaten gun to tape by 2 Czech triathletes though my chip time was a few seconds better! Suffice to say Andrew was not pleased and I have been lectured since about being too polite. He has a point: I could have paid for my flight with 1st place!"
Results here
Photos Andrew H
