St Andrew's Hospice 18k

Strathclyde Park was the venue today for St Andrew’s Hospice Put Your Foot Down

charity runs covering distances of 6k, 12k or 18k. As there was registration on the day myself and Mark Saez decided we give it a go. It was a cracking day with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze but as the morning wore on perhaps just the wrong side of 20 degrees for us!

I’ve ran their race before when it was a straight 10k and numbers seemed to be down slightly which is a bit of a shame for such a worthwhile cause. Many of the Hospice volunteers are the same faces that you have seen at their events stretching back over many years.

Most of you will be familiar with the route having run many races at this venue but for us it was the first time we had ran anti-clockwise. Its a pretty flat course round the loch with just a few undulations on the far side.

We had decided on the 18k as a good training run being more than a 10 miler but less than a half marathon. The target was to see how close we were to half marathon pace with the Great Scottish half looming (and the torture of the TTC just round the corner).

It was a fast start for a couple of K then settled to something more sensible, the 18k race field being a bit strung out by the first 6k lap. By the time we completed another 6k the sun was blazing, both of us taking on water 4 times in a relatively short race gives you an idea of the heat.  We both struggled in the closing lap, falling from something near 10 mile pace to outside half marathon pace. Let’s blame the warm weather although lack of fast miles might be nearer the mark!

It was a chipped race but the results aren't out yet so going by watch times :

Stephen - 76 mins

Mark - 77 mins

Will update on positions etc when the results are published.

It was a good test to see where we were with a lot of running coming up. Finishing medal, water and more importantly tea, coffee and biscuits. Its probably more fun run than serious race but a couple of good club runners (plus me and Mark) thrown in for good measure.  A really enjoyable race and just what we both needed to judge the fitness levels. 

Stephen 

Thanks to Stephen for the report. Well done both using your initiative to use this race to support a great cause and get race fit. Looking forward to a race report from our Paisley 10k "buddies".
Alan