Lasswade 10 7/03/10
Ian's report first...
Lasswade 10 is one of those races that comes with 'baggage', of the hills, Roslin Glen, incline, weather and odd distance which all make a tough cookie, however I was pre-occupied today on two other accounts. Firstly I had a sore tooth/ gum from overflossing the previous night and it was fairly distracting most of this morning, and had a bad feeling of how it would be shortly with blood pumping rapidly round my system, and secondly, our five year old was up every 2 hours during the night (as was I- and I can feel it) and wasn't really herself to the extent that at 9am we were discussing whether to go into Sick Kids A+E. Maybe today was just not going to be a race day after all. However by 10.30 she was fast asleep with the colour back in her, and it looked like I might have a short running window on the condition that I take my mobile phone in case we have to do a quick trip into A+E. Life is such a juggling act at times.Anyway got there, having the presence of mind to apply the facepaints (this is now a prerequisite) at the Sherrifhall roundabout, but not enough to remember my kit bag with all the 'just-in-case' stuff in it, however I had the basics.
An excellent PRC turnout, easily a dozen but probably much more, with Bert behind the lens at the start and at various points through the race.
Not a great starting position, too far back for my liking, and on the initial crowd (slow) surge it felt like running in treacle, so I skipped up onto the pavement and pushed as far ahead as I could. I never like the first mile as I always get enthusiastic and run too fast, and have a weak finish, but my basic plan was push hard downhill, harder on flats and surge at uphills using them as a recovery, additionally I used the lesson of Bert's 31/29 session on wednesday, about knowing your pace and picking up pace on the last half, which was mile 6, when the hills were done.
I found the course was very fast, and felt there were runners all over me, so used the first downhill to try to get space, but also found i needed to push hard on the uphill coming out of Roslin Glen which was fairly unforgiving, although i initially felt okay at the pace, it was a bit on the fast side (for me anyway). Nice flat bit, then a nasty long uphill, where Jacqui was cheering on all the PRC team, but then got a few lungfulls of exhaust emissions from passing vehicles, and really started to struggle with strong stomach cramps, and wretching, and at this point my tooth started to announce that it was hurting. I just had to dig in, and pulled back slightly and let 2 runners pass me (always a mistake), However got back into that 4 beat surging rhythm that fills your head (is it from Dr Who episode with Saxon (the master)?), and then mile 6, and flat. Magic, notch up a gear now, I thought, however there were lots of pesky wee hills in the way that broke the stride. There were also a few 90 degree bends which allowed a glimpse back and I could see Mel wasn't far behind. I don't know her that well, but I get regularly hammered by her (and Jamie, and Michael, and Gareth and Leo and John...and.. and..) on the final mile stretch on those wednesday evening Ma Foreman/ Bert sessions, and her pace is faster and steadier, so I knew I had to keep pushing. I also felt I was reverting back to slower turnover with longer strides, which is my 'slower pace' default, as my mind kept wandered to my pulsing tooth. Keep Focused. Keep Focused. Upper body and core muscles really starting to ache. Mile 9, and I screamed out, lets get this thing finished, 60 minutes dead, okay hit it hard and go for sub 70. All I can hear is feet behind me and no-one ahead, and i feel I'm going slow, the watch reckons 7-30 pace...too slow - push harder. Then the 400m sign, and those 15 x 400m sessions on the prom come into mind.....I so hate sprinting finishes....too many people behind me....go to lose them.....200m marker and Bert, Jim and Mark shouting....no time for weak finishes...no time to breathe, just sprint (and scream).
I can't really sprint 200m, i can probably manage 150m then i go all jelly, and i can't see where the finish line is or where to stop, and then my brain reminds me to breathe again, and my tooth/gum reminds me its unhappy, and i wonder if i need to go to A+E, and so begins my non-running life again.
In my dreams I came in at 66 min and 56 secs, however my watch has never been as accurate and the real world will give me 67.15. Average pace was 6.46, and splits of 6.37, 5.53, 7.20, 6.48, 7.14, 7.19, 6.31, 6.38, 6.42, 6.33. So as Leo would say 'not that bad really'. I've never run as fast as that in my life. A benchmark rather than a PB (never done a 10 miler before), but really only down to PRC, Bert, the promenade, and all the others in Bert's group (you know who you are) who are always 10 paces ahead but somehow drag me with them! Anyway to the dentist tomorrow - delightful. (And the five year old has made a miraculous recovery).
Race report by Ian McMillan
Jenni's report next...
Lasswade 10 being the first major run of the 2010 calendar there were a lot of Porties up for the challenge and a challenge it was!!Having done this race last year for the first time, I was under no illusion as to what was ahead of me. We had done a recce of the course 3 weeks ago and at that time I had somehow forgotten how hilly and tough the course actually was.
Arriving in Rosewell to a sunny, but cold reception, but that did not stop the Porty massive turnout, with about 20 suckers (I mean runners) ready to go! Then 12 o’clock struck and with a fire of the gun we were off!
Uphill to mile 1, then a good down hill to mile 2, but as I knew what was coming, I made the most of the downhill run. I was running with first timer Sally so I was sure to tell her to beware of what was ahead. Then Roslin Glen hit us, or should I say we hit it! Sally and I kept good pace to the top of the long, steep, spiral hill. To our joy the top was in sight only to turn a corner and head slightly uphill again. There was no let up in this race. Onward bound Sally and I ran. We hit mile 4 in 30 mins, so we were quite pleased. Along the way we passed lots of country side, looking onto the snow covered Pentlands, it certainly made for a very scenic route!!
Then to our delight we hit Auchendinny to the sight of our very own Bert waving a banner saying ! Go Jenni Go - run up the hills!! Brilliant, made me want to run so much faster. On we went down hill through Auchendinny, only to hit a long uphill, passing Jackie - supporting us on the way! I was feeling very strong and Sally was keeping up beside me, we ran onto a long stretch to mile 6, Bert passing us in the comfort of his car on the way. Mile 7 we got our well needed drink of water, the sun was out, and we were feeling pretty hot by now, at this point I was glad I went for the vest only option!!
Hitting mile 7, knowing we did not have long to go I powered on, I was so determined to beat my time from last year. I was still feeling strong and my legs still carrying me I went for it. Slight uphill before entering Rosewell again with a good downhill blast and I was keeping good pace. Determined to keep it going to the end I pushed with all I could past mile 9 marker knowing there was not long to go, but long enough!! Passing Whitehill House, uphill to the home straight, passing Scott, Willie, Bert (with the banner – Magic cheers Bert!) Marc, my Mum, Brother and baby nephew Joe supporting on the way I got to the finish in 1 hour 17mins – Fantastic! So delighted with my time, 14 minutes better than last year. Sally also did an excellent time just seconds behind me. Just goes to show all the training I have done with the help of course from Bert, Willie, Ricky and all the guys at Porty has definitely paid off. Thank you all so much, your help is so much appreciated.
There was a brilliant turn out from the Porty massive and a great day (I think) was had by all, with Mel getting 3rd female, and Porty receiving the female team award and lots of great times recorded and of course a great feast laid on by Lasswade at the end, A great well organised race and the sun was shining which was a major bonus!!
Report Jenni Owens
Bert has sent loads of photos in but only these 18 arrived so he will pass on a disk on Wednesday. Feel free to email in your own account if you enjoyed (or not!) the race and the remaining photos and reports will be put up as they arrive.
Third Lady Mel tells her story... (with 3 photos by her dad)
There are lots of words that might describe this race. I had heard many of them in advance of signing up: challenging, scenic, friendly, hilly, tough…and it is, without doubt, all of these. But, more than a day after crossing the finish line, with guts still in wrenching agony, quads aching and other bits about to fall off, I think two words will just about sum it up. Two words, four syllables: never again. It really is a kind of Drag Me to Hell for runners – though you are climbing Heaven-wards for the best part of six miles, hellish is the only way to describe how you feel. Such is the strain, you really do expect to find the grass verges littered with popped-out eyeballs.
I am always ridiculously nervous before races, but the noon start gave me time to work myself up into a frenzy of near-sickness and indecision. What to eat? What shoes to wear? Long sleeves or vest? Arm warmers? Favourite, disintegrating socks or new £11 ones? By the time Shelagh and I arrived on the start line – too late for the team photo, but that might have made me more nervous - I was already a wreck. As everyone probably knows through my moans on Wednesday night, I have been consistently injured since joining the club and haven’t ever managed to train or race with what feels like long-term focus. Although I have had some good results, I don’t feel I have ever made the improvements I’m capable of and it’s been a series of depressing battles to get race fit, only to get hurt again and put myself out for months. So, even though I wasn’t feeling fully up for this, and even though I knew the agonies that awaited (after a good recce of the course with Graham Henry) I figured if I got this one in I might at least stand a chance of doing more than three races this year (last year’s pathetic total).
I made the crucial error of starting too fast and, by the time I was at the top of the first major climb, out of Roslin Glen, the brakes were stuck like a faulty Toyota. My legs had gone trembly, my arms ached, my head thumped, my mouth was dry and I wasn’t sure I was going to get any further. I wondered if there was a nice St John’s Ambulance man anywhere near, preferably with a cup of tea. I was also overheating and realised that the cycling arm warmers had been a stupid decision (not to mention the lack of race chic – it’s a good job I’m not vain). Wrestling them off, I dropped one, then failed to get the other over my Garmin. Losing vital seconds and watching runners swarm past, I decided that surrendering function of the Garmin under the black lycra wasn’t the worst thing that could happen (though I didn’t like to think about what was) and heaved myself on.
At mile five, I was passed by a woman I’d spoken to in the never-ending toilet queue. I’d overheard her conversation with someone else and had gleaned that she was a 3.10 marathon runner. I expected she would be strong competition and I could only watch her heels kick up the dust as my gait degenerated into a bunny hop up the long second climb.
Mel finishes just behind Ian (see first report)After that it was really all a blur of intense pain, particularly in the stomach region. Perhaps Giant Chocolate Buttons are really not the best pre-race snack. I had thought I could catch Iain M, who was still going well just a little up ahead, but the legs just didn’t have it. His war cries and face paints were clearly working – not least to make the marshals jump out of their luminous jackets. Getting to the finish was a bit like dragging a burst suitcase with no wheels. I was pleased to come in third lady, but felt so rotten at the end it wasn’t much consolation until I’d stopped drooling and feeling as if someone was twisting a screwdriver into my abdomen. The club photographer wanted to take my picture as I limped away from the finish and I think I made some not-very-pleased noises and drooled some more.
All this said, it IS a friendly, scenic, race and it’s really no more painful than a wisdom tooth extraction without much anaesthetic. There is, of course, the incentive of the cake-fest afterwards, but I was really feeling too ill to truly delight in the jammy scones. I complained to Shery that I even had cramp in my feet. “They really will have to rebuild you, Mel” she said, as I whinged on. It was fantastic to see so many yellow and blue striped vests and well done to Willy on his great time, Lynn who was seconds behind me and Emily who was the third counter for the women’s team prize and ran brilliantly (and had three syllables to sum up the race, possibly even more accurate than my four).
So, first it’s off to the surgeons to see if I can, indeed, be rebuilt and then I’m off to see Jenni about advice for doing a 14-minute PB.
Report Melanie Henderson
Next up Sandy Macdonald's view of the event...
I've got a whole heap of races coming up over the next few months, culminating in Edinburgh marathon and the Seven Hills Of Edinburgh. Wednesday night training and the long Sunday runs have been going pretty well and so I was hoping for a PB at Lasswade, which would be good confirmation of some useful training so far in 2010. The fact that the sun was actually shining and you could lift your face up to the sky and feel warmth rather than the cold wind and rain or sleet it's been for the past few months was more reason for positivity. And despite any earlier worries I was able to get a lift there too, arrive on schedule and get parked nearby - thanks Bob!
I've done Lasswade twice before, and got it fairly wrong both times. Always seem to struggle in the last mile or two, with the early hills having taken the finish out of my legs. So I was determined to pace my race better and not go too hard on the early hills. The first mile and a half is fine, and I kept under my planned 7-min miles for the flatter sections of the course. Was staying about where I thought I should be relative to my usual Wednesday night peers from PRC training and felt pretty good. (Had been a bit worried in advance because one of my toes is a bit 'tender' just now following last week's run and I then made it significantly worse on Wednesday night...) Then came the usual steep downhill in to Roslin Glen. I don't tend to feel too comfortable going fast downhill, and Jim, Bob and Joe all went past me on the final steep downhill in to the glen. I'd resolved already not to push too hard on the way up the other side either and kept it slow and steady. Bob was away, but Jim and Joe weren't pulling away too far. Whilst they were gaining ground on me, it wasn't by much and I was keeping them in my sights without killing myself. So legs and lungs felt OK coming on to the more gradual incline after you turn out of that road and much to my surprise I found myself reeling them back in. Cracking view to the snow-covered Pentlands against a clear blue sky turning the corner, have seen it twice in a few weeks now and moments like that are a good reminder of why we do this.... I went past them about 400 yards further on and tried to keep pushing on; stuck to my plan of maintaining around about 7-min miles on the flat to make up for the lost time on the uphills. I wasn't looking back but it felt like I was continuing to move ahead. But I spent the rest of the race feeling like they might be about to catch back up with me at any moment. Which is probably no bad thing!
The next really challenging bit is the down and up through Auchendinny (we have a new name for this place now. The second part is 'dinnae', the first part I can't repeat in writing here...) I was not too far behind Steven D and Bob at this point, but on the long uphill coming out of the village they were pulling away from me. Good to see Jackie supporting on that climb, it's maybe the toughest part of the race and there's not much support about there. I was pleased not to hear more clapping for other Porties too soon after I'd passed because it meant I must have managed to put a bit of distance between myself and the others. I love the bit where the race levels out a bit as you turn off that road, always a real relief to get a bit of a break from the hills, and the undulations are more gentle from then on. About 6 miles is where I first started to feel it in my legs but I was pretty determined and dug in and ran through it. Saw Steven D up ahead again who seemed to be struggling and was walking, but then took off again. Past the water station and you get a good long downhill stretch. Legs felt better after a bit of water, and after a long stretch where there seemed to be no-one near me, there suddenly seemed to be a few runners ahead and a few behind which was also a good pick-me-up. Saw Steven again at about 7 miles and he was definitely struggling. Nae luck Steven, hopefully this is your one bad run out the way and you'll stay strong to the end of the season now.
I felt OK at this point, helped big-time it has to be said by the fact that my stopwatch was telling me I only needed to do the last 3 miles in under 25 minutes to get under my pre-race target of 1.15. And another shout out from a passing Bert too, much appreciated. Most of the last 3 miles is downhill, and despite tired legs it's that bit easier to just keep pushing it, especially when you you know you're edging closer to a PB. But a couple of people were going past me and I've done enough races to know it ain't over til it's over. I didn't want a PB but with all my fellow runners going past me too! Had a good stretch along the road going into Rosewell and went past a couple of people. Then on the final uphill through to Whitehill House a couple of other people went past me... Turned the corner and in to the final mile. I knew I was going better than I have done before at this point. Last time I ran here that last bit felt like one hill too many and I was struggling to keep the pace going and not let everyone past me. Today I was still feeling not too bad, and managing to maintain my target pace. I knew now it was going to be under 75 minutes, and a new PB. Only question was by how much...
Great support on the final stretch - Scott first, then Bert, Marc and Willie screaming at me to catch the guy in front. Sadly he heard it too and it was a bit far out from the finish line still! With 50 metres I reckon I might have caught him, but over 200 I couldn't quite close the gap, fair play to him. But the final sprint did mean I got under 72 minutes! Cheers guys, this was way beyond what I'd have hoped for before the start of the season. The training is paying off. It was fantastic to catch up with so many Porties at the end of the race, many of whom had had brilliant races and achieved their own targets too. Turned out Joe was not all that far behind me - I'd maybe have closed the gate at Whitehill House behind me if I'd realised he was so hot on my heels..!
The usual excellent spread of sandwiches and cakes, which always rounds it off nicely. A huge thank you due to all the volunteers and helpers at Lasswade AC. The marshalls are just fantastic and everyone involved with the race so friendly. It really makes for a good race experience, and it's why so many people keep coming back.
So anyway, I'm hoping for more of the same at Alloa. The only downside of a good performance is it sets the bar even higher!
Report Sandy Macdonald.
More Bert-Photos and possibly more yet to come!Here's Shery's report...
I’ve never run the Lasswade 10 Miler nor filed a race report either so grasping these nettles with both hands, here goes.
Bert took a bunch of Porties out a few weeks back on a recce of the course but I decided ignorance was probably bliss in this case and went out on a training run of my own. In hindsight this was probably no bad thing as on Sunday night I dreamt we were all still trudging up a never-ending hill like a modern day Sisyphus with his boulder hours after midday on Sunday 7 March. Imagine the nightmares I would have had leading up to the event!
Anyway, race day dawned nice and fair with good running conditions and when the gun went off at 12 I was feeling buoyed with fellow Porty good will and some marathon training under my belt. That feeling was not to linger long. Uphill and downhill, I felt like Frodo Baggins transported from Mordor to Roslin Glen. So it was really heartening to see Bert at regular intervals cheering us all on. Lovely to see Jacqui too standing with her bike giving out encouragement from the sidelines. The only time I’ll ever pass Jacqui in a race! Passing Emily on the straight I careened down into Auchendinny at breakneck speed at about mile 4 gazing fearfully ahead for the next hill. You know you’re going to get paid back big time for those mad down hill dashes. Emily, Shelagh and I came round the corner together past the 5 mile marker and up the next hill keeping the farmhouse at the top in sight. I think Emily pulled away on the hill and although I kept her in my sights I wasn’t to overtake her again. Mile 7 and Graham Porteous’s portentous words were ringing in my ear “keep something for the last three miles as it’s a bit of a slog”. Ah, too late for that advice Graham – of course I hadn’t kept a sausage! After that its all a bit hazy until the 9 mile marker when I started to split the final mile into the length of Princess Street ticking off Debenhams, Marks & Spencers and Topshop. 400 metres to go – “okay lets do it” I told my legs. However, my legs had had more than enough at that stage and told me pretty much where to stick that notion. I made a last ditch effort to the finishing line urged on by a cluster of Porties - clocking around 74 mins. In fact checking the results tonight I was very pleased to see my time recorded at 73,55.
Grabbed some lovely post-race nosh and had to hurry away to get to my mum’s for Sunday dinner otherwise I would have stuck around for all the post-match banter and prize giving. All in all a fab Sunday and how great was it to see Porty scoop the female team prize – well done Mel, Lynn & Emily! Well done to all the Porties in fact. What a great turn out and fantastic performance by all!
Report Shery Johnston
