Ian Goudie

This handicap 5k race is based on your recent best 10k time andrunners set off in small groups of two to three.  Although in my comeback two years ago I set off alone first ofall and ran my heart out to ensure that nobody caught up with me, thus ensuringthat I won the President’s Cup.  Lastyear I had set off with Norman Boyle, with Pauline Wright and Katie Padghamjust behind us. I had raced Norman for the first half and Pauline and Katie forthe second half, resulting in the three of us achieving PBs of around 20:38.  Since then Pauline and Katie have improvedtheir race times and started further back behind me.  I was scheduled to run with Louie and Tracey, both good runners and better than me.  However they didn’tshow on the night neither did the runners scheduled to set off immediately infront of me.  This meant that I had to run on my own, with my immediate target, Jackie having set off some 20 seconds ahead of me.

  It was a warm,windy evening and as I set off, I couldn’t help but be in ‘fun run’ mode.  However I soon realised that I had to focus on the job at hand and catch up the runners in front of me.  I ran around the velo track and along the path towards the Palace of Art, where I managed to catch Jackie.  Up and around the House of an Art Lover I ran and then down the park road and a sharp left took me onto Dumbreck Road.  Along the undulating road side path and another left turn took me onto Paisley Road West.  I had to fight against the wind as I made my way towards the pack of runners in the distance.  Another left turn back into the park and a right turn took me back on the path towards the velo track.  The route turned up to the left before the track and I managed to overtake John and Moira as I climbedthe first hill.  Pauline had overtaken me at this point two years ago and had caught up with me here last year.  I pushed on to make sure I wouldn’t be caught a third time.  The route took a sharp right, downhill towards Mosspark Boulevard and I was feeling good as I managed to overtake a few runners, including Lucy and Eddie.  However as I approached the gate leaving the park, I was overtaken by Keith Gibb. Keith’s another runner who is better than me but I noticed that as he took his position in front of me that he wasn’t running any faster than I was,so I overtook him……. and he overtook me again. I could sense someone trying to overtake me and I increased my speed thinking that it was Pauline and Katie. Just as I was running through the gate and turning a sharp right onto the Boulevard, I realised it was neither of these two as Jane Simpson ran past me.  Jane’s a great wee runner, when she’s not injured and I decided not to chase her.  Just as I thought that I noticed that she was being followed by Gavin Greene.  Yet another one who’s faster than me …..but not by much… so I decided to go with Gavin and as I did I overtook Keith for the final time. Gavin increased his lead over me and we were both overtaken by couple of the elite runners, including Grant Edmonston who went flying past us as we made our way along the Boulevard. 

The route took a sharp right back into Bellahouston park and then after 200m, another left turn and up the hilliest part of the course.  Gavin and I overtook another couple of runners on the hill and after we turned left at the top of the hill, we managed to catch up with Suzie Moriarty as we ran down towards the track entry. The gap between the two of us was narrowing as we over took Julie Vinters and turned into the track.  A quick right turn and I was chasing after Gavin for all my worth as we raced along the velo track towards the finish line.  I could sense someone right behind me as I dug in making sure that I wasn’t caught in the last few metres.  I just failed to catch Gavin, finishing right behind him and just in front of Gerry Scullion.  I had finished in 11th position,in a time of 21:17.  My third best timefor a 5k but I had mixed emotions.  I knew I could have worked harder and I’m sure that if I had had someone to race against then I would have run faster.  As it was Pauline got a new PB of 20:28 and Katie 20:25.  This year's winners were Grant Edmonston and the much improved Louise Gray.  I smiled when Grant noticed my name on the cup.

I?d been thinking of joining the Scottish Vets for a whilebut hadn?t been encouraged by their poor organisational skills and internetpresence.  However when fellow BellaMaddie asked me at training on Monday night if I was running in the Vet?s raceon Wednesday, I decided to look into it. Their web site has improved since I last looked and there was a listingfor a 5k race in Clydebank on the night in question.  I could use this as a rehearsal for next week?s Bella President?sHandicap 5k, I thought.  I sent an emailto their Vice President Ada Stewart asking if we would be able to join on thenight. 

I had a bit of a late night on the Tuesday, it was mybirthday and I?d had a few beers and a few single malts.  I was feeling a little fragile during theday but I had sensibly booked Wednesday as annual leave and had enjoyed asiesta in the afternoon.  Ada confirmedthat we should be able to join on the night and I arranged with Maddie to giveher a lift to the race if she remembered to bring my new club vest.

We arrived at Clydebank and met fellow Bella Shona.  We gave our names to the race organiser andreceived our numbers.  I?ve raced anumber of 5k, 10k and Half Marathons in Clydebank and they have all at somestage run through the local business park. Tonight was not the exception, quite the opposite.  The course was 3½ loops of the businesspark!  After jogging from the race HQ,at the Playdrome, to the race start, we warmed up by, of course, running a loopof the business park.

A little bit of a wind and the warm evening sun provide goodracing conditions.  I had looked at lastyears results and had observed that some 42 runners has completed the race andthat I would have finished about 38th.  It?s bad enough getting beat by youngsters, I thought but gettingbeat by OAPs was another thing altogether. I lined up in the middle of the pack, behind Shona, Marie McChord andMarina McCallum.  As the race started Ifound myself running behind all three of them until the field opened up alittle.  I knew that Shona was adifferent class from me and it was pleasing to stick with her for so long andnot at all disheartening to see her increase the gap as the race progressed.  I was pleased with my first lap and a half,although I had mislaid my Garmin and never knew what the time was, I did knowthat I had been running at a decent pace and had overtaken Marie.  I found the next lap difficult, I wastiring, I had noticed that someone had already dropped out and as I overtookanother runner he pulled up.  If I couldonly rest for a wee while I?d be better, I thought but I kept going, you?repast the half way mark keep going, remember you?ve never failed to finish arace before keep going.  I could hearMarie?s breathing and footsteps just behind me.  I increased the pace slightly and pulled away from her.  I was very aware that she had overtaken meat a number of the park runs with about 1k to go.  ?Last Lap? shouted the organiser and I knew I would finish.  I decided to ignore Marie and to concentrateon the two runners in front of me.  Asthe final lap progressed, I could no longer hear Marie behind me and I wascatching up with the two guys.  I keptpushing and all of a sudden I noticed another runner in front.  He must have started too quickly I thought asI overtook him with the Finish Line approaching.        

Shona was there cheering me over the last few yards, Icrossed the line and as I was getting my breath back, I noticed that the ?thirdman? had kept running.  I had lappedhim!  I joined Shona in cheering in theremaining runners.  How did you get on ? asked Gordon MacDonald, I don?t know I replied. You must have finished in about 21:00 he said.  Marie informed me that she had finished in 21:08.  Peter, the timekeeper told me that we would get our times back at the race HQ in a few minutes.  We made our way back to the Playdrome.  Shona had to dash home to look after her kids but myself and Maddie stayed to complete our membership forms, to chat with our fellow runners and to listen to the results being announced. Shona was 2nd woman and 1st woman 40+; I collected her medals on her behalf to the delight of the others.  Maddie won a prize for being 2nd woman 35+ and every other runner seemed to collect a medal for being 1st,2nd or 3rd in their particular age group, from W35+ toM70+.  I must have been one of the few who wasn?t awarded a prize.  However, I did find out that 43 had started the race and 41 had completed it.  In my 26th race of 2009, I had finished 29th in a time of 21:01, my second fastest recorded 5k. The fastest being in last year?s Bella Handicap.   

Photo

I had won a competition to participate in this event and signed up fella Bellas Gordon Kerr, Norman Boyle and Clare Blue to make up my team of four.  I had collapsed with my chronic fatigue 4.5 miles from the end in last years full Edinburgh Marathon and although, after being on a drip for an hour, the medical staff allowed me to slowly finish the race, I didn't really have any clue as to what was happening in the final section.  I decided that it would be good to actually run this section and opted to complete the 4th and final leg, otherwise known as the glory leg.  Gordon had agreed to do the first leg, approx 8 miles,Norman the second leg, to the half way point and Clare the third, and to my mind the hardest, leg.

I had been suffering with a cold for a few days and my fever broke on Saturday night as I woke up repeatedly with a high temperature and absolutely covered in sweat.  However I took acouple of Lemsips during the night and a freshly juiced St Clements in the morning before picking up Gordon and Norman at 7.00 am and heading through to Livingston to pick up Clare and then on into Edinburgh.  I had a route in mind which would take me to near the start of the race in Edinburgh, to the 1st changeover and race finish at Musselburgh and onto Port Seton, where the 2nd and 3rd changeover points were.  We were all amazed that I had managed to avoid all traffic and the journey though had been hassle free.

As the morning progressed the sun got hotter and hotter andI was so glad that I wasn't running in the Full Marathon, there is no way Iwould have survived in that heat.  I estimated that Clare would have about 100 mins to wait before her leg and that I would then have another hour or so.  Thisgave us the chance to enjoy the weather and to support the runners, including a number of Bellas participating in the Full Marathon or part of various relay teams. 

I really enjoyed my leg, initially weaving my way through the Marathon Runners along the path and then running along the other side ofthe road, ensuring that I was giving the real racers as much space and respect as possible.  I had my name on my vest and the cries of Ian and the occasional Bella were ringing in my ears as I sped along overtaken hundreds of real runners and as many relay runners as I could catch.  The enthusiasm of many of the supporters, including Bellas Raymond and Suzie was so high that I'm sure that they thought that I was running the full 26.2 miles.  I decided not to take on any water but to make up as much time as possible and to allow the real runners to benefit from the rehydration. I was later to discover that the race had run out of water before the end.  As I made my way towards the Musselburgh Race Course, I was running flat out as the cries of Ian continued to ring out.  A right turn and I was now in the racecourse and bouncing along the plastic decking, the track was very busy and I decided to run along the inside up close to the 7,000 supporters, many of whom were leaning over the barrier, clapping and shouting support.  Ian, Ian, Ian was all I could hear as I got closer and closer to the finish line. All of a sudden a gap appeared and I found myself running in the middle of the track and raising my arms like a champion as I crossed the Finish Line. 

I handed in my chip and collected the teams medals, goody bags and t-shirts and congratulated the other Bellas who had already finishedbefore meeting up with Gordon, Norman and Clare and supporting the otherrunners as we walked towards them on our way back to the car.  It was then back to Livingston for a welldeserved rest and hearty pub lunch before driving back to Glasgow in theafternoon sunshine.

The results show that we finished in a very respectable 43rd place out of 1,000 relay teams, in a combined time of 3:20:11.  All and all a great experience for us but my thoughts are still with the 8,257 runners that had to endure 26.2 miles of blazing sunshine in one of the hottest days of the year.

This was my 12th parkrun.  I'd had a bit of a cold and hadn't trained for a few days, I was also racing in the Edinburgh Marathon Relay the next day so I had decided to take things relatively easy.  I'd managed to get to the start on time and even had a wee warmup in the glorious sunshine before the race commenced.  It was good to see Ex Bella Jo Jeffries, who now runs for Winchester AC.  I knew that she was in with a chance of winning the women's race and I looked around to see who her competition would be.  I noticed a tall, athletic gal at the very front of the assembled 220 runners and presumed that she must be in with a shout.  I lined up a little further back, behind fella Bella, Jane Simpson and in front of Kirkintilloch Olympian, Willie Reid.

Jane's usually a slow starter.  I know that because she's overtaken me in almost every race she's ever ran in.  However on Saturday she shot off at a pace with me hanging on behind her.  When we left the road and joined the path, I noticed that Willie Reid was beside me and we ran shoulder to shoulder a little, until I decided that he was running too fast for the type of run that I was seeking and I let him run ahead as I slowed the pace.  I was quite happy running my own race and conserving my energy for Sunday.  At the half way point I saw that lass from the start up ahead and reckoned that I could catch her.  I pushed it in a little but there was no need to exert myself too much, as I saw her slow to a walk as I passed her.  As I made my way down the hill, I noticed that Marie McChord was on my shoulder, I increased the pace a little and she fell back.  However as we reached the tight left hand turn, just before the course starts its' incline, she caught up with me and I was happy to let her pass me as I felt a little pressurised with her running just behind me. As I ran up the hills, I was feeling tired and put it down to my cold.  However a shout of encouragement kept me going and I made it to the top of the last hill.  By this time Marie was a good bit infront and there was another runner halfway between us, who looked to be tiring.  I gave it my all over those last 100 metres or so and was right behind him as we crossed the finishing line.  I congratulated him and Anne Marie and Jane, who was waiting for me at the line.  I looked at my watch to discover that despite wanting to run an easy race, I had actually completed the run in a time of 21:52, just 4 secs off of my hard earned course PB!

Selected results:

Jo Jeffries, 22nd , 2nd woman, time19:39

Jane Simpson, 37th, 3rd women, 20:45

Willie Reid, 42nd , 21:04

Marie McChord, 55th, 21:45

James Ewing, 56th, 21:51

Ian Goudie, 57th, 21:52

Gordon McDonald, 59th, 22:06

I was still shattered from my 10k race on Thursday and being back at work on Friday.  As I started mycar I noticed that the power steering was not working and decided to take thebike instead.  When I arrived at PollokPark, I asked how they were doing for volunteers was told that they hadsufficient numbers, which meant that I could run in my 11th parkrunand 22nd race of 2009.  As Istood astride of my bike chatting with the event volunteers I noticed therunners, coming down the hill towards us. I shouted encouragement to my club mates, as I took off my jacket andcycling hat and abandoned my bike at the side of the road.  I joined in with the slower runners near theend of the field.  I had registered for the Dunblane 7.5 mile race on the next day and intended conserving energy for then.  However I was also aware of how tired my body was feeling and the likelihood that my car wouldn’t be able to make the trip to Dunblane.

I was happy to take things easy and slowly make my way through the field as the race proceeded. I took the time to thank the volunteers and encourage fellow runners as I ran.  As we approached the half way point I noticed that there was a female Bella Harrier in front of me and increased the pace slightly to catch her. As I did I noticed her pulling up. “Are you all right?” I asked and she explained that she had a ‘stitch’.

At the top of the hill, I noticed that there were a couple of other runners also pulling up.  As I ran down the hill, I passed one club runner who was puffing and panting and when I reached the next, he pulled up with a cry of frustration and what appeared to be a damaged hamstring. They’re dropping like flies, I thought as I continued around the course. My intention was to push it in for thelast 200 metres or so and as I approached that distance I could see Bryan encouraging his friend Jaimie to have a strong finish.  As I sped past Bryan he shouted to Jaimie not to let me catch him, this was like waving a red flag to a bull to me and I grabbed the bull by the horns (how’s that for a mixed metaphor?!) and gave it my all to ensure that I overtook Jaimie and just before crossing the line in a joint time time of 24:35.  “Were you racing today, Ian or just jogging round” asked Mike Devlin, “a bit of both” I replied.

As I looked around that all the Bella Road Runners that I knew, I could see that this had been a record turnout from the club with some15 members taking part in the event.  Ihad finished 117th out of 219 runners and had completed anotherrace.

As we stood chatting, someone I didn’t recognise asked me‘How are you?” to which I responded “Who are you?”  “From the yoga!” Tracy Grabiner answered before we chatted aboutour experiences today and at the recent Troon 10k.  This was Tracy's first parkrun and she finished in 145th place in a time of 26:20.

As I had to get back to look at my car, I had to miss out on the post race coffee and chat.  I phonedthe local dealer to discover that they couldn’t look at my car until Wednesday,which meant that my legs would get a rest on the Sunday as I decided to withdraw form the Dunblane race.

My twenty-first race of 2009 was the Helensburgh 10k.  I?ve ran it a couple of times before butthat was when it left from the old school. It now starts and finishes along the road as modern school withexcellent parking, registration, catering, changing and toilet facilities.  Alistair Kell kindly offered to take his car and Ali, Hugh Brown, Russell Whittington and I headed towards the scenic Firth of Clyde town.

The Race is a Bellahouston Club Championship race and wewere joined at the school with loads of other Bellas (33 in all) as well as adecent number from both Clydesdale AC and host club Helensburgh AAC and even a sprinkling of Kilmarnock Harriers.

After a short warm up, and loads of chatting, we assembledon the road outside of the school for the race Start.  Scott Johnson told me that he was going to try for an even fastertime than his recent PB at Troon.  Istuck in a few places behind Scott, Lynsey and Pauline Wright and found myself next to a Kilmarnock Harrier, Brian Darroch and an unknown Bella runner, Hamish Barbour. After a couple of introductions, the hooter sounded and we were on our way.  Unlike the recent Troon race, where runners shot off immediately, competitors at Helensburgh took their time until they passed over the electric mats recording their chip?s start time before startingto race. 

It was a lovely evening, no wind nor rain, a bit warm in thesunshine but all in all good running conditions.  The road and pavements were busy and I started quite quicklyrunning the first kilometre in 4.09. Even at this pace most of the Bellas in front were either out of sightor had a decent lead on me.  At 2k, my time was 8:12.  That?s a 41min 10k! I thought to myself, I wouldn?t be able to keep up the pace though, especially knowing that there was a hill to climb in the next part of the course.

The hill used to be at the 5k stage and the amended route confused me a little as it was now between 3 and 4k.  As I turned left at the top of the hill, I could hear the crowd cheering on ?Debbie?, a Helensburgh runner who must have been not far behind me.  At this point the route was flat before heading down towards the sea front. As ?Debbie? overtook me, I noticed just how hard she was working, whilst I had adopted auto-run mode and was coasting a little.  I stepped up the pace a bit but the gap was still growing, however I did notice that there was a Killie vest up ahead and I seemed to be making some ground on him. We reached the sea front and turned a sharp left, onto part of the Helensburgh Half Marathon route.  A slight incline took us to the water station. I was having a decent run but it was hot, so I decided to grab a bottle of water.  I took a quick mouthful and poured the rest down my back, in order to cool off a little.   The route continued along the front a little further before a sharp left took us though a meandering part of the course, along some paths and around some tight bends, dodging low tree branches as we ran.  I must have missed the 6k marker but knew that my pace had slowed. Once back on the main road, Debbie was a good bit in front but the Killie runner was in my sights.  At just beyond 7k, I pushed in a bit to overtake him and build a gap between us.  There was a long straight part now with wideroads and encouraging supporters and stewards. A bit further on and I felt myself tiring and had to fight off the ?just quit now? messages that my brain was sending out.  I was relieved to see the 8k marker just ahead, the 8-9k part of a race is always the hardest so I knew that I just had to keep going for another kilometre.  Of course I know that there?s really two kilometres to go but it helps me and I can always find the strength to run the last kilometre.

As we turned around one corner and then another a Marshall cried out that we only had one kilometre to go.  I looked but could see no 9k marker; I must have missed it I thought for a minute or two before eventually reaching it.  OK one kilometre to go now. How hilly would it be?  Where exactly wouldit finish? We reached the old school but no sign of the course taking a loop behind it, instead it continued beyond the school and along the new road towards the new school. Maybe it runs around the school and finishes up the hill behind it I thought.  I was doing well now and overtaking quite a lot of runners.  I looked up and could see that the inflated Finish Line was at the school gates and as I did ay oung whippet, Alan Campbell came sprinting up my left hand side.  Oh no you don?t! I thought as I pushed it in for a fast finish, overtaking him and Denise Forbes just before we crossed the line.

My Garmin revealed that I had taken 44:21, not bad, a decent run and my fastest 10k in 2009. Alistair Kell congratulated me before Scott showed me his stopwatch time of 41:58.  He had done fantastic and had overtaken Alistair and many others as he ran himself to a great new PB.  I stayed at the finish line congratulating the Killie runner that I had scalped, the Bellas and other runners who finished after me before collecting my medal and goody bag and exchanging tales with other runners over tea and cakes.

The published results revealed that I had finished 232ndout of 786 finishers.  Debbie Savage had finished 217th in 43:37and Brian Darroch in 44:34.

Sunday was a bit strange as I ventured down to the EastAyrshire village of Dunlop to run in the inaugural local Fun Run 10k.  I grew up in Stewarton, only a couple ofmiles away and would regular hang around Dunlop as a teenager.  It was the first time that I had been in thevillage for over thirty years and I was surprised at just how pretty itseemed.  I had hoped that I would bumpinto one or two locals that I knew from my youth but I?m afraid that didn?thappen.  However I did meet up with afew runners that I know including Jim Sneddon, Jim White and Helen Morton ofIrvine AC and Simon and Sarah Bevis, ex Bellahouston Road Runners.  There was quite a few Kilmarnock Harriersbut I didn?t recognise any of them.  Idid however spot a map of the course, in the back of an official looking car,and asked the organiser Jimmy Howie for details of the course and in particularwhere the hills were.  I was aware thatthere were loads of hills around the village and in particular towards thevillage of Neilston.  When Jimmy advisedme that the course went along the back road to Neilston, I therefore feared theworst.  It?s not too bad though he toldme, more of a general incline for the first 3k and then a steep hill between 4-5k,down hill a bit and then up hill at about 7k, around Dunlop House and thenmostly downhill back into the village. I advised a few of my running buddies of the course route, had my warmup and headed to the race start on the road behind the local park.

The pre-race announcements were made by three local membersof the Glasgow Warriers Rugby Club.  Ifound myself at the very front of the race beside three young lads in Scotlandshirts and just in front of a healthy contingent of local club runners fromKilmarnock Harriers, Irvine AC, Strathaven Striders and one or two others.  As the race started the three young gunssprinted away as if it was a 100m race. ?Don?t worry we?ll catch up with them? I said as the other runnersremarked on their youthful acceleration. A quick left turn and up through the village centre we ran.  Quite a lot of people were overtaking me butthey all looked like decent club runners. Over the railway bridge, past some houses and upwards along the oldNeilston Road we ran.  It was a sunnybut cloudy day, warm but not too hot and the hills were manageable.  However we had to contend with a strong windblowing into our faces as we ran up the hills. At the 1k mark, I had caught up with the three young lads, who were bynow walking and I gave myself a ?told you so? smile as I passed them.  I could see the red vests of the Irvinerunners and the blue vests of Killie and some others pulling away up the hillas I settled into a steady pace. 

?You?re running well Ian? said Helen Morton as she caught upwith me and passed me.  I stuck behindher and as we approached the first water stop at about 2k, she slowed down totake some water, I maintained my pace and overtook her.   I kept my lead for a while before Helencaught back up with me at around 3k, commenting on how hilly the course was asshe passed me but I knew that the hardest bit was still to come.  I was running strong as we climbed up thehill between 4 ? 5k, I caught sight of Fetchie AlanF in front of me and wasconfident that with about 5k to go, I would pass him.  However the hill had taken it?s toll on me and as I ran towardsthe gorgeous view of the Isle of Arran in the distance, I could feel myselftiring.  I had a few dried apricots inmy back pocket along with my car key.  Itried to take some out without dropping my key but this proved more difficultthan I imagined and I could see Helen and Alan increase their gap on me as Istruggled with the apricots.  I decideto stuff them all in my mouth and slowly chewed them as I ran along thestraight section of the route.  Afterabout 6.5k the course took a detour into the grounds of Dunlop House and Icould see the leaders running towards me as I passed the 7k mark.  I had thought that the route was going thisway to allow the elderly in patients of the House to wave at as we ranpast.  Unfortunately the House hadclosed years ago and was all boarded up. However I could see the gap that Helen and Alan had on me and as Iturned around the bollard and headed back to the House gate, I could see thatafter a bit of a gap there was a young local lass behind me.  As I approached the 8k mark I saw a coupleof the Strathaven Striders, then Sarah, who congratulated me on my run, thenSimon, more from Strathaven and a mixture of other ?fun runners?.  I was now on the final section, the routeweaved it?s way back to Dunlop, making it difficult to see how far Helen andAlan were in front of me.  Knowing thatthe young lass was quite a bit behind me, I just concentrated on finishing therace as strong as possible and making up some of the lost time from the windand hills in the first part.  I saw alarge tractor coming towards me as I ran down towards the Dunlop villagesign.  Along pass the houses, over therailway bridge and this time a sharp right took me to a small lane on the leftwhich led into the top end of the local park and the cheering crowds.

Alan and Helen were there and after mutual congratulations,we helped ourselves to some water and bananas before cheering home our fellowrunners, including the three young lads who finished the race as fast as theystarted it! 

The organisers informed me that I had finished intwenty-second place and my Garmin indicated a time of 46:19.  Splits: 7.23; 7.50; 7.48; 7.51; 7.07; 7.25and 0.53.  This was my slowest 10k ofthe year but I had a strong run and the time wasn?t too bad for such a hillyand windy course.  It was also my 20thrace of 2009.

After a while I headed over to Stewarton, popped into theSmugglers Inn and met a few old friends who told me that they had been talkingabout me the night before at one of our friend?s 50th Birthdaycelebrations. 

Dame Kelly Homes is one of the most famous athletes in the UK in recent years.  She is recognised as an inspirational figure and is universally respected for her Olympic achievements.  What is less known though is that Kelly, like me, suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression.  Another sufferer was Florence Nightingale and Florence's birthday 12th May has become International M.E/CFS Awareness Day.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS)and various other names, is a syndrome of unknown and possibly multipleetiology, affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune, and manyother systems and organs. Most definitions require a number of features, the most common being severe mental and physical depletion, which is "unrelieved by rest", and is often made worse by exertion.

However patients usually contend that they have many, often severe symptoms which are far more onerous, such as pain,muscle weakness, loss of brain function, hypersensitivity, orthostaticintolerance, immune and in some cases life-threatening cardiac andrespiratory problems, and it is these symptoms exacerbated by extremely low stamina that cause greatest suffering, not "fatigue", which more properly describes a normal state of recovery unrelated to pathology. Some cases resolve or improve over time, and where available,treatments bring a degree of improvement to many others.

I've suffered Post Viral Fatigue for about five years now, I was hospitalised with Gastroenteritis and never fully recovered.  There was a time when I could only lie in a dark room but I gradually got better and set myself the target of being able to walk around the block.  Unfortunately I returned to work too soon and with the combination of work related stress I have been off work for 35 months now.  I've had a number of treatments: counselling, various drugs, mindfullness and other homeopathic and well being remedies - such as meditation, massage, yoga and tai chi. 

It's been a long hard struggle but in the recent past I've been able to manage to get through the day without falling asleep.  I've undergone a graded exercise programme and have advanced from walking around the block to being able to race a Half Marathon.  I manage most races but there are still a few ones where I have collapsed with Chronic Fatigue.  I've also fainted a couple of times in the library.

Today, just one day after International Chronic Fatigue Awareness Day, I started the next phase of my recovery by returning to work.  It was strange, it was stressfull and it was tiring.  My employer has agreed that I can have a phased return to work, intially two non-consecutive days a week, so I am off again on Thursday and then back to work on Friday and then it's the weekend.

It's a big step to take but one that I hope will play a positive role in my recovery.      

My eighteenth race of 2009, my ninth parkrun and my firsttime ever racing against my cousin Kenny Rae of Andover AC.  In fact I haven?t even seen Kenny since myearly teens, when he was a tiny wee skinny lad, a career in the Army has changedthat and he is now a strapping big lad of about 6? tall and 13 stones. 

We?ve chatted on line a lot recently as we are bothinterested in running and are researching our family tree together.  Kenny is also a Blogger, on Facebook andFetcheveryone-the runners web community. I?ve been monitoring his improving racing form and was confident that Iwould beat him in the weekly 5k event held in Pollok Park, Glasgow.

Kenny and his partner Sue picked me up about 9.00 amand we drove the short distance to the popular country park.  A short warm up and loads of introductionsand pre run banter took us to 9.30 and the Start of the run.  We started shoulder to shoulder.  There was a bit of congestion at thebeginning but I shot off at a speed of knots down the incline for about 250m, asharp left, along the wide road part of the route, through the puddles, andanother sharp left took us into the narrower path through the woods.  I looked at my right and the big bugger wasthere! I?d presumed that I had left him behind.  No respite for me and I dug in as we turned right and climbed ourfirst hill of the day.  He overtook meand I hoped that I would catch up with him later on in the race.  The path joined another road and after aslight climb, had a good downhill section. I watched him as he raced away and all of a sudden there were aroundeight runners between us.  I could hear someone's loud steps behind me and then I heard a woman's voice saying C?monIan get a move on.  I looked to seeMarie McChord at my side, I stretched my legs as I continued down the hill butas the route turned a sharp left she had caught me again and overtook me as weran along the narrow path, through the mud and up the next hill.  As I made my way up the next hill I couldsee that Kenny's gap on me had decreased and there were only a few runnersbetween us.  The course at this pointgoes down to the left and then back up the first hill to the right again.  I hoped that he was fading but noticed thathe overtook another couple of guys on the hill.  I chased after him and throughout the next loop I gradually madeup ground on him overtaking one runner at a time.  As I reached the top of the last hill, I knew that there wereabout 300m left but the gap was still quite large.  I chased after him and overtook everyone who was in betweenus.  Kenny finished with a time of 21:46, I was pipped at the post by another runner before crossing the line on atime of 21:48.  Kenny's age grade was 65:16% and mine was 68:20%.  I had improved my course PB by 14 seconds but Kenny had won the bragging rights. Marie had finished in 21:19.  We chatted with my fellow Bellas and running buddies before a quick change and retiring to the Burrell for bacon butties,char and chat.  

My 17th race of 2009 and the worst weather conditions to date!  Gale force winds,rain, hail and sleet were to make this flat course into one of the most challenging this year.  It's a popular race and both a Bellahouston Road Runners and a Kilmarnock Harriers AC Club Championship race, so I knew plenty of the other runners.  Registrations had closed a couple of weeks ago, when the event reached it's maximum 1,000 entrants but just over 800 were to brave the conditions on the Ayrshire coastal town of Troon on Wednesday 6 May.

I gave my running buddy Veronika a lift to Troon and we arrived as planned at 6.30 exactly one hour before the race start time, to find the race HQ, the Wallace Hall, packed to the seams with runners sheltering from the extreme weather conditions.

After collecting my race chip, chatting and getting changed, I ventured out for a brief 'warm up' along the sea front.  A few minutes later we were hurdled together for the Start of the race and soon we were running along the South Beach esplanade towards the Royal Troon Golf course and into the wind and the rain.  After my too fast start at the recent Tom Scott race, I was taking things cautiously and was happy to tuck in behind two Kilmarnock runners.  A sharp left hand turn took us on to the B746 Craigend Road and over the railway bridge.  Scott Kennedy and Craig Ross from Bella were standing here providing us with words of encouragement as we passed the2k marker. I must have missed the 1k mark and as I looked at my Garmin to see how I was doing, I saw that it was dead!  A quick press on the On Button but no joy and I carried on without knowing my pace.  Further along Craigend Road I ran, sheltering from the elements by sticking close to the wall.  As the road turned a sharp right, the route continued straight on to the rural and rather cutely named Isle of Pin Road.  Around 3k, I passed Gillian Mullen from Kilmarnock and a wee while later Scott Johnson and Louise Ross from Bella caught up with me.  Let's race it as a team, I heard Scott say but the road was more like a country path at this point and it was easier to run your own race. Past a stately home and some rugby pitches we ran, trying to dodge some of the worst puddles.  The hard running against the wind was starting to take it's toll and I found myself struggling a bit.  At the water station I grabbed a plastic cup of water and as I stopped to drink it and rest for a second I realised that the cup was almost empty.  I witnessed my friends Peter Carr and Li Wang overtaking me as I took a breath or two before rejoining the race. I'm not sure which road we ran along next, it was either Monktonhill Road or Southwood Road, all I knew was that the rain was now really heavy and was frozen, not sure if it was hail or sleet but I had to almost close my eyes as I ran into it.  A sharp turn left and some respite until we reached the railway bridge again.  Scott and Craig's words of encouragement were much appreciated as I reached the 8k mark.  I always argue that the 8-9k part of a 10k is the hardest, as the9-10k looks after itself.  Tonight was only different in the severity of just how hard that penultimate kilometre was.  As we descended from the brow of the railway bridge the energy sapping gale force wind and rain was straight inour faces and as I struggled I noticed a few fellow runners overtaking me.  I could see Li's yellow Giffnock North vest ahead in front of me and that provided me with the motivation to press onwards. 

This time the South Beach esplanade provided some shelter from the wind and the rain and as I reached the 9k marker I stepped up a gear.  As did the runner immediately in front of me!  There were about seven runners between me and Li at this point so I set myself a target of getting as close to her by the Finish line as possible.  I'm sure I was catching up with her but it was difficult to tell, as everyone else seemed to be pushing it in for the last kilometre as well.  I managed to overtake one guy and then another and another and some more, I didn't quite catch Li but was only one place and three seconds behind her at the Finish.  It had been a hard race, in dreadful conditions but it felt good to have had such a strong finish.

After mutual congratulations with Li and Peter and with the other Bella and Kilmarnock Runners, I handed in my chip collected my t-shirt etc and cheered the remaining Bella and Kilmarnock Runners over the Finish line, before heading into the hall for some much needed warmth.

As I chatted with my fellow runners it became clear that there had been some great results and new PBs despite the weather.  Not least of all Scott Johnston who finished in a great time of 43:18.

I had finished in 227th position in a timeof 45:07, my slowest 10k of the Season, therefore winning no points for the Club Championship!  But it was another race under my belt, I had beaten a few people that had beat me at the recent Tom Scott, Whangie Whiz and Culzean Castle races and the strong finish had given me confidence which should help me through some of the races that lie ahead.