Liverpool Preview: In My Mersey Paradise

Race Report

It’s been a long cold lonely winter. Lots of miles covered, lots of gym sessions in the bag… all in preparation for Liverpool, the European Cross Country Trials held in the iconic Sefton Park every November. Training eight days a week in order to toe the line in the form of your life, Great Britain vests in contention. The Harie contingent at this years’ race is impressive. International and club athletes alike will assemble on the banks of the Mersey in that stunning shade of green. They will come together, right now, all with different goals but the unity and spirit of the Haries behind them.

 Starting with the boys, in the under 20 race we have Alex Carcas, donning a Scotland vest at this years’ trial off the back of his third place position at the National Short Course Championships. The real weight Alex is bearing on his shoulders isn’t the potential for a GB selection, but the imposing threat of his younger brother, Freddie, racing each other for the first time. Alex had better be on his toes as Freddie’s first semester training in Loughborough will see his arrival in Liverpool a statement to be feared. Get back to where you once belonged.

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Sky of Blue, Sea of Green: Braids 2017

Race Report

Braids 2017 certainly didn’t disappoint. The entire day, utterly spectacular. Faith in the running community didn’t once waver, as the determined hill lovers among us basked in the winter sunshine and left their all on the Braids Hills Golf Course. For a race that has been running annually for at least 15 years, both veterans and freshers assembled at King’s Buildings on that iconic November Saturday morning to get their hands on a number and equally as importantly, a ticket entitling them to dance the night away at the ceilidh. With less than 200 competing across both events in the first race in 2002, Saturday saw a considerable increase in the number of participants, with over 500 runners enjoying, embracing and exhausting themselves at the mercy of this picturesque golf course.

Buzzing – KB house filled with athletes fit to burst.

Raring to go – Warm ups completed, it was time to race.

All the spectators – keen to see who will come out on top.

Incline – putting fitness, tenacity and mental strength to the test.

Downhill – the final kilometre, an all-important sprint for the finish keeping the audience on their toes. Who is it flying through the trees?

Smiles – all round after crossing the line having given your all. Satisfied. What a run.

Posers

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Braids Buzz: A Preview for Tomorrow’s Action

Race Report

The excitement has been building. The competition growing all the more fierce with each day, getting closer to the pinnacle of the Haries racing calendar:

IT’S BRAIDS!

Saturday morning will see the arrival of Britain’s finest university running clubs and local club runners alike to take the Braids Hills Bridle Path by storm. For most Haries, a run round Braids is a crucial part of the week’s training – this race allowing the hill-lovers among us to flourish on a ‘proper’ cross country course, the altitude factor in abundance. Also, perhaps the wind factor, the mud factor and the ‘dig-deep’ factor. There’s something for everyone along the way, be it the rapid start, the incline, the technical descent…

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National XC Relays 2017

Race Report

The national cross country relays-one for the big hitters. Even world championship athlete, Jake Wightman made an appearance. He was a bit of an embarrassment though and looked a bit on the chubby side. Andrew Lawler and his friends Elisha De Mello and Michael Christoforou Kangaroo also turned up. It was a nice treat to see them.

Camaraderie within the team was high and it was great to see a mixture of experienced campaigners as well as a fresh batch of Haries in attendance. It was evident that the team was bursting with freshers as it took nearly twenty minutes and nearly twice as many people than normal to put up the tent.

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East District XC League-Stirling

Race Report

A sunny Stirling awaited us as we stepped off the train, eagerly anticipating a Saturday of proper cross country racing. Rachel had painstakingly planned for us to get off at Bridge of Allan and get a bus from there. Instead, we endured a 3 mile trek from the station to the university. Best laid plans and all that.

As we approached the course, the weather turned sour. True to the climate data for Stirling where the month of October experiences near peak rainfall of 157mm, we experienced a fair few of those millimetres.

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British Fell Relays 2017

Race Report

Parting from the safe confines of George Square on the same morning, a Haries Division instead turned southbound away from the smooth grass of Glamis and towards the knee-deep bog and ankle breaking terrain of Wales and Snowdonia.

Tackling the British Fell Relays Championships last year with one men’s team after a prolonged absence from the event, this year saw the club send three teams (two men’s and one women’s) to this exciting race.

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“When the hurlyburly’s done, when the battles lost and won”-East District Relays 17

Race Report

For this year’s bout of race reports, I will be delving into the world of graphs, charts and infographics. There will be no Jacob Adkin style ‘hashtagging’ in these reports. These stats will build in complexity throughout the academic year but for the first race of the cross-country season, I will start off simple:

Continue reading “When the hurlyburly’s done, when the battles lost and won”-East District Relays 17 →

Hills, Wheels, and 5k Thrills

Race Report

This week had lots of racing action so I thought I’d write a quick report highlighting the amazing achievements of all our members.

First up, Dumyat Hill Race. This took place on the beautifully sunny evening of the 3rd of May, with barely a cloud in the sky and only a very light breeze – ideal conditions for what is many people’s favourite (or at least, only) hill race of the year. A minibus and a car’s worth of Haries attended this race, which also doubles as the Scottish Student Sport Hill Running Champs. So, with the promise of some good views and maybe even a few medals, we set off up the 390m hill at 7pm sharp (perhaps too sharply for Sasha Chepelin, who’s pre-race toilet trip was very close for comfort). Continue reading Hills, Wheels, and 5k Thrills →

Round The Houses 2017: Men’s Overall Team Take Gold

Race Report

For full results, click here. Photography credit: Cameron Young

*Disclaimer: The results linked above published two different times, ‘Chip Result’ and ‘Finish Result’. I have based this report on the latter.

Even for the most dedicated road runners, Grangemouth has never been well-regarded for its scenery, especially when the race taking place there is a 10k plod under the grey, chimney-dotted skyline. Yet this has never deterred the Hare and Hounds, who turned out in great numbers to flash a bit of green in the spring sunshine. Continue reading Round The Houses 2017: Men’s Overall Team Take Gold →

Hill Running EDex

News

Saturday the 18th of March saw 16 students head out to the Pentland Hills, just south of Edinburgh, for a hill running trip led by the Hare & Hounds Running Club. The vast majority had never been out to the this beautiful area of countryside before, nor even consider run ning up a 500m+ high hill! But, buoyed by promises of good views and a casual pace, we headed out in excitement. We split into two groups, both following roughly the same 10km route: the first, slightly faster one, was lead by Alex (Men’s Captain), and the second was lead by Emily (Jogging Secretary). In both cases, there was plenty of resting at the top of hills, giving everyone a chance to regroup.pentlands 1

We first ran along some quite boggy trails at the foot of Allermuir Hill, where we encountered a group of pony trekkers, and also some highland coos. We then headed up Capelaw, the first proper hill, and into the centre of the Pentlands. After a run along the ridge and up Castlelaw (in some pretty nasty sleet), we headed back to climb all the way up Allermuir. It was then a case of going along another undulating ridge over to Caerketton, before descending the final, very steep, section of the hill, running past Hillend ski centre, and back to the car park.

The weather was forecast to stay dry, but alas it did not; the gentle drizzle partially clouded what are usually some wonderful views of hills stretching out for miles, and eventually turned into a downpour by the end of the run. Despite this, a great time was had by all, and it was a excellent way to spend a few hours on a Saturday morning. The home-baked brownies brought along by Australian exchange student Brendan no doubt helped too!
pentlands 2
Many thanks to the Sports Union’s EDex program for supporting the trip, and helping some newer runners experience a part of Edinburgh they wouldn’t otherwise usually visit! The Hare & Hounds Running Club is always open to people looking to take up running for the first time: our jogging group, lead by Emily Payne, goes out twice a week for easy runs around the city centre, and is open to anyone of any ability. You can find more information on our website here.