The event was timed with a new type of wrist strap mounted chip which elicited various comments, from myself included, about not having trained to wear two watch straps to the more imaginative suggestion of giving all the club's chip straps to me to wear. However, we soon dismissed all such worries and lined up for the up hill charge at the start. I started cautiously and, sure enough, within 150m I was breezing past all those who had started too fast. I had a fair few places to make up but was running comfortably, fully aware of the toughness of the course ahead. I soon established myself off the back of a pack of 3 and worked with them for the first half of the race until we crossed under the M8 having descended to that point at incredible speed. On the far side of the motorway, the course started to gradually climb again and this is where I found myself moving away with nobody in sight ahead. Just before we crossed the motorway again, I though I caught a glimpse of one runner ahead who looked to be struggling. However, I imagined that he was a straggler from the first pack and that I would really have to burst a blood vessel to catch him uphill in the final 3k and didn't think it was worth it. I was running very swiftly and comfortably at this point and really enjoying the feeling of pace through the forest. Finally we had 1km to go and I could just see the runner about 150m ahead but as I could hear nobody behind, I was happy just to cruise to the finish. On the line I nearly choked on the complementary fruit loaf but could see only the one runner in the finish pen. I thought for a while that I had perhaps wasted a chance to win the race, however, eventually, today, when the official results came out, I saw that I was actually 4th overall in a time of 38:36, a full 1:20 faster than last year, so I was very pleased with that (and first M50).
Next Harrier to cross the line was Jim Holmes in a fine 46:32, noting that this course is in no way comparable to a road 10k due to the severe undulations. Frances Maxwell ran strongly to finish in 47:55 although I note that the official results classify Frances as a Male Super Vet! In any case, today was a very competitive day for the FSV category with a strong contingent through from various Fife clubs. A rapidly improving George was next in, having shed some pounds through increased mileage in recent months and beginning to run well again, finishing in 51:13. Hugh Simpson is streaking away with the Grand Prix at the moment and did his championship chances no harm at all with a pre-holiday finish in 55:23. Russell Couper knew he was going to end up injured and so it came to pass within a short distance of the start when his calf tightened. However, Russell carried on to finish in 1:10:43.
We missed the prize giving, which has always been back in the school for the past 7 or 8 years we have been running the event. This year it was up on the course at the start/finish tent! When we eventually arrived there, they were packing everything away and did manage to retrieve my M50 prize. However, I was outdone by Frances, Jim and George who managed to blag spot prizes of a box of chocolates each. If you don't ask you don't get!
Well done to all for making the journey through. Full results here.
Alan
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