Edinburgh Athletic Club

Hi folks, 

Those who read my nature notes a few weeks ago may recall mention that there had been sightings of a rare prehistoric being lumbering across the Fife countryside.
 
Reports have reached me that Fife is not alone in having an ancient and rare collection of wild life.  Those in the know who headed north to the Grampian coast last weekend were rewarded with a scene from the land that time forgot.  Specimens from a bygone age could be seen in the mist shrouded woods near Forres.  Some had been thought to be extinct as they had not been seen for several years.  Cave paintings and drawings on ancient pottery depicts them as highly active creatures.  Carbon dating of some remains show a small number to have been active in more recent times, but there is little other evidence available till now.  But there, at the edge of the Grampian ice sheet in Forres, there were confirmed sightings of some very rare beasts.
 
For anyone present it must have been a fine sight to see what is possibly the last few remaining creatures from a bygone age as they foraged in the wooded slopes near to Grant Park.  From time to time some would emerge to the lower grassy slopes.  However, perhaps due to a fear of the open space and possible predators, they quickly returned to the relative safety of the trees.
 
No one present was quite certain what had caused such a gathering.  The recent ‘mini ice-age’ affecting the region had restricted access to the more remote and inaccessible areas usually populated by these creatures.  It is likely that a combination of slightly improved weather and access to some more challenging ground conditions had tempted the beasts out of their most recent habitat.
 
 
Meanwhile, at Berwick some of this merry band were tackling challenges of a far more risky nature.  Having escaped the killer quick sand dunes  and Berwick the bull, they returned to the beach to find the tide had come in.  Waves were up to thigh deep for some of the stragglers, but to the best of our knowledge the ‘monster from the deep’ did not emerge to devour any of the stragglers – well no one has been noticed as missing yet.
 
For those who had fancied a Jan 1 trundle along the prom at Portobello, only to find it was cancelled, the alternative beach run was considered too risky for fear of the same ‘monsters from the deep’ – or maybe Portobello ones are fiercer?    Anyway, the poor runners might have got wet as well.  Always worth remembering that the second slowest is not the one that gets devoured – only the slowest.
 
Good to see Russell getting his half page picture in the Peeblesshire News again – but I see it seems to be getting closer to the ‘Sherriff Court Reports’ – always an interesting read.  At this rate in a few months they could be combined!  Vik managed a top 3 place in the women – but as she has not been seen for some weeks we are starting to get concerned about her wellbeing – was the quicksand too much for her?  If I have missed any others, please accept my apologies.
 
 
CARNETHY 5 HILLS RACE
 
Looks like the weather is getting bad just in time.   Probably not enough snow to cause too many problems, but just very cold and miserable.  Although it may not seem too bad in the start field, it can be pretty grim on the summits, so make sure you are properly equipped.  I will see you somewhere on the course.
 
 
COMPETITION TIME:
 
Entries have continued to flood in – but the competition is now closed.  The bulging mail bags were sorted and the winning entry drawn out – a packet of Werthers Old Originals will be on its way to the winner – oh – they ticked the ‘no publicity’ box.
 
 
RACES TO LOOK OUT FOR:

BORDERS X COUNTRY LEAGUE

 
28 Feb    Peebles – Hay Lodge Park – a mix of trail, forest track, undulating boggy fields.
 
For more info on both these races see www.norhamrc.co.uk
 
 
GLENTRESS DUATHLONS
 
 
For those with a mountain bike (or know someone who has) there are the Glentress Duathlons.
 
Solo or teams of two (1 runner, 1 biker).
 
28 Feb – Long
 
For more info see www.glentressduathlon.com

ROAD RACES 

11 April – Perth – Heaven & Hell 1/2 marathon..  Following the route of the last couple of years – with ‘extra hell’..  A fine race, well worth doing.  Check Out Perth Road Runners website for more details.
 
HILL RACES 
 
13 Feb  -   Carnethy 5 hills race – filled in 4 hours of entries opening, so you can go on a waiting list. If you have entered and can’t run, please let the organisers know so someone else can take your place.

13th March – Haworth Hobble - 33m + 4400 ft – the first of the Vasque Ultra series – an excellent run round the Pennines, a chance to recreate your own Kathy or Heathcliffe moment as you speed past the Brontes old farm at Wuthering Heights.  Also visit Stoodley Pike. This race kindly saves the hillier bits till the second half.  Usually a good turnout from Scotland - Boggies, a few Carnethy and one or two others.  Details on kcac.co.uk  
 
20 March – Chapelgill, near Broughton. 2m + 1500ft.  A nice little short race to start the SHR championship,  straight up and back down again.

24 April – Anniversary Waltz – 11,5m + 3600ft a good run round the head of the Newlands Valley, approx 8 miles from Keswick.  A popular race, so                 book early to avoid disappointment. Entry on line only – www.anniversarywaltz.co.uk

24 April – Yorkshire 3 Peaks Race – 24m + 4500ft.  Details on www.threepeaksrace.org.uk
 

See you in a snowdrift sometime soon.  
 
Cheers
 
Jonathan.