Birnam Hill Race 2025

I've blogged previously at some length about the Birnam Hill Race. We're often up in the motherland around this time of the year, and this year was no exception. Our weeks holiday was book-ended by Balbirnie last week and Birnam this weekend. Speedy intended to make an appearance but is currently not a hundred percent. So it was left to me to carry the Bella flag. 

After marg did the Kirkcaldy Parkrun, we scuttled toward the M90 to make our way up to Perthshire. However, we got caught up in a tortuous diversion which added 20 minutes to the journey and, initially, a pile of stress. As we made up a bit of time I relaxed and cruising up past Perth and Bankfoot, I was confident of arriving on time. My mind wandered to shoe choice. Normally I would stick with the IRocs which are solid in terms of grip. However, there is a good run-in on firm trails toward the finish line at Birnam and I wondered if the Asics Fuji trail shoes would lend me an edge. They have a carbon plate and provide a little extra bounce on firm ground where the normal studs are lacking. Ive enjoyed training in them. The question was would the Asics perform satisfactorily on the ascent and over the top on the wet and soft reedy grass? Would they slip on the hairy, eye//balls out descent?

As it was, on arrival I didn't really have time for contemplation on footwear choices as I parked up in the wee industrial estate and jogged to the nearby Hall to collect my number. 

I changed out of my tights to reveal my lycra OMM shorts. They have lost some of their shape (or I have) and are now baggy around the leg, which isn't a good look. I think they're for the bin or oxfam. I had a short warm up and said hello to one or two at the start.  From his appearance organiser Adrian D wasn't running. That was one less competitor to worry about. 

I set off in the middle of the pack and moved up a little as we hit the toe of the steep slope. I made good progress for around half of the climb, but then began to slow with Crowe of Penicuik and Mudge coming past easily. A few more got past, a couple of them with grey hair and I had to have a word with myself....but good news near the top - Gilmore of Carnethy, who had beaten me at Tinto last year, was just ahead and I kept driving, completely in the red. 

At the top, the rain had softened the ground and it was quite mushy in places. I picked my way acorss the roots and peaty puddles sitting in with a line of runners ahead of me. As the ground levelled out and the crest of the hill ended, Carnethy man came back to me. I didnt hesitate at the opportunity. I opened my stride and took off at high speed on the descent, a descent I know well. 

Once off the hill I told myself that the Asics had been the right choice and I needed to make the most of them on the trail through the woods. It was around 37 minutes at the end for 41st place and 3rd M60. A Musselburgh bloke won the M60 Class, with the Penicuik runner 2nd. The three of us were all within a minute of each other. That said, I was maxed out, both going up and then on the descent, so I couldn't have gone any faster. 

It was a roll and sausage and egg with a cuppa from the Hall and we made a quick getaway. Top race. A tough 4 miles, though.    

Balbirnie Nuts Trail Race

 

We were up at the first day of holiday aka the spring training camp. The location of choice was Largo in deepest Fife....the sea, the sand, the Law and the hotel. 

The cottage is not quite as cheap as it was 10 years ago, the last time we stayed here, but getting a cheap holiday in Scotland is nigh on impossible these days. Upon arrival it seemed to have changed little and after we unloaded the gear, we nipped out to the hotel round the corner for a nightcap. 

On the Sunday, we made our way to Markinch. It was cool and dry. Marg went to the hall and get the numbers and we then drove to Balbirnie Park and parked up. As the dog is with us, we took her out for a runaround before the race. 

There were around 100 pre-entered, but that translated to around 75 starters. The course was a 2 lapper around the undulating park. There is some woodland stretches and a stream crossing. We set off and I fell in around 10th or 12th. There was no one I recognised. I hadn't done a warm up around the course, so wasn't sure what to expect, but soon I was up to 6th, having caught the lad in front at the end of the first lap. 

The second lap was run alone. I nearly went off course, having become distracted at one corner, but didnt lose much time and I plugged on following the trail of white flour arrows on the ground to finish in around 32 minutes for the 4.4 mile course. 

Marg came in a little later and, after changing, we took the car back into the town for the presentation at the Memorial Hall where the scouts had organised tea and cake. I won a 'Nuts' T shirt and 2 bottles of beer. Happy days. Looking at the results, the M60 entry wasnt as soft as I originally thought and there were two other crusties within 2 or 3 minutes of my time. Marg was 2nd F60, so will need to be doing a few hill reps up the Law this week. After the race, we lunched at the Covenanter Hotel in Falkand where their steak pie is just the job. 

With Gilmore, Davis and Crowe down to run Birnam on Saturday, the Birnam Hill Race beckons and should be a stiff challenge. I'll be doing well to finish in the top 3. 

You can ring my Cowbell 5K

 I was going to be at a bit of a loose end last weekend. A number of family asked the loaded question 'What have you got planned this weekend, then?'...I was supposed to be doing a bit of insulation and cladding in the wee utility room, but I drilled through a water pipe a month ago; had to get the plumber out. He turned up after 36 hours. I never recovered from the trauma, so the project has tip-toed on at a slugs pace.  

The forecast was good for the weekend, and, on the Saturday morning, I was drawn to the local Parkrun. Its around the river and only down the hill from me. 

I have a recent history of using the Parkrun as a training run. I sometimes start with the crowd. On occasion, Ive joined in randomly and confused both the marshals and the runners. All good stuff. On this particular morning I did 2 miles and peeled off. Neil M was behind me using me as a pacemaker, I could hear him gently rasping the rhythm of a vet, behind me. But the 2 mile mark arrived and off I walked and left them all to it. I had bigger fish to fry, bigger bells to ring. Yes indeed. I had an entry for the Cowbell 5k at lunchtime. It's organised by Newcastle University and is held on the Town Moor. 

I walked back home and, at 10am, sat down to a plate of carrot soup - I find I run well on soup - although, not lentil soup - I presume something to do with the pulse (rate - get it!). I read the paper for a wee bit, then rounded up my trainers and vest. 

The 20 minute trip into Newcastle Central was easy enough. They have replaced all the parking meters now with 'flash your card' types and the parking charges have been ramped up accordingly. 

I jogged to the Uni. sports hall and got my number, then jogged up to the park. The crowd was pretty modest, and after a stretch and warm up, I counted about 80 or so starters. It was £11 to enter, so it couldn't have been the cost that put folk off. 

A few club mates were running and LR said she was aiming for a sub 19, which, if delivered, would be a P.B. It was a good day on a flat course, and she had TI in attendance as a pacer. I had a thought of jumping on this PB wagon and hanging on, but a wee dose of reality said 'don't be a numpty'  - you'll be doing well to go sub20'. 

We were counted down and off we went. I never saw them again, as they rattled off the front and into the distance. Instead, I put my head down and puffed my way around the course, having that continuous conversation in my head trying to keep the pace going and, all the while, distracting yourself from the absolute discomfort of being on the edge, all those old organs shuggling along and trying to squeeze out a convincing tune on an old body.  Squeezebox.

I hung on, feeling pretty reasonable halfway round, but by 4k my pace began to slow and I had to dig deep. 'Its only 2 laps round the track' came the voice..'Don't let him go'...said the voice.....' open your stride, its the same effort'...went the rhetoric. I managed to cross the line in 19.29. Fine. Sub 20 right enough. It took me a couple of minutes lying on the pavement to get my breath back. Old slapper.

There were celebrations by the tent - LR had managed a low 18 minutes, quite comfortably inside her P.B.   I came away with a warm glow that I'd equaled my S.B. from last year. I immersed myself in a short half an hour buying spree, a positive retail frenzy of new jeans and hoodie in the Toon. It was super busy, but its good to be good to yourself.  

This weekends extravaganza is the Balbirnie Trial Race - quite a different event. Should be a laugh.  Needless to say, no DIY was done that day.

Signals Relays 2025

It's been quite a while since I blogged. My last outing was the Royal Signals Relays in Mid February. This race, together with the Newburn Relays on Easter Friday, are about the biggest club events on the North East England Athletics Calendar. 

I can't quite remember how often I've run the Signals. For vets, its an Over 50 ticket for teams of 4. We run in a combined race with the Women, so plenty of runners on the course at any one time. 

I managed to shuffle in as one of four in a Morpeth team with Rob, Lee and Jason; all very decent runners. I was accompanied in the car to the event by Lornie, Cat and Linds who were variously in the women's senior teams. 

I felt pretty reasonable and collected my number  - 2nd leg. From what I heard there seemed to have been quite the discussion as to the most effective rationale in leg selection - who's to go first, who's to go last; but I don't subscribe to that, other than perhaps if you're on leg 1, you probably have more bodies around and in front of you to chase. As the race develops, the gaps ebb and flow, but generally stretch. 

This year they started the M50s around a minute behind the women, maybe longer, but I think I prefer it when we start together. 

We were sitting in around 8th position when I picked up the baton from Rob (there's not actually a baton - its just a term - so to speak). It's two rolling laps around the Hetton Lyons country park and there's a couple of good drags to deal with, although its true to say you also come down each hill after the ascent. 

It was cool and I started with my zebra arm warmers and thin kiddies wool gloves - you know the cheap ones. I find that cotton doesn't suit my hands. I soon had a grey haired runner from Crook in my sights, but I didn't want to over-cook it so it took me until the second lap to overhaul him. However, there was no-one else in sight, at least not in my race.  As it was I took it steady up the long drag around 200m from the end, and, as I came round onto the downhill and finish, I opened my stride, trying to look in control. 13.57 for 2.2 miles. Ten seconds up on 2023, but 20 seconds down on 2022. We finished 4th. Not too bad but no cigar. 

The girls did well and did even better after the race to wait 20 minutes in the snaking queue for the teas and coffees. ProTay came down from the frozen north to do the timing, so it was a big hello to Sharon for the second time in a week. 

I picked up the lurgy that's going around a week later and, although its not been a bad cold, its a clingy affair, so I was pleased to get out on the bike today for a slow 20 miles in the early Spring sunshine. Nearly finished 'The Hobbit', so I'm stroking my chin in eager anticipation of my next read.