Having missed the West District Cross Country Relay due to being in Durham for my aunt and uncle's golden wedding anniversary and being over my pursuit of Kenyan women around Glasgow, I was enthusiastic for a competitive outing. The Lanarkshire Road Relay at Drumpellier Park, Coatbridge fitted the bill. As I did for the George Cummings Relay, I viewed the race as part of training and went out a 5 mile jog in the morning. Before the George Cummings, the 5 miler took me 32:23. By uncanny co-incidence, the same run was completed again in 32:23. I sense a new pre-race superstition. Each time I run on the morning of a race, I'll need to do the same 5 mile route in that very time.
Dry but blustery conditions greeted those who gathered for the championship. A number of Cambuslang runners understandably sat this out after a hectic race schedule but, while we had no senior ladies team (sadly there were only 4 of them in all), we still lined up 2 complete mens teams. Each leg was 4km comprising an out and back course essentially from one end of the park to the other and back again. For the record, our A team claimed gold while the B team were a competitive 7th place out of 11 complete teams, only 9 seconds off 6th.
In the A team, George Pettit rose to the occasion with 5th place in 13:28, keeping us in contact with, amongst others, early pacesetters East Kilbride. With the fastest time of the day (12:02), Robert Gilroy hauled us into the lead which I managed to extend on 3rd leg with the 3rd fastest time of 12:22 (Shettleston's Paul Sorrie split us with 12:17 on last leg). Breaking my usual habit, I wore my training Garmin (I usually wear a stopwatch in races or occasionally no watch at all) since I had heard suspicions in previous years the course was slightly short. Following a hill session on the Thursday night, a 7.5 mile run home from work on the Friday night then the aforementioned 5 miler, I naturally felt a bit leg weary but pushed hard in the gusting wind and was pleasantly surprised with my time. The Garmin told me the route was exactly 4km(!) and I had run 4:51 for the first mile, 5:05 in the second mile then quickened again to approximately 4:52 pace during the last half mile. That will do fine. Jamie Reid has a tremendous distance running pedigree (see the link I've provided) and, now in his veteran years, is still capable of running very well and dishing out a bloody nose to unsuspecting rivals. He did what he needed to do, ignoring the attention of a loose dog in the later stages ("a Shettleston dog" quipped an onlooker) and closing the race out for us in a swift 12:49. Paul Sorrie brought Shettleston in for silver and Jamie Clements anchored an ever improving East Kilbride squad to bronze.
An experienced B team was lead out by Alick Walkinshaw (15:08), handing over to Barnie Gough (15:58) then Paul Thomson (13:44). Alasdair Murray finished the job off in 15:21.
In addition, earlier in the day, we had teams in the younger age groups. Notable performances came from the under 13 and 15 boys both winning silver.
After jogging another 3.5 miles to complete an 11 mile day, undoubted highlight of the day for me was a good bowl of thick lentil soup in the visitor centre café before the homeward journey.
As a footnote, the Lanarkshire AAA has sadly failed to elect a new committee, resulting in the need for an EGM. The failure puts the future of the Lanarkshire championship events, including this one, in doubt. While not in a position to contribute myself, one only hopes a solution can be found.
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