I attended the Scottish Vets cross country training session at Tollcross early in October and 'enjoyed' a session of eight 4 minute efforts with a sprinkling of other oldies. It was a total of 32 minutes of expended flat-outtishness commitment. Suitably cooked, I had to take myself off to the Wellshot cafe afterwards where I dined royally on a veggie cooked breakfast supplemented by a sausage or two and tea for a fiver. Nearly veggie but not quite. It was the thought that counts.
As the bus wandered back toward Glasgow city centre, I alighted beside the Saracens Head Public House and availed myself of the facilities.A well known pub, it was pretty spartan inside and there was nothing that wasn't fixed to the wall or floor. As the low autumnal sun flooded through the half opened door, I sat in my downy jacket with a half and watched a young irish accordion player begin her matinee performance. Somewhat regrettably I had to leave to catch my train back down south. Later, as I waited in the cafe in Central Glasgow for my tea I watched a hooded hoodlum attempt to bolt crop a padlock off a voodoo mountain bike parked on the busy bike rack outside Queen Street. It was in bright daylight with a rake of folk wandering about either ignoring him or oblivious to the ongoing mischief. As it was, he fled empty handed before I had made up my mind to intervene. I compared notes with a P.C. shortly afterwards.She strolled around the corner and casually inquired if he had got away with the bike. I said he hadn't, but would no doubt be back. I guess they see alot of this sort of thing.
I didnt manage to attend the second cross country training session late in October. I subsequently failed to make the old boys team at the Home International Cross Country. Should I have attended? Who knows...who cares!
Reflecting on last years Scottish XC Short Course in Kirkcaldy, had I been V60, I would have been 6th. I ran a hilly wet course in 15:10. This year it was back in Lanark. I did it 2 years ago and finished in around 16:30. I recall I was carrying an injury. This year I had no excuse, but got round in a lack-lustre 16:10 in good weather and firm conditions. The course is flat. Very flat, and at 4k in length, its full on and ideal for the speed merchants. I am not one. However, I finished 13th V60 which brought me back down to earth. True, I'm not as fit as I was a month ago, but I guess everyone who was anyone in the Central Belt was in attendance. So it's back to the drawing board. An easy return to some miles coupled with some swimming should see me tackling a modest handful of races this winter. But its been a good and interesting season. It would be nice to finish on a high, but I'm a bit more laid back these days and theres a few things on my plate at present to occupy me. If it would stop raining for a wee while we could get out that bit more.
