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The SRAC Gazette can reveal to it’s committed worldwide membership that it has quickly acted to overt the publication of a covert in house newsletter. It’s believed that there had been moves from within the ranks of the red vest hoped in yellow to somehow go back to the old styled SRC newsletter to be issued within the inner-circle of roadrunners. However the writers and editorial group of the SRAC Gazette quickly seized upon the chance to thwart any such nonsense with it’s own particular brand of news items and reports.
One Gazette reporter was overheard saying,” what these dinosaurs don’t understand, is the strength of the club right now. Aye, and best demonstrated throughout the X-C season by the coming together of “roadies” and “trackies” alike! I’m not sure that I can honestly say if I’ve ever seen so many pitching in and getting on with the job. (Ed. were you one of them…. no…. then just who were they… eh?) I mean surely no previous X-C co-ordinator can have had it half as easy as Malcolm Crate; he did practically nothing! You just ask him and see. Ed. at your own risk!).
The Gazette therefore cordially invites you all to sit down and enjoy a wee read. We know many of you will eagerly be scanning the pages just to see if you’ve been lucky enough to have a personal audience/introduction this issue with Mr Mickey T. Aiken!
The Gazette would like to take the opportunity at this time to extend sad condolences to one of our dearest 1st claimers on the mainland. In a move which may rock the club to it’s constitutional foundations the Gazette higherarchy have sanctioned the use of the F word for this issue in what is a very sad time for the sport. But the Gazette assures athletes not to worry about their sport for F------- sake!
Having twice referred to that most debased of words we now reveal for the first time in gazette history…Football!! At this very sad time for the “steel men” of Scottish football thoughts are with our own Jim Bruce and his beloved Motherwell F.C. Many of you will know Jim as that mad lover of islands half marathons and in particular the FAB HEB 3 or as a collector of fine Scotch malt whiskies. (In fact he is probably the only person with the full Heb 3 souvenir collection which has pride of place in it’s own display cabinet!) As the well-known Remington electric razor ad said, “ he liked it so much ….he joined the club!” srac, srac, srac.
In extending our thoughts to Jim and the plight of his beloved M.F.C. we would forewarn Jim of any false comforters, seeking personal gain! (Scotch Malt Whisky Society members in SRAC clothing spring to mind!
Club coach Ruairidh Ferguson turned surprise marathon man at this years London Marathon. Ruairidh’s preparation for the 26.2 mirrored his enthusiasm for the development of the young “sracettes” on track and x-country this season.
But questions remain unanswered about his London preparations in particular the “shoulder” stuff. (Ed. A very peculiar pre-race ritual.) Ruairidh is supposed to have dislocated the shoulder by an assault by a wee 9-year-old lassie at the long jump pit. Others say he’s been deliberately throwing it out as seen done by Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon in an attempt to give himself film star appeal! But Ruairidh claims the reason was an innocent high-5 celebration with the said lassie for a good effort at the long jump pit. Aye, right enough Mel, oh bye the way that blue paint on your face is frightening some of the kids!
But hey, what’s this about the second dislocation then Mel or should we say Kevin?
Seems our London man Ruairidh put it out again doing ARCHERY! Yeah just hell bent on some film star status… Ruairidh Prince of Thieves. One things for sure he did excellent to take /rob from the wealthy to give to the very needy of Asthma sufferers. A good effort in raising charity funds and an on target attempt in his debut marathon with a time of 4hrs 33.Ruairidh says he finished comfortably if he had not then perhaps he would have made the targeted 4:30!!
Veteran roadrunner Tony “Billy Ray” Robson having not long since completed
the Dublin Marathon decided to take part in this months Country
Music Nashville Marathon in the U.S. of A.
Tony the Nicky Fairburn of the club’s road running scene is well known for his keen ability to get “into character”, as witnessed in previous club floats on carnival day. But just why exactly he should want to enter this particular event is not fully known… the Gazette investigates!
Whispers have been heard from the Parkend/Holm area that Tony or “Billy Ray” as he prefers to be known amongst “his own” is regularly attending line dancing evenings! But wait for it, there’s worse to be revealed.
Taking part in four Dublin Marathons may seem all too innocent but what has come to light with the sensational line dancing revelations is that he’s also a Daniel O’Donnell fan. (Respectful requests for his efforts to running can be made through Isles FM on the Moonlight Shadow show…any number by Daniel.)
But as testimony to the rigors of line dancing and the trance like dancing at Daniels concerts T “Billy Ray” R has had an excellent reward for his country rhythmic running with a 4hrs 07m. Marathon. So well done from all at SRAC to “Billy Ray” we take our Stetsons of to you - y’hear!
Line dancing aside Billy Ray’s training regime also stands alone and certainly does not reflect any known schools of thought in marathon training.
The major part his schedule is done on grass and involves wheelbarrows and various crofting implements and this is where hill-reps take on a whole new meaning! Actual running is done only two days per week, Monday club session and long run on Sunday’s.
Tony “BR”, then works purely on strength including 40 times up croft/hill with wheelbarrow of shingle recovery should include picking 1kg of strawberries. His plyometric routine also holds to no set format as he finds that all too boring. His alternative suggestions are to pick any small field occupied by cattle and simply hop or bound around the field trying not to land in any cow pie. Tony does stress the importance of changing from leg to the other. Tony also reveals his greatest tip, which is the benefit of warm weather training. But no exotic foreign destinations are involved as he finds a hard days graft in the poly-tunnel is far more beneficial. The Gazette are trying to negotiate a deal for club runners to use this facility and “Billy Ray” assures us that he will not charge the rip-off prices as set by Tony Wade at NLSC.
Angus MacKay a crofters son himself and proud of his heritage along with girlfriend Mairi Crawford are thought to have followed Tony’s programme. But as yet there has been no feedback from their run in the Rotterdam Marathon.
Bookmakers were left seething as all bets were off at this years British Indoor Veterans Athletics Championships at Glasgow Kelvin Hall. SRAC’s Al Dunlop was the centre of the row as punters refused to put any money on the 800m. Long shanks has brushed all aside since becoming vets champion and his record is now on par with that of Michael Johnson!
Al was under severe pressure to pull out of the event to appease the Glasgow
bookies. But he refused to give into their pressure and decided to run in
the vest that is now commanding so much respect at Vet’s championships! The
outcome … come-on there was only ever going to be one winner! Congrats to
Alasdair who now will be focusing on the European Championships.
At a recently convened social outing the roadies of the club met to consider suggestions of possible races to attend en-mass this season.
Para Handy fan Domhnal MacDonald suggested the Crinan Canal Challenge. Fisher man Malky Crate opted for the Portsoy race Following the Herring. Doug Flett expressed his empathy with the Perth race The Two Inches 10k for reasons best only known to himself. Lover of the outdoors Bom MacKay was said to be fascinated with the Bedfordshire race The Mud Streak Tree Week Go For Oak 13k… mmm?
However all these greatly accepted suggestions were overruled and a decision was taken to make a special effort to get a big group to three events.
BARATHON July 7th. Non-refundable deposits to be paid to Shona eight are already committed at this point.
GREAT WILDERNESS CHALLENGE August 24th. 7, 13 or 25 walk/run. Contact Alex MacRae ASAP to guarantee an entry as this race is always over-subscribed 01445-731238.
MORAY MARATHON, HALF AND 10K. September 1st. (As suggested by I Gilbert)
NOTE: There has been a submission by Ian Gilbert for a new format to the club Championship (Details to follow if passed by committee) so get busy recording your seasons best times!
Also for this season club races will be put together as an in-house league emphasis being the more races you do the more points you’ll gain. So if your not attending club sessions then get along.
If you’ve not enjoyed the read thus far then now’s the time to pay ATTENTION!
The Half Marathon takes place this Saturday AND AS MUCH HELP AS POSIBLE IS REQUIRED.
The Town Hall has been booked for Friday night so we require volunteers for set-up, registration, and meeting runners from ferry as well as set-up of the start/finish area and much much more!
We need volunteers from 8am onwards on Saturday (don’t care if you do live over in Shawbost) which is only two hours before the event start after all !!
All club members are asked to bring along grub for the after race scoff. Baking, sandwiches, pies, pans of soup lets make a big effort to spoil our guests!
There will also be help required for “break down” after the race moran taing!
Dorcas has applied for funding and organised a track and field official’s course to take place on the 14th May. For the furtherance of T & F we will need expertise in these skills to officiate at our various T & F events. If you are interested or know of any armchair athletics fans that would like to get involved please contact Dorcas 830467.
The course will set us up with the basic skills required to officiate in T & F, you will have the choice to specialise in either, the course will involve practice and theory between 6:30-9pm.