With an early race start of 9.30am meant an even earlier start from EK leaving at 7.30am to get there for 8.30am to allow enough time to get race numbers and to warm up. At the start the weather was very pleasant with the sun out but not too warm kept cool by the sea breeze.
The race started at the swimming pool and heads west along the coast toward Faslane. There was a short, sharp climb just at Faslane and you turn at the Peace camp to head back toward the town. On the way back around mile 9 the race turns up into the town and another short climb before winding through the backstreets. Finally a downhill section and a turn to run east back to the finish. I passed the 3 mile mark about 23.5 mins and 6 mile mark about 47.47mins so I felt was on course for 1:45 target. With cooler weather conditions I think anyone in good shape can get a good time but we all felt we ran well half way and found the rest of the race hard as the sun’s heat intensified during the race with no shelter in any part of the route.
Stephen Phimister was 1st Harrier home in 1:31:38 which was about 3 mins down on his time last year,
followed by Alison Lessells in 1:42:34 and Richard Lawton with 1:12min pb (despite the heat) in 1:47:21.
Julie Beveridge’s sister Louise was running the race and achieved at time of 1:25:01.
For the juniors there was a 2k fun run and Stephen’s son Mark was flying the flag for the junior Harriers in that race. He was 3rd in his age group, under 11s’.
A small foot note, Scottish International runner Hayley Haining was competing in the Half for her club Kilbarchan AAC and was 2nd overall and 1st in her age group in a time of 1:15:42. Not many races you get the chance to run with a Commonwealth Games 2014 athlete.
Richard
Thanks to Richard for the report and well done to all.
Alan
No comments:
Post a Comment