Cover photo – Leven Las Vegas members at Ravenscraig Park in Kirkcaldy

Tuesday Night Training

Jog leader Ross took the group to East Links for a pyramid drill with the added bonus of hill sprints.

Chilly Willy Trail Race

Glenrothes athlete Chris Russell added another race victory to his impressive record when he won the Chilly Willy Trail Race on his home turf at Pitcairn. Chris was joined in the race by Annie Gibson who also ran well to finish second in her age category.

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 1st 26:37
• Annie Gibson – 42nd 44:50

Ravenscraig Park 2 x 1 Mile Relay Race

There was a fantastic entry of 11 teams from Leven Las Vegas Running Club for the 2 x 1 mile relay event at Ravenscraig Park in Kirkcaldy.

To allow extra room for changeovers, event organisers Fife AC decided to start from the lowest point on the circuit around the park, meaning the uphill section was taken care of early on thus allowing for a very fast finish.  They also sprung a further surprise by having the first leg runners complete the circuit in reverse.

First LLV team to finish in an excellent 6th place overall was the speedy pairing of Alan Davie and Bryan McLaren. Next LLV pair to complete the course was the mixed team of Jemma Guild and James Scott. Also representing the Leven club were the pairings of Jeff Taylor and John Kay, Gillian Easton and Iain Wallace, Tam Cullen and Keir Moran, Davie Hogg and Douglas Clews, Gayle Moran and Donna Rodger, Sandra Cooper and Karen Richards, Lorraine Davie and Bex Oakenfull, Tracey Millar and Claire Doak, and Lynsay Bell and Dawn Watson.

Thanks to Wullie Law for the action photographs.

Race results:

• Bryan McLaren & Alan Davie – 6th 10.47
• Jemma Guild & James Scott – 22nd 12.35
• Jeff Taylor & John Kay – 23rd 12.38
• Gillian Easton & Iain Wallace – 24th 12.46
• Tam Cullen & Keir Moran – 41st 14.30
• Davie Hogg & Douglas Clews – 42nd 14.30
• Gayle Moran & Donna Rodger – 45th 15.40
• Karen Richards & Sandra Cooper – 48th 16.30
• Lorraine Davie & Ben Oakenfull – 49th 16.46
• Tracy Millar & Claire Doak – 50th 17:08
• Lynsay Bell & Dawn Watson – 51st 17.13

Killin 10k

Lorraine Davie, Josephine Lenachan and Ross Johnston travelled to Perthshire for the Killin 10k run on a challenging undulating cross country route where Ross was the first Leven runner to cross the finish line.

Race results:

• Ross Johnston – 216th 55:46
• Lorraine Davie – 311th 61:03
• Josephine Lenachan – 395th 75:24

Perth 10k

Lorraine Davie participated in her third event of the week when she joined 11 other clubmates at the North Inch in Perth for the annual Perth 10k race. Conditions were damp and drizzly but excellent for running with several personal best times being recorded by the squad from Leven which also included Mark McLean, Jemma Guild, Davie Hogg, Teresa Guild, Angela Small, Vhairi Walker, Sandra Cooper, Gayle Moran, Douglas Clews, Karen Richards and Claire Doak.

A full set of race photos are available from Phil Lidstone Photography.

Race results:

• Mark McLean – 27th 42:06
• Jemma Guild – 95th 52:32 PB
• Davie Hogg – 108th 53:36
• Teresa Guild – 120th 54:59
• Angela Small – 135th 56:20
• Vhairi Walker – 136th 56:20
• Sandra Cooper – 139th 56:35 PB
• Gayle Moran – 140th 56:50 PB
• Douglas Clews – 143rd 57:15
• Karen Richards – 152nd 57:54 PB
• Claire Doak – 182nd 60:04 PB
• Lorraine Davie – 186th 60:46

Upcoming Events

• Gateside Gallop – Wednesday 29 August
• Highland Perthshire Marathon and Half Marathon – Saturday 1 September
• Fife AC Trail Race Festival – Sunday 2 September
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September

Further ahead

• Stuart Duncan Memorial 5k – Tuesday 4 September
• Kingsbarns Fun Run – Wednesday 5 September
• Self Transcendence 5k – Wednesday 5 September
• Auchterarder Half Marathon – Sunday 9 September
• Tiree Ultra Marathon – Sunday 9 September
• Great North Run – Sunday 9 September
• Glenrothes Sprint Triathlon – Sunday 9 September
• Braemar Half Marathon – Sunday 9 September
• Self Transcendence 2m – Wednesday 12 September
• Pitlochry 5k & 10k – Sunday 16 September
• Around Cumbrae 10 Mile Road Race – Sunday 16 September
• Scottish Half Marathon & 10k – Sunday 23 September
• Tufty Trail Race – Sunday 23 September
• Loch Ness Marathon – Sunday 23 September
• Great Scottish Run Half Marathon & 10k – Sunday 30 September
• East Neuk 10k – Sunday 30 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October
• Nutcracker Trail Race  – Saturday 6 October
• Giffordtown 5k – Sunday 7 October
• Linlithgow 10k – Sunday 7 October
• East District Cross Country Relays – Saturday 13 October
• Lochore 10k – Sunday 14 October
• East District Cross Country League Meeting 1 – Saturday 20 October
• Nutcracker Trail Race #2 – Sunday 21 October
• National Cross Country Relays – Saturday 27 October
• Templeton 10 – Sunday 4 November
• National Short Course Cross Country – Saturday 10 November
• Hartley Cup – Sunday 18 November
• East District Cross Country League Meeting 2 – Saturday 24 November
• Largo Law Hill Race – Tuesday 27 November
• East District Cross Country Championships – Saturday 8 December
• Indoor 3000m Championships – Friday 4 January 2019
• National Indoor Open Meeting – Saturday 12 January 2019
• East District Cross Country League Meeting 3 – Saturday 19 January 2019
• Masters Cross Country Championships – Saturday 2 February 2019
• Indoor Masters Championships – Sunday 17 February 2019
• Smokies 10 Mile (Ladies Only) – Sunday 3 March 2019

Cover photo – Claire, Tracey, Helen, Lynsay, Sandra, Nicole and Dawn at the Girls Big Dirty Day Out at Callender Park near Stirling

Tuesday Night Training

Jog leader Bex took the group to Action Zone on Leven Prom for a set of pyramid drills.

Ceres 8

The popular Ceres 8 mile race returned to the running calendar after a couple of years where organisers Fife AC had difficulties obtaining road closure licences. Leven members Alan Davie, Kevin Hughes and Mark McLean took part on a redesigned course which was apparently even more challenging than the old one!

Race results:

• Alan Davie – 33rd 53:05
• Kevin Hughes – 44th 54:54
• Mark McLean – 68th 58:08

Parkruns

Mark McLean achieved a new PB at Lochore Meadows parkrun. Karen and Allen went to Perth parkrun to join Karen’s son Callum and his friend Jonny.

Loch Tay Sprint Triathlon

Gordon Christie and Dan Haran took part in the Loch Tay Sprint Triathlon in Kenmore. The event comprised a 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run.

Race results:

• Dan Haran – 81st 1:28:50
• Gordon Christie – 169th 1:37:47

West Lothian Half Marathon

The inspirational super-veteran Peter Rieu-Clarke completed another half marathon at Bathgate in West Lothian. Peter was using this run as preparation for his first ever attempt at a marathon at the Baxters Loch Ness event on 23 September.

Race results:

• Peter Rieu-Clarke – 79th and 1st V70 2:07:05

Upcoming Events

• Chilly Willy Trail Race – Tuesday 21 August
• Ravenscraig Park 2 x 1 mile relay race – Wednesday 22 August
• Killin 10k – Saturday 25 August
• Perth 10k – Sunday 26 August

Further ahead

• Gateside Gallop – Wednesday 29 August
• Highland Perthshire Marathon and Half Marathon – Saturday 1 September
• Fife AC Trail Race Festival – Sunday 2 September
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September
• Stuart Duncan 5k – Tuesday 4 September
• Kingsbarns Fun Run – Wednesday 5 September
• Self Transcendence 5k – Wednesday 5 September
• Auchterarder Half Marathon – Sunday 9 September
• Tiree Ultra Marathon – Sunday 9 September
• Great North Run – Sunday 9 September
• Glenrothes Sprint Triathlon – Sunday 9 September
• Self Transcendence 2m – Wednesday 12 September
• Pitlochry 5k & 10k – Sunday 16 September
• Around Cumbrae 10 Mile Road Race – Sunday 16 September
• Scottish Half Marathon & 10k – Sunday 23 September
• Tufty Trail Race – Sunday 23 September
• Loch Ness Marathon – Sunday 23 September
• Great Scottish Run Half Marathon & 10k – Sunday 30 September
• East Neuk 10k – Sunday 30 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October
• Giffordtown 5k – Sunday 7 October
• Linlithgow 10k – Sunday 7 October
• Lochore 10k – Sunday 14 October

Cover photo – Bryan, Gillian, Iain and Alan at Balmullo

Tuesday Night Training

Jog leader Allen took the group to King George V Park in Leven for a series of interval drills.

Carnegie Harriers Memorial Race at Knockhill

It was a very busy week of racing for members of Leven Las Vegas Running Club, starting with a visit to Knockhill motor racing circuit near Dunfermline for the Carnegie Harriers Memorial race, a tough 4 mile event encompassing 3 fast laps of the undulating motor racing track. LLV prize winners were Chris Russell who finished as first V40 in 4^th place overall, and Peter Rieu-Clarke who was first in the V70 category. The club was also represented by Bryan McLaren, Iain Wallace, Gillian Easton, Douglas Clews, Claire Doak, Annie Gibson, Kenny Ritchie and Lorraine Davie.

All photos by Steve Adam of Carnegie Harriers

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 4th and 1st V40 20:46
• Bryan McLaren – 32nd 23:56
• Iain Wallace – 36th 24:03
• Gillian Easton – 111th 28:58
• Douglas Clews – 121st 29:32
• Peter Rieu-Clarke – 160th and 1st V70 32:49
• Claire Doak – 167th 33:18
• Annie Gibson – 171st 33:32
• Kenny Ritchie – 174th 33:49
• Lorraine Davie – 191st 35:47

Balmullo Trail Race

Bryan McLaren, Iain Wallace and Gillian Easton were in action again 48 hours after Knockhill at the Balmullo Trail Race organised by Fife AC, where they were joined by clubmate Alan Davie. This is a challenging cross-country event which starts at Balmullo village and heads steadily uphill to the summit of nearby Lucklaw Hill before turning back downhill to the starting point. Alan Davie was first LLV to complete the course in a fine 22^nd place among a large field of runners.

Race results:

• Alan Davie – 22nd 33:31
• Iain Wallace – 34th 34:50
• Bryan McLaren – 64th 37:29
• Gillian Easton – 121st 43:04

Overall results for the Fife AC Midweek Series 2018:

• TBA

Parkruns

At the weekend parkruns Claire Doak continued her recent string of personal best times with a 27:55 at Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy.

Sandra Cooper was a parkrun tourist at Castlebar in Ireland and Nick Silcocks ran at Folkestone.

Bute Highland Games 10k

Chris Russell and Annie Gibson travelled to the isle of Bute to compete in the Bute Highland Games 10k race. Another fine performance by Russell was capped by a top ten finishing position and third place in the veteran age category.

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 9th and 3rd V40 35:07
• Annie Gibson – 136th 61:06

Touch of Tartan Half Marathon

Alan Davie was also in weekend action at the Touch of Tartan half marathon which starts at Perth Airport near Scone and makes its way along a scenic route into the city of Perth for a circuit of North Inch park before finishing on the banks of the River Tay. Alan achieved an excellent result, finishing as second V40 in 8^th position overall.

Race results:

• Alan Davie – 8th and 2nd V40 1:29:35

New Gilston 5k & 1k

The New Gilston 5k is a friendly local event which has been very popular among LLV members over the years. Despite the rainy conditions there was another large turnout and some fine performances from the club, with Matt Burt finishing in third place overall and Allen Marr taking the prize for first over-60 male.

Race results (5k):

• Matt Burt – 3rd 20:34
• Allen Marr – 9th and 1st V60 21:59
• Jim Dunstan – 21st 25:12
• Jeff Taylor – 22nd 25:34
• Teresa Guild – 36th 28:43
• Peter Rieu-Clarke – 38th 29:03
• Claire Doak – 40th 29:27
• Ashley Jamieson – 43rd 32:25
• Danielle Watson – 44th 32:32
• Cali Ritchie – 47th 34:07
• Caitlin Burt – 50th 34:24
• Jenni Johnstone – 53rd 34:50
• Karen Burt – 54th 36:55
• Yvonne Armour – 58th 40:14
• Lorna Hughes – 60th 42:34

Upcoming Events

• Ceres 8 – Tuesday 14 August

Further ahead

• Chilly Willy Trail Race – Tuesday 21 August
• Ravenscraig Park 2 x 1 mile relay race – Wednesday 22 August
• Perth 10k – Sunday 26 August
• Gateside Gallop – Wednesday 29 August
• Fife AC Trail Race Festival – Sunday 2 September
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September
• Stuart Duncan 5k – Tuesday 4 September
• Kingsbarns Fun Run – Wednesday 5 September
• Auchterarder Half Marathon – Sunday 9 September
• Pitlochry 10k – Sunday 16 September
• Tufty Trail Race – Sunday 23 September
• East Neuk 10k – Sunday 30 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October
• Giffordtown 5k – Sunday 7 October
• Linlithgow 10k – Sunday 7 October
• Lochore 10k – Sunday 14 October

Cover photo – Annie, Gayle, Chris, Lynsay, Donna and Dawn at Balbirnie Park in Markinch

Tuesday Night Training

This week was new jog leader Karen’s first session. She took the group for a hill rep session in Lower Methil, finished off with a fun relay drill.

Beveridge Park 5k

There was a tremendous turnout of 16 Leven Las Vegas Running Club members in Kirkcaldy for the final race in the Fife AC Beveridge Park 5k series. Veteran athlete Chris Russell continued his fine recent performances by crossing the line in a new personal best time for the distance and securing the prize for first over-40. Chris was closely followed by clubmates Alan Davie and Iain Wallace who both achieved times close to their best. Next over the line was John Kay, returning to racing after injury with a podium place in the over-50 age category. Also representing the Leven club were Jeff Taylor, Gillian Easton, Barry West, Jemma Guild, Davie Hogg, Peter Rieu-Clarke who was 2^nd over-70, Claire Doak with a new 5k PB, Douglas Clews, Annie Gibson, Karen Richards, Lynsay Bell and Susan Kerr.

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 5th and 1st V40 17:08 PB
• Alan Davie – 15th and 3rd V40 18:51
• Iain Wallace – 18th 19:11
• John Kay – 43rd and 3rd M50 21:13
• Jeff Taylor – 51st 22:13
• Gillian Easton – 61st 23:23
• Barry West – 62nd 23:31
• Jemma Guild – 70th 25:11
• Davie Hogg – 72nd 25:15
• Peter Rieu-Clarke – 78th and 2nd V70 27:15
• Claire Doak – 79th 27:42 PB
• Douglas Clews – 80th 28:18
• Annie Gibson – 81st 28:21
• Karen Richards – 84th 29:12
• Lynsay Bell – 85th 29:12
• Susan Kerr – 86th 29:12

Parkruns

Karen Richards set her best time so far at Kirkcaldy while at St Andrews Colin Aitken, a recent graduate of LLV’s Couch to 5k program, improved his best time by almost 2 minutes. It was a deserved reward for Colin who has dedicated himself to his training since completing the beginners jogging course.

Trail Busters Race

Chris Russell notched up another race victory at the Trail Busters cross country race at Balbirnie Park in Markinch. Chris now holds the lead in the 3 race series which concludes next month. Chris was joined at the event by clubmates Donna Rodger, Annie Gibson, Gayle Moran, Lynsay Bell and Dawn Watson.

Race results:

• Chris Russell – 1st 27:32
• Donna Rodger – 49th 42:16
• Annie Gibson – 67th 46:15
• Gayle Moran – 69th 47:15
• Lynsay Bell – 80th 50:39
• Dawn Watson – 81st 50:46

Upcoming Events

• Carnegie Harriers Memorial at Knockhill – Tuesday 7 August
• Balmullo Trail Race (Fife AC Midweek Series) – Thursday 9 August
• New Gilston 5k – Sunday 12 August

Further ahead

• Ravenscraig Park 2 x 1 mile relay race – Wednesday 22 August
• Gateside Gallop – Wednesday 29 August
• Fife AC Trail Race Festival – Sunday 2 September
• Trail Busters Series Race 3 – Sunday 2 September
• Stuart Duncan 5k – Tuesday 4 September
• Kingsbarns Fun Run – Wednesday 5 September
• Auchterarder Half Marathon – Sunday 9 September
• Scottish Long Coastal Relays – Saturday 6 October
• Giffordtown 5k – Sunday 7 October