The White Stuff

Many people think that snow, ice and bikes don't mix, but with the recent arctic conditions accross the UK we've had to change our ideas!

The snow and ice at Cyclists V Harriers before Christmas provided the ideal conditions for the bikes, and we were able to charge hard and fast round the course (interspersed with running the tarmac sections very, very slowly) to a Walkers CC 1,3,4 & 5. Runner, Davie Miller managed to sneak in for 2nd place. I was really pleased to win the event again - 3rd time now in 17 years!

More ice was to come though, and the big snowfall got the ice tyres out of the garage to go riding round deserted snowy backroads, and icy country parks (even the top few metres of the tide were frozen at Irvine Beachpark!) These conditions proved ideal preparation for this week's Strathpuffer 24 hour, which although a thaw is forecast, is currently being cleared of around a metre of snow to allow the riders easier passage!

It is reasurring that some events manage to go ahead despite the weather, and a belief in the participants common sense, and proper preparations and graft by the organisers (I mean, digging a metre of snow off around 5km of singletrack - hardcore!) keeps the health and safety folk at bay.

Neil Walker

Turkey Trot 2009

This year was my 2^nd attempt at the 10k turkey trot held in Ayr however this years edition ended up being ran on the beach due to the ice. Now I have a lot of great places to go running in Stirling- theres great trails, a track and a lot of pavement to follow. The one thing we dont have is any sand.

So there I was doing my warm up on the beach, running on sand for the first time in 3 years. Theres a lot to think about- should I run on the hard but slightly wet stuff? Is it faster to run on the softer dry sand? Which line should I follow for I have no idea where the turn around point is at the other end? And will Ayr United football club mind us interruptin there game of beach football as 200 plus runners come hurtling by? I finally decided to give up thinking and just follow the person in front.

With the most basic of race plans the race began. It was 2laps of 5k out and back along Ayr beach and for 9.95k of that I followed the person in front. This was by far no way easy in fact it was probably one of the, if not the toughest experiences of my life. From 3ks onwards I felt that I was just hanging there hoping the pace would not go up. The final 2k`s was a series of the person leading making a surge, me losing a few steps and then clawing my way back up.

With 300metres to go I thought he had finally escaped me but I hung on 5metres back and then managed to edge back a metre at a time before I sneaked past with about 20 or so metres remaining. 33.36 for 10k on the beach was pretty good going.

The next day I convinced myself I deserved to pop into Walkers and picked up a new pair of Sidi cycling shoes- white since I`m of to spain soon and I hear white is all the rage over there.

David McNamee, International Triathlete

Antequerra

Antequerra, Spain was the location for the largest ever British triathlon camp with athletes ranging from the senior world champ to the more talented juniors- I fit in between somewhere. It was an odd warm weather camp with rain everyday, at least one bike crash a day and half the camp being sent home early as they came down with a vomiting bug. In fact just surviving the week became a success in itself. Amongst the carnage though there were some team time trials in the rain, 20k climbs in the rain, and an APR in the rain. The majority of us only brought out warm eather kit so wearing two jerseys at a time was the norm- we made it look cool.

It was good to get away to see exactly where my fitness sits. My swimming is a lot stronger than it was last year and I am running a lot better than I expected. Biking wise the aerobic fitness is there but the harder end stuff just seems to be missing.

So for the next two weeks there will be a lot of hard turbo sessions before I head out to Spain for a 3weeks for a camp where I will once again try and move everything on little by little.

Merry Christmas

David McNamee, International Triathlete

Irvine Beachpark Cyclocross

Well, 2nd time running the beach 'cross for Walkers Cycling Club, and what a day! Big turnout of riders and spectators (no doubt helped by the decent weather - just cold and windy this time!). The new course (shorter, more compact) went down well, with a mix of fast paths, run ups, grass, steep ups and downs and singletrack, plus a tiny wee bit of sand (200m or so!) to test everyones legs and lungs. I did feel a bit bad when I was told someone in the youth race was sobbing with the pain, but I'm trying to bring a bit of Belgium to Scotland!

The "saving private ryan" start was nothing if not memorable, not every day you get to race your bike on the beach, but a wee bit congested going up the dunes - we'll need a longer section on the beach in 2010 to thin them out!

Congratulations to Kenta Gallagher on his overall win - he was in a class of his own, and to everyone else who took part, everyone left a bit of themselves on the Ayrshire Coast!

After all was said and done I felt worse this year afterwards than last year (when I'd raced), completely done in, but super keen to race next season, and to put on the Beach 'Cross again!

Neil Walker

Ayrshire Champs

60seconds before the start of the Ayrshire cross country championships in Girvan the rain began to go with the wind and the cold temperatures. Much to everyone else` s disbelief I decide to add a long sleeve tee-shirt, woolly hat and gloves to my attire- it's the done thing in running that no matter how bad the conditions are you wear a club vest and shorts and nothing else. So there I was breaking the built up tradition.

The race itself measured 9.7k with only about 600metres of flattish running- you don't get such brutal courses anywhere else in Britain. It was the first time I have raced cross country in 2years and fist race of any kind in two months.

The first kilometre felt good as I settled in just behind the leader as we opened a gap on everyone else with me feeling slightly smug in my woolly hat as the rain and wind bit in. My lack of race fitness however began to show as I slipped back from the leader and was soon caught for 2^nd and left straggling in no mans lands. Thankfully between the surging uphill and controlled falling downhill I clawed my way back up onto the shoulder of 2^nd place as everyone` s pace dropped of. For the final 3k I sat there hiding in 3^rd until I managed to muster one final sprint to snatch 2^nd.

David Millar	Irvine	m40	1	35.54	Gold, 1st m40, 1st Team
David McNamee	U/A	m	2	37.10	Silver
Kerry Liam Wilson	Girvan	m	3	37.18	Bronze, 2nd Team
Billy Richardson	Irvine	m	4	37.59	1st team
Cameron Wilson	Kilmarnock	m20	5	38.11	1st m20, 3rd team
Jamie Findlay	Irvine	m	6	38.26	1st Team
Alex Allardyce	Irvine	m	7	39.05	1st team
Steve Daye	North Ayrshire	m	8	39.15
Pat Cullinane	Irvine	m	9	39.49
Brian McEwan	Kilmarnock	m40	10	40.04	3rd team

The top 10

David McNamee, International Triathlete

Building the Foundations

Building the foundations with the odd twist. Its now week four of winters training or `base training` and I am finally getting into some decent shape after my end of season break. The first few weeks are always the toughest- getting back to the early rises, cycling in the wet and running with tired legs.

There has been the odd adventure to keep things fresh and last weekend saw me running/walking up Ben Nevis- I have watched the race up Ben Nevis on television before but it's a hell of a lot harder than it looks. Also my survival pack of a galaxy and a bottle of coke didn't impress the seasoned climbers. That and my descending skills leave a lot to be desired- theres a certain part of your brain that you need to switch of before you hurtle yourself down a mountain.

The next few weeks look more of the same just trying to get myself fit and enjoying the time away from racing. I may head to the Kilmarnock cross country in a few weekends time to test the water.

David McNamee, International Triathlete

A Disastrous End

So there I was 18minutes into my World Championship debut and I had just been disqualified as I entered the first transition zone- I had taken my swim cap of at the turn around point in the swim for it was about to fall of on its own. A rule I had never heard about and a rule that has never been enforced. To say I felt hard done by was an understatement. I went on to finish the race with the little motivation I had left.

Overall my first World Championships were a great experience and it has gave me the confidence I am moving in the right direction and have came a long way in such a short period of time.

Two weeks on and after a final race for my French team I am on my rest week for the year and reflecting on the season. At my best I have shown that I can finish in the top20 at the highest level but more often than I would like my weaknesses have been exploited and I toil home a lot further back than I should be. Overall after doing a few international events I am ranked 69^th in the World. A big jump in the right direction but there is a lot of work to do.