Dates for the Diary

Dumfries Running Club – Bulletin April 2015

Club Kit If you need any kit, contact Sue at [email protected] remember to qualify for club events e.g. Grand Prix/Cross Country etc, you need to wear club colours either vest/tee-shirt/crop top (if you are lady at least!).

Dates for the diary:

Thursday 7 th May – 2 nd Round of the Handicap Series This event is organised by Les and gives us all a chance to test our fitness and progress throughout the season over an accurately measured 5k route. It’s also a great introduction to racing and the handicap format means anyone can win the maximum points! Les is always looking for helpers so if you can’t run, please volunteer to help, contact Les on [email protected] This months is perfect timing just before the clubs Holywood Stroll 5 mile race which starts and finishes at the same place as the Handicap.

Tuesday 12 th May – 3 rd Grand Prix Race – Holywood Stroll This race is a popular event organised by Sandy Shankland with help from fellow club mates and family members. It has gone from strength to strength in recent years and entry numbers are such that Sandy would like everyone who intends to run to pre- register by email [email protected] Please supply name, dob and age on race date plus Scottish Athletics number if you have one. Payment can be taken on the night and pre-registering makes the job much easier on the night

Again if you cant run then please volunteer to help on the night by emailing Sandy.

Sunday 17 th May – Women’s 10k – Glasgow If you are running this popular event and would like to travel up by bus with your club-mates, please email Sue at [email protected] I’m assuming it is pre-entry only so don’t delay, get registered and enter in advnace http://www.greatrun.org/great-womens-10k Good luck and enjoy!

Wednesday 20 th May – 1 st Trail Grand Prix Race – Carlisle Urban Trail Race This is a new series of races for DRC this year so hopefully it will capture the imagination of our members and we will see a good turn-out! Details are to be found at http://sportinaction.co.uk/carlisle-city-urban-trail-race/ which has a nice photo of our very own Steven Smith! Entry is via entrycentral. I’m sure car share can be arranged nearer the time.

Saturday 23 rd May – 4 th Grand Prix Race – Kirkcudbright Half Marathon Yes it’s a busy line-up for May and we have the 4th GP race at Kirkcudbright Half Marathon. This is a very popular local event that can be enjoyed by runners at all levels. There is a shorter 11.2k run for those not too keen on the Half Marathon and also a walking event which gets a 2hr head start on the runners in the Half. There is on-line entry this year as-well as postal. http://kahm.org.uk/race-entry/ It’s worth pre- entering as it is usually substantially cheaper to do so…every pounds a prisoner!!

Club Championship Update Unfortunately we have been forced to change the Club Championship race that was scheduled for Dalbeattie Half on the 21st June. This race is now being held on the 14th June which clashes with the Mabie 10k trail race which forms part of our new Trail Grand Prix series. After a great deal of research and deliberation the decision has been made to hold our Club Championship race at Haddington Half Marathon on the 8th August. Hopefully this will meet with general approval and will give enough time for members to incorporate into their plans. It is planned to organise a bus for this event and details will follow in due course.

Race details: Haddington Half Marathon Date 8/8/15 Time 2pm Website: www.haddingtonrunning.club Entry: entrycentral plus limited on the day with extra charge. Course: Described as undulating.

Round Up Of recent Club Events It’s been a busy period for DRC and the season is now fully up and running with the Cross Country having been run, the GP starting and also the succesful running of the Criffel hill race.

DRC Cross Country Championship What a great event Les organised for us to enjoy before the night-out! Perhaps one to make a regular addition to the DRC calendar. I know Doug helped with the course and made a wee bit harder for the runners…thanks Doug As usual we had plenty of helpers and supporters on the day. Winners of mens race was yours truly with Kev McQ out sprinting Graeme for second with Tosh not too far behind them. The ladies race had a familiar look with Jo leading Lisa and Sian home.

Awards Night Another fine night of food, drink and dancing with a wee bit of awards in amongst it Thanks again to Maggie for organising the night out! Grand Prix We don’t take things easy at DRC, with the opening race of the GP down at Dentdale 14.2 mile road race. By road racing standards this is a hilly route and is an excellent test of early season fitness and a great race for those building up for a spring marathon. On the ladies race we had a fantastic run from Jo who was a clear winner setting a new course record, I’m sure it won’t be the last time we here that this year. Jo was followed by Sian and Dawn as second and third DRC ladies. On the men’s side yours truly done well to keep just ahead of Jo. Welcome returnee Kev C was second home with the Graeme making up the top 3. A note to the young pretenders….we are all in the Vet 40 category!!

The second race was the Tom Scott 10 mile road race at Strathclyde Park. This race doubled as the Scottish 10 mile championship and with being in the Central Belt always has a high quality field. DRC numbers were down a bit maybe as it was Easter weekend and also as some of us missed getting entered on-time, need to bear that in mind particularly with the non-local races. Anyway there were plenty of good times by our memebers. First male home was Ian Liffen is a very respectable 57:55, followed by Niall Campbell who has given a few of us something to think about with sub 60min run. Tosh was in fine early season form finishing in 61:16, and the forever young Sandy came home in 65:09. The first lady home was Sue in 75:27 followed by Susan G and Linda.

It’s a bit early to prtedict how this years GP will finish up but I reckon its maybe closer than ever with a few people with a good chance of picking up prizes!

Criffel Hill Race I great event again by all accounts under to Ranjits stewardship. There are some great photo’s and a nice write-up from Craig on the club website. It appears DRC runners had a great tussle for positions with a good few pb’s to boot Jacob led Adam, Tubby and Craig home with Vicky the sole DRC lady on the day! (If we ever find a downhill race my moneys on Craig with Adam a close second)

Last but Not Least This weekend sees DRC out in force again at both the Highland Fling Ultra race and the London Marathon.

On Satuurday we have a team (The Up and Doonhamers) of Sue, Mo K, Frank and Kerry in the Highland fling raelay race. Also in the solo race we have several runners, Jacob, Craig, Tubby, Seb, Maggie, Vicky, Peter, Richard, Marian, and Allie. Good luck guys and girls it will be tough enough but you are all made of tough stuff!!

Onto Sunday and we have Sandy, Chris, Danny, Gemma, Sarah, Ranjit and Fiona all flying the DRC flag in the London marathon. No matter how the running goes it’s hard not to enjoy the atmosphere of the London Marathon, best wishes to you all from team DRC!!

Hope to see many of you over the next few weeks at our various events.

Happy Running