Prologue

Running one race in a week is considered normal, running a couple in one week is achievable but what I wonder is the appropriate adjective for those who contemplate running six races in one week? On the basis that it takes a “lang spoon to sup wi a Fifer” this years Tour of Fife (ToF) race series, is great value for money, if not runners sanity, in that for the 10th anniversary edition race organiser Brian Cruikshank and his crew have squeezed in an extra event in West Fife to make it a wee bit longer and much tougher. Taking part in this years edition are HAAC husband and wife team of Julia and Andrew Henderson.

HAAC Tour snaps

Fife AC website for full race results and photographs

Portobello website for race reports and much more

Race 1 – Teddy Bear 5m Race – Giffordtown – 25 July

Those wacky Portybellybuttons

In what race organisers dubbed a “roaster” of a day Andrew immediately got the HAAC ToF series efforts off to a winning start by claiming a spot prize at race sign in. The prize was a fantastic action shot of his struggles at last years Strathmiglo Chicken run.

Providing  ample evidence that six races in a week is possible some 160 other runners arrived to check in for the first in the series at the village hall: thankfully a 5mile trot not 500miles along pleasingly quiet country roads out from Giffordtown towards Auchtermuchty; that hotbed of musical creativity, and sometime home to  Jimmy Shand and twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid of Proclaimers fame.

Having the pleasure of starting a ToF series for the first time Julia eyed up the competition and having spotted Emma Raven (fresh from recently breaking the Scottish steeple-chase record), Ammanda Henderson (Portobello top racer) and Alison McGill (neice of the flying Glasgow Granny Sandra Branney) decided that she had better save some energy for the race and avoid a long warm up in the heat. Andrew on the other hand spent most of his pre-race warming up his tongue as he blethered to a number of well kent faces from Fife, Edinburgh and beyond.

At 2pm sharp and after a race briefing that for once could be heard, the ToF 2010 was off. On a hot and windy afternoon the lead runners set off like the clappers in an attempt to lay down a marker for the rest of the series. At the other end of the field the chatter was more of keeping something in the tank for later in the week.

After an absence of some months from competitive racing Julia found the first couple of miles along undulating but traffic free roads a challenge. She soon settled down into her familiar cadence and tracked down a  number of other runners before moving  into second place behind a Fife AC runner Alison McGill. Just after the 1mile marker and underscoring the rural nature of the tour a large herd of brown cows decided to join in on the action and started to jog along the adjacent field, a helpful activity in that it attracted the buzzing flies following the racers. Pleased with her come back run Julia  finished in 2nd place in a time of 31.40mins for 27th place overall just 28sec behind Alison. Andrew clearly enjoyed his return to Fife soil and managed to put in a flashy sprint finish to the loud cheers of at least three people breaking the tape in a time of 41.10mins  for 124th place. Tomorrow night sees the HAAC athletes head to west Fife and Lochore Meadows for more thrills and spills.  Results

Race 2 – Loopy Loch 6.5miles Trail Race – Lochore Meadows – 26 July 2010

What used to be the black diamonds of Fife

Whilst some runners discussed the option of saving some juice for the following evenings hill race Andrew had other ideas, having struggled to pull his athletic frame around the Giffordtown course in the heat he settled on a different plan of action that meant upping the pace and climbing the leader board. In the first mile he settled at around 8min pace and spotted runners ahead of him in the overall tour standings. For the next 5.5miles whilst he sweated and swore he gradually reeled in a number of targets. As if to remind the runners of the former mining heritage of the locality and providing an interesting distraction a spectator was spotted carrying a feret around the course. Crossing the line in 53.01mins Andrew was delighted to have taken some 40secs off his recent equivalent 10k time whilst running 1/2mile  further. The trick now is to continue this form over into the next race. Overall Andrew climbed 9 places to 115th.

Meanwhile at the other end of the field Julia was having an altogether different race experience. Having set a high standard at Giffordtown the previous day the longer 6.5mile race was more unforgiving and stretched Julia to the limit as the missed training due to IT band injuries began to show. In the battle for podium places she dropped a place into 3rd on the night to another racing Henderson – Amanda from the Portobello Club in Edinburgh. Finishing in 42.27mins leaves her in 3rd place overall in the series and 19 secs behind Amanda. By way of post race recovery/punishment Julia waded into the none too warm and none too inviting Loch Ore to give her shredded legs an ice bath – we will see if this particular therapy works on West Falkland Hill tomorrow evening?                     Results

Race 3 – Lomonds Lungbuster 4mile Hill Race – Falkland – 27 July

The foot professor, the injured, the twin, a niece and the Helensburgh Bullet

The village of Falkland is as pretty as a pretty thing, royal hunting palace, real tennis court, surrounded by bountiful fields churning out organic vegetables all with the backdrop of two hills East and West Lomond. In January’s snowy Devil’s Burden race East Lomond was the first challenge but for the ToF runners were set the ugly task of running up and down its twin, West Lomond.

Sensing moral support was required to assist Julia and Andrew get through tonights race Team Henderson was bolstered by a large travelling support of Kingdom dwelling family members, although it did fleetingly cross Andrew’s mind that perhaps they were only there to see how fast he could tumble down the hill. A pre-race recce of the course did nothing to settle nerves as the first 500 meters although being grass was uncomfortably steep before getting steeper as you hit the hill proper. As if to underline the potential dangers of hill racing just before the start runners were asked to walk slowly across the start line and back into position so race organisers could confirm the number of starters or order sufficient body bags- I am not sure which.

The hooter sounded louder than normal and set the runners off into the sunset and the hills. After the first lung busting slog up a steep grass slope the race joined a stoney path – the road to perdition. Settling down into a shuffle Andrew concentrated on ticking off the yards completed not the pain yet to be suffered. At around the 1.5mile mark the morale sapping sight of Julia limping back down the track greeted him. Julia had finally succumbed to a combination of persistent IT band problems, missed training and general giddyness. The hopes of Helensburgh now rested on the unlikely but broad shoulders of Andrew.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man however, Andrew gritted his teeth and made like a mountain goat up the flank of West Lomond. Using a number of higher ranked Fife runners as targets and taking more scalps than Geronimo Andrew reached the summit in 27mins, he took a swift look at the substantial views before descending at a somewhat alarming pace towards Craigmead car park and the finish. Keeping some sort of form down the stoney path Andrew careered across the finish line in 43.56mins for 113th place on the night.

His not inconsiderable efforts were rewarded by yet another move up the leader board into 109th place. Julia consoled herself by taking photographs at the finish. As the ToF takes a breather a hard earned fish supper and a bottle of Fife brewed wheat beer was gladly devoured. Roll on the Chariots of Fire beach race on Thursday! Luckies Ale Results

Race 4 – Chariots of Fire Beach Race – West Sands St Andrews – 29 July

Chariots of Fire

In homage to Eric Liddle the “Flying Scotsman” who won gold in the 400m at the 1924 Paris Olympics and perhaps unfortunately and more famously declined to run the 100m as the event was held on a Sunday, the 4th race in the ToF series is a 4mile test of strength and stamina out and back along the West Sands in St Andrews.

The underfoot conditions are somewhat akin to running in lumpy treacle with the recently retreated tide leaving a Russian roulette of hard and soft patches of sand along the magnificant beach that skirts first the old course before turning up and into the Eden estuary towards RAF Leuchars and sheer purgatory to a turn around at a wooden groyne. The return leg is no easier but then as the dreaming spires of St Andrews get tantalisingly closer but never near enough for comfort runners, if they are lucky or tired enough, can hear the theme tune of Chariots of Fire drift across their exhausted mind.

At the race start the general consensus amongst the combatants was that whilst the days rest was initially eagerly anticipated, getting weary muscles and the proper mental attitide to the start line was a bit of a challenge. At the tape most of us were there however, joining Julia on the supporters bench was Alison McGill womens race leader, having tweaked a muscle during the hill race. This left Amanda Henderson of Portobello in pole position. On being offered the tour leader jersey she declined reasoning, and quite rightly,  in true Chariots of Fire style that she had not yet earned it.

The race was as awful and as enjoyable as predicted, calf muscles and any other muscles for that matter were tested to the limit in an effort to spoil a beautiful evening. Having had the satisfaction of using his weight advantage on the downhill sections of the hill race recording a good time this additional burden became a distinct disadvantage for Andrew Henderson as he ploughed his way around the course. With some considerable credit he maintained his overall race position of 109th coming home in 36.54mins for 123rd finisher on the night. In recognition of his achievements his father-in-law Fred spontaneously spouted some appropriate verse;

“Young Man from Kirkcaldy”

There was a young man from the `doddie

who had a phenomenal body,

He ran along the beach,

his erse like a peach

but he had to come back on a lorry.

Results

Race 5 – Uphill Hell Time Trial – East Falkland – 30th July

It's all his fault - ToF devil and organiser Brian Cruikshank

First the good news, Friday night provided the tourists with their shortest endeavour of the series, then reality bites and although being billed as the shortest leg, as the name suggests – Uphill Hell time trial, this race was no walk in the park but rather a 2.25km, 754ft climb up East Fakland hill. The race is appropriately billed as the Alp d`Heuz of the ToF.  Each competitor sets off in a pair on a timed run starting from the foot of Purin Den, up through the woods and lucky white heather to an encouraging finish at the East Lomond ski station (radio mast). The route is entirely uphill on good quality tarmac road. Setting the scene was tour organiser and runner Brian Cruikshank kitted out in his now customary Devil outfit.

For logistical reasons and perhaps hoping that Julia Henderson would still be taking part and challenging for a podium finish organisers had paired her to set off with Andrew Henderson near the tail end of starters. Unfortunately for Andrew this now meant that he would have to set off a) alone b) would be chased up the hill by some of the fittest and fastest runners on the tour; and c) there would be a danger of crawling over the line in last position. Andrew looked on this prospect with some stoicism and commented to Peter Buchanan of Portobello that given that he was setting off only 6.5mins ahead of him Peter had a pretty good tortoise to aim for and at least there would be a large and loud crowd at the finish line to cheer Andrew home. The reason for mass support is that runners and spectators cannot get back down the hill until after the last runner is home rather than having some great urge to see one of Helensburgh’s finest float through the finishing tape.

Setting off near the back of the field gave Andrew plenty time to inspect the slopes and consider how best to tackle the objective. On a reconoiter down the hill he figured it was worth 6 x repeats of the Sinclair Street session at club training but without the rests – after 5 days racing who needs a rest!

As the starter called out the pairings or singletons an air of calm descended at the bottom of the hill and with the traditional 3-2-1- go Andrew set off at a steady but reasonable pace. As expected after a couple of minutes into the course a couple of faster runners could be heard breathing deeply and eventually passing Andrew. At half way a young piper provided some fresh impetus to tired legs and the course became a little kinder for a stretch. Andrew used this to his advantage and repeated the sometimes annoying mantra of “dig-in”. After about 1600m a short bout of fast walking was later admitted to as Andrew struggled to maintain his rythym. Eventally however to the sound of clanking cow bells and strong encouragement from the now substantial crowd the finish line came into site. With some great sense of relieve the clock stopped at 17.00mins dead and Andrew nearly was. Andrew’s honour was left intact as Peter B crossed the line some moments after him. Later, on checking results Andrew established that he had managed the course 10sec faster than previous efforts and confided in Julia that a beer and fish supper diet is the only way to go (see previous report). Julia reluctantly relented and Auchtermuchty chipper was relieved of a portion of haddock and chips.                          Results

Race 6 – Twisted Chicken Run – 5.5mile Trail – 31 July

The finale at Migly

The euphoria of competition obscures how tired you actually are after five days and nights of racing. In an effort to get some extra rest a long lie in on Saturday morning was preferred to the job of planning logistics for the final race – i.e. the finish venue. Having roped in his parents-in-law to act as race supporters and chauffeurs for the day Andrew Henderson then sent them on a wild goose chase assuming, as last year, that the race finish and prize-giving would be in Falkland. As their car disappeared down the lanes of Strathmiglo and the post race purvey spread was spied in the village hall two and two eventually made four as it dawned on Andrew that the finish would be at Strathmiglo not Falkland – not an auspicious start for the final days racing.

However, on a more positive note Julia Henderson following some rest and a sports massage in St Andrews, the Henderson race headquarters for the week, was declared fit enough to toe the line, if not to be cheered on by her parents. The Twisted Chicken run looked like being a stiff test for the final days effort. The race route started in a farmers field and climbed steeply up through the countryside, down into Falkland forest onto a steep trail and climb before dropping back down onto farm and forrest tracks and a return to the start with what promised to be an exciting downhill finish for very tired legs.

The tactics today for Andrew would be less of thoughts of glory and more of hanging on and not blowing up. Julia was determined just to get round in one piece. Surprisingly the ascent of the steep field immediately after the start passed reasonably quickly and the next downhill stretch gave some false confidence that the race would fly painlessly past.

Once into the forest and the long climb up through the tree line however, reality and pain kicked in and the pace ground to a fast walk up the last few metres. A cheering group of 50 something ramblers provided some respite and tucking in behind a couple of Perth runners for the fast descent at around half way dragged Andrew back into the pack. From there to the finish it was a case of mind over matter and one step at a time. Just before the turn into the field and the descent to the finish the ever present Anster Haddie supporter shouted out for the final time a much welcomed “C`mon Helensburgh”. Dropping down through the field at pace Andrew was relieved on a number of counts; firstly and perhaps most importantly the finish banner fluttered oh so close and secondly his father-in law was spotted next to Julia; both had made it to the finish line.

For the record Julia come home in 39.49mins taking 2nd womens spot and Andrew completed his ToF efforts in 51.02mins claiming 104th spot out of 133rd completors.

“Goodbye Nelly and Fred”

Computers don’t lie was the `Doddy man’s cry,

so to Falkland we went

but the runners were sent

to Strathmiglo instead

Goodbye Nelly and Fred

Six races, 4.03.03hrs running, 100% satisfaction.  Go on try it you know you want to.     Full Results

Epilogue

To follow soon.