Killin 10k

Fine conditions and warm sunshine greeted a record field of over 400 for the 7th annual Killin 10k, starting at mid-day on Saturday. Richard Lawton was travelling through for this race as his big sister lives in Killin and he has competed here several times before. However, it was a surprise to see Russell Couper walking through the car park as I arrived, Russell having decided to enter just before the closing date on Thursday.

This counts as a local one for me although I had never done it before. Therefore the change to the start of the course this year made no difference to me but many who had done it previously were keen to point out that the start was now harder, the old course having been a 1km blast down Killin Main Street and on out of the village whereas the new course started in the park and headed up the main street across the main road bridge at the Falls of Dochart before making a sharp left onto a wide but rough trail onto the route of the old railway line, across the river again and eventually emerging back out onto the main road near the start. This loop meant that it was about 2km before we left the village on the main road and then turned left onto a gently ascending B road up the glen towards the hydro power station.

My intention was to use this as another training race ahead of the national trail championships next weekend and the international team XC trial a couple of weeks later. I hoped to run even effort throughout and feel good. Unfortunately the hope did not turn into reality as my legs were like lead from the start and only got worse at each up hill, of which there were many!  I just did too many hard sessions in training through the week I think. The reality was that the course was not that hilly (89m total ascent compared to over 200m total ascent in the SVHC Pollok Park 10k a few weeks ago) but it was a bit of a roller coaster with little in the way of flat running.

There were a good mix of club and non-club runners in the field and I could see that the large lead pack included many probably inexperienced runners that were going too fast over that first 2k. So, despite not feeling great, I hung off the back of the lead pack and gradually various runners blew up and came back to me when we hit the hills after 2k. At about the 6k mark, the road kicked up steeply past the hydro station but only for a few hundred metres and then we ran around a cone and headed onto a narrow road which gradually undulated back down to the village at the 9k mark. I had been on my own since about 7k, and was grateful to still be on my own for this final km as I was blowing out my ears. Finally, we turned sharp right up a soggy grass bank for 50m or so and into the park with a final 100m blast along an ash path to the finish line. I crossed the line in 8th overall and 1st M50 in a time of 38:02.

After collecting a very nice goody bag and medal, it was not long before Richard appeared out of the finishing chute, suffering a bit with the heat and hills but happy enough with his time of 47:18 in 68th position. We then met up with Richard's sister who proceeded to embarrass her "little brother". Before we knew it, Russell appeared behind us whilst we were watching the line. He must have sneaked in whilst we were chatting. Russell finished in 59:08 and also found the heat and hills a bit tough.

The prize  giving was not until 2pm so we had plenty of time to indulge in the charity soup, sandwich and home baking stalls in the McLaren Hall. I definitely balanced the energy spent in the race with cakes and sandwiches!

The prize winners and main race sponsors, Portnellan

The race prize list was sponsored by Callander's Wheels Cycles (the owners of the hostel we used for many years for the TTC but who are now focusing only on their cycle hire business) and I received a nice Craft long sleeve top (medium unfortunately, so long everywhere on me!). The race was won by Scott Brember of Central AC, an M40, in a course record (even compared to the old course) of 34:11. All in all, a great wee race on an accurately measured course. Just don't expect a PB!
Alan