COME RAIN OR SHINE

Yesterdays runs were strange.
At lunchtime through in the DGP my 6.7 mile run saw me go through three types of weather system - rain, sleet and snow - all at the same time! On the plus side the leafy boulevards along the side of the majestic Clyde were void of their usual dole-scum types out for an alfresco Buckfast brunch. It also meant a lack of fair-weather runners and moon-walk training women. Leaving the paths fairly clear for me and a handful of other loonies who venture out regardless.
On the down side, my kit bag weighed a hell of a lot more on the homeward journey as it now contained one set of sodden kit and a pair of sodden shoes.

Obviously I had spare kit for my night time club run. But, quite frankly, I should have just put on the wet gear as it was that wet last night I was soaked to the skin after about half a mile anyway. It was horrible last night ... that sort of fine persistent drizzle that just penetrates anything and leaves you soaked to the very core till even your soul is left like an old discarded dish cloth!

I'm not a fair weather runner. I will go out in all weathers - doesn't mean I have to enjoy it though!

Today's lunchtime run couldn't have been any different though. The sun was out (hands up those that remember the sun). There was very little wind... dare to hope that Spring is nearly here?
Anyway. The better weather encouraged me a bit, so it was on with the trail shoes before heading off into them-thar-hills. An eleven and a bit mile hike, up and round by the wind farm, through the access road they put in through the woods that brings you out just above Crichness then back home via Elmscleugh. Great fun. Great fun - except for the bit of road near the top of the large descent to Elmscleugh. Just where the farmer has an access to his field. The field with his massive pile of manure. The pile of manure that "leaks" and flows everywhere and forms a one inch deep puddle right over the road for about twenty metres... lovely!!

Turning into quite a high mileage week this week.

TODAYS LSD BODES WELL FOR MADNESS YET TO COME.

Did my LSD today.
Met up with Ian and did a 22.5 mile circuit that took in Spott, Stenton, East Linton, John Muir and finished off, just to make it "challenging" you understand, with a climb up and over Brunt Hill.
The pace was manageable and I didn't feel too bad until the last two mile to be honest, when the climb over the Brunt and then the short sharp climb from the ford up to our house just hit me.
Still. Pleased to get a run in that's in the twenties. I should be doing long runs fairly regularly. And I will be doing just that in two weeks time (all going to plan). But more about that nearer the time.

Sent off an application for the Northumberland Coastal Marathon in August. It's basically the Northumberland Coastal run.... times two! Starts at Alnwick goes north to Beadnell, turns ... and goes back. Not going to be one for a fast time I'm thinking. Hopefully we will get in as it's limited to 60 runners.

NEW STUFF

Picked up a few new albums on Monday.

I was through in the DGP and found myself flitting between offices for a meeting. The walk took me past a couple of record shops, and...well... it seemed rude not to..

First up was "Europa" the latest offering from Courtney Pine. First reactions? Well I do like it (a lot), but (oh jeeze there's a "but") this isn't like any other Courtney Pine album I've heard.

Pine is not one to stand still and through the years I've been listening to his stuff he's moved from relatively mainstream, though modern jazz, via reggae, sidetracked to calypso, explored a wee bit of that hip-hop nonsense and "mixing" as the youngsters call it and back to a more mainstream groove.

But this? It's verging on the world/folk/classical. It takes themes from all over Europe (and bits of Africa) and blends them together.
Pine foregoes the sax completely on this CD and sticks to bass clarinet, which only adds to the classical feel.
His previous albums have been pretty much like his live shows... he attempts to grab the listener by the neck and drag them onto the dancefloor. This is more of a "sit down, listen to this, think about it then tell me what you think" type of offering.
Previous albums have been instant hits with me. This, I'm confident, well end up like that... but it's a bit more of a slow burner.

Next up was Birdology "A Tribute To Charlie Parker". How many tribute records to Charlie Parker does one man need? Answer.. "All of them"! Bring them on. I'm a sucker for this sort of jazz.
I'm finding it hard to get a lot of details about this offering. From what I can get (woeful sleeve notes) Birdology was a now defunct French Jazz label, now bought over by Dreyfus Jazz. "Birdland" appears to be a "super group" comprising of some of the labels artists and includes Don Sickler (trumpet) Jackie McLean (alto) Johnny Griffin (tenor) Cecil Payne (baritone) Duke Jordan (piano) Ron Carter (bass) and Roy Haynes (drums). The tribute was recorded live in France in 89. One original "tribute" track and 5 covers of Bird classics.
It's good ... but it's not great. In an attempt to offend no one, they've inspired no one. Every track follows the same pattern. 7 piece band for a couple of choruses... sax solo...drum solo..bass solo... and so on and so on.
It becomes like a procession of show offs rather than a cohesive group playing off each others strengths.
Good album ... could have been outstanding.

Last up was the new Denys Baptiste "Identity By Subtraction". It's been 8 years since his last album ("Let Freedom Ring")! For this he's gone back to a basic quartet.

Apparently he didn't want to bring out a new album until he had something worth saying. Well if it took 8 years then, quite frankly, it was worth the wait! A really tight quartet who unlike Birdology give each other ideas and support. High quality, mellow, ballads to the fore on this collection.

One track on the album sounded as though it may be a bit gimmicky - "Harriotts Chariott - A Life In The Bass Line". It's a small interview with Coleridge Goode, bass player for Joe Harriott. In it he explains how he was influenced by the "walking bass" sound of Count Basie's bands and adopted that sound in his work with Joe Harriott. Over the interview the quartet improvise in the background (Rod Youngs on bass is good).

It's not a song... It's not "mixing"...It's not "rap"... but it works. The talking does not detract from the music and the music does not detract from the interview. Quirky, but it works really well.

HAPPILY DISAPPOINTED. LASSWADE 10

Jeeze I know it’s a tired old cliché… but it really doesn’t get any easier.

The Lasswade 10 mile race yesterday. One that I really “enjoy”.

We got there with loads of time. Picked up the numbers (despite me taking my entry confirmation for LAST years race!!), met up with Brian and went for a wee bit of a warm up.

“Warm” was not a word on many people’s lips yesterday at the start line. “Freezing”, “Bliddy cauld”, and “brass monkeys” were all in use, but I can’t really recall anyone complaining about being too warm!

A few words of wisdom from the starter. The gun went off… so, so did the runners.

Done this race enough to know that there is no point in “holding back” or trying to get “into a rhythm”. The first two and a bit miles are fast – the couple of miles after that are slow and hilly, so just go for it at the beginning and try to get some time in the bank.

The climb out of the “Glen” is tough, there is no getting away from that, but I do think it’s attained almost “legendary” or “mythical status” with some people doing this race that’s unwarranted. It IS tough, but it’s relatively short and over before you know it.

What I find worse is the climb out of Auchendinny, between 4 and 6 miles. Steep enough to be “tough” and it just seems to go on and on..

By the time I got to 6 miles at the farm steaddings I was at 37:06 But I know that the last three miles can be very quick. Still a chance to get under the hour.

Mile 6 – 7 was a hard struggle, but the last three are, as I remembered, quick. Mainly downhill, but not too steep. Just the right gradient to get into a good “groove”.

Coming up to the line it was going to be touch and go, till I got help from an unlikely source… At about 200m to go a spectator shouted to the HBT runner behind me “go on, you can take him…”. Result? Hackles went up and Mr Hay informed said spectator “can he f***”.

A mad sprint to the line ensured I did in fact beat Mr HBT and just scrapped under the hour (59:55).

Happy to get under an hour. However, I feel that I worked harder on that race yesterday than I have ever done on it so was slightly disappointed to be a wee bit slower than last year.

TOWNER AND FRESU

Off to a gig last night... Ralph Towner and Paolo Fresu, at the Queens Hall.
If I had to describe it in one word? "Excellent".
Towner on acoustic guitar and Fresu on flugelhorn and [mainly muted] trumpet.

A couple of Christmases ago I got the ECM recording they did as a gift and fell in love with it straight away ("Chiaroscuro"). Relaxed, laid back, ambient music of the first order. I'd maybe stop short of calling it pure "jazz" as such, as Towner plays guitar in the classical tradition. The album is almost all originals (Miles Davis "Blue in Green" being the one cover), but last nights gig had an extra couple of jazz influenced covers thrown in ("I Fall In Love Too Easily" was one of the highlights for me).
The time just flew in listening to this pair, and the audience were captivated. Both just sat on chairs on a near empty stage. There was no fancy lighting and very little in the way of amplification, but you could have heard a pin drop.
When musicians like these come to your area .... you go. You can't expect to see them regularly and just take the opportunity to see them while you can, so I'm glad I did but hope I get a chance again.

FEEL NO PAIN

Bit of “dry skin” on the old face this morning. So, not that I’m one of those there “meterosexuals” you understand, thought I’d bung on a bit of the old moisturiser. Oh yes.

Slather it on… a good skoosh into the hand then a vigorous rub. Not a bit like those eejits you see on the adverts.

Thing is..the “eejits” probably check the tube before applying.

Face now covered in Ibruprofen pain killer gel..

I feel all numb now L.

MARYHILL

Yesterday saw me through in the DGP, but once more up in my “old” office for a meeting - the beautiful Cowcaddens area of the DGP.

So a flat, fast 7.5 miles was in order up by the canal and out towards the ever lovely “Maryhill” district. Don’t know if it was partly the need to get back in a reasonable time (for the meeting) or just a desire to “let off steam” (said “meeting” was not a prospect I was looking forward to), but I managed round quicker than I’ve done that route before. Maybe not the best idea a few days before  a race - but it felt good at the time (and felt like the right thing to do at the time).

Lots of other runners out and about at that time of day. Quite enjoyed it.

Few other “meetings” coming up – so might revisit that route again.