S. S. S.

Away down to Galashiels yesterday for another leg of the Borders Cross Country Series.
One or two slight changes to the course from the previous couple of years, but still a good un.
A couple of laps of a woodland walkway before heading out for a few hill climbs and a short spell up a muddy banking and through the woods before a short dash back along the path you set on.
During my, woefully inadequate, warm up I’d noticed that during the first couple of laps we had to cross a few duck-board type pathways and bridges. Quite narrow and they gave the place a bit of a sanitised “First World War Experience Theme Park” type feel. In reality I think these are placed there so that dog walkers don’t get their feet too dirty while they allow their lovely charges to be-spoil the woodland.
Anyway, from a runners point of view I saw them as potential bottlenecks and decided that the best way to avoid any jams was to try and get near the front early on…
All good in theory, but I think my early burst of effort cost me a bit in the later stages of the race.
Got in a wee group early on and just tried to hang in. Some of the climbs were real lung-busters and by the time we got to the home straight I was all in. Absolutely exhausted and sporting a frothy beard over my mouth and chin that consisted of the three “S”s – Sweat, Snot and Saliva!!
The route, apparently, clocked in at exactly five miles and I was fairly happy with my time of 34:22.
Strangely though this only gave me sixth place in my category. I say strange as I’ve only done three races so far in this series and in every one I’ve been sixth!
Perhaps I’ve just found my natural level.

FREDRIK NORDSTROM

Out last night to see the Fredrik Nordström Trio at The Lot down by the Grass Market.
Nordström on tenor sax, Palle Danielsson on double bass and Fredrik Rundqvist on drums.
This tour is to “promote” this trio’s second recorded offering, “Mayday”, the first being released about seven years ago (“Live At The Glen Miller Café”).
The earlier record was a selection of Jazz standards, but this outing sees them play a selection of original compositions, mainly by Nordström but one by Danielson, named after his cat “Mars” apparently.
I’ve listened to a lot by Nordström and I’m happy that when I finally got to see him live that this is the setup he was with. Not all, but a lot of, live jazz can be a bit sharper and edgier than it’s recorded equivalent. Playing live gives the musicians freer reign and does not burden them with so many time restraints. They get the option of “letting go” and experimenting. They probably feel a bit more confident to experiment as well, as even if some solos don’t quite come off how they hope, it’s unlikely that a live audience will pick up on this (unlike a recording that will be played again and again and every note can be picked up and commented on).
Whatever. As I say, in my opinion live jazz can be edgier. And some of Nordström’s early work is already on the edgy side….
This trio though play pretty much straight ahead modern jazz. There’s more than a hint of Sonny Rollin’s in Nordström’s playing.
The small intimate nature of The Lot seemed to bring out a nice little rapport between the band and the audience (as he announced the final number Fredrik basically said “ok we’ll come out and do another one..” even before the small appreciative crowd demanded it!).
The show (of two halves) was “bookended” both by covers and original pieces. During the first set the band played Kenny Wheeler’s “Everybody’s Song But My Own” as well as ending the first set with the original “Talk The Talk”.

The second set opened straight away with the fast paced original companion piece “Walk The Walk” before moving on to the wonderful Keith Jarrett number “My Song” (the one song I really wanted to hear- an all time favourite). Given that Danielsson played bass on the Keith Jarrett original, it’s perhaps no wonder that he got a wee bit free reign to solo on this, and Fredrik's biting tenor sax brought a new feel to it than the original ethereal sound of Jan Garbarek.
Fredrik Rundqvist performed more than admirably.
A great night out.

I CAN PUT UP WITH A "TWINGE"

One of those psychologically essential runs today at lunchtime.
In an even fouler mood than usual today, so it was nice to get out for a wee while in the *cough* "Dear Green Place".
Only it wasn’t green it was nice and white with a light covering of snow all the way along the walkway. Nice steady 6.7 miles. Still noticed a few other runners but not as many as you see when the weathers a bit better

Strange thing. I’ve been getting a bit of a "twinge" in my right knee lately. Nothing to get too worried about – it usually goes away while I’m warming up.
For those unfamiliar with the hierarchy of runners ailments a "twinge" is right at the bottom of the pile (certainly below a "niggle").
Anyway, as I say, it goes away after about half a mile or so warm up. It was there yesterday.
Most days I wear my road shoes (ASICS 1140’s for mild over pronators) but today I had my "neutral" MIZUNO trail shoes and my knee was completely "tickety boo".
Natures way I think of reminding me to get new shoes (and gait analysis).

Another reason it was good to get out at lunchtime is that I’m missing the running club’s interval session tonight to go to see Fredrik Nordstrom at The Lot.
Jazz? On a "school night"? Whatever next?

Bizarrely, now that I’m drinking water, my water looks more like Lucozade!!

I CAN PUT UP WITH A "TWINGE".

One of those psychologically essential runs today at lunchtime.

In an even fouler mood than usual today, so it was nice to get out for a wee while in the *cough* “Dear Green Place”.

Only it wasn’t green it was nice and white with a light covering of snow all the way along the walkway. Nice steady 6.7 miles. Still noticed a few other runners but not as many as you see when the weathers a bit better

Strange thing. I’ve been getting a bit of a “twinge” in my right knee lately. Nothing to get too worried about – it usually goes away while I’m warming up.

For those unfamiliar with the hierarchy of runners ailments a “twinge” is right at the bottom of the pile (certainly below a “niggle”).

Anyway, as I say, it goes away after about half a mile or so warm up. It was there yesterday.

Most days I wear my road shoes (ASICS 1140’s for mild over pronators) but today I had my “neutral” MIZUNO trail shoes and my knee was completely “tickety boo”.

Natures way I think of reminding me to get new shoes (and gait analysis).

Another reason it was good to get out at lunchtime is that I’m missing the running club’s interval session tonight to go to see Fredrik Nordstrom at The Lot.

Jazz? On a “school night”? Whatever next?

Bizarrely, now that I’m drinking water, my water looks more like Lucozade!!

CAULD

Woke up to more of that white stuff yesterday morning - the snow was back!
Not quite a "shitload" but enough to give the place a nice covering.
However, what this also meant, of course, was - it was cauld. Bliddy cauld.
This in itself wouldn't matter too much, but the night before (Monday) our oil filled electric heater that we have in the kitchen decided that, unlike Terry Pratchett, the time was right to simply slip away unaided.
Sadly no amount of specialist attention from me and my vast collection of DIY accessories could bring it back to life (a small screwdriver from a Christmas cracker and a bicycle "multi-tool").

Reduced yesterday morning to standing in the kitchen making the rolls and breakfast with the oven on fairly high and the door open to try and get a wee bit heat into my bones.
Anyhow it's all sorted now. Anne popped into a local hardware place on the way home for a new one. Thank god.
Glad we got it fixed as the kitchen is the last place in the house that I go to when I'm getting ready for a run. It's usually in there that I put on my shoes and have a last drink of water if I need it.
Nothing worse than getting ready for a run in the cold.


My involvement in the world of "sports science" has reached mid point. I now have finished my mysterious "sports drink" but have to continue for the same period of time replicating all the in depth weighing and noting of widdle colour but fueled on nothing more than tap water!

My kitchen may be freezing but my water has more than a hint of warm summer sand dunes about it.

KNEE DEEP IN THE NORTH SEA

Well, today saw me return to the world of competitive running - at last!
After injury, holidays then races being cancelled it was finally time to don vest, pin on number, warm up, stand in a line then test my metal against others....
The Berwick On Tweed leg of the Borders Cross Country series. And a cold, windy and wet experience it was. And I loved it!!
Usually at this event the tide is out, and for the first long straight section along the beach, then on the return, you are able to run down towards the waterline to take advantage of the firmer sand. Not today.
I don't know exactly when high tide was, but I'll bet it wasn't very long after the start of the race. So we were forced onto the softer rougher sand that just seems to take it out of the legs.
Still. It's a race and it's the same for everyone.
Along the beach, up a path to the cliff-top walkway then along there for a bit before turning and coming back the way you came. Only this time into a biting cold headwind.
On the way back I was trying desperately to catch a couple of guys ahead of me so I thought I would try to find some firm sand. Mistake!
Moved down a wee bit towards the water - just in time for a big wave to crash into my right hand side and right over me up to my dangly bits. Very refreshing.
Happy enough with my time (29:57) but I'll have to see the results to get an idea of how I did compared to others.
Main thing is. I'm back. Another cross country next wee, then a 20 miler in Kesswick the week after that.

LOOKING UP

Friday was quite a good day. Not only for me but also for my little friend the inner jazz fiend.

Found myself in the Record Shak - one of Edinburgh's better second hand CD shops, with quite a substantial and reasonably priced jazz section.

As I said before the jazz fiend was still upset at having to "choose" between running 13.1 miles round Inverness in March or going off to see Dan Berglund at the Queens Hall the night before. He needed cheering up.....

First thing to catch my beady little eye was an Alan Barnes CD "If You Could See Me Now". I can't get enough of Alan Barnes. One of the UK's most consistently good saxophonists I've yet to find one of his offerings that disappoints. This one sees him exclusively on alto sax (being a multi reeds man he often chops and changes within a single album). 11 tunes on this that are all covers but a personal favourite here is Bud Powell's "Bouncin' With Bud". A nice fast paced boppish number with a really good duet interlude with Barnes and piano player Jim Watson.

This CD is on the Zephyr label an independent from Portsmouth who appeared to be very active in the late 90's and first few years of the 2000's. Sadly, I can't seem to find any new releases from them (this one dates from 2002) or even find a web site for them. I fear they may have gone out of business. An all too familiar tale.

Anyway. I also saw an early "live" recording by Roy Hargrove ("Of Kindred Souls"). Well... I just couldn't let that go!

Much more mainstream than most of the other Hargrove albums I've got and certainly more so than when I saw him live last year. But you can still make out his "sound" on this album that dates from 93 and captures the quintet as they were starting off and finding their feet.

Came out of the Record Shack and went across the road into a nearby Oxfam shop.... Gerry Mulligan and his Concert Jazz Band on the splendid "Compact Jazz" series. Oh happy, happy day. The fiend was in his little element .... or so he thought.

Because, later, I was informed by my co-jazz-collector Mr Brown that Dan Berglund is playing in Newcastle a fortnight after the Edinburgh gig. On the Saturady, in the afternoon.

A quick look at train timetables informs me that a train down to Newcastle - a gig - then a train home should be achievable! :-)

Things are looking up!