Unfamiliarity was the recurring theme for me at the Calderglen Harriers trail races at East Kilbride's Calderglen Park. Unfamiliar day (despite also racing the previous Friday, I don't normally run on Fridays), unfamiliar race (my first trail/multi terrain race since 2008), unfamiliar footwear (I would be wearing trail shoes bought last year which I had trained but not raced in) and unfamiliar feelings (I was being loudly tipped as race favourite, especially by the Calderglen posse marshalling at the finish). That said, I've trained on the trails countless times and was banking on home advantage seeing me through. Clubmate Robert Gilroy and experienced hillrunner Kenny Richmond were present and, with a few other east of Scotland runners not well known to me, I knew I'd need be on my toes.
I'd raced this twice before many moons ago. Firstly, as a just left school 17 year old Whitemoss athlete in the plookiness of adolescence in 2001, finishing 33rd out of 86 runners in a time of 44:43. One year on, in a Calderglen vest, I finished 40th out of 187 runners in 42:05. After that, I helped steward on different years when things like the race clashing with graduation day in 2005 didn't get in the way.
The route comprises a short loop near the entrance to the park, a longer, undulating trail out to Langlands, a trail loop around Langlands Industrial Estate then, provided you haven't been hit by a Sainsburys lorry going to or from the depot along the way, a shorter route back into the park to East Kilbride Sports Club and the finish. As the record field of just under 200 runners set off, it became apparent that time had dimmed my memory as the short loop was hillier and longer than I last remembered. At its conclusion, I had only just managed to work my way into 2nd behind Kenny after being caught out by a very fast start. Kenny also had a fair gap. While I did start to close it, I was working very hard to do so. At a bridge crossing at around 2-3km, I took the chance to move ahead.
Above: taking the lead tracked by Kenny Richmond (145) and Robert Gilroy (other side of the bridge).
In the lead I may have been but fluent I wasn't. The uneven trail surface, twists and turns and hazards, e.g. bridges, stairs, barriers, obstructed my rhythm and prevented me from building up any sort of commanding lead. As the course twisted and turned its way to Langlands, I glanced sideways to see Kenny and Robert running together. They would be pushing each other along while I was the sitting target. I kept attempting to replicate my hill sessions by running hard off the top of the hills. While it kept me in the lead, for the reasons stated, I wasn't pulling away. Robert in particular has had more recent experience of trail racing than me at the Scottish and UK Inter Counties races. As a previous participant and winner here as well, he remained a dangerous opponent.
Just before re-entering the trail, and as I passed the aforementioned Sainsburys depot, I was told I had about a 50m gap. Yikes, nowhere near enough. My attempts to up the ante were thwarted by encountering the last few runners still heading out. Another hazard but it's only courteous to afford everyone their chance to race. Once the crowds cleared, which in truth didn't take too long, I made a renewed effort to push on. I didn't need to look behind to know I was being chased. Around 2km from the finish, I came to a downhill stretch leading to the flat where I finally found my rhythm and stretched my legs out. Pity the race was now nearly finished. One last climb out the trail to kill my legs brought me out at Torrance House. All that remained was a fast, downhill finish on the grass.
Above: taking nothing for granted, pushing on in the home straight.
I felt completely drained on finishing in a time of 34:49, ensuring anyone with an each way on me got a return on their stakes. This is one tough course. No sooner had I stood up straight after catching my breath, Robert finished runner up in 35:13. An unknown quantity, Colin Thomas, was 3rd in 35:26. Robert and I immediately set about trying to recruit him. Kenny finished 4th in 35:56 followed by another East Kilbride based runner, Grant Baillie, in 36:42. In the ladies race, two east coast athletes, Edel Mooney and Scout Adkin edged out East Kilbride girl Louise Beveridge, living in Dundee and running for Liz McColgan's former club Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, who took the prize for 3rd lady in a time of 43:28.
The rewards were £80, a small trophy keepsake and, the coup de gras, the Jimmy Moore trophy. Jimmy was the head coach at East Kilbride AC then Calderglen Harriers on their formation and is now in his 80s. He was in attendance with his wife Myra to present the trophy. A nice wee moment.
Above: Jimmy Moore Memorial Trophy and the smaller momento behind it. This photo is my own.
The prizes didn't end there as a strong effort from George Pettit also sealed us the first team prize of £30 of vouchers each. I can't say I didn't get value from my entry fee. Well, that and horribly stiff legs all weekend. My thanks go to all at Calderglen Harriers for the warm welcome back.
We had a big contingent competing on the night. Full Cambuslang results are below.
1k
5th: Fearghus MacGregor, 4:14
3k
2nd: Struan Paton, 12:13
4th: Christopher McLew, 13:08
7th: Ruairidh MacGregor, 13:34
8th: Jonathan Anderson, 14:10
5k
3rd: Andrew Coulter, 16:36
10k
1st: Stuart Gibson, 34:49
2nd: Robert Gilroy, 35:13
12th: George Pettit, 38:49
19th: Robert Rossborough, 40:17
26th: Frank Hurley, 40:55- first M60
28th: Alick Walkinshaw, 40:58- first M50
33rd: Dan O'Connell, 41:49
For another take on the evening's races, courtesy of Calderglen's Alan Derrick,
click here.
