Cover photo – the Leven Las Vegas squad prepare to tackle the Devils Burdens relay race

Last week

There was no report last week as there was no Tuesday night training session and unusually there were no events at the weekend, not even a parkrun as all the Fife parkruns were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

Tuesday Night Training

Jog leader Bex was in charge for the first week of the new training block. The group headed to the Balfour Street area in Leven for a pyramid session.

A few members missed the awards night at the Caledonian Hotel on the last night of the previous training block so they picked up their goodies this week. Terry and Davie received commemorative mugs for 100 attendances at LLV training, while Donna, Anna, Lynne, Gayle, Dawn, Susan, Karen and Grant received chocolate medals for other attendance milestones.

The start of the new training block saw Tracy Mayes, Kerrie Donald, David Reynolds, Barry West, Kelly Nicholson and Heather Keddie joining in the club training for the first time.

Parkruns

At Kirkcaldy parkrun on Saturday morning there were new PBs for Susan Kerr, Kirsty Barclay and Stephanie Barclay.

Devils Burdens

The Devils Burdens hill relay race is the first major team event of the year in Fife. Organised by Fife AC, the event sees hundreds of runners traversing the summits of East Lomond, West Lomond and Bishop Hill. Starting and finishing in Falkland village, the race is run in four stages by teams of six; the first and fourth stages are run by individual runners and the second and third stages are run in pairs.

The first stage is a tough cross-country run from Falkland to Strathmiglo. Stage two starts with an extremely challenging 4 mile ascent from Strath all the way to the top of West Lomond then on over Bishop Hill to Kinnesswood. The next pair of runners takes over at Kinnesswood and climbs over Whitecraigs and Bishop Hill again before making the long run to Maspie Den in Falkland where the sixth team member takes over and heads back up Maspie Den to Craigmead then on to the summit of East Lomond. A tricky descent then follows on the way back to Falkland for the finish.

This year there was a record entry of three teams from Leven Las Vegas, with many of the team members making their first appearance in this challenging event.

Here are some photos of the team members in action taken by Pete Bracegirdle of Fife AC (who ran leg 1 for his team then scooted up the hill with his camera!). No action images at the moment of Chris and Matt H. but if any turn up they will be added in.

Race results:

• Team Johny Vegas (Matt M 36:15, Mark & John 1:37:07, Bryan & James 1:08:38, Chris 35:35) – 51st 3:57:35
• Leven La Vida Loca (Ross 45:34, Gillian & Iain 1:45:54, Robin & Kevin 1:08:32, Matt H 41:56) – 94th 4:21:56
• Lost Vegans (Jemma 43:49, Gordon & Terry 1:55:04, Karen & Jeff 1:42:07, Douglas 49:00) – 136th 5:10:00

Skull Mountain Winter Challenge Race 2

Sunday morning was the second race in the Skull Mountain winter challenge trail race series held at Balbirnie Park in Markinch. The organisers took advantage of the recent damp weather to set out a tricky course involving lots of mud and knee deep stream crossings. Chris Russell made light work of the conditions to finish first and retain his overall lead in the series. Jim Dunstan was next to finish and is now sitting third in his age category for the series. Lynsay Bell, Dawn Watson and Jenni Johnstone had a great time in the mud as the pictures show!

Race results:

• Chris – 1st 26:59
• Jim – 27th and 3rd M50 34:16
• Lynsay – 143rd 53:15
• Dawn – 144th 53:23
• Jenni – 145th 54:19

Upcoming Events

For anyone who enjoys a fun casual training run in the dark, the latest in the winter series of torchlit trail runs organised by Run4It Dundee is being held this Friday at Tentsmuir Forest near Tayport starting at 7:30pm.

The first race in the inaugural Morton Running Company (MRC) Grand Prix is this coming weekend’s Kirkcaldy parkrun. The MRC GP was due to start two weeks ago on Saturday 20 January but was postponed due to the icy conditions at Beveridge Park causing cancellation of the parkrun. For details on how to take part in the MRC GP click here.

This weekend also sees the Scottish National Masters Cross Country on Saturday at Kilmarnock and the Scottish Athletics National Indoor Masters on Sunday at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

Further ahead:

• Nightmare Series #5 “Volcano Vengeance” – Friday 9 February 7:30pm
• Carnethy 5 Hill Race – Saturday 10 February
• Devilla Forest 15k and 5k – Sunday 18 February
• Skull Mountain Winter Challenge Race 3 – Sunday 25 February
• Cupar 5 – Saturday 3 March
• Smokies 10 mile (Ladies Only) – Sunday 4 March
• Alloa Half Marathon – Sunday 18 March
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 6 April
• Round the Houses 10k – Sunday 8 April
• St Andrews 5k (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 18 April
• Stirling Scottish Marathon and 5k – Sunday 29 April
• Chariots of Fire Beach Race – Sunday 3 June
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June

Cover photo – Jeff, Iain, Gillian, Matt, John, Davie and Mark in the Lomond Hills as the Devils Burdens recces continue.

Tuesday Night Training

Last Tuesday was the customary end of training block pursuit race organised by Chris Russell where runners attempt to improve on their previous best times over a 1.8 mile course, with the coveted Caley Cup being awarded to the biggest improver.

This was the first chance that many of the recent Couch to 5k graduates from October 2017 had to compete for the Caley Cup. Lynsay Bell, Jenni Johnstone, Lesley Turnbull, Dawn Watson, Kirsty Barclay and Kenna Orkney all made substantial improvements from their first attempts last October. Teresa Guild also continued her recent excellent running performances with a big improvement. However, the cup winner for most improved runner in the training block was Angela Wood who cut more than 4 minutes off her previous best time.

At the award ceremony at the Caledonian Hotel in Leven, Chris Russell, Bryan McLaren and Robin Pate all received commemorative mugs for attending 100 training sessions at Leven Las Vegas.

Nightmare Series Race 4 – The Wicked Witch of West Wemyss

The latest instalment of the Nightmare series was held on an out-and-back 4 mile course along the coastal path between West Wemyss and East Wemyss. The theme was based on the Wicked Witch of the West from Wizard of Oz.

First place was closely fought between Chris Russell and Bryan McLaren until the later stages when Chris broke clear and eventually won by a margin of 52 seconds over his younger rival. Chris and Bryan retain the first two places in the rankings for the series so far.

Race results:

• Chris – 1st 25:03
• Bryan – 2nd 25:55
• Jeff – 18th 31:11
• Gordon – 23rd 33:47
• Allen – 26th 34:25
• Terry – 27th 34:28
• Grant – 29th 35:40
• Tam – 35th 38:11
• Bex – 42nd 40:11

Parkruns

A total of 21 LLV members took part in parkruns this weekend at Perth, St Andrews and Kirkcaldy.  Stephanie Barclay and Kenna Orkney both achieved new personal best times at St Andrews.

Great Edinburgh Winter Run 5k

This mass participation annual event takes place on a course around Arthur’s Seat at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. Taking part for Leven Las Vegas were Lynda and Stewart English and Teresa and Jemma Guild.

Race results:

• Stewart – 595th 25:56
• Jemma – 682nd 26:40
• Teresa – 725th 26:57
• Linda – 1284th 30:11

Scottish Athletics 1500m Indoor Open

On Saturday afternoon Allen Marr was back on the indoor track at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, scene of his 3000m gold medal winning performance last week, this time for an open graded 1500m race. He was seeded in the same heat as Claire Thompson, a top WV40 athlete and the winner of Allen’s 3000m heat last week. On the tight indoor track the athletes hit the first bend within a few steps of the gun being fired so sharp elbows were needed to get round the bend and into the first straight. Three youngsters sped off and Allen kept pace in sixth place just behind two other young athletes for three laps. When they started to slow down a bit Allen moved past them into fourth where he stayed until the second last lap when Claire overtook and opened up a five metre gap. Allen made sure her lead didn’t increase for the next lap and a half, then sprinted off the final bend to pass Claire and cross the line in a new PB of 5m 11s.

Upcoming Events

Kirkcaldy parkrun on Saturday 20 January is the first race in the inaugural Morton Running Company (MRC) Grand Prix, organised by MRC owner and good friend of Leven Las Vegas Dave Morton. For more details on how to take part in Dave’s exciting new competition click here.

Further ahead:

• Devils Burdens – Saturday 27 January
• SVHC Masters Road Relays – Sunday 28 January
• Skull Mountain Winter Challenge Race 2 – Sunday 28 January
• Scottish National Masters Cross Country – Saturday 3 February
• Scottish Athletics National 1500m Indoor Masters – Sunday 4 February
• Carnethy 5 Hill Race – Saturday 10 February
• Devilla Forest 15k and 5k – Sunday 18 February
• Skull Mountain Winter Challenge Race 3 – Sunday 25 February
• Cupar 5 – Saturday 3 March
• Smokies 10 mile (Ladies Only) – Sunday 4 March
• Alloa Half Marathon – Sunday 18 March
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 6 April
• Round the Houses 10k – Sunday 8 April
• St Andrews 5k (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 18 April
• Stirling Scottish Marathon and 5k – Sunday 29 April
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June

Cover photo – And they’re off! The gun is fired at the start of the first 3000m heat at the Emirates Arena with Annabel Simpson of Fife AC as the pacer in the inside lane and Allen in the middle of the line up (Photo by Bobby Gavin)

Tuesday Night Training

Jog leader Tricia took the group through a paarlauf drill at the Energy Park in Lower Methil.

Parkruns

There were two parkrun opportunities in the first week of the new year. On Monday 1st January at Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy Kevin Hughes and Teresa Guild both achieved new personal best times and Kevin followed this up at the regular Saturday morning event in Kirkcaldy when he further improved his time. Meanwhile at St Andrews weekend parkrun Caroline Robertson also set a PB.

Skull Mountain Winter Challenge Race 1

This wintry trail race was held at Balbirnie Park in Markinch. It marked a first official appearance in LLV colours for recent Couch to 5k graduates Lynsay Bell, Dawn Watson and Jenni Johnstone. Despite freezing conditions and icy stream crossings, all three ladies did brilliantly and are eagerly looking forward to next race in the series on 28 January.

Also running for LLV were Jim Dunstan and Chris Russell with Chris finishing third on the day.

Race results:

• Chris – 3rd and 1st M45 24:02
• Jim – 40th 31:30
• Lynsay – 150th 47:41
• Dawn – 151st 47:42
• Jenni – 154th 49:54

Scottish National 3000m Indoor Masters

Leven Las Vegas Running Club veteran Allen Marr scored a major championship success at the weekend. Allen, representing his Scottish Athletics club PH Racing Club, was competing at the Scottish National Indoor Masters 3000m held at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow where he won a gold medal in the over-60 age category and set a new personal best. Having only taken up running less than 3 years ago, it was his first-ever appearance on an indoor track and his first national championship victory.

After the event he said “it was an amazing experience to run in such a fantastic arena alongside some of the best athletes in the country. I was pretty nervous while I warmed up and made my way to the start but once the gun went I felt great and was able to settle in at a good pace among the front runners. I ran my fastest time so far over the 3000m distance and was overjoyed to achieve my dream of being a Scottish national champion.”

Allen is back on the same track next Saturday 13 January for an open graded 1500m as a time trial and practice run for his attempt at the National Masters 1500m Championships on Sunday 4 February.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

Karen Britten escaped the winter weather by jetting off to Florida to take part in the Walt Disney World half marathon an Saturday 6 January and then the full marathon the following day Sunday 7 January. The routes for both events incorporated the popular Disney theme parks and the participants were cheered on by well known characters from all the Disney classics.

Upcoming Events

Nightmare Series Race 4 – Wicked Witch of West Wemyss – Friday 12 January 7:30pm

Great Edinburgh Winter Run 5k – Saturday 13 January

Scottish Athletics 1500m Indoor Open – Saturday 13 January

Further ahead:

• Devils Burdens – Saturday 27 January
• SVHC Masters Road Relays – Sunday 28 January
• Skull Mountain Winter Challenge Race 2 – Sunday 28 January
• Scottish National Masters Cross Country – Saturday 3 February
• Scottish Athletics National 1500m Indoor Masters – Sunday 4 February
• Carnethy 5 Hill Race – Saturday 10 February
• Devilla Forest 15k and 5k – Sunday 18 February
• Skull Mountain Winter Challenge Race 3 – Sunday 25 February
• Cupar 5 – Saturday 3 March
• Smokies 10 mile (Ladies Only) – Sunday 4 March
• Alloa Half Marathon – Sunday 18 March
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 6 April
• Round the Houses 10k – Sunday 8 April
• St Andrews 5k (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 18 April
• Stirling Scottish Marathon and 5k – Sunday 29 April
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June