Saturday 7th November – UP and RUNNING 10k, Bellahouston Park
Two of our newest members headed up to take part in Saturday’s Up and Running 10k in Bellahouston Park. Up and Running stage regular, chip timed events around Scotland and are a great way to set markers for your personal best times in a fun and well organised event. Zander Milligan and Max McLelland first started their Harriers journey as guest runners at the end of Season 25/26, taking part in the Bill Elder 10k. On that occasion Max scooped 1st under 20 male with a time of 54:35, with Zander just getting in under the hour in 59:57 – both PBs at the time for the young men.
Fast forward to this weekend, both runners are now club members and had set the event as a chance to see how their training had been paying off. Zander has perhaps been working harder with the Harriers and is a regular across most senior sessions, including the track, and that was evident as he smashed his target time of 55 minutes to finish as 3rd under 20 runner in a time of 48:23. Max has other sporting commitments that take up a fair amount of his time, but has been working hard when he is able to get along and also showed some improvement on the day, finishing 4th in the u20 group in 53:52. Well done to both!
Sunday 8th November – Jimmy Irvine Bella 10k, Bellahouston Park
A hugely popular day in the 10k race calendar, the Jimmy Irvine sold out in record time this year which reflected in the smaller number of Harriers running. Once again, the course changed for the third year in a row and runners felt the fear as it was noticed the route once again featured a double loop through the middle of the park – meaning the dreaded central hill would be back this year, and would need to be tackled twice… with the second ascent coming just as runners are pushing toward a final kick at 8km. Brutal stuff, but maybe a reaction to last year’s course change which saw the route outside the park on the final stretch, on a very thin section of pavement which was tricky to navigate when things got crowded. Single file, no passing does not work well for a fast 10k so perhaps the change was justified; but it would be nice if the organisers could settle on a final course!
In the event, perfect weather saw some fine running from the Greenock team. Malcolm Maclean had a difficult run after having felt rough all week, and struggled from 3km to the finish as first Harrier home in 43:04; a strong time but the way Malcolm has been running lately could have challenged the sub 40 category. Next home for the Harriers were Stephen and Lynne Harrison, both across the line in 46.45 – having suffered a mild hamstring pull earlier in the week, Stephen decided to run as a pacer for Lynne, who had never recorded a sub 47 minute run. Lynne showed fantastic determination to hold on to the punishing pace across the distance, to card her second pb of the weekend – all the more impressive for having done the same on the short course XC the day before. Lynne’s time was also enough to put her 8th in the v50 ladies category. Outstanding running which shows her continued efforts in training are really coming together.
Next for the Harriers were Sandra Campbell (49:25) and Jill Aikman (49:43), the only other runners to go sub 50. Lisa Boonsanong was just 15 seconds outside the 50 and was followed by Rebecca McCluckie (53:45), Fiona Cushnaghan (1:01:39), Stephanie Halden (1:02:06), Doris Heron (1:02:05), Alli Baird (1:01:55). Stuart and Helen Crawford also did the pacing together option, finishing in 1:03:07. The Harriers team was completed by Jay Dunning (1:06:24), Lana Killeen (1:09:21), Kerry Clenaghan (1:09:21), Alison Smart (1:11:56), Lorna MacLean (1:12:12), Jenne Lee (1:13:45) and Julie Morrison (1:14:57).
