Paisley 10k

Five harriers made the short journey to Paisley last Sunday having prepared for all weather eventualities contained in a typical Scottish summer forecast - extra tee-shirts, waterproof jackets and...sunglasses! Jim and I, having decided that club vests only were required, weren’t too downhearted when, right on cue and only a minute before the 10k was due to start, the rain began to fall. At least we wouldn’t overheat.

The pair of us somehow managed to get ourselves stuck behind a group of orange-shirted charity runners complete with collection buckets, it’s wonderful what they do but did they have to do it so near the front of the race? I spotted a gap, went for it, and found myself way ahead of Jim who (as he told me afterwards) panicked when he saw me heading into the distance and accelerated far too fast once he got the chance. 

Jim and I captured by Martin before our fast starts took their toll

A sub-seven minute first mile and a 7.04 second left him in oxygen debt only repaid by slowing to just under 7.30 pace for most of the remaining miles. Not that I was any better at judging my pace either, who knew that training for ultras and running 16 minute miles (and more!) could skew your judgement so badly? Just like Jim my first mile was also my fastest, we’ll have to practice this short stuff before we get the hang of it.

Most of the remainder of the race for me was an exercise in hanging on as best I could, painful though it was, until I regrouped a little and picked the pace up again at the 7k mark.

Jim running alongside SA chairman and WHWR director Ian Beattie, back on his old stomping ground. Jim was likely asking him why he added half a mile to this year's race!

Near the end there was a nasty wee kick up past a magnificent old church ( I couldn’t have been all that bad if I noticed the architecture!) and the museum before the welcome sight of a long steady downhill to the finish. I had just enough left in me to muster what may or may not have been a sprint and passed a few runners just as Martin was taking more photos and shouting welcome encouragement.

Kevin (almost) enjoying the downhill finish

John running his umpteenth Paisley 10k

Kevin was leading harrier in 41.12, a time I assume he was pleased with as he had said earlier he wanted a big improvement on his performance here last year. Jim came home in 45.10, me in 50.09 and John McBride in 55.33. A lesson to be learned is that both Jim and I would have achieved our targets (sub 45 and 50 respectively) had we started more conservatively.

Kai Wheeler ran the 3k ‘fun’ run (I don’t know why organisers feel obliged to use that word, is it ever really fun?) in a time of 12.28 to finish in an very impressive 68^th place from an enormous field of 1,189 finishers. Well done young man. 

The winners were Sean Fontana of Inverclyde in 31.40 and Morag Millar (who seems to win every race I see these days) of Central AC in 35.26.

Worth noting that the leading MV50-59 came home in 34.47 and fastest MV60 was 38.46, not much chance for the rest of us!

All photos are courtesy of Martin Howell and Kenny Phillips, big thanks are due to Martin for his support on the day.

The final sprint

At least I thought I was sprinting

One of four sightings of our trail race tee

I've also included the Scottish Running Guide report below;

Ahead of yesterday's Paisley 10K, runners would have been pondering the vagaries of the Scottish weather. Would a cooling breeze become a battle into the wind, a gentle drizzle turn into a downpour?

Fortunately conditions were favourable, if not perfect, for the 1,600 plus who lined up in the town's County Square. A pre-race warm-up and encouraging words from Bryan Burnett on the PA system and they were off.

The first kilometre saw the field turn back on itself so those in mid-division were able to catch the action at the head of affairs where Inverclyde AC, Shettleston Harriers, Kilbarchan AC and Central AC vests were prominent.

Runners had to work hard against the wind in the early stages although St. Mirren fans would have got a boost at around 3k as they passed their club's ground, and all runners would have relished the support of the enthusiastic policewoman at 4k.

That section was the most difficult with narrow stretches and puddles at the roadside kerb. However having negotiated the underpass just beyond half way runners were happy to get some wind assistance over the second half of the course.

They would also have enjoyed the cycle track section – flat, sheltered and on fast tarmac – as they made their way back to the town and the welcome sight of historic Paisley Abbey before being roared home by the town centre crowds.

Inverclyde AC's Sean Fontana (31:40) claimed first prize with teammate John Bell (31:48) in second; Shettleston Harrier Alasdair McLeod (32:19) filled the other podium spot.

In-form Morag Miller (Central AC) was fastest woman in 35:25 with Gemma Rankin (35:45) from local club Kilbarchan AAC second and Leeds AC's Lorna Young (35:52) third.

Post-race runners praised a well-organised event with great marshalling around the route, a Paisley-themed medal and a flat course.

The town's big running day of the year also included 3K Fun Run which attracted a 1,200 strong field of whom Sam Rice (Kilmarnock Harriers) and Katy Donnelly (Giffnock North AAC) proved the pick – 9:25 and 10:54 the winning times.

Hundreds of charity runners added welcomed colour and enthusiasm to the event, notably the big contingent from Erskine, the official Paisley 10K charity.