Cover photo – Chris, Alan, Robin, Iain, Mark and John after completing the coastal relay

Tuesday Night Training

At training this week the Couch to 5k group joined the main group, making over 50 runners at the Energy Park in Methil going through a variable speed drill led by jog leader Tricia.

Parkruns

Wendy and Bob Wylie and Wendy’s dad Willie Law were parkrun tourists at Oban. Allen Marr, Jim Aiton, Matt Holden and Lorna Hughes ran at Craigtoun Park. Claire Doak and Karen Capewell took part at Beveridge Park.

Scottish Long Coastal Relays

The team from our jogScotland group entered this endurance event alongside some well known athletic clubs with squads of experienced long distance runners. The event would see teams of six runners aiming to cover the full extent of the Fife Coastal Path from Kincardine to Newburgh, a distance of 117 miles. Representing Leven Las Vegas were Chris Russell, Alan Davie, Robin Pate, Iain Wallace, Mark McLean and John Kay.

Leg 1 – Chris – Kincardine to North Queensferry (16.8 miles)

Chris set off at midnight from Kincardine as the first runner in the six-man LLV relay team and got them off to a flying start by breaking the previous course record for the 17 mile stage to North Queensferry.

Chris takes up the story “My ridiculously optimistic plan was to run the first 6.5 miles at a pace that would only use up a small fraction of my energy and then run the remaining 10 miles faster and use up the rest. So I reckoned on 46 minutes at Torryburn east end car park would leave me 67 minutes for the remaining 10.5 miles (which I’d done in training…albeit in daylight…and without 6.5 miles beforehand). That would then have me finishing at course record schedule. As I said…Ridiculously Optimistic. As soon as we set off my watch batteries went flat. So I just trotted along in 3rd place for 4 miles with the leader stretching out to 30s ahead. I didnt know what pace I was doing but was determined to be patient and contain my effort. The 2nd placer from HBT told me the race time at 5 miles was 35 mins so I felt inclined to gradually increase the pace. In so doing I closed on the 1st placer from Stonehaven. I had an energy gel going through Torryburn, waved to Ian Shield and eased up to the leader. We briefly exchanged pleasantries and I took the lead. I felt I must be behind schedule despite leading the race. The next two miles were uphill and I pushed on like I was doing a 5k. Ian was again spectating at Crombie and started to get really excited as I was really motoring along and the rest were nowhere in sight. I didnt know what time I was doing but felt amazing so just ran without fear all the way. Along the promenade in Limekilns I had the bridges in sight. The other team’s supporters were out cheering me on too, as well as Ian. Another tough climb followed to get back up to the main road. I had another gel and fired myself along towards Rosyth and then down to the ferry road. Now onto the final mile stretch into North Queensferry I pushed harder and harder just in case the record was on and to give our team as good a start as possible. I tagged Alan, told him to take it easy, took a breath and asked my time….1h50!!! well inside the record. I was properly thrilled. Then Jeff, Ian and I waited and waited and waited. 13 minutes passed before 2nd and 3rd place came racing in. What a run I felt I had. One of my best experiences ever as it wasn’t just for me it was for LLV.”

Leg 2 – Alan – North Queensferry to Dysart (20.8 miles)

Alan was passed a 13 minute lead by Chris and held on well to maintain 10 minutes of that lead over the course of the 21 mile stage to Dysart.

Alan tells us in his own words how it went “Having spoken to Jeff following our planning meeting at the Caley on Tuesday we agreed to meet at a car park fairly close to the finish of my leg at Dysart.
As I arrived at around 12.30am the car park seemed unusually busy for that time and had it not been for the large LLV stickers on the side of Jeff’s car I wouldn’t have known where to go. I asked Jeff why it was so busy to be told it was a dogging hotspot. “But no one’s got any dogs with them?” I enquired, and so my education began…..
Jeff drove me to North Queensferry with a couple of short stops to strategically place water bottles. We arrived at North Queensferry shortly after 1am where we were met by a couple of Marshalls and a few ambitious fellow runners who failed to realise that they would have much longer to wait at the start than I would.
The team had all signed up to an app which basically meant we could stalk each other and Jeff and I were able to watch Chris Russell’s icon homing in at great pace. His pace was so blistering that Ian’s icon was behind him and Ian was driving a car?! Somehow Ian managed to pass Chris and he arrived in North Queensferry to confirm Chris had build up a good lead. Moments later Chris appeared from the darkness at a ridiculous pace like a gazelle in odd socks. A quick highish five and I was off.
All of my good intentions of taking the first couple of miles easy were lost as a combination of adrenaline and the fearsome vision of Chris in a vest under cover of darkness led to me haring off into the night, my head torch terrifying countless rabbits causing them to scatter in all directions.
After a few miles I settled into a comfortable pace and concentrated on not getting lost. I managed to avoid wrong turns and my path was soon lit up by that radioactive beach in Dalgety Bay. The first people I saw on my leg were Jeff and Chris near Aberdour. A few quick words of encouragement and a bottle of water and I was on my way barely missing a step.
I soon reached Burntisland and saw my first, and only, random drunk of the night staring quizzically in my general direction as I ran up the High Street. I then passed Chris and Jeff again as I rounded the Beacon Centre and was told I’d extended our lead at this point. Helpfully I wasn’t told that this was because the boy from Stonehaven had got lost!
I was still feeling strong as I left Burntisland and it wasn’t until I was coming up through Kinghorn (on the Black Rock route for those who know it) that I started to feel the pace a bit. Jeff and Chris were there in Kinghorn to offer more support but it was becoming a little disconcerting. It felt almost like they must have had an app which enabled them to monitor my every move?!
Anyway, I managed to shake them off until the end from this point and I joined the rougher path between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy. Within minutes I had gone over on my right ankle. I quickly realised I could still run albeit it was going to be a painful last five or six miles.
My spirits were lifted when I came into Kirkcaldy and saw the silhouette of Stark’s Park, home of Fife’s greatest football side, as I approached the Prom. I should have conserved head torch batteries on this well lit stretch as, by the time I reached Ravenscraig Park (possibly the darkest place on earth) I was cursing my decision to buy the batteries in Poundland. I felt I’d be as well running with a lighter held in front of me for all the illumination the head torch seemed to give.
I somehow (probably because I was moving painfully slowly at this point) found my way through the park to Dysart Harbour and then picked up the pace a little on my way past dogging car park. I negotiated what seemed like hundreds of steps before being redirected by Marshalls over the last 50 yards having tried to take a ‘long cut’. I handed over the imaginary baton to Robin with the helpful advice to “try not to trip up” and that was my leg finished.
I was a wee bit slower than I hoped but was still fairly competitive and thanks to Chris I didn’t see one other second leg runner over my 21ish miles.
The whole event was thoroughly enjoyable and huge thanks must go to the guys at Carnethy who put it on. Also massive thanks must go to the supporting cast. Loads of people helped at various stages of the race but during the early legs Ian, Jeff and Chris (once he’d finished sprinting for 17 miles) were brilliant. It felt like being part of a professional running team (a low budget professional team right enough but still a professional team).
Finishing in the top three, literally miles ahead of the fourth placed team, was also a great achievement for a jogscotland group fuelled by haribo and blind optimism.”

Leg 3 – Robin – Dysart to St. Monans (20.8 miles)

Next to run was Robin. Unfortunately he was beset by problems with cramp in the later stages of his run to St Monans and dropped a couple of places to the chasing teams as a result but at the changeover the LLV team was still in contention with less than 25 minutes separating the first three.

Robin says “I arrived in Dysart about an hour before the change-over full of fear, due to the fact I felt I was the team’s weakest link.  Looking out into the darkness didn’t improve my thoughts either especially when I found out Chris had smashed the course record and Alan had kept up a very good lead. Off I set, just determined to give it my all. Reaching lower Methil this little speed merchant passed me like I was standing still and I thought here we go everyone is going to pile past me now, but they didn’t which was pleasing and on I plodded. Now into Lower Largo I was greeted by Bex showering me with essentials – water, gels and Jelly babies – running up the street with me till I was all sorted. Daylight broke and so did I. My first little grip of cramp set in…worrying times for the last 6miles. I struggled from there on in, hitting the deck a couple of times in agony, but I wasn’t going to let 3rd place drop. Into St Monans finally, both legs now gripped in agony, never been so happy to see the finishing point, and once more Bex was there to greet me home. I haven’t painted a pretty picture but in hindsight it is a brilliant event. I was aiming for around 3 hours and I came in just under that, happy to have helped the guys to 3rd place.”

Leg 4 – Iain – St Monans to St. Andrews (21.8 miles)

At St Monans Iain took over for the run around Fife Ness to St Andrews, the longest stage of the event. His rigorous preparation of practice runs around the course had clearly paid off as he put in the fastest time of the day over the stage and regained second place for LLV by the next changeover and had also closed the gap on the leading team.

Iain relates his experience “I felt like I hadn’t had much sleep. Waking up several times during the night I checked for updates on the race and realised we were in the lead after Stages 1 and 2! The adrenaline was really flowing as I headed up the coast and the day dawned on a beautiful sunny morning in St Monans. The new leaders from Stonehaven came through around 7.15am, followed by Hunters Bog Trotters 15 minutes later. I heard Robin before I saw him, screaming in pain from cramp, but still giving it full pelt as he came into the changeover! I set off about 5 minutes after HBT and the chase was on.
I ran as hard as I dared for the first 7 miles up to Crail, knowing that there were going to be much tougher trails ahead. I was always hoping to get a visual on the guy in front, but that didn’t come until almost 14 miles in approaching Kingsbarns. It took another 3 miles or so for me to overtake on the approach to Boarhills. Once in 2nd place I tried to run the next mile hard to open up a wee gap – not easy after 17 miles! The final 5 miles are tough, the coastal path winds relentlessly up and down the cliffs and I was starting to hurt as the St Andrews skyline finally came into sight. I ran as fast as my tired legs could manage for the final mile through the town, handing over to Mark at the Golf Museum.
By the end of the leg I was pleased to have moved us up into 2nd place and opened up a 15 minute gap. An added bonus was discovering later that my time of 3 hours and 4 minutes was the fastest on leg 4 this year. I love this part of the Fife Coastal Path, it’s pretty rugged and hard going at times but the scenery is beautiful. Overall I feel very proud of the whole team and delighted with the podium finish. ”

Leg 5 – Mark – St Andrews to Wormit (20.9 miles)

Running the 21 miles from St Andrews to Wormit was Mark, who, like Robin earlier, had issues with cramp during the stage. When Mark arrived in Wormit LLV were in third place with the leading two teams having stretched their leads.

Here is Mark’s account “Up at 4:50 for dayshift at the Distillery for a 5:30 start. Work mate came in at 9:30 to allow me to set off to St Andrews old course clubhouse for my changeover meeting point. Beforehand nerves….think butterflies and toilet! Anyhow arrived just in the nick of time at my changeover point. Just sent my daughter Ella back to the car for my sunglasses and started chatting to Bex, Bryan and Gillian when out of the blue Gillian shouts there’s Iain! Thinking “what’s that coming over the hill is it a monster….no it’s that running miles monster Iain Wallace (The automatic sings that song by the way) I never even had time to kiss my wife Paula or say bye, I was off. The route set off past Auchterlonies golf shop, past St Andrews old course hotel and along Kincaple to Guardbridge then past the air base on road. Bang on time 20 mins 5k pace 41 mins 10k pace and all pretty comfortable at that point. Rejoined the coastal path at Leuchars over a few wooden bridges and eventually back on to the road leading into Tentsmuir car park. Still all good at that point. Said hi to a few random people at Tentsmuir I’m not sure about all my fellow runners but endorphins and talking to random people when running must be linked 😀. Anyhow felt good up to about 14 miles 1:34 pace for half marathon so all in all at that point on target for a sub 2:30. Then started to wobble a bit, gels all gone thought I’d try to drink out of my rucksack bladder thing. Obviously never tried this before and quickly realised that this requires a bit of priming to create a suction as there’s no head of pressure to allow the liquid to flow. Anyhow enough of positive, suction, head of pressure basically this thing would not work. Managed to soldier on running like John Wayne until I thought why not stop and open the bladder and drink out of it. Did this but realised as I have done so many times experienced with road cycling at this point of desperation it’s too late you’ve wobbled. Negotiated through Tayport and back onto the path. Can see the Tay bridge in the distance. Then got caught at that point by one of they Hunter bog trotter dudes. He ran past me like he just got dropped off in Tayport from a taxi. Anyhow at that point it felt like I was running the marathon de sables as the Tay bridge seemed like a mirage. This was quickly dispelled as the heavens opened up which hit me as a stark reminder that we are in Scotland not the Sahara. Anyhow kept going battling cramp and after talking to a few fellow more experienced LLV runners than myself think it could be sciatica. Anyhow met Chris Russell who gave me a massive boost and encouragement to keep going. Can’t thank Chris enough by the way. Made my way in to Newport on Tay then Wormit where I changed over with John Kay. Great experience, running with great encouraging team mates. Always a privilege to be able to run and compete with this # great jog group, # more than a jog group # We are all one team LLV.”

Leg 6 – John – Wormit to Newburgh (15.6 miles)

It fell to John to run the anchor leg, the shortest of the six legs but technically difficult with multi-terrain and taxing hills. John was able to consolidate the LLV team’s third place position and arrived at the finish line to the applause of his teammates who had all gathered to welcome him home.

The final result was a quite amazing achievement by a team of inexperienced endurance runners who were competing against specialist long distance running clubs and this must surely rank as one of Leven Las Vegas Running Club’s finest moments.

LLV split times:

• Chris – 1:50:34 team position 1st
• Alan – 2:48:17 (4:38:51) team position 1st
• Robin – 2:58:43 (7:37:34) team position 3rd
• Iain – 3:04:19 (10:41:53) team position 2nd
• Mark – 2:42:43 (13:24:36) team position 3rd
• John – 2:16:58 (15:41:34) team position 3rd

Race results:

• Stonehaven – 1st 14:45:06
• HBT – 2nd 15:13:59
• LLV – 3rd 15:41:34

11 teams entered, 9 started the race and 8 finished with 1 failing to complete.

Great Scottish Run Half Marathon and 10k

The Great Scottish Run weekend in Glasgow is becoming a traditional Leven Las Vegas “away day”. This year 15 club members entered the half marathon and 10k events. The hardy half marathoners were Gillian Hewitt, Bex Oakenfull, Tracey Millar, Claire Doak, Jemma Guild, Lynda English, Teresa Guild, Robin Pate, Davie Hogg, Ross Johnston, Terry Cullen, Grant Stevenson and Stewart English, while in the 10k race it was Douglas Clews and brother Paul.

Gillian had a fantastic run to add to her impressive list of recent PBs. Robin somehow managed to run 13.1 miles despite needing treatment for cramp during the coastal relay the day before. Jemma was running her very first half marathon and finished well within her target time.

In the 10k Douglas scored a personal best and if he had been paying more attention to the clock he could have dipped under 50 minutes!

Race results (half marathon):

• Gillian – position 1654 1:44:01 PB
• Robin – position 2292 1:48:30
• Terry – position 2696 1:50:55
• Stewart – position 3307 1:54:59
• Davie – position 3755 1:57:27
• Teresa – position 4634 2:03:21
• Grant – position 5007 2:05:55
• Jemma – position 5242 2:07:41 First half marathon
• Ross – position 5330 2:08:20
• Lynda – position 5412 2:09:02
• Bex – position 5747 2:11:30
• Tracey – position 6170 2:15:00
• Claire – position 6281 2:15:53

Race results (10k):

• Douglas – position 1373 50:04 PB
• Paul – position 3050 56:45

Giffordtown 5k

This Fife AC event is on a flat out-and-back course starting and finishing just outside Charlottetown near Ladybank. Jim Dunstan was running for LLV, Allen Marr for PH Racing Club and Peter Rieu-Clarke for Fife AC.

Jim had a storming run, setting a new 5k PB. Allen completed his second sub-20 minute 5k of the weekend following a 19:55 parkrun on Saturday and was second behind Scottish international veteran Tony Martin of Falkland Trail Runners in the over-60 category while Peter was 3rd in his age category.

Race results:

• Allen – 33rd and 2nd MV60 19:47
• Jim – 61st and 9th MV50 22:33 PB
• Peter – 111th and 3rd MV70 27:41

Tufty Trail Race

After the event at Giffordtown, Allen and Peter headed off to Falkland for a wet, muddy trail run around Falkland Estate. This time Allen was representing Leven Las Vegas and Peter switched to Falkland Trail Runners. Super-veteran Peter still had enough energy left after running at Giffordtown 3 hours beforehand to clinch the first place in his age category.

Race results:

• Allen – 28th and 3rd MV60 41:21
• Peter – 102nd and 1st MV75 57:30

Upcoming Events

Livingston AC Open Cross Country – Saturday 7 October

Kielder Half Marathon – Sunday 8 October

Willie Goodfellow is attempting his first half marathon.

Tiger Escapade, Lochore Meadows – Sunday 8 October

Couch to 5k Graduation at St Andrews Parkrun – Saturday 14 October

On Saturday 14 October our Couch to 5k members will be attempting their first 5k at Craigtoun Park. This is an advance notice for all club members who can possibly make it along to come and support the C25k graduates and join in the celebrations afterwards.

Further ahead:

• East District Cross-Country Relays, Glamis – Saturday 14 October
• Nutcracker Trail Race, Glenrothes – Saturday 14 October
• Lochore Meadows 10k – Sunday 15 October
• Aviemore Half Marathon and 10k – Sunday 15 October
• LLV Pursuit Race – Tuesday 17 October
• East District Cross Country League, Stirling – Saturday 21st October
• National Cross Country Relays, Cumbernauld – Saturday 28 October
• Path of Condie Half Marathon – Saturday 28 October
• Muckle Toon Pumpkin Run 10k Trail Run, Langholm – Saturday 28 October
• Glen Ogle 33 Ultra – Saturday 4 November
• Bob Stark Memorial Race – Sunday 5 November
• Lasswade Open Cross Country – Sunday 5 November
• Templeton 10 – Sunday 5 November
• Men’s 10k, Edinburgh – Sunday 5 November
• Kelpies 5k – 10/11/12 November
• Short Course Cross Country Championships, Kirkcaldy – Saturday 11 November
• Glen Clova Half Marathon – Saturday 11 November
• Silvery Tay Trail Race, Wormit – Sunday 12 November
• Livingston AC Open Cross Country – Saturday 18 November
• Hartley Cup – Sunday 19 November

If any events or participants have been missed out, please let the editor know. 

Whoever is at any events, please remember to take lots of photographs and post them on the club Facebook page.

Birthdays

Happy birthday wishes this week go to Stewart English.

At the other end of the age scale, a warm welcome to LLV’s newest junior member James Cargill and congratulations to proud parents Suzanne and Andy.

Runners of the Week

This week it’s a nomination for the fantastic performance by the super six man team who achieved a podium place in the Scottish Long Coastal Relays. A special mention for Robin who followed up his 21 mile relay leg with a very respectable performance at the Great Scottish Run half marathon 24 hours later – amazing!