The Scottish Invaders in New York

 

What do you do when you cannot make the World Track and Field Championships? That was the question Alex Bryce found himself wrestling with last summer. An unexpected change in the date of his daughters graduation ceremony meant that flights, accommodation, etc which had all been booked for Sacramento and resulting post championships holiday had to be cancelled. Even Alex couldn’t talk his way out of this occasion to allow him to run.

Occasional training partner, Gerry Starrs then mentions the 5th Avenue Mile, and the lure of transatlantic competition with the opportunity of appeasing his wife, Loraine with some big time retail therapy and a trip to the Big Apple as part of their Silver Wedding celebrations and the seed was sown.

The trip was mentioned to training partner Andy Ronald, struggling with injury since pre Ghent (European Indoor Champs) as an incentive to try and get fit and salvage the summer track season. When Kevin Downie was told at the Scottish Masters Track and Field Champs that the 5th Avenue mile was being thought of he went home to tell his wife Katrina, who having spent time living and working in the New England area and New York, that weekend booked flights and accommodation for herself and Kevin. The Scottish Invaders were born, and there was now no going back for Alex! Andy soon found the lure of a return to New York with partner Caroline Lawless enticing and started looking at flights and the possibility of turning the trip into their main holiday. At least the trip would be worth while even if he couldn’t run! Alex was soon all booked up and drawing up an itinerary of places to visit and see (probably to keep Loraine away from 5th Avenue!) and had mentioned the trip to his Border Games rival, Fife AC’s John Thomson. John being a keen traveller and competitor overseas was soon on board and the Invaders now numbered 7. The invasion started on various different flights on Thursday 22nd September and after a Friday of torrential rain we were left wondering why we had bothered coming all this way to run in Scottish weather! Alex’s organisation skills couldn’t plan the weather; however a good Italian and “Rock of Ages” on Broadway lifted our spirits (none partaken pre race) and kept our minds off the challenge ahead the next day.

We awoke on race day to near perfect conditions. Sunny blue skies, 73 degrees and 87% humidity and almost perfectly calm. The race turn out to be a huge extravaganza with races for kids’ right up to the 60+ plus masters age group and culminating in the elite races with fields packed with stars and medal winners from the Deagu World Championships. The masters races were in 10 year age bandings and all of the races were superbly organised with road closures, bag buses and finish control staff to make sure that despite chip timing you retrieved your bag, were given your goodies (drink, bagel and apple!) and moved away in plenty of time for other finishers and races. The races started at 8.45am with the under 12 to 14 race. With thousands of runners and spectators we some how all managed to meet up at the finish area, and began our course reece (ok mile walk to the start) which identified a steep short hill on the approach to the ½ mile marker.

Katrina was first in action and reminded us all of her previous track pedigree as she sped down the course in a very good 6min 04 secs to finish 28th lady in the large 30 to 39 field. Next up was husband Kevin and Andy in the 40 to 49 race. Kevin positioned himself right at the front of the narrow start with Andy doing well to get a position in the second row. If the race was this competitive it was going to be hard. After what seemed like ages the 5 minutes in the start pen had passed, the commentator went silent long enough for the starter to sound the starting horn and we were off with shouts on encouragement from our fellow invaders. Kevin was quickly into his running in the lead group following the leader’s very fast early pace. Andy was just behind and as the race settled passed Kevin after about ¼ of a mile. The pace like the weather was hot, could we keep this going? It had been sometime since we had both run this quickly. Both were well positioned in the top 10 and as the lack of training and racing started to tell on Andy, Kevin shot past with ¼ of a mile to go. Where had that come from? Despite rallying in the final 200m Andy could not close the gap on Kevin who finished an excellent 7th in 4 min 36.0 secs which was good enough for 30th position over all of the races. Andy finished just a few strides behind, 9th in 4 min 39.0 secs which was 39th overall and 26th on the age-graded performance tables. After congratulating each other and a brief chat on how amazingly fast the race had started, Kevin went off to find Katrina and I tried to find a spot to see the final three invaders in the 50 to 59 race. A great spot was found at the 1500m time clock on the road side facing Central Park. Within seconds the crossing point was closed again the commentator informed us they were on their way. As in previous races the crowd got louder and louder as the runners approached. I got pretty excited myself, when I saw Alex in our Invaders Saltire vest in second place only a metre behind the leader with about 400m to go. John was also recognisable with Fife AC on his club vest just a few metres further back. The sprint was on by the time they reached me. “Come on Alex! Relax! Come on! Come on John! Right through! Keep going!” they were past in a blur.  Alex was involved in dip finish. The race photos show him second but it appears home town favouritism ruled and he was awarded 3rd place in an amazing time of 4 min 43.0secs! What a run 60th overall and 7th on the age-grading with 90.8%. John held on for a brilliant 7th 4min 59.0 secs which was 148th overall. Caroline in her first “race” for several years ran extremely well to finish 17th lady in 6min 29.0 secs which placed her 79th on the age graded positions. The oldest lady was 81 and the oldest man was 95! amongst the 1795 finishers.

All pleased with our efforts it was time for a mile or two cooldown in the park while Loraine again kindly watched our gear before getting back for the elite races. The crowds were amazing and it was difficult to see the elite ladies coming. In a very tight finish, 0.3sec split the first 3 finishers; Jenny Simpson repeated her World Championships victory with Britain’s Hannah England finishing third. For the men’s race we decided to try my vantage point from earlier. Soon the lead vehicle with press hanging off the back speed past and the runners were upon us. As the crowd moved forward we were a good bit across the road as Bernard Lagat sprinted past eyeballs out straining for the line. His of 3 min 50.5 secs was over 3 seconds outside Sydney Maree’s course record which still stands from 1981, but the leaders looked like sprinters as they past. We were in for a treat as just like the open golf championship the stewards moved down 5th avenue to where we were standing with a rope and the police allowed the crowds on to the road behind the rope as the elite ladies and then men did a 100m loop of honour. The Invaders were in prime position as Lagat dished out High Fives in a great ending to a wonderful event. An afternoons shopping in Niketown and other running shops followed before the Invaders met to conquer the menu (and bar) at BB Kings where those with any energy left danced to South Side Johnny and the Asbury Dukes.