Club News
March 30 World Cross days to remember for MAC
The World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh promised to deliver a weekend of phenomenal running - and the prediction was spot on.
Over the two days, the finest runners in the world were able to rub shoulders with their counterparts from across Scotland.
As forecast, the Africans - in particular, Motherwell AC's adopted nation Ethiopia - were magnificent over the testing Haggis Knowe course in Holyrood Park.
Athletes from across the world were given a taste of a Scottish welcome and the weather chipped in with its particular contribution, especially in late Sunday morning and early afternoon, just as the club's three runners - Brian McLinden, John Hughes and Mark Coyle - were completing the Welcome the World 5k up and round Arthur's Seat.
The busload of club members went on to cheer wildly as Ethiopian athletes more or less swept the board in the world championship races.
Unfortunately, the £500 prize for the best supporters didn't come MAC's way.
For two members, Clare Hughes and Richard Martin, it was a day to remember because they were flag carriers in the opening ceremony.
Clare's dad John also had a moment which will live with him forever.
He ran with the Ethiopian team for part of their warm-up but after his 5k battle with Arthur's Seat, he decided to leave the "experts" to it and returned to his normal running partners to share the experience.
On Saturday, MAC's young runners participated in the Welcome the World relays, during which many of them met their TV idol Raven.
They ran over a range of surfaces - road, cross-country and multi-terrain.
There are lots of pictures from the weekend on flickr and if you have any pictures you'd like to share with other club members, please email them to Mark Coyle.
March 28 Young Athletes League trials
Details are now available of the trials for the Team North Lanarkshire to compete in the Young Athletes League.
The trials will take place on Saturday April 5 on the track at Wishaw Leisure Centre, starting at 10am.
Athletes from Motherwell, Airdrie and Cumbernauld clubs will made up the team.
Click here for all the information.
On Sunday April 20, the Nithsdale AC Open Track and Field meeting takes place at the David Keswick Centre in Dumfries.
The entry form for the event is here.
March 25 World Cross bus pick-up plans
Plans for the bus trip to the World Cross-Country Championships in Edinburgh on Sunday have been finalised.
There's been a change to the original pick-up times so here's the confirmed version: 8am, Station Hotel, Carluke; 8.20am, Motherwell Civic Centre; 8.30am, Belziehill Farm.
The bus leaves Edinburgh at 4.30pm and there is no cost to members.
Full information about the day can be found here.
Be ready to raise the roof to try to win a £500 prize!
March 25 Park plod set for April guest run
Those members of a certain age will doubtless remember those revered gentlemen (and ladies) affectionately known as "parkies" - or in other words "park-keepers".
In honour of that noble profession, April's guest run has been dubbed "Chase the Parkie".
The truth is that we won't really be pursuing an elderly chap in a peaked cap and uniform ... but the event takes place in Bellahouston and Pollok Parks in Glasgow and that's a good enough connection.
There's a strong cultural flavour to this run, with a few well-known sights en route as well as Pollok Park's world-famous inhabitants, the "Toffee Coos".
All the details are in an information leaflet which you can find here.
In summary, the run is on Sunday April 6, beginning at approximately 10am from Bellahouston Leisure Centre car park and is about eight miles long.
More details from Mark Coyle.
March 25 Summer T&F fixture list
A list of summer Track & Field fixtures is now available and is online so parents can see meeting dates.
Click here to see the list.
Coaches will advise nearer the dates on whether or not the club plans to enter athletes or teams.
March 23 No half measures for MAC runners
Ten MAC runners competed in the third and longest championship event so far this year, the Alloa Half Marathon.
Fastest over the course, which is known for a tough hill towards the end, was Gerald Hartley whose chip time was 1.28.54.
Russell McCoull continued to post impressive times with a 1.29.31 finish, followed by Michael Hampson on 1.33.28 and Robert Owen on 1.37.58.