North Ayrshire 10k

A small bunch of Harriers headed down the coast to Saltcoats for the North Ayrshire 10K. This is the second year of this race hosted by North Ayrshire Athletic Club.  The race takes in the three towns of Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenson. The course used this year was slightly different to that in 2015 but it was due to part of the promenade being shut last year. The course used this year was the original route intended for the race and is likely that this will be one for future years.  This race is set off in 'waves' i.e under 40 minutes were set off first. I was in the second 'wave' which was 40-45 minutes and this started a minute after the first 'wave'. This race is chip timed so despite starting later your time does not start until you cross the line.

The race starts on the running track and you run around the track before exiting the track and heading towards the promenade. The course is mainly flat although there were two notable hills with the first one half a mile in as we went over the railway bridge at Ardrossan South Beach. After that it was onto the promenade and you run the length of the promenade for about 4 kilometres. You then come to the new section of the promenade and you pass the water station on the way out and back (you run up to a cone and turn back). After this you leave the promenade and head along towards a golf course before a turn and up and over the second of the two hills. The final two kilometres are run along the old railway line and then you arrive back onto the track. Once back on the track you run pass the finish line and then you have a complete lap of the track before you finish.

All in this is a good organised race. There are a lot of marshals out on the course and NAAC have a traffic management company who stop the traffic at two points in the race where you need to cross roads. Although all four of us agreed that the weather was a bit too warm for our liking today.

Race results (all chip time):

Julie Beveridge : 41.06 (second female)
Marion O'Connor : 44.47 (1st Vet 50 female)
John Boyd : 46.51
Gordon McInally : 47.57

Julie