The Scottish National Cross Country Championships took place at Irvine Beach Park on Saturday 14th February. It may well have been Valentine’s Day but there were no hearts and flowers on display that day! The weather was atrocious! What made it worse was the fact that the previous day had been glorious sunshine, lulling most of us into a false sense of security. Our team for the day was Lynn Harding, Frances Florence and Elaine McBrinn. There were others there too spectating and supporting, but unfortunately our numbers in the actual race had been depleted through injury/illness/work commitments.

Beach Park is not the easiest of courses. Popular with some athletes, not with others. It’s got hills all over the place, but this year the famous Dragon (Heartbreak) Hill was missing because the local Council wouldn’t allow the race course to go along the beach. At least with the Irvine course, drainage is good so there doesn’t tend to be huge mud baths all over the place. It didn’t stop the runners getting soaked, though! The rain was so penetrating that it didn’t take long for the cold to make its presence felt too. I didn’t see any of the race, except the finishing funnel because they changed it round this year so that the finish was tucked away in a corner, with the start invisible to us - all we heard was the gun! Elaine McBrinn was our first finisher followed by Lynn and then Frances. For their efforts, they picked up team bronze. Well done folks. It was a really hellish day!

We’ve had more additions to our running fraternity since the last report. Four in fact. Lindsay Dick, Val Fallon, Josie Mosson and Brenda Davie. All four have joined the growing Tuesday/Thursday group and are regularly training.

Lindsay is currently completing a Ph.D. at Strathclyde University and is a regular attendee at Anne-Marie’s wonderful (!!!???!!!) popmobility classes - so that gives you some indication of just how fit she is! Actually, running isn’t her only talent - and as she regularly runs with superwhippet Laura-Ann, she must have talent - she is a former rower - now that’ll be handy on wet nights!!

Val is also at University, Glasgow this time studying Anatomy. She ran in our 5k last year unattached, but will run this year as a fully fledged member of Shettleston Ladies, looking for an improvement on her time to see if joining a club has been of benefit. Val is of Italian descent and with a family name like Ferrari, well....some of us can testify to her 0-60 in 10 seconds when she decides to put a spurt in....usually in the last half mile.....

Josie has been running for years, the last two or more with the Jogging Network at Crownpoint. She’s decided to join Shettleston Ladies and has become one of the Tuesday/Thursday regulars. Josie ran the London Marathon last year for the first time and was disappointed to be rejected this year. She’s also taken part in a number of 10k’s and half marathons including last year’s Great North Run where she was part of a small troop from the network who made a weekend of it!!!!

Brenda has also ran with the Network in the last couple of years but also did a little bit of running to get fit in the 1970’s. Again, Brenda has completed countless 10ks and a few half marathons and took part in the Network trip to Newcastle for the Great North Run, doubling up as co-driver when our mini-bus arrangement fell through and we had to head south in a couple of cars.

Pam McKay made a superb return to racing following the birth of son Scott at Strathclyde Park when she formed part of the team with Anne Marie and Frances to lift not only the bronze medals as senior team, but also the silver medals as veterans team. Frances had the added bonus of 3rd vet, so she got an extra bronze medal to take home. There was prize money too. The team shared a cheque for fifty pounds while Frances got a further twenty for her vets’ placing. Congratulations, folks.

I know that several SHL members are keen on the old cycling front. Anyone fancy a group day trip? Any suggestions for dates, routes, bike types (road/mountain) etc. most welcome.....

Maybe we could have a "Sunday run" with a difference.

Anyone interested, please contact Susan Carter or Margaret Daly.

SEC

Now whatever you’re doing on the above date...it can’t be that important. Cancel it. Rearrange it. Postpone it. Do anything .... but be at Glasgow Green that night and we can promise you something special!