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Kingdom's Blog

Posts tagged with 'tour-of-fife'


Tour of Fife Day 6 - The End

August 1st, 2010

The called it the Twisted Chicken and how apt as they sent us up the hill behind Strathmiglo for one final ascent. I believe we climbed 450 feet (800 in total with the ascents and descents) in the first mile and a bit. As it was the last race of the Tour it was one where everyone could just go for it safe in the knowledge that they didn’t have to race again…. well apart from the folk doing the hill race this morning. For my part I climbed every hill as best I could and opened up on the downhills but the week had taken its toll and the lower leg muscles were lacking life as we ran the mile from 3.5 miles. Always one for the grandstand finish I went for it on the final run downhill to the end, spurred on by the noise of the runners that had already finished and the sudden rush of adrenaline. I ached so much as I crossed the line by it was so worth it just to feel that sense of pride and achievement.

Now if you wonder why we all do this I can report that it’s got to be in part due to the post race cakes. I’ve experienced this once before at last years Graham Clark Memorial race and I can assure you that Fife AC provided an excellent spread. There was more than enough sweet treats to make up for the abuse that I’d given my body this week.

So that’s it - 27.11 miles covered over 6 races and I’ve proved it can be done but there’s no rest now as we prepare for the Forth Bridge 10K next Sunday. One final word of appreciation to the marshals, photographers, innocent bystanders and other Tour competitors for all their kind words and support over the week. I worried that it might be clique and that the club runners would stick together but nothing could be further from the truth. I met some genuinely nice people this week and I look forward to bumping into them at other races over the next year.

The Tour is done but I already know I’ll be entering next year. Like the Black Rock 5, the Strathcarron Hospice 10K and the Stranraer 10K, I can see this becoming an annual event for me. Bring on 2011!

by Ali
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Tour of Fife - Day 4 Preview

July 29th, 2010

I’m sitting watching Jedward on This Morning performing their new single and, as much as I don’t really like the Jedward phenomenum, I’m thinking that I could do with their energy. Seriously - they’ve just jumped up and down for 4 mins!

Yesterday was the rest day on the Tour and it came at the right time. While the muscles didn’t feel too bad, I think the stomach was complaining about the abuse it’s been getting. I say the muscles didn’t feel too bad, that was until I attempted to run up stairs to catch a train and realised that my calf muscles fairly took a pounding on Tuesday. They’re the muscles at the back of your lower leg and if you’re not sensible while running up hills, you can over stretch them. This is exactly what I did - I lost my footing going up the hill and ended up over stretching them. It’s the equivalent of standing upright then leaning forward while keeping your feet flat on the floor. Give that a try and see how quickly you start to hurt (stop when it starts to hurt - I don’t want injuries).

Tonight we’re off to St Andrews and the beach race. There are 2 races that are worth viewing and this is the second of them. I imagine the sight of 150 or so runners stretching out along the beach at St Andrews will be pretty memorable. As one of the runners bringing up the rear I’ll get to see it - something that the leaders miss out on. I’m pretty sure they can live with that. If you’re around St Andrews tonight then we’re running along the West Beach from 7.45pm and if you fancy a dip afterwards you’re more than welcome to join us. I’m told it’s mandatory and I’m not wanting to incur the wrath of my new running friends.

By the way the other race worth viewing was the Lungbuster - the sight of runners climbing West Lomond is something that’ll stay with me for a long time. The Vodcast is back tomorrow but if you’ve missed the previous ones then you’ll find them here at You Tube. 

by Ali
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Tour of Fife - Day 3

July 28th, 2010

Ah, the Lomonds Lungbuster… the race I was dreading and it almost was a really good race. Actually it was a really good race except for just before the end but, hey, what’s done can’t be undone now. If you’ve never walked up West Lomond I’d encourage you to do so especially on a sunny day. The view from the top is amazing not that I had time to appreciate it but I’m pretty sure you can see the whole of Fife from up there. Once this race series is done, I’m going back up there but at walking pace.

Anyway, the second half of the race was better than I thought it might be. The first part racing to the top was every bit as hard as you’d imagine but the descent was alright. It was like having a fresh pair of legs and I made up some ground. I’ve always liked hills in race because for every uphill there’s normally a downhill section where you can let gravity help you.

Today’s a rest day and a chance to catch up with some other stuff I need to do this week while I’m off work. If nothing else, I’m looking forward to eating dinner at a normal time tonight. This eating after 10pm can’t be doing me any good!

Tomorrow we’ll look ahead to Day 4 of the tour and a race that you might want to consider coming out to see. As ever the Tour vodcast is on YouTube. It’ll be there just before 3pm today.

by Ali
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Tour of Fife - Day 1

July 26th, 2010

On Saturday I wrote about what I’m getting up to this week. Yesterday was Day 1 of the Tour - the Teddy Bear race at Giffordtown. If you can imagine getting into a sauna wearing a winter outfit and then running then you’ll have an idea what it was like running the 5 miles. The winner (and tour leader) took the sensible option of running bare chested (although how you’re meant to pin your number on …..) but then he had the appropriate shape for it. Not sure anyone wants to see me do the same.

The details are on the vlog which you’ll find here. Tonight it’s the Loopy Loch Trail Race, Lochore Meadows which is around 6 miles long so slightly longer than yesterday and with slightly tired legs but since we’re starting at 7.30pm it should be cooler and more bearable.

It’s 1 race down, 5 to go and still feeling alright.

by Ali
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Tour of Fife

July 24th, 2010

This weekend the Tour de France cycle race concludes in Paris but closer to home the Tour of Fife gets underway in Giffordtown. It’s the 10th Anniversary of the event which attracts amateur athletes from across Fife and beyond as they compete in 6 races over 7 days. Like the cycling equivalent the Tour tests the athletes abilities across many course types from flat, undulating races through hill races, time trials and even a race along St Andrews beach.

Now I say atheletes,… it’s 149 finely toned fit people and me this year. Don’t ask why but for some reason I decided that I should enter. Perhaps it’s the challenge, perhaps it’s the promise of cakes at the post race event next weekend, whatever it is I’m part of the elite group. This event was sold out almost as soon as the entries opened online. It’s like the Forth Bridge 10K which takes place in a fortnight – people seem to love taking part.

Now I’m not back on air for a fortnight but I thought it would be interesting to chart my progress so I’ll be posting a blog here each day for the next week plus you can follow my updates in my video blog at You Tube. The first update is there already.

More details:

Fife Athletics Website – http://www.fifeac.co.uk

Date Race Start Distance Venue
25th July Teddy Bear Race 2.00pm 5 miles Village Hall, Giffordtown
26th July Loopy Loch Race 7.30pm 6 miles Lochore Meadows Country Park.
27th July Lungbuster Hill Race 7.30pm 4 miles Craigmead Car Park, by Falkland.
28th July REST DAY
29th July Chariots of Fire 7.45pm 4 miles West Sands, St.Andrews.
30th July Up Hell Time Trial 7.30pm 2.25 km Mast Car Park, East Lomond.
31st July The Chicken Run 2.00pm 5 miles Village Hall, Strathmiglo.
by Ali
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