GLORIOUS DAY TO RACE

Well after an absence of racing for over a year we got the longest annual race on Calderglen Harriers calender back. The Brampton to Carlisle 10 miler. Great to see many events coming back. Bus booked, Dinner booked and entries done so off we headed to Brampton on a cold Sunday morning. On arrival the great debate was t shirt under vest or not but as race time approached the majority went for no t shirt. Warm ups done then the annual photo. A strange start to this year as the Sands centre at the finish is being refurbished the start and finish have been moved back about 80metres. Chaos ensued as they struggled to get the runners behind the new start line but eventually without any clear notice we were off. The usual calvary charge down the hill to the sharp turn at the bottom then heading out of Brampton. As we settled in after what for me was too fast a start for current fitness levels i could get to see how the race was going to pan out as small groups of Harriers came past. Karen, Ross, Ian and Chris were well ahead and would surely take our leading positions. David Wardrope had also moved away with a fast start but then Julie and Alison came past and looked like they would have a good race as they've been very competitive recently, then Kenny looking a bit more like his old self after recent injuries. It took 2 miles but the trio of Carly, Billy and Gerry came past and looked as though they would run as a group for at least the first half. That just left Julia behind at this stage but i knew she would run at a more even pace than i was likely to do. Up the first hill to 3 miles and although i lost some of the early time gained it wasnt as much as i had expected. Approaching 4miles and i could hear and feel a lace flapping about. Had to stop and tie it and really never got my pace going again. I wasnt losing loads but was experiencing a gradual drop off each mile. The rest where out of sight by midway but Julia had me in her sights although a long way off. Great work from Julia to gradually pull it back with that solid steady pacing eventually coming past at 8.5m on the uphill section. Time for the racing head to kick in and try to keep in touching distance till i get to the last mile push. Got to the finish just over a minute ahead of my target time so take that as i have ran slower on a few occasions on my previous runs. So how did they all finish. Breaking the 60mins with a PB Ross Mullen 58.17, Ian Tomb 60.14, Chris McCarron 60.57. We then had our leading Lady Karen Allen 71.31, David Wardrope 74.01, Kenny Leinster 77.37, Alison Lessells 79.34 pipping Julie Thomson 80.02, Claire McSorley 81.38, Gerry Mullen 82.10, Billy Buchanan 83.53, Carly Reid on her debut and getting a PB 84.22, Russell Couper 93.54 and Julia Whittle on her debut and getting a PB 94.14. We also had Stuart Gibson down with us running for Cambuslang and despite some recent injuries ran a great time of 58.14. After a few refreshments we made our way to Moffat for our post race meal then headed back to East Kilbride for 8pm. Roll on next year.