Cover photo – Ding ding it’s the Highland Fling! (photo by Monument Photos)

Tuesday night training and Couch to 5k

Jog leader Bex took the main group along to Action Zone on Leven prom for a pyramids drill while Ian took the Couch to 5k group through their week 4 programme.

Ravenscraig Park Mile

Race results:

• Jeff Taylor – 29th 6:39

Kinross 10k

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 5th and 2nd MV40 35:58
• Alan Davie – 15th 39:59
• Iain Wallace – 22nd 41:23
• James Scott – 43rd 43:43
• Matthew Miller – 50th 44:27
• Jeff Taylor – 79th 47:06
• Gordon Christie – 81st 47:13
• Dan Haran – 86th 47:50
• Davie Hogg – 121st 51:49
• Jemma Guild – 133rd 53:04
• Susan Kerr – 145th 55:51
• Karen Richards – 149th 57:14
• Annie Gibson – 154th 57:42
• Lynsay Bell – 171st 60:22
• Peter Rieu-Clarke – ?? 62:55
• Dawn Watson – 188th 65:53

Highland Fling

One of the most popular races on the Scottish ultra-marathon calendar took place on Saturday morning. A field of 700 runners gathered at Milngavie at break of dawn to take part in the Highland Fling race, a gruelling run along the West Highland Way via Drymen, Balmaha, Rowardennan, Inverarnan and Crianlarich, finishing 53 miles later in Tyndrum.

Three intrepid runners were taking part for Leven Las Vegas Running Club. Carole Mowbray was making her second successive appearance at the event and looking to improve on her 2017 performance. Robin Pate and Jim Dunstan, both experienced ultra-marathon runners, were making their Fling debuts.

First LLV to finish was Carole who had a fantastic run, setting a new personal best time and achieving a podium position by finishing in second place in her age category. Close behind was Robin, followed a little later by Jim. Carole now looks forward not only to repeating the experience but extending it by another 44 miles when she takes on the full 97 miles of the West Highland Way in her next ultra-marathon event in June.

Race results:

• Carole Mowbray – 197th and 2nd FV50 11:02:06
• Robin Pate – 257th 11:32:51
• Jim Dunstan – 533rd 13:27:27

Parkruns

At the Saturday morning parkruns, Lynsay Bell and Dawn Watson set new personal best times at Craigtoun Park in St Andrews.

Normans Law Hill Race

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 6th and 1st MV40 32:46
• Iain Wallace – 53rd 39:56
• Mark McLean – 55th 39:59
• Annie Gibson – 176th 55:31
• Peter Rieu-Clarke – 182nd and 2nd MV70 65:01

Stirling Scottish Marathon

Race results:

• Karen Capewell – 1803 6:21:15
• Anna-Marie Dalziell – 1804 6:21:15
• Kenny Hughes – 1702 5:34:06
• Lorna Hughes – 1831 7:26:15

Upcoming Events

• Scottish 5k Championships, Silverknowes – Friday 4 May

Further ahead:

• Strathkinness to Blebocraigs (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 9 May
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 11 May
• Loch Leven Half Marathon – Saturday 12 May
• Smokies 10 – Sunday 13 May
• Kinnoull Hill Race – Thursday 17 May
• Chacefield Trail Race – Thursday 24 May
• Black Rock 5 – Friday 25 May
• FTR Dirty Weekend – Friday 1 June to Sunday 3 June
• Alloa Half Marathon (rescheduled date) – Sunday 3 June
• Chariots of Fire Beach Race – Sunday 3 June
• Errol 10k (rescheduled date) – Sunday 10 June
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June
• West Highland Way Race – Saturday 23 June
• Benarty Gala – Sunday 24 June
• Sandy Slither – Wednesday 27 June
• Balbirnie Duathlon – Thursday 28 June
• Chacefield Trail Race – Thursday 28 June
• Trail Busters Series Race 1 – Sunday 1 July
• Crieff 10k – Sunday 8 July
• Donkey Brae Run – Sunday 29 July
• Trail Busters Series Race 2 – Sunday 5 August
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October

Cover photo – happy joggers at the Sunday morning Couch to 5k homework session 

Tuesday night training

Jog leader Ross took the main group to Letham Glen for some muddy hilly circuits while jog leader Allen took the Couch to 5k group to the Energy Park in Methil where they enjoyed a paarlauf in addition to their scheduled C25k programme.

Chacefield Wood Trail Race

The first event in the Chacefield Wood Trail Race Series took place on Thursday evening near Denny in Stirlingshire, where Chris Russell and Annie Gibson were representing Leven Las Vegas.

Chris won the race, setting a new course record in the process.

Chris and Annie will be returning in May and June for the next two races in the series.

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 1st 22:26 (course record)
• Annie Gibson – 56th 36:43

Parkruns

For the second successive week Karen Richards posted a PB at St Andrews. In excellent running conditions she beat her previous best by 45 seconds.

At Kirkcaldy Claire Doak set her first PB in over a year, and Barry West also set a personal best in an impressive time of 22:23.

Run Balmoral 15 Mile Trail Race

The hugely popular Run Balmoral festival was celebrating its 21st year this weekend. Taking place over 2 days, the event attracted over 5000 runners competing in a series of races including the Stena Drilling 10K, ConocoPhillips 5K, FOS Group 2.5K, MPH 1.5K, Apollo Duathlon, trac 3 Mile Trail Race and trac 15 Mile Trail Race, and the Devil of Deeside race which is a combined time over the four adult races.

Representing Leven Las Vegas in the 15 mile event were Mark McLean, Robin Pate and John Kay, with Robin using the event as preparation for his attempt next week at the 50 mile Highland Fling race from Milngavie to Tyndrum.

Race results:

• Mark McLean – 88th 1:57:53
• Robin Pate – 118th 2:01:42
• John Kay – 151st 2:05:51

Chilly Willy Trail Race

The latest Chilly Willy trail race took place on Sunday at Pitcairn in Glenrothes. Chris Russell continued his impressive recent form by winning the event. Annie Gibson also ran well to finish first in her age category.

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 1st 26:01
• Annie Gibson – 33rd and 1st F50 41:45

London Marathon

Joining the 40000 runners at this weekend’s London Marathon was LLV’s Matthew Holden. In testing high temperature conditions which saw many competitors struggle to complete the course, Matt finished in just over 4 hours, raising a substantial sum for the Stroke Association charity in the process.

Race result:

• Matthew Holden – position 10991 4:07:16

Upcoming Events

• Ravenscraig Park mile – Wednesday 25 April
• Kinross 10k – Thursday 26 April
• Highland Fling – Saturday 28 April
• Normans Law Hull Race – Saturday 28 April
• Stirling Scottish Marathon and 5k – Sunday 29 April

Further ahead:

• Scottish 5k Championships, Silverknowes – Friday 4 May
• Strathkinness to Blebocraigs (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 9 May
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 11 May
• Loch Leven Half Marathon – Saturday 12 May
• Smokies 10 – Sunday 13 May
• Kinnoull Hill Race – Thursday 17 May
• Chacefield Trail Race – Thursday 24 May
• Black Rock 5 – Friday 25 May
• FTR Dirty Weekend – Friday 1 June to Sunday 3 June
• Alloa Half Marathon (rescheduled date) – Sunday 3 June
• Chariots of Fire Beach Race – Sunday 3 June
• Errol 10k (rescheduled date) – Sunday 10 June
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June
• West Highland Way Race – Saturday 23 June
• Benarty Gala – Sunday 24 June
• Sandy Slither – Wednesday 27 June
• Balbirnie Duathlon – Thursday 28 June
• Chacefield Trail Race – Thursday 28 June
• Trail Busters Series Race 1 – Sunday 1 July
• Crieff 10k – Sunday 8 July
• Donkey Brae Run – Sunday 29 July
• Trail Busters Series Race 2 – Sunday 5 August
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October

Cover photo – LLV at the 300th St Andrews parkrun

Tuesday night training and Couch to 5k

Jog leader Allen took the main group to the Energy Park for an interval speed session while jog leader Tricia headed along Leven Prom with the Couch to 5k group.

Fife AC Midweek Series – St Andrews 5k

The first event of the 2018 Fife AC Midweek Series of races took place this week with a 5k race round the playing fields of St Andrews University. There were eight members of Leven Las Vegas Running Club taking part, with Bryan McLaren and Alan Davie coping well with the muddy conditions to finish highly placed, followed by Iain Wallace, Allen Marr, Gillian Easton, Jemma Guild, Jeff Taylor and Bex Oakenfull.

After the event there was a prize-giving ceremony for the 2017 series where Bryan McLaren received an award for finishing second overall and Allen Marr was rewarded for being the leading competitor in the over-60 age category.

Race results:

• Bryan McLaren – 14th 19:11
• Alan Davie – 24th 19:40
• Iain Wallace – 37th 20:11
• Allen Marr – 63rd 21:44
• Gillian Easton – 83rd 22:40
• Jemma Guild – 111th 25:02
• Jeff Taylor – 112th 25:03
• Bex Oakenfull – 146th 30:11

Parkruns

At the Saturday morning parkruns, Lesley Turnbull and Karen Richards set their best times so far at Craigtoun Park in St Andrews while Willie Goodfellow continued his impressive series of personal bests at Elgin parkrun with a top 10 finish and age category first place.

The Lost Trails Race

Chris Russell, Annie Gibson, Teresa Guild, Jemma Guild, Karen Richards and Mark McLean of LLV headed to Falkland Estate on Sunday morning for The Lost Trails Race organised by Falkland Trail Runners.

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 2nd and 1st M45 36:08
• Mark McLean – 9th and 2nd M45 42:46
• Jemma Guild – 65th 59:32
• Annie Gibson – 73rd 60:44
• Teresa Guild – 93rd 63:22
• Karen Richards – 96th 64:31

Angus Half Marathon

Also on Sunday morning at the Angus Half Marathon, starting and finishing at Monikie Country Park north of Dundee, Kevin Hughes of Leven Las Vegas put in a tremendous performance to finish as second placed veteran and fifth overall in a field of over 200 runners. Kevin’s time of just under 91 minutes was a fantastic achievement on the challenging hilly course.

Race results:

Kevin Hughes – 5th place and 2nd veteran 1:30:55

Upcoming Events

• Chacefield Wood Trail Race – Thursday 19 April
• Run Balmoral – Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 April
• Chilly Willy Trail Race – Sunday 22 April
• London Marathon – Sunday 22 April

Further ahead:

• Ravenscraig Park mile – Wednesday 25 April
• Kinross 10k – Thursday 26 April
• Highland Fling – Saturday 28 April
• Stirling Scottish Marathon and 5k – Sunday 29 April
• Scottish 5k Championships, Silverknowes – Friday 4 May
• Strathkinness to Blebocraigs (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 9 May
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 11 May
• Loch Leven Half Marathon – Saturday 12 May
• Smokies 10 – Sunday 13 May
• Black Rock 5 – Friday 25 May
• FTR Dirty Weekend – Friday 1 June to Sunday 3 June
• Alloa Half Marathon (rescheduled date) – Sunday 3 June
• Chariots of Fire Beach Race – Sunday 3 June
• Errol 10k (rescheduled date) – Sunday 10 June
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June
• West Highland Way Race – Saturday 23 June
• Sandy Slither – Wednesday 27 June
• Balbirnie Duathlon – Thursday 28 June
• Trail Busters Series Race 1 – Sunday 1 July
• Donkey Brae Run – Sunday 29 July
• Trail Busters Series Race 2 – Sunday 5 August
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October

 

Cover photo – welcome to all our new Couch to 5k members!

Couch to 5k

This week Leven Las Vegas Running Club welcomed a host of new members who were taking their first steps to fitness by embarking on a Couch to 5k jogging programme. The course helps individuals who are relatively inactive to start jogging and over a 10 week period to gain sufficient fitness to be able to run a distance of 5km without stopping.

Beveridge Park 5k

Friday evening saw the return of the popular Beveridge Park 5k race series organised by Fife AC. Several Leven Las Vegas members took part in the event in the Kirkcaldy park, with Iain Wallace first LLV over the finish line followed by impressive performances from Gillian Easton, Jemma Guild, Kevin Hughes, Robin Pate, Matthew Miller, Barry West and Jenni Johnstone who all recorded personal best times for the 5km distance.

Race results:

• Iain Wallace – 13th and 3rd MV40 19:29
• Kevin Hughes – 15th 19:35
• Robin Pate – 17th 20:00
• Matthew Miller – 22nd 20:22
• Gillian Easton – 34th and 3rd Female/1st FS 21:34
• Jemma Guild – 50th 24:49
• Barry West – 22nd 24:59
• Jenni Johnstone – 68th 33:17

Parkruns

Several LLV members took part in the Saturday morning parkruns, with the outstanding performance being from Robin Pate who visited Montrose parkrun for the first time and finished in 4^th place. Mark McLean, Tam Cullen, Jeff Taylor, Gordon Christie, Allen Marr, Karen Richards, Gozde Ozakinci, Terry Cullen and Matthew Miller ran at St Andrews where Matthew and Allen were first in their age categories.

Kilomathon

On Sunday morning Teresa Guild joined the 2000 participants in the Kilomathon race starting at Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh and finishing inside the rugby stadium at Murrayfield.

Upcoming Events

• St Andrews 5k (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 11 April
• FTR Lost Trails Race – Sunday 15 April
• Angus Half Marathon – Sunday 15 April

Further ahead:

• Livingston AC Open Graded Track Meeting – Wednesday 18 April
• Run Balmoral – Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 April
• London Marathon – Sunday 22 April
• Ravenscraig Park mile – Wednesday 25 April
• Kinross 10k – Thursday 26 April
• Highland Fling – Saturday 28 April
• Stirling Scottish Marathon and 5k – Sunday 29 April
• Scottish 5k Championships, Silverknowes – Friday 4 May
• Strathkinness to Blebocraigs (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 9 May
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 11 May
• Loch Leven Half Marathon – Saturday 12 May
• Smokies 10 – Sunday 13 May
• Black Rock 5 – Friday 25 May
• FTR Dirty Weekend – Friday 1 June to Sunday 3 June
• Alloa Half Marathon (rescheduled date) – Sunday 3 June
• Chariots of Fire Beach Race – Sunday 3 June
• Errol 10k (rescheduled date) – Sunday 10 June
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June
• West Highland Way Race – Saturday 23 June
• Sandy Slither – Wednesday 27 June
• Balbirnie Duathlon – Thursday 28 June
• Trail Busters Series Race 1 – Sunday 1 July
• Donkey Brae Run – Sunday 29 July
• Trail Busters Series Race 2 – Sunday 5 August
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October

 

Cover photo – Leven Las Vegas Running Club is 5 years of age!

Tuesday Night Training and 5th Birthday Party

It was in March 2013 after the Alloa half marathon at a meeting in Morrison’s cafe attended by Leven jogscotland members Ian, Jeff, Gordon, Ross and Angela that the decision was made by all present to change the name of the group to Leven Las Vegas Running Club, the inspired suggestion having been made by Chris.

Club colours and insignia were soon produced and in the ensuing five years the iconic LLV vests, t-shirts and hoodies have been worn by several hundred runners.

On the occasion of the club’s 5th birthday, members raised money for Sport Relief by dressing as Elvises, super heroes and movie characters.

It was also the final evening of the current 10 week training block when the end-of-block time trial run takes place with members attempting to improve on the previous best times over a 1.8 mile course at the Energy Park in Methil. The biggest improver this time was Donna Rodger who becomes the holder of the Caley Cup.

Parkruns

At Kirkcaldy parkrun Donna Rodger followed up her midweek Caley Cup win by achieving a new personal best time on the Beveridge Park course. Gayle Moran, Lynsay Bell and Lesley Turnbull also had PBs. Meanwhile Willie Goodfellow set a new PB at Elgin parkrun.

John Muir Ultra

On Saturday morning was the John Muir ultramarathon event along a 30 mile route from Port Seton to Dunbar following the John Muir way via Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick. Competitors have the choice of running the full distance or taking it on as a relay team.

LLV’s Robin Pate has a big year ahead with ultra marathons planned at the Highland Fling race in April and Tiree in September and he showed that his training has been going well by having an excellent run over the full 30 mile distance.

Davie Hogg and Jim Dunstan paired up to run 15 miles each and had the distinction of finishing in second place in the men’s relay. Karen Capewell also took part in the relay with teammate Kevin Funnel of Falkland Trail Runners.

Race results:

• Robin – 55th overall and 36th male 5:02:56
• Davie and Jim – 2nd male team 6:04:02
• Karen and Kevin – 12th mixed team 6:04:02

Tay Ten

On Sunday morning seven LLV members took part in the Tay Ten road race organised by Perth Road Runners. Bryan McLaren and Kevin Hughes both had excellent performances, finishing in 15^th and 22^nd place respectively in a large field of 300 runners. LLV ladies Jemma Guild, Teresa Guild, Karen Richards, Bex Oakenfull and Sarah Ives also ran well.

Race results:

• Bryan – 15th 64:09
• Kevin – 22nd 66:41
• Jemma – 179th 88:47
• Teresa – 195th 90:17
• Karen – 219th 95:02
• Bex – 232nd 97:19
• Sarah – 240th 98:08

Upcoming Events

Friday 6 April is the first Beveridge Park 5k race of the 2018 series.

Further ahead:

• St Andrews 5k (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 11 April
• FTR Lost Trails Race – Sunday 15 April
• Angus Half Marathon – Sunday 15 April
• Livingston AC Open Graded Track Meeting – Wednesday 18 April
• Run Balmoral – Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 April
• London Marathon – Sunday 22 April
• Ravenscraig Park mile – Wednesday 25 April
• Kinross 10k – Thursday 26 April
• Highland Fling – Saturday 28 April
• Stirling Scottish Marathon and 5k – Sunday 29 April
• Scottish 5k Championships, Silverknowes – Friday 4 May
• Strathkinness to Blebocraigs (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Wednesday 9 May
• Beveridge Park 5k – Friday 11 May
• Loch Leven Half Marathon – Saturday 12 May
• Smokies 10 – Sunday 13 May
• Black Rock 5 – Friday 25 May
• FTR Dirty Weekend – Friday 1 June to Sunday 3 June
• Allow Half Marathon (rescheduled date) – Sunday 3 June
• Chariots of Fire Beach Race – Sunday 3 June
• Errol 10k (rescheduled date) – Sunday 10 June
• Glenrothes 10k – Sunday 17 June
• West Highland Way Race – Saturday 23 June
• Sandy Slither – Wednesday 27 June
• Balbirnie Duathlon – Thursday 28 June
• Trail Busters Series Race 1 – Sunday 1 July
• Donkey Brae Run – Sunday 29 July
• Trail Busters Series Race 2 – Sunday 5 August
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September