Big congratulations to Graeme Paterson, Andy Campbell, Greig Glendinning and Russell Whittington on their Mens Masters Bronze medals at the National XC relays in Cumbernauld on Saturday 22nd October 2016. Graeme ran a storming 1st leg in 13:21 to put the team in 2nd behind Corstorphine at the first changeover. Despite running 13:58, Andy lost a place to Cambuslang as Robert Gilroy ran the fastest M40 lap of the day (12:36) and overhauled Corstorphine too. A solid 3rd leg from Greig (14:18) maintained the gap to Corstorphine while extending the lead to 4th place Greenock Glenpark. Russell brought it home in 14:02, 9 seconds ahead of Greenock who’d left themselves too much to do on the last leg. Well done!
Monthly archives: October 2016
Peter posted this report after the Amsterdam marathon on Oct 16th 2016: It’s never ideal heading to a race feeling totally under prepared, especially when it is a marathon but that is exactly where I was when heading out to run the Amsterdam marathon on Sunday. Training had not gone so well with breathing issues, injury and several chest infections together with an inability to train with the club (due to work and family commitments) all playing their part in this scenario. This was quite easily the least prepared I have been for any marathon and my PW of 2:58 was in serious jeopardy! Luckily I have some really loyal and caring friends at the club including Moriarty, Weatherhead, Paterson and Glendinning who gave me their individual words of wisdom. ” Man the F*$@! up!”, “Grow a pair!” and “Stop Whinging” were just a few of the very technical coaching techniques they adopted to encourage me. The Sunday morning in Amsterdam was glorious with the sun splitting the sky and temperatures around 9 degrees. Perfect running conditions. The race set off from the Olympic Stadium at 9:30am. There was significant congestion as we headed out of the stadium and into the tight streets but I decided to settle in. The first 10k were pretty uneventful as we were taken firstly towards the city centre and then back out again through a park. All was fine as I reached 10k in 41:11. I knew this was faster than I had hoped for but was glad to have built up something to fall back on later in the race. I expected to pay for pace! The next 15kms of the race route were horrible as it ran along one side of a canal crossed a bridge and then back again. As we headed out towards half way I felt very tired and knew the faster than planned pace was starting to get to me. Luckily I saw a Portobello running vest in front of me so I ran up to it and started a conversation to try and take my mind off the tiredness. We ran together for a couple of miles chatting but he also felt poor and dropped back. Fortunately I felt better again and was able to push on. I managed to hit halfway at 1:27:17 and was delighted. I was still worried that I was feeling too tired for such an early point in the marathon and knew it was going to be tough but continued to push myself along. At mile 14 however I suddenly felt my breathing go. This is something I have been experiencing over the past months which manifests itself in short shallow breathes which I find difficult to change. This then results in a real weakness in the arms and the legs as I cannot get enough oxygen to my body. Cue the Wise Men’s comments and MTFU and Grow a pair rang around my head. I just focussed on a vest in […]
The Bletha Issue 1 The new look The Bletha – Bellahouston Road Runners News Sheet – is hot off the photocopier. Please click on link to read full 2 pages. Read all about: Marathon Beers, Running the World, Terry the Juice, Bellas Beastie Boys, Chief Coach Gerry’s Posh Bar Press Ups, BRR Scott on BBC Scot, Bella Bling, and a Bletha with Louise. Copies will be available to pick up at club over the next few club nights. Copies were available at Bella Road Runners 2016 Awards night. Unfortunately Bletha was made to promised that – awards aside – the entire night was ‘off the record’ 😉 Anyone who would like to help produce the next one – all comments, ideas for improvement, stories, practical support and salacious gossip – gratefully received 🙂 Speak to editor Danny Phillips. Hope you enjoy it.
(I’d thought of this title before acknowledging the third sport and watching the Cubs win the play-off, Go Cubs!) Chicago trip was off to a good start, sat behind Scott Overall on the plane (retrospective hats off to Scott for finishing 13th overall in 2:18). Electric atmosphere upon arrival, runners welcomed with open arms. Pre race preparations had been interesting, whilst training may not have gone to plan I’d nailed the carb loading; living off little other than rice & pasta since leaving home 5 years ago. Expo negotiated, secret service closed down the city for Obama’s arrival as we attempted to leave the convention centre, American efficiency at its finest. Race morning arrived, with the stunning Chicago skyline as the backdrop I lined up in Corral A alongside fellow Bella Michael Lancaster. Rendition of the National Anthem and the gun was fired, 52 seconds later the Bellas were off on their comprehensive tour of the Windy City. Through the loop and headed north to the zoo before returning downtown and completing the first half, surprising lack of congestion and through without issue in 1:32. Headed west and things started to become troublesome, cramps from ~15m put any ambitious hopes of GFA to bed. Worth a shot and still, this was a marathon debut in Chicago and absolutely nothing was going to spoil it. On we continued through little Italy and towards China town, heading south and through 20m. Came to a halt with hamstring cramp at 21m, soon back underway and the crowd density increased dramatically towards the finish. A 2.5m straight took us to 500m to go, up “Mount Roosevelt” (we should show them the Sherbrookes) and along the finishing straight with arms aloft, proud to be wearing a purple vest and bringing it home in 3:24. I’ve watched my parents run a lot of marathons and, with the exception of seeing Kev smashing it at the mighty Wrecsam Marathon, little compares to Chicago. Phenomenal race, thoroughly enjoyed and one for your bucket list. A heartfelt thank you to the club for the support, advise and reassurance over the summer months, especially to Louise. There’s nothing quite like running in a Bella vest. Post-race celebrations continued long into the week, taking in all the city had to offer. The thought of a marathon terrified me, now impatient for the next one. DH In the days leading up to the race I found this from @coachbennett on Instagram, one worth pondering: This was never about the Marathon. The true marathon was the journey to get here. Getting on those daily starting lines. To start another Recovery Run. Another Home Run. Another Speed Run. Another Long Run. Over and over again. Day after day and week after week. You don’t need a race to prove you are a Runner. You need a race to celebrate you are a Runner. So, enjoy your Party. I hear they’re going to shut down the streets of Chicago for you. And you deserve it. […]
We’re delighted to launch our new club member forum this week. Current club members will have received an invite via email on Monday evening with their signup details. If you’d prefer to sign up directly, visit https://forum.bellahoustonroadrunners.co.uk to register or sign in. You can use your favourite social media platform to login now, and the new forum works really well with mobile devices, and will make signing up to races really very easy. Lots more detail on our club forum overview page. The forum is available to current club members only, so please ensure you’ve paid up or renewed on paysubs. More details on our joining page. The old forum remains accessible, but will be switched to a different address, and be made read-only soon.
Last Sunday saw a sea of purple descend on Glasgow with over 80 Bella’s in the Great Scottish Run. The Half Marathon was the Scottish Athletics Half Marathon Championships and we’re delighted for the following national medal winners: Debs Gray took Women’s Masters Bronze and Debs was joined by Louise Ross and Mhairi Hill to win Bronze Team medals. Very Well done! Many thanks to the 20 volunteers marshalling the start waves for the 10k and Half Marathon. And well done to everyone taking part including the 5 Bellas in the 10k and 57 in the HM. There were so many great personal performances as you can see from all the PB trophies in the results table below. NB if you’re missing a PB trophy do get in touch and we’ll get that added After all the activity, a number of runners and volunteers retired to West Brewery on Glasgow Green to recover.