Dont forget Moray Forest runs start this Wednesday 15 May at Monaughty. Junior Race 6.45 and Senior Race 7.15. See race Diary for more Info.
Benromach 10k 11 April 2013
Well done to the 7 NRR who ran in the Benromach 10k. Stephen Fraser 41:48, Gordon Main 43:39, Danny Bow 43:44, Donald Ross 51:11, Norma Breathet 54:31, Margaret Smith 63:21, John Rushforth 63:21. Full results can be found on Race Results.
London Marathon 21 April 2013
Well done to both Fiona McLachlan and Alistair Stewart for completing the London Marathon today. Fiona Finished in a time of 5:14:01 and Alistair 4:42:20.Congratulations go to you both from all at the club, and we hope you had a wonderful day in the London sunshine. Enjoy your well deserved rest and see you both back at the club on Thursday.
Alistair Fiona
5K
31:58
32:35
10K
1:04:22
1:05:38
15K
1:37:26
1:40:29
20K
2:10:27
2:16:03
Half
2:17:40
2:23:50
25K
2:44:14
2:53:07
30K
3:18:20
3:32:08
35k
3:52:45
4:13:11
40k
4:27:43
4:44:16
This years A.G.M will take place at the Sailing club on the 25th April. We will run the Turkey Trot at 7:30pm and the meeting will start at approx 8:00pm. Refreshments will be provided.
FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR CLIC SARGENT AND YORKHILL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ‘SING-ALONG’ MAMA MIA NIGHT LITTLE THEATRE NAIRN FRIDAY 26TH APRIL 7pm for 7.30pm start. See Info below
Nairn 10 Mile Road Race and Fun Run Sunday 9th June 2013
Danny and family thank you all for supporting this event. Our family have benefited enormously from both the chosen charities, and your support today shall help other families with sick children from all around Scotland receive this wonderful support. Yorkhill Children's Foundation provides enhanced medical equipment and resources which benefit sick children and babies who are treated at Yorkhill Hospital and within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. These can include innovative medical equipment, improvements in child and family facilities and paediatric research and training. CLIC Sargent - Caring for Children and Young people with CancerEvery day ten families in UK are given the devastating news that their child has cancer. CLIC Sargent is the only charity offering them care and support every step of the way, both emotionally and practically, in a very unobtrusive, but essential way. At the moment, because of funding, they can only help three out of every four of these families………………… In the Highlands there is a CLIC Sargent professional at Raigmore and a paediatric oncology nurse. Although these services are based locally the majority of children have to be treated in Glasgow or Edinburgh for weeks, months or longer. CLIC Sargent provides self-catering accommodation for families at a wonderful purpose built home situated 2 minutes from the hospital. They also have a lovely purpose built holiday house in Prestwick, enabling these families some time away from the hospital situation families. Entry form download here: Further information email: info.10mile@gmail.com
Many thanks Danny
Inverness Half Marathon Sunday 17 March 2013
A total of 1560 runners finished the Inverness Half today. The race was won by Hailu Million in a time of 1:06:22. First female back was Gillian Carr from Corstorphine AAA in 1:26:08. Well done to the 11 Nairn road runners who took part. First home and taking 2 minutes 30 seconds off his PB was Graeme Macleod finishing in 63rd position overall in a time of 1:24:22 . Other NRR were Iain Mcintyre 1:30:53 chip position 150, Stephen Fraser 1:32:01 chip position 159 , Maureen Mackie 1:38:24 chip position 291, Greg Riddle 1:51:38 chip position 675, Sarah Riddle 1:51:38 chip position 676, Andy Green 2:11:31 chip position 1230, Clare Rhind 2:12:31 chip position 1250, Julie Green 2:14:33 chip position 1255, Tony Lister 2:21:03 chip position 1357, Anita Nicol 2:26:31 chip position 1433.
Full results on webpage.
Nairn 10k and 5k Fun run Sunday 3rd March 2013
Well done to all who took part in either the 10K or 5k fun run today. Perfect conditions and a record number of 391 runners crossed the finish line for the 10K. First place went to Gordon Lennox in a time of 32:53. First female back was Nicola Gauld from Aberdeen AAC in a time of 35:28.
A total of 28 Nairn Road Runners represented the club today, with a few running PB's. First Male NRR was Graeme Macleod finishing in 36:49 17th place overall, and first Female NRR was Maureen Mackie who finished in 44:34. Maureen also picked up the prize for first female senior vet.
Other NRR were Geoff Main, Iain Blackburn, Stephen Fraser, Iain Macintyre, Danny Bow, Gordon Main, David Webster, Ian Wilson, Donald Ross, Chris Rankin, Norma Breathet, Andy Green, Jenny Saunders, Louise Macdonald, John Rushforth, Aileen Paterson, Andrew Paterson, Julie Green, Grace Main, Ailie Macleod, Fiona Crothall, Susan Wilson, Tracey Patterson, Ashlee Carins, Nicola Williamson, Wendy Arnott.
Results are on the Race results and Nairn 10k pages.
Kinloss to Lossiemouth Half Marathon Sunday 17th Feb 2013
Well done to the 7 Nairn Road runners who took part in the Kinloss to Lossie Half Marathon. Perfect condtions today 10c and the sun was shining. Hope you all enjoyed! Congratulations to Graeme Macleod, Iain Blackburn, Margaret Smith and John Rushforth who all ran a PB today. A fantastic result for John taking 15 minutes off his PB.
Graeme Macleod 86:52PB, Iain Blackburn 87:23PB, Iain Mcintyre 92:23, Maureen Mackie 99:10, Chris Rankin 110:58, John Rushforth 134:35 PB, Margaret Smith 134:36PB. Full results on Race results page.
URGENT>>>>>Please note the NEW starting time of 12:30 pm
Benromach 10k results here Northern Scot 10k series resultshere
Phil Marland, who is an Army Warrant Officer based at RAF Lossiemouth is going to run the Speyside Way 55 miles from Buckie to Aviemore starting at 0400 on 18 May 13.
He would welcome any runners to accompany him for part of the way as well as any sponsorship.
His email address is philgil32@hotmail.com Mobile No 07961315739 if anyone wants more details.
I avoided the crowds at Balmoral by entering the 15 mile race on the Sunday instead of the more popular 10K race held on the Saturday. The weather was ideal, cool & blue skies, the views were fantastic, and the route was challenging ! This years race had been extended to 15 miles from last years half marathon, the first 8 miles were undulating along the river Dee with a superb view of snow covered Lochnagar at one point. Then it was up hill, firstly on a rough woodland track then onto a very rough road with loose stones which I found difficult, at least I was able to enjoy the views on a downhill section. After about 13 miles we hit a section of hard core which was sore for tired legs, then just when I was thinking the end was insight we were directed into a wet forest section that reminded me of cross country at Evanton and a fairly steep downhill section before back on the road for the last few hundred meters at Balmoral Castle. (My time 2hr 10:52)
The winners Robbie Simpson (Deeside Runners)(1hr 21:11) and Morgan Windram-Geddes (Fife AC)(1hr 37:46) earned a trip to Ethiopia
Dave Webster tells me that this off road stuff makes your legs stronger for road races. (I hope he's right !) Maureen Mackie
London Marathon
We had 4 runners taking part in this years London marathon, Chris Rankin 3:38:32 Alan Dallas 3:47:34, Carol Stewart 4:48:08 and Alistair Stewart 5:05:07.
If you were inspired enough to want to take part in next years London Marathon, the online applications open on Monday 30th April 2012. The club were lucky enough to receive 2 places this year but you must have been unsuccessful in the ballot to apply for a club place.
Lochaber Marathon
Gordon Main was our sole representitive at this years Lochaber Marathon which had a wee twist to it this year with the start/finish having had to be moved so adding a few 100 metres to the usual 26.2 miles, but as usual Gordon took itr on the chin and finished in a great time of 3:29:41.
AGM WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY 26TH APRIL FOLLOWING OUR ANNUAL RUN AROUND THE TURKEY TROT ROUTE. RUN STARTS AT 7:30PM PROMPT
Moray 10k
7 club members made their way along the A96 on a glorious sunny Sunday afternoon to take part in the 2nd in the Northern Scot 10k series. Nearly 200 runners lined up in Cooper park as the mercury touched the 20c mark. The race was won by Simon Pride in a time of 35 mins,Sarah Liebnitz(Inverness Harriers) winning the lady's race in 40:35. First home for NRR was Peter Widlof in 40:09. For the 2nd year in a row Morag Macleod came home with a prize, last year she claimed 3rd spot FSV but this year she went home a winner in the category. well done to all that took part in such a hot afternoon.
Times - Peter Widlof 40:09, Maureen Mackie 48:33, Kenny Macleod 52:14, Morag Macleod 53:37, Donna Dallas 71:27, Alan Dallas 71:27, John Ferrie 75:23
Well what a trip that was, New Zealand is a truly wonderful country with a new adventure around every corner.
I thought I would share with you one memorable run I did on the North Island. It is a day walk called the Tongariro Crossing, lying a little South of Taupo in the Tongariro National Park. I decided to run just for the hell of it only the day before. Maggie my partner was to walk the direct route while I was to take one or two diversions so that we would arrive at the end around the same time.
We had to be up at 4.30am as we had arranged transport for 5.40am. We awoke to a beautiful starry sky which boded well for the day ahead. We arrived at the start in the dark at 6am, with the full moon lighting up the world around us in a beautiful silvery light. The temperature was a very cold crisp 2deg C. There were sixteen people in our party altogether and only me daft enough to be running!
I decided to wait a while for the light to improve before setting off so I let the walkers disappear up the track and out of sight. On one hand this was a good idea as I would be able to see the footing more easily but on the other hand it was so cold my hands began to go numb.
As the first light began to lift the gloom I set off, almost tripping over two people in sleeping bags who had spent the night there in anticipation of an early start (not early enough for us though).
The first part of the track was easy going on a good stony track with some boarded sections to protect the delicate habitat but a steady uphill gradient all the time. Steady running was to be the order of the day though as the track became more technical and this was no race but a day to be enjoyed.
Suddenly as I passed by the Soda Springs the track went skywards by way of a series of wooden steps on and on they went climbing so steeply I confess to walking some of them but keeping a good pace all the time. The steps it turns out are a necessary evil to protect the trail from erosion as it is so popular and rated as one of N.Z’s best one day walks.
My first diversion approached and I veered of the track to the right and began the assent of Ngauruho a beautiful conical shaped volcano 2290m 7513ft high devoid of any plant life at all. Traditionally Ngauruhoe has erupted every nine years although it last erupted in 1975, was this to be the day! I found myself in a scree field of volcanic pumice, awful stuff, two steps up and one step back, so steep and loose underfoot that it was impossible to run! This was the mountain they used in the Lord of the Rings as Mt. Doom and I was beginning to see why. About two thirds of the way up the sun split the sky and I could see shadows melting away as the sun began its climb. Once at the top the views were spectacular all around and down into the depths of the crater itself. Running around the rim of the crater I was besieged by tiny flies so just kept going until I had completed the circuit and was able to begin the decent. Tremendous fun scree running at its best, shoes filling up with pumice but too much fun to stop! Then a stumble and a fall at speed and OW! That pumice cuts skin very nicely thank you.
On joining the main track again I emptied my shoes of the extra baggage and carried on towards my next diversion to the Tongariro summit.
Cloud had come in to envelop the mountain so visibility was down to around fifty meters, I was in two minds, should I climb Tongariro or stay on the main track for safety. Two seconds later I was on the track to the summit of Tongariro, I’m not coming all this way to be defeated by a bit of cloud I thought. Foolish maybe I agree but it’s a long way back for a second crack at the top!
As I climbed up I broke through the cloud and it revealed some spellbinding views with the cloud inversion making a silky bridge back across to Ngauruhoe. I was the only person up there and wished that I could have shared it with Maggie but it was not to be, she was on the main track some way bellow. This summit was a little lower at 1968m 6457ft.
I could hear voices, it turned out that the people were over half a mile away from me, the air was so still and clear that the sound carried and made it sound like they were only ten feet away. I passed them on my way down from the summit plunging back into the cloud once again.
Back at the main track fifty or so people were stopped, resting, taking on fluids, eating, all enveloped in cloud. I just pressed on through as I had seen from the top that the cloud would soon thin and give way to sunshine once again, and that proved to be the case.
As I dropped down a scree ridge the Emerald Lakes came into view. Wow! What a colour, no need to wonder how they got their name. I had to stop to take in the view before pressing on down the slope. Leaning back into the hill and taking giant sliding strides was great fun but all too soon I had reached the base of the slope and entered the Central Crater.
The Central Crater was like a vast flat plain surrounded by mountains, no wonder it was used as the Plains of Gorgoroth in Lord of the Rings. Wonderful! It was an easy run across the crater but the climb out was steep and rocky. However once over the top a long descent began that would take me to the finish.
Starting the descent in the barren volcanic landscape it gradually gave way to small ground hugging alpine plants. Maggie later asked me if I had noticed how all the alpine flowers were all white and I had to admit that I hadn’t.
The track was washed out in parts, torrential rain earlier in the season had seen to that, I just had to watch where my feet landed and all would be well.
The lower I got the more ground cover there was and the better the track became. I passed a hut run by the Department of Conservation for backpackers, a similar idea to our Scottish bothies but a little more organised. Passing this hut I was still at 1454m 4770ft and over to my left there were some magnificent hot springs throwing steam out of the mountainside. They were on restricted ground so I couldn’t get up close but never the less it was an amazing sight.
Pressing on the vegetation became lush as grasses started to take hold along with Hebe and a few hardy trees. I could see the track way below me as it weaved its way down the mountain; it seemed as if it went on for ever. My quads were taking a pounding from all the down hill running, so when a short uphill section came along it was almost a relief. Down again went the track, now disappearing into a semi tropical rain forest the smells and sounds now so totally different from those higher up. The humidity was a shock to the system and the heat increased what a contrast to only a few minutes before. The track was wet in parts which posed a different problem under foot and the odd stream had decided to burst its banks just to make things a little more interesting.
I passed Maggie taking photo’s, she had made good time on her walk, don’t stop I’ll see you at the finish!
One last mossy rock covered scramble and finally the car park and the end of my run. No cheer not even anyone there to greet me but none of that mattered, I had just completed the best run of my life!
In all I had completed around 17miles in a little under 5 hours over the hardest terrain I have ever run on and enjoyed every minute.
Would I do it again? You bet!
The down side was that my quads were smashed for three days afterwards but hey that’s a small price to pay.
Inverness Half Marathon
Dean Cunningham 1:22:08,Denise Main 1:41:38,Maureen Mackie 1:42:14, Morag Macleod 1:54:37 and Mags Smith 2:27:16
Nairn 10k and Fun run
An incredible 567runners took part in this years event which was once again blessed with near ideal conditions. The 10k race which is the first in the Northern Scot 10k series was won by Forrers Harrier Mark Mitchell who smashed the course record prevously held by Alan Reid by no less than 36secs, with a time of 30:33, and was well ahead of 2nd placed Stuart Campbell of Arbroath and District (33:40). Mitchells clubmate Simon Pride claimed 3rd place in 33:59. First male NRR runner was Dean Cunningham with superb time of 36:33.
The womans race was won by Inverness harrie Jenny Bannerman in a time of 37:54, local lady Lynn Burnet took second place in 39:12 just pipping Sarah Liebnitz (Inverness Harriers) by 2 seconds ! First female NRR was Jenny Henderson who smashed her pb with time of 44:08.
The Forres mens team of Mark Mitchell,Simon Pride and Kevin Schenk went home ith the mens team prize and the womens team award went to Inverness harriers team of Jenny Bannerman Sarah Liebnitz and Roma Shepherd.
The 5k fun run again proved to be a popular event and it was so pleasing to see it so well supported by the "Curves" people, aslo pleasing was the amount of members of our "Beginners" group that took part (also in the 10k!!) well done . First male home in the 5k event was Jack Rawlinson 20:04 2nd Craig Wilson 21:25 and 3rd Grant Fraser 22:25, first female was Mhairi Maclennan 20:45 2nd Rachel Maclennan 22;45 and 3rd Katie Scott 23:35
Once again many thanks to the NRR committee for a well organised day and ofcourse special thank to all the volunteers that gave their time before,during and after the race, without you guys there would be no race.
Over 1000 pics of the day can be view on the Gurn website, many thanks to the Gurn team .
NRR times - Dean Cunningham 36:33,Stuart Thomson 38:54, Peter Widlof 39:38, Jamie Maclaren 40:20, Danny Bow 42:24,Andy Hodge 42;28,Chris Rankin 43:30,Jenny Henderson 44:08,Will Leitch 45:37,Maureen Mackie 46:02,Marsaili Maclaren 50:29,Robert Macpherson 50:29,Kenny Macleod 50:29,Morag Macleod 50:40,Donald Ross 50:57,Helen Laking 51:58,Jessica Toroil 51:58,Andy Le Brocq 52:28,Jim Graham 52:37,Gordon Cruickshank 53:02,Gordon Main 53:22,Jenny Saunders 54:06,Andy Green 54:21,Andy Paterson 57:36,Lorna Fraser 58:11,Norma Breathet 58:19,Laura Hannah 59:27,Sharon Mackenzie 61:08,Frances Hannah 61:08,Clare Rhind 62:25,Nicola Williamson 62:11 Gordon Mackay 71:26
New event and a great warm up for the Nairnshire Challenge - Speyside Duathlon, full details can be found via the "diary page".
Nairn cross country report by Jenny Henderson
The last race in the North District Cross Country Series was held on Saturday at Nairn East beach. The Nairn course proved a challenge as always, with an abundance of energy-draining loose sand, two water crossings and a strong headwind on the return leg for runners to contend with. Our boys really pulled out all the stops for the last race of the season, with no fewer than 7 turning up to represent their club. Nice one boys! First timer Dean took the 'sprawling fall' honours this time, but had the last laugh by running a blistering time to come in first for Nairn in 18th place overall. Our hard-working girls team put in reliably consistent performances, despite the trauma of having an extra 1 mile loop through the sands added to the women's course this year (the previous years course having been deemed 'too short'). Overall winners for the series were Forres Harriers (men's team) and Inverness Harriers (women's team), with Kyle Greig (Forres) and Melissa Whyte (Inverness) taking the individual honours.
