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In late 1986 Corstorphine Athletics Club was founded. We are commonly referred to as CAAC. We have athletes of all ages and abilities taking part and competing in a wide range of athletic events.
The Tour!!!!!!
Submitted by Jan-Bert on Sun, 25/07/2010 - 6:59pm
And we're off........ Six stages this year for good measure and I know what I felt like at the end of five last year! It wasn't pretty is all I will say. But then according to last year's calendar that isn't my strong point anyway. Still a rest and bit off running up and down the stands at Meadowbank on Saturday just set me up for this year's Tour.
My motivational coaching skills meant that most club members had pleaded with me to run again this year and I had relented. I told them they were all useless - well except from Grant and Chris - and they should just try a whole lot harder. It seemed to work (as I must say it normally does!), I didn't see most of my club mates for the first 3 miles as they had all sped off and left me at the back of the field. Little did they know this was my cunning plan. Not only was I determined to last the six races I also was equally determined to employ a for me completely novel approach. Starting slow and then trying to finish a bit faster. It seemed to work as I slowly worked my way through the field. I felt strong as I finished, lets see if I can say the same tomorrow or at the end of the week.
I had also brought along my own nutritionist who makes a lovely cup of tea and can pretend to make lovely brownies (they were really provided by Kathleen and were very nice indeed!). The race went pretty well for CAAC with a win for Chris and second place for Grant. Only one problem Chris will actually have to wear a top tomorrow! This year's Tour has it's own yellow jersey. I reckon others did equally well and the course was a great start to my 5th Tour and look forward (well kind of look forward) to the next 5 races!. The after race picnic was also very enjoyable (thanks Nick for the beer!) and of course no Tour will ever be the same without Ron and his own motivational commentary! Good to see you there!
Results are here http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_TeddyBear_results.htm
Good runs by a very big CAAC contingent. Just to think Grant and I were the only CAACers only 4 years ago......
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23 April 2005
22 hours 59 min
Off to a great start guys, keep it up
Hope your strategy works Jan ;-)
10 August 2004
1 week 5 days
Enjoyed day1, nice little route and the wind kept the heat from being too bad. Chocolate Brownies were first class and the beer was equally appreciated cheers Nick!
Some photos of Day 1 on this thread http://s2.excoboard.com/fifeac/58600/2214083
17 May 2006
12 hours 47 min
Some photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caac/sets/72157624460968709/detail/
Hopefully more to follow during the week.
12 February 2005
3 weeks 5 days
It's working! My new tactics are paying off. Starting slow and finishing slightly faster is catching on. I have persuaded Scott it is the way to go and he - for once - said he enjoyed a race. I am working on the others but they remain unconvinced. Grant for instance took off like a whippet which I could only see too well from the back of the peleton! I think Chris reluctantly thought that he best catch up with him and they sped off in the distance most probably with Chris saying: "what are you doing I thought are tactic today was do it the Jan way, start slow and then wind it up". I can only speculate on what Grant thinks of my new approach to running. He will learn it just takes some of them a bit longer...........it is sometimes a lonely place - being a wise old man.
The course was a trail race twice around the lake at Lochore Meadows. A pleasant course with very few long straights which meant (for me) that 6.5 miles seemed to be over pretty quickly. I know from coach Dave's comments that he has different ideas about the length of the course..... As this is a Tour and any gains and losses in time can become a bit of an obsession. Of course not for zen Jan - I only care about starting slow and finsihing strongly. But I know that Chris P is banking some early gains just in case! There is also plenty competition between the CAAC ladies (Corrie, Kerry and Susan) and coach Dave and as the Tour progresses this obsession with times and placing will increase. Another one two for CAAC was the outcome of todays race, with some good battles going on throughout the field. Chris P battling it out with Alex and Scott and Nick also having a close finish.
Post race baking provided by Kathleen was again greatly appreciated as was the beer (essential carbo-loading for tomorrow). Tomorrow it's the hill race and West Lomond for a change. Let's see if on a shorter hill race the new zen Jan approach reaps the same rewards. It's a great Tour so far and I reckon it can only get better! Well until Friday that is........... the Up Hell Time Trail is never fun and it's not like I will get a choice as to when I can start........or will I?
The results are here http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_LoopyLoch_results.htm another set of good runs!
17 May 2006
12 hours 47 min
Another great write up Jan! Well done everyone.
Overall results are here http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_overall2_results.htm
And a few more photos.
17 May 2006
12 hours 47 min
A log of Chris's Garmin Connect records of the races:
Race 1 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/41791074
Race 2 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/41963192
Race 3 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/42134768
30 November 2009
2 weeks 4 days
Looks like great fun in Fife.
Going really well everyone- keep it up.
Yella is definately your colour 'Contador' Chris, as opposed to skins on Stage 1. Remember its an extra day this year so keep it steady. Watch out for 'Schleck' Wilkie on the up hell time trial.
I reckon Coach Dave is secretly following the Dutchman's advice, but for the overall event and will gradually get quicker as the Tour progresses and move up the rankings to avoid the 'lantern rouge' within the CAAC contingent
Only time will tell...
12 February 2005
3 weeks 5 days
DAY 3
Another day on The Tour. It is brilliant this year! Well it is so far....... The chat in the car on the way to the wee Hill Race was all about the tactics that Chris and Grant would employ today. Chris was less then impressed with Grant's interpretation of sitting in the pack at the front on yesterday's trail race. So Grant was under strict team orders! However it is my understanding that in the race it was Chris this time who broke and did the whippet impression. Well that's how I saw it any way, because as I was drifting towards the hill in a Zen like state, COB was a little yellow dot right at the top of it! We CAACers really got this tactical racing down to a fine art. It is called run fast out and run even faster back!
Of course not me. I did try and persuade my fellow team mates to join me at the back but even Scott had gone back over to the dark side! Still although I started in my now familiar place the chat wasn't of the same quality today, most probably because we were running up hill and breathing was more important then uttering a word never mind a sentence. So early on I seemed to catch up with coach Dave and the CAAC 3. If I had not been in my trance like state this might have worried me - had I gone off too fast, would I be paying for this early burst of enthusiasm? But not today- it was sunny, a tad breezy and there was a big dark hill looming in the distance and I had a plan and even if the plan didn't work what is better then a short sharp hill run on tired and sore legs?
The competition and team rivalry is increasing by the day. We are becoming more aware of our placings and how many nanoseconds or minutes we are behind or in front of our closet rivals. This coupled with increasing fatigue, muscular pain and other niggles makes for interesting racing. The CAAC contingent put in another great performance today with a now expected one two from Chris and Grant followed by a battle between Chris P and Alex, which Alex edged. Scott followed close behind them - I reckon he's saving himself for the second half of the Tour - yes that's right there are 3 more races!!!! Nick was next and today I had him in my sights (long range ones but I could just about see him in front of me!). Susan definitely lived up to her hill running credentials with Corrie not too far behind. Coach Dave and Kerry found the course hard going but managed strong performances all the same.
Tomorrow is a rest day which some have interpreted as an opportunity to run a mile in the Meadows. Not me - I will be doing my yoga and meditation as I am now convinced I should be studying my running guru certificate level 1. Start at the back it is the only way. The Old Cart Horse is right - and I never ever thought I would ever say that!
If you want to see the results they are here http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_Lungbuster_results.htm and also the overall placings which are here http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_overall_results.htm
Thursday is the beach race at St Andrews can't wait to run in the soft sand with my sore legs! It's worth it though because you get a dip in the ice cold sea after and if you have tried hard enough some of us might even get an ice cream!
17 May 2006
12 hours 47 min
Couple more photos from today.
23 April 2005
22 hours 59 min
Well done guys halfway there. Second half should be really interesting. Time to see who has the grit when the going gets tough ;-) !!
Only 2 secs between Susan and coach Dave !!!!!
17 May 2006
12 hours 47 min
I've graphed every ones race and series position after each race.
I'll update the graphs as we do more races.
8 September 2008
2 weeks 4 days
DAY 4
The official Tour schedule had the day as a "rest day". For us Tourers who are not following the Zen of Jan a day without racing (& ice baths) is unthinkable so it was fortunate that the 3 x1 mile relays were on in the Meadows. At this point I need to make a small confession my CAAC vest was getting a well deserved rest & wash as I was running for the mighty SpringValley Harriers.
On my first run out for SpringValley Harriers disaster struck before we even made it to the starting line as our fetching maroon vests hadn't arrived from the printers. Fortunately our kind sponsors Ukios Bankas had a selection of spare maroon tops to choose from. Sartorial challenges, & barbed comments, overcome SVH lined up against Corstorphine No 1, Corstorphine K, Corstorphine Victoria H, Musselburgh Festival Week Spartans and number of "humorously" named HBT teams.
Now whilst there appears to have been some discussion as to Cob & Grants team tactics this week(& who seems to be ignoring them) it seemed to be a very simple instruction for Cob tonight. Go out fast & get faster before handing over to Grant for the 2nd leg and then BC for the glory leg. Shockingly SVH had similar tactics with myself getting the 1st leg, Gillian running leg 2 before Dean brought us home.
Once the race was under way all memories of West Lomond from the night before were banished and a very flat and thankfully short blast round the Meadows ensued. Cob running without his incredibly stylish yellow vest managed to snare the green vest (despite some faster times on the night being posted none were from fellow Tourers) and set up Corstorphine K to take a very respectable 4th place. Corstorphine No 1 adapting Jan's tactics finished leg 1 in 3rd place before moving up to 2nd place after leg 2 and grabbing 1st place on the final leg. SpringValley Harriers finished 16th overall & I believe 2nd mixed team.
Full results are available at http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/results-edinburgh-self-transcendence-3-x-1-mile-relays-wed-28-july-2010 .
Thankfully blogging duties will be resumed by Jan for the remainder of the Tour & I'll see everyone next week after the end of my 1st Tour.
10 August 2004
1 week 5 days
For all aspiring athletes out there note the starting poise of this specimen. Eyes whippet-like focussed on the rabbit, Toes pointed to attack and a lean that would be admired in Pisa. First class Wilkie! More photaes @ http://gallery.srichinmoyraces.org/great-britain/Scotland/3x1milerelays2...
12 February 2005
3 weeks 5 days
DAY 4 - A lovely sunny evening on the beach.
This years Tour is just getting better and better. Legs completely rested after a wee break and a bit of yoga meant that I was looking forward - well kind of looking forward - to the beach race! A lovely run along the West Sands mostly on firm sand although there is that bit round the corner where it all gets a bit softer and more difficult. Luckily today we had a big supporting contingent (Hendersons and Wilkies) including the master cake maker to give us excellent support!
As I was being driven by my nutrional advisor (she who makes a lovely cup of tea) I was not party to any team tactics for the sharp end of the race. I took it upon myself to suggest to Chris that Grant might like to win a race.......The graph shows that he was flat lining in that number 2 spot and was showing little improvement! Where as I for instance was showing steady improvement. The graph also shows that Nick has a obviously very responsible and busy job!
After what I thought was a warm up to be proud of - I think we must have jogged 400 yards we waited around for the start of what would be race 4 of 6. I really can't believe the Tour is going this quickly or that I am enjoying quite as much as I am! It's just not natural for me to be this enthused or positive. I am sure this might wear off about half way up the hill tomorrow, possibly even earlier. I took up what is now a customary position at the back of the field and tried in vain to persuade my club mates to join me. Perhaps chanting 'start at the back - it is the only way' in a slightly creepy voice is just not the technique to use.
The race followed a familiar pattern of personal battles throughout the field which every day is reaching a greater intensity possibly not helped by those who produce graphs and other comparatives such as a website which is showing who is making the biggest gains and losses in the race. Close battles as usual between members of the CAAC contingent. Grant taking the honors today storming to a well deserved win with Chris in 3rd - which is not going to look good on his graph! Magnificent performances by both. Alex and Chris P battling it out and Zen Jan this time trying to surprise Scott by catching up with him. Only for him to kick for home leaving me struggling to find any pace what so ever (not so Zen). I blame Brian the race organiser for distracting me earlier on in the race by first telling me I was running well, then just taking off proving that I was not running that well and then showing me his bare buttocks or was that one of those funny pants you can get in a joke shop? Nick was home next followed by Kerry, Dave, Susan and Corrie.
The results are here: http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_ChariotsofFire_results.htm the overall placings are here: http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_overall_results.htm
Of course no visit to the beach is complete unless you have a little dip in the sea and even Alex (eventually) managed a wee swim.......Grant missed out on this group dipping as he was most probably doing the course for the 4th time as a wee warm down. Kerry was the only sensible one and I have never ever seen her move so fast when Alex threatened to help her get into the water, I reckon a real sprinting talent going to waste.....
The Up Hill Time Trial next......... 2.25km of sheer and utter hell. Or with my new approach it's only a wee hill, I am feeling strong and can't wait for 7.30pm tomorrow!
27 January 2005
1 day 10 hours
Keep up the good work guys - Only 2 more to go .
Enjoying the race updates & photos.
Some cracking Personal Battles going on amongst the CAACers. It is getting very nip & tuck especially for Mr COB & Wilko ( only 28secs seperating them now - I think that the " Up Hellya" Hill race tomorrow is going to be a ( painful ) cracker .
Keep on running !
PS Nice picture of Scott W on the Portobello Website on Day 2 .
http://www.portobellorunners.co.uk/tof2.htm
10 August 2004
1 week 5 days
Perfect conditions at St.Andrews last night, in fact it was almost tropical. Mr Wilkie stormed the beach, real highlight was a the 'talent' though ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/baza/4841641831/in/set-72157624612049198/
23 August 2004
2 hours 20 min
It's down to the wire now between Cob and Grant! Well done to everyone so far - I'm getting tired just reading the reports. Good luck for the final two days.
Check out the photos on roadrunpics.com - there's a super one of the CAACers in the sea at St Andrews.
12 February 2005
3 weeks 5 days
DAY 5 - a long road up a never ending hill.
A short 2.25km burst up a hill that's all. This is the 5th year I have done this short trek up the hill and it just doesn't get any easier.
In my enthusiasm I had got myself to Falkland nice and early and had plenty of time to get myself in the right frame of 'I will start slowly and build it up' kind of mind. However once people started arriving the feeling of dread starting overtaking me. I remember this Up Hell Time Trial only too well. Still I was soon to be distracted by the offer of cuddling up to Grant and Chris in a very little car. So distracted that I forgot to take my vest to the top of the hill! Team tactics were not really discussed as it is an individual slog up the hill. You start off at the bottom and you got to near the top. Simple!
Luckily enough we had a strong supporting contingent provided by the Hendersons so we knew we could count and brilliant and very noisy support up the hill. Normally we also the Devil aka as Brian the race organiser waiting up the hill to encourage that last push to the finish. He had those distracting pans on again though so I reckon I might have lost some precious seconds........
Waiting around at the top I realised that this was never going to be a Zen Jan day. No starting at the back and seeing how it goes today. This was just Jan against Jan up a hill with a home made number. The happy campers - yes some CAACers were mad enough to go camping managed to just about arrive in time. And all trudged down. The race is organised so that 2 runners of varied ability are set off in 30sec intervals. We had a few CAAC pairings. Kerry and Alex setting off together and Chris P and Corrie. I had the pleasure of being paired with Alex in a previous tour so could tell Kerry all about the Alex's shocking lack of team spirit. He doesn't wait around he just sets off and does not help his slower team mates up that difficult hill one little bit. Shocking! The faster runners are set off later and Grant set off 1 minute ahead of Chris giving Chris something to aim for. Which he did and made up about 20 sec of the time he lost on Grant yesterday!
I believe everyone found today hard not helped by the fact this is the 5th race in 6 days. The banana loaf (provided by the tour master baker Kathleen) and beer were therefore especially appreciated! Last race tomorrow...... sad but true, of course there is the Scottish Gas 10k or Donkey Brae in case any of us are suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
Here are the results http://bcruickshank.brinkster.net/ToF_2010_UpHell_TT_results.htm .
Well done team CAAC!
12 February 2005
3 weeks 5 days
DAY 6 - oh no it's over what am I going to do with myself....
This Tour has been absolutely brilliant! Team CAAC has been absolutely brilliant! And I have found a new approach to racing which I rather like..........
I can't believe it - whereas last year I couldn't' wait for it to be all over - this year I am actually disappointed. Is this what a midlife crisis is? I am not sure what's happening to me...... I even have found some encouraging words for my fellow club members (well for some of them) when they were doubting their own abilities. Its all wrong! Hopefully come the club championships I will be back to my normal self otherwise Dean might have a real surprise and get positive motivational advice from me!
Today was the last race in the special edition series. A 5.6 mile multi-terrain jaunt near Strathmiglo. The course was somewhat daunting after yesterday's time trial as it basically started straight up a hill. On the warm up the legs where screaming 'stop you old fool, what do you think you are doing'! Luckily a sharp rain shower cut short the warm up and meant the legs could get rested a bit longer. This last race meant that final finishing positions were at stake. At the sharpest end of the race Grant had some 45sec to make up on Chris and we had discussed the previous evening that the only way that Grant was going to make up 45 sec was to offer to tie Chris's laces just before the race........ 4 secs separated Chris and Alex, and with Chris convincing himself that Alex was the stronger runner in the hills that was always going to be an interesting battle. We were all very aware of our placings and who we should try and stay ahead of or catch up with. Even quitely Zen Jan.
Still as usual I started at the back and even had the time and courtesy to say hello to Ron as I passed the start line. She who makes a lovely cup of tea told me to get a move on. The race was a climb through a field followed by a climb through a forest and then onto an undulating forest road, back onto a forest path (this time descending), then onto a road and back onto a path and finally the field. I picked my way through the field and even managed to catch up with Scott at some point although he only let me past for about 30sec before storming past again. I also had fellow tour veteran (in age and in number of tours) Colin from the Anster Haddies chasing me down. I managed to keep an eye on him and Scott though and managed to catch Colin again and was not far off Scott by the end of the race. Other battles were obviously happening all over the running field. Chris managing to hold off Grant for a now familiar one two finish for CAAC. Chris P holding off Alex. Nick, Scott and I making it a three man CAAC finish. Corrie coming home as the first CAAC lady followed by Kerry, then coach Dave and Susan. A though run to finish on.
Final results are for stage 6 are here http://s2.excoboard.com/fifeac/58600/2215667
Final CAAC placings were:
1 Christopher O'Brien Corstorphine AAC SM 02:40:14
2 Grant Wilkie Corstorphine AAC V40 02:41:09
22 Chris Peggie Corstorphine AAC SM 03:05:32
23 Alex Cumming Corstorphine AAC SM 03:06:02
32 Scott Williamson Corstorphine AAC SM 03:12:22
34 Nicholas Brown Corstorphine AAC SM 03:15:01
36 Jan-Bert van den Berg Corstorphine AAC V45 03:17:09
57 Kerry Porter Corstorphine AAC SL 03:28:00
58 Corrie Roberts Corstorphine AAC SL 03:28:22
61 David Henderson Corstorphine AAC V45 03:31:04
63 Susan Johnston Corstorphine AAC FV45 03:32:03
You were all awesome! I was just very Zen.
I had a great Tour and I will very definitely be doing it again next year. And if you haven't yet ever had the pleasure then go on - just do it (Keith!?)! You will love it. The cakes are just fantastic. Thanks Kathleen! The support brilliant thanks Lorna, Sarah, Rory, Alexander, Kenny, Kathleen and Joanna! And then of course there was the beer as well -great idea Nick!
And of course thanks to Fife AC and Brian 'the devil' Cruickshank!
6 February 2007
5 days 11 hours
Jan, now I know why you write the reports. Just like to echo the sentiments and say congratulations to Chris on being the first CAACer to win this title and well done to those first timers and those having another go - fantastic efforts.
It is always a great week in great company. For those contemplating have a search for the numerous photo sites they will give you an idea of what to expect.
17 May 2006
12 hours 47 min
I've updated the graphs above with Races 1-5. Will add the final race once I've got the results imported.
Photos from Chariots of Fire:
Photos from the Chicken Run:
The Winners:
Unfortunately I didn't get any photos from Up Hell Time Trial. I've also added a selection of other photos to Facebook http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=259199&id=538189971&l=044efd4de8
Well done everyone! See you all for next years tour.