Perth Road Runners

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27.02.09 - PA Report
On a beautiful spring-like morning, a number of Perth road-runners took part in a training run with a difference. Three teams set off up Buckie Braes armed with an information sheet and colour coded way markers in search of a mystery object. The aim was to find the object and carry it back to the start in the shortest possible time. Each team returned successfully with all members enjoying this team building exercise.
The National Cross Country Championships were recently held in Falkirk. Both the weather and course were kind to competitors – mild and not too muddy. The distance was 12km over 3 laps of Callendar Park. Dave Knight and Derek Phillips were representing Perth Road Runners and both enjoyed a successful day. Dave finished in 74th place in a time of 42:32 and Derek in a time of 46:45. This completes the cross -country season for this year so now the focus turns to road racing and for some - hill running.
This weekend there are races a plenty with the Cupar 5 on Saturday, the Arbroath Smokies 10 mile race and the Bishop Hill Race on Sunday.
 
20.02.09 - PA Report
It was hills, hills and more hills for the road-runners last weekend. Four of our runners travelled through to the Pentlands for the Carnethy 5 Hill Race. This is a hill race that takes in 5 summits and entails 2500 feet of climbing over 6 miles. As if this is not exhausting enough, snow made conditions slippy underfoot making times slightly slower than last year.
Despite this, Colin Wilson ran an excellent race and secured a top 200 finish with his time of 1:12:33. Bruce Milne followed home in 1:13:11 and then Bill Lawson 1:28:29. In the ladies, Joan Wilson was in great form and finished 33rd with her time of 1:21:41.
These four runners enjoy the hills so much that they lined up for the Wee Winter Run the following day. 17 runners took part on the 4 mile, undulating Buckie Braes circuit. Conditions were good – mild and dry with some muddy patches underfoot.
Derek Phillips led from the start and finished in first place in 31:43. In second place was Steve O’Malley (Whitley Bay) in 32:35 and Mark Cooper was third in 33:00. Keri Weatherhogg was first out of the ladies in 33:21. Joan Wilson enjoyed more success, finishing in second place in 40:37 and Fiona Angus was third in 44:55, having already run 14 miles as part of her marathon training!
This Sunday is a training run with a difference. It will be mainly off road with three groups running various distances to retrieve a mystery object. Everyone is welcome, meet behind Cherrybank Inn at 10.00am Sunday morning.
 
13.02.09 - PA Report
Fifty road runners and their partners descended on the Lovat Hotel on Saturday night for the annual presentation awards dinner. After an excellent meal, Adrian Stott, shared his experiences as an ultra distance runner. He is not only an incredible athlete, but also a very entertaining speaker. Awards were presented to club members for their achievements in 2008. They covered a range of distances as well as the hard fought season long club championship and summer series. There were also awards for the most improved runners and club personality of the year award, which this year belongs to Dave Norrie.
Four of our male runners put in excellent performances at the Scottish National Masters Cross Country Championships in Irvine. David Knight finished 16th overall in an impressive time of 34:04. Derek Phillips came home next for the roadrunners in 37:59 with Steve Ferguson just behind in 38:44 and Colin Campbell in 48:57. These are great times for a 10km race especially given that the terrain is cross-country.
The re-scheduled wee winter run takes place this Sunday meeting behind the Cherrybank Inn at 10.00.
 
06.02.09 - PA Report
The weather was milder than the forecast predicted for this years Forfar Multi Terrain Half Marathon. 143 runners set off from Forfar Rugby Ground on a route utilising the footpath network around Forfar. With seven roads to cross, safety was ensured by having the runners stop to have their race numbers punched before they crossed each road.
The race does have a nasty sting in the tail, after 9 miles of generally flat running, just when the legs are getting really tired, competitors are suddenly presented with the ascent of Balmashanner Hill, a 300 foot climb in under a mile. Apart from the wet fourth mile and an extremely muddy field at mile twelve the conditions were generally good for Forfar in February and consequently so were the times.
Kenneth Stewart lead the Perth contingent home in 99:51, 78 seconds ahead of Bob Brown in 101:09 with Peter Ritchie less than a minute adrift in 102:01. Angela Park lead the Perth ladies home in 109:43 followed by Fiona Manson in 116:22. There was a special presentation of a cake and a card at the prize giving, as the race took place on Bob Brown’s 65th birthday – a great way to start his retirement.
This weekend the club is having its annual presentation dinner at the Lovat Hotel. Guest speaker Adrian Stott is an established ultra distance runner and the road-runners will be paying close attention to gain some tips from the former British champion.
 
30.01.09 - PA Report
Despite the arctic conditions recently, Andrea Finlay set a personal best in the Buchlyvie 10km race. Andrea and team-mate Angela Park braved the sleet and rain to join 325 runners lining up for this event. The route is an out and back along a disused railway line with conditions under foot very muddy and slightly icy in places. Angela finished in a time of 47:03, a good start to the 2009 season however the sun was shining on Andrea when she finished in 54:27, a huge improvement at this distance. Andrea has only been a member of the Road Runners for six months and is reaping the rewards of regular club running.
Erni Hamilton heads into the final duathlon of the Angus Bike Chain Winter Series as favourite to win the female veteran category. She was flying the flag for the ladies finishing in first place, in the second event of the series, held at Monikie Country Park.
Snow and icy conditions at the weekend meant the Wee Winter Run was postponed. This fun event will now take place on Sunday 15th February.
 
23.01.09 - PA Report
Mud and snow were the order of the day for the final in the series of the East District Cross Country League in Dunfermline last weekend. The course consisted of 2 laps on narrow paths through marshy grass and muddy fields for the ladies and 3 laps for the men. It was a hilly course in cold and windy conditions. An energy sapping ploughed field clogged the trainers with mud, making each stride seem like lifting a lead weight. It was a tough introduction to cross-country for new members Amy Greig, Brian Couper, Grant Key and Bruce Milne but all put in excellent debut performances. Perth Road Runners had two men’s teams and one ladies’ team competing. Old hand Dave Knight was first Perth Road Runner home for the men in a time of 35:11, followed by Greig Simpson 37:50, then Derek Phillips winning the battle ahead of Steve Ferguson in 38:52 and 38:55, respectively. In the ladies’ event, Keri Weatherhogg lead the team home in 27:49. Joan Wilson had a great race in 31:12 with Amy Greig, Angela Park and Fiona Manson hot on her heels.
Debbie Jackson was also braving the elements in Bishopbriggs competing in the Jack Crawford Memorial 10K. Although advertised as a road race, it follows the towpath along the Forth and Clyde Canal and conditions were wet and muddy underfoot. Debbie finished in 50:44; a very respectable time given the conditions.
Erni Hamilton heads into the final duathlon of the Angus Bike Chain Winter Series as favourite to win the female veteran category after successfully winning the second event held at Monikie Country Park recently.
More mud is on the menu this weekend with The Wee Winter Run taking place on Sunday at 10.00 am behind the Cherrybank Inn. This is a fun run organised by the club on an undulating course behind Craigie Hill Golf Course with stunning views over the Fair City.
 
16.01.09 - PA Report
The second run of the Lark in the Dark series took place on a clear, frosty night last week. There were 23 runners who ventured to Five Mile Wood outside Stanley for the 3.7 mile circular route on forest tracks. A full moon should have made for good visibility, however, it had not quite risen making head torches a necessity. As usual, runners had to guess their time with no watches being allowed. Mark Cooper and Bruce Milne were the joint winners, both running 5 seconds faster than their predicted times. Robert MacDonald was third, coming in 12 seconds ahead of his estimate.
Mark Cooper had a successful weekend finishing in fourth place in the Angus Bike Chain Winter Series. This race was the second of three duathlons making up the series and Mark now lies in 2nd place overall heading into the final event next month.
The BUPA Great International Cross Country Race held last weekend was a huge success with several of our club members braving the strong winds to marshal at this event. Kenneth Stewart stole the limelight, starring several times on the BBC coverage of this event.
This weekend sees our mens’ and ladies’ cross country teams travelling to Dunfermline for the final meet of the East District Cross Country League.
 
09.01.09 - PA Report
2009 has started well for the Road runners with wins in both the men’s and ladies section of the Blairgowrie fun run on New Year’s Day. There were 190 runners and over a hundred walkers for the 3.8 Mile “Shortie” which took place on a dry but very cold day. The London Marathon training is obviously working well for Mike Caroll and Tony Jackson who came in first and third respectively in the men’s race, with Mike finishing in a time of 19:28. Erni Hamilton was first female home in 25:07; a great result after cycling to the run. It was another good event put on by Bob Ellis and his team of volunteers, with soup to welcome us back from the cold afterwards.
Tuesday was the first night back to club training and there was a good turnout on a chilly winter’s night. Runners, like everyone else, are eager to work off the overindulgences of the festive period.
This weekend sees a team of the Road runners travelling to the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country race to marshal at this event. This will hopefully provide inspiration for both the men’s and ladies teams racing in the East District Cross Country League in Dunfermline on the 18th January.
 
02.01.09 - PA Report
Christmas & New Year is traditionally a quiet time in the Roadrunners calendar although there are several festive themed races scheduled throughout the country for those looking to counter the effects of too much Christmas pudding. Club-member Debbie Jackson was one who got her running shoes out on Boxing Day along with 280 others to take part in the Ayrodynamic Turkey Trot - a bracing 10k race along the seafront at Ayr. Debbie finished the race 15th in her category in a creditable 51.20.
Just before Christmas - at another Turkey Trot, this time at the other end of the Country, Roadrunner Mark Cooper finished his 2008 season in style with a personal best for ten miles - 59.10 in the RAF Lossiemouth Turkey Trot. Mark not only picked up 3rd in the Vets category he finished in 6th place overall in a high-quality field of some 150 runners.
For anyone who's New Year's resolution is to get out running - the Club meets every Tuesday at Bell's Sports Centre. There are several running groups that set off around about 6.30 at a variety of pace and distance levels. There's also a Club-member specifically on hand to meet new runners and match them up with a group that suits their running ability. That means no-one finds themselves running at a pace or over a distance they can't handle. You don't have to be a member to come running on training nights - just reasonably fit and able to run about 10k. And if you're serious in your New Year resolution the best way to sustain your effort is to run with others - it's safer in these dark nights and once you find the right group to run with - a very sociable way to get fit. The first official training night for 2008 is 6th Jan - 6.30 at Bell's Sports Centre - we're easy to spot on account of the fluorescent / reflective running gear.
 

 

 

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July:
29th: Target Zero

August:
1st: Helensburgh Half
5th: Club Duathlon
12th: Balmullo Trail Race - CC
17th: Ceres 8M - SS
21st: Club Run Weekend
29th: Perth 10K - CC
31st: Graham Clark Memorial 3.9M - SS