Kilmacolm Half Marathon Race Report

Three Harriers headed to Inverclyde to take part in the Kilmacolm Half Marathon.  From pre-race discussions it sounded as if we were all using this as a build-up to forthcoming races with the chance for us to get a faster paced run in.

This race is part of the Kilmacolm Running festival with there also being a 3K race for adults and kids and a 10K.  The race started from Birkmyre Park, a venue which quite a few Harriers will be familiar with as this has been used as a venue for the West District cross country relays in the last few years.

The race itself starts off heading through the local streets before going out into the countryside and eventually onto a cycle path which is part of the Paisley and Clyde Railway Path which runs from Paisley down to Greenock.  The cycle path follows the route of the old railway line.  The course itself is an out-and-back route which turns at Bridge of Weir. I do remember at one point passing some model soldiers and would be interested to know what they were there for.  While this seemed quite a flat route it was noticeable from the Garmin how the elevation changed and I did find it more difficult on the back section.  Here is the elevation profile:

Considering it was raining early in the morning and later on in the afternoon we were very lucky to get dry, cool conditions for the race, running into a slight headwind on the downhill section back into Kilmacolm.  The race had plenty of water stations with both water and Lucazade available.  It was also well marshalled.

The times for the Harriers were (all chip time):

Julie Beveridge - 1.29.08 - 1st Female
Jim Mearns - 1.45.12
David Searil - 2.03.00

There was a t-shirt for all entrants in the three races and while this was a small race the organisers (Inverclyde Leisure) had a separate t-shirt for each race - each a different colour and showing the distance you had run i.e. half marathon, 10K.  I thought this was a nice touch. Thank goodness I entered the half marathon and not the 3K - green is not my colour and much preferred the red t-shirt I got (the 10K was blue for anyone interested).  For any football fanatics out there the prize giving was done by Chris Miller and Jim McAlister of Greenock Morton FC.

The cafe in the park had a BBQ which I had eyed-up pre-race and before setting off home I made my way there for a hot dog!

All in a good morning, enjoyable run, well organised...and very pleased to dip under 1.30!

Julie