Odds and Ends

First, some more information about Aileen's 24 hours race. Looking at the srichinmoiraces website, some of her splits were as follows: the full marathon distance was covered in four hours, 50 miles were reached in eight hours fourteen minutes, 70 miles in 12 hours, 93.95 miles in eighteen hours - and despite looking hard for it, I didn't get her time for 100 miles - with a 23 hours distance of 113 miles. It was a very good performance and, unless anyone knows better, a club record for men as well as women. Unless someone does something spectacular before the end of the cross country season, she is already a favourite for the most meritorious award - and maybe even a special award from the Committee on behalf of the club.

Second, it was good to see the women and girls doing so well at the County Relays with club secretary Yvonne Green collecting her first Dunbartonshire medal. The girls also did well with a third place for them but unfortunately the men and boys could not emulate them this time - but the tables might be turned in the County Championships at Maryhill on 28th November.

The selection of Ryan Savage for the first team in the National Relays at Cumbernauld with Gerry Montgomery in the second team was very interesting and by running faster Ryan justified his place. It seems that it is also interesting on at least two dimensions: Gerry's response to it will be great to see - I suggest that his response will be a super run this week end in the Scally Relays, or if he doesn't do that one, then in the University Road Race the following week. (By the way, did you know that the Uni had asked Prasad Prasad to present the prizes? he can't, he's working) Ryan's response will be equally revealing - will he rise to the promotion or will he freeze under perceived expectations? Come back in December and all will be revealed.

Incidentally also on the National Relays, Prasad felt that he ran quite well. Starting off a bit slower than heretofore he felt stronger throughout and finished well. He might well be out in the DAAA and West District Championsips and since Frank McGowan also said earlier that he might make the Districts we could well have a good team out.

This weekend I'll be at the world coaching meeting at the Marriott Hotel but I'll sneak off at lunchtime on Saturday to see the Allan Scally Relay. It is one that I used to really enjoy racing in and although like most of the main races in the country the size of the field and at times the quality of the running has dropped off, I still have a soft spot for the event. It starts at 2:00 pm.