Polaroid Sunglasses

Despite a very wet start to Sunday morning’s flagship event in the 2010 Polaroid Eyewear series, almost 1600 runners entered for the four separate running events. All age ranges were covered by the preschool to Primary 3, Senior primary, 5K fun run and 10k races. All races started and finished at Loch Lomond shores, the gateway to the National park, and the 5k and 10k races run through Balloch Country park on the shores of the Loch.

As always the staff of Polaroid Eyewear are strong supporters of the series, either by running or helping on the day.

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10/10 for Vector 99.

Declaring the pair the Editor’s Choice above other leading brands, Health & Fitness magazine were impressed with Vector’s adjustable arms, interchangeable lenses and comfortable fit. As the magazine says, ‘they make you look like a pro.’

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The Polaroid Eyewear team has successfully completed the Caledonian Challenge.

Eric Boinard, Technical Manager of Polaroid Eyewear, his wife Barbara and friend, Peter completed the gruelling walk – equivalent of a double marathon and walking up Ben Nevis twice-over. They finished the walk in an impressive 18 hours and 37 minutes, beating their own target time of 19 hours. Overall they finished a remarkable 19 out of 179 teams.

From taking part in this challenge, the Polaroid Eyewear team has so far raised over £2,000 for The Scottish Communities Foundation.

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The team arrive back in Glasgow.

We nailed it! 16 hours and 40 minutes after leaving Glen Brittle the Polaroid Eyewear Cycle Team arrived in Glasgow. With 12 hours and 10 minutes actual cycling time, we covered the 187 miles at an average speed of 15.5 mph, including the 9700 feet of hill climbs along the way.

Glen Brittle - a brutal climb!

Here’s how the day went. We started at our planned 0445 time, leaving the stunning Glen Brittle with the sun rising over the Cuillin Mountains.

Glen Brittle is a bit of a brutal climb – the steepest gradient of the day and a shock to the system after porridge, bananas and four hours sleep (at best – many thanks to the Italian visitors sharing the youth hostel). We cruised across Skye with our cycling sunglasses and the roads to ourselves, with the dawn chorus as a soundtrack, arriving at the ferry almost one and a half hours to spare.

The sun rising over the Cuillin Mountains.

The support team of Pete and Jan, Barbara and Evelyn kicked in straight away. While Pete, Jan and Barbara prepared and served breakfast, Team physio Evelyn started what would be a day long task to work on Eric’s dodgy knees.

Then leaving Mallaig disaster struck. My (six week old!) chain snapped tearing my rear gear off and buckling my rear wheel. Pete and Jan supplied me with the spare bike and then raced ahead to Oban to see if a cycle shop could repair it in time. With almost half an hour lost in changeover we set off on the Mallaig to Fort William Road.

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Clydebank 10K Start Line, Thursday 27 May 2010.

We are now half way through the 2010 Polaroid Eyewear Series, following Thursday’s event in Clydebank. A final 828 entrants, continuing the high levels for the series, enjoyed another warm and sunny evening for the run along the Forth and Clyde canal path.

Overall winner was Tsegezab Tewelde in a time of 29 minutes and 44 seconds, shown below being chased by club mate Amanual Hagos (and last week’s winner at Helensburgh).

The winner - Tsegezab Tewelde out in front on the sunny banks.

The first lady was once again Alison Docherty of Central Athletic Club in a time of 36 minutes and 18 seconds.

Alison Docherty takes 8 seconds off her previous week time!

The Series ‘Roadshow’ moves on again this Thursday to Dumbarton where with one week to go we have over 900 entrants. And whilst entries are now closed for that event, its not too late for the Vale of Leven events!

Enter the 5k or 10k races!

Thanks for reading, Paul Sheerin.

Paul reflecting on the reason for this challenge.

Welcome to the last Polaroid Eyewear cycle challenge update before the big event itself this Saturday. The training has stopped, the over-eating has started, and the final preparations were agreed tonight.

Its all gotten a little technical recently, with the focus moving to glycogen stores, complex carbs and optimum hydration rates, minimum intake of 400 calories per hour not including meals….not very 1962.

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Paul taking a break and not training, Xiamen area coast, China.

Welcome to this week’s Polaroid Eyewear cycle challenge update – team of colleagues cycling from Glenbrittle in Skye to Glasgow in one day. For the background and reasons why look at the previous posts on this blog page.

Its now 10 days to go until the date of the event itself, Saturday morning is ‘Last Chance Saloon’ for preparation. Last weeks training for me was severely disrupted by travelling to Asia with Polaroid Eyewear for the week and whilst I did make it to the gym bike 4 times, it’s not quite the same.

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Helensburgh 10K Start Line, Thursday 20 May 2010

The overall race winner was Amanuel Hagos, one of the Eritrean runners within Shettleston Harriers in a time of 30:37. First female was Alison Docherty of Central AC in a time of 36:26.

The Polaroid Eyewear Series is very clear in its aim that whilst it provides accurate and organised races for Elite athletes, 90% of the runners we cater for are there to enjoy their run and race against only themselves. In that respect it was fantastic to see the numbers involved out enjoying their sport, whatever their pace. Congratulations to all the runners.

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Loch Katrine from Stronachlachar on Paul Sheerin's route on the Polaroid Eyewear cycle challenge.

Welcome to this week’s Polaroid Eyewear cycle challenge update. It’s getting close to crunch time with the planned date now only three weeks on Saturday.

Last week I went for miles without a lot of hills, so this week it was miles and hills – delightful. Well actually it was – a chilly start at 0520 but blue skies and very light winds all the way. For one section of the route (around Lock Katrine) I cycled for 2 hours without passing or meeting a car through some glorious scenery.

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