Round the Houses 10k

Some of the Harriers feeling the pre-race heat, particularly Frances who is on fire!

A fine squad of Harriers assembled on a cracking day for the annual Round the Houses 10k in Grangemouth today. Although often sunny on the day of this race, it is a very rare occasion when there is no wind. But today was one of those days. Fast times were therefore up for grabs on the flat course. Indeed several of the potential winners were predicting times close to 30 minutes.

With many of the Harriers having run the Alloa Half Marathon a week ago (and one having run considerably further), there were some tired legs lined up at the start in a field of many hundreds, but major pre-race excuse of the day was the potential hazard of running in un-tested Red Nose Day socks which all but one of the Harriers were sporting (spot the odd one out in the photo above). From the hooter, the field quickly strung out with the Harriers spread randomly in the pack.

On form Stephen Reilly was the leading Harrier from start to finish, running a very well controlled race to set his second pb in a week, recording 36:43, an U23 Bronze standard and taking him to the lead in the club scratch championship. Scot Hill was next in, expending the minimum possible effort to break 40 minutes, recording 39:59.99! Both Stephen and Scot look to be coming into nice form for the forthcoming London Marathon.

Stuart Waugh and Andy Henderson had their usual close battle, with Andy setting the early pace. But by the end Stuart had turned the tables and came home in 40:35 (M60 Gold Standard) with Andy close behind in 40:43 (M55 Silver Standard).

Julie Beveridge was another having a great run, not managing to catch her sister but setting a new pb of 42:59 and stretching her lead in both the Grand Prix and the scratch championships. Frances Maxwell is fresh from the apres ski and without the aid of gravity, propelled herself to a time of 45:14 (F45 Bronze Standard). Meanwhile, we were glad to see Katrina Downie not only back training with the club but setting a new pb today of 42:02, running unattached.

The war of words between David Wardrope and George Stewart continued right up to the start of the race. Despite starting off at the very back with the walkers, George was able to come home in front this week, finishing in 43:56 and regaining his lead in the Grand Prix. David was just back from a trip to the football in  Liverpool but still managed to beat his target time of 45 minutes, finishing in 44:45.

David Searil had the best excuse of the day for being tired having competed in the 33 mile Deeside Way race last weekend (5 hours 50 minutes, race report to follow). David finished today in 51:57. Russell Couper is not his usual self at the moment and again struggled, finishing in 59:26.

Well done to all. Some of my photos are here.
Alan