Renfrewshire 5 Mile Road Race

For whatever reason, I have found this winter the toughest I can remember. While no expert on the subject, we do appear to have been experiencing the type of mild and wet weather associated with global warming. I count my blessings though that I do not live in a flood affected area.

 

With the Armagh 5k only 2 days before the National Cross Country, I identified the Renfrewshire 5 Mile Road Race as a good alternative tune up race and a welcome break in training. I went into the race off the back of a normal full week's training, including a club cross country session of alternate 3 and 4 minute efforts the day before in driving, freezing rain at Glasgow's Kings Park. It was also my Dad's birthday and after the session he got his treat, a trip to Queen's Park's temporary home in Airdrie for Gus MacPherson's debut as our manager, a 0-0 draw with East Stirlingshire!

 

The following day, he got an even bigger treat, directing me safely down the Clyde Valley to the race venue. Entries were taken at the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club where a nice spread of food and drink was being laid on. It also had a homely looking bar which was securely closed off from prying eyes. In a nice touch, members of non-Renfrewshire clubs were only charged a £2 entry fee by virtue of being ineligible for prizes. Give me this ahead of the overpriced big city jogathons and their "goody bags" any day. Yes Great Scottish Run, I'm looking at you.

 

Thanks to the efforts of local club member and assistant Scottish endurance coach Mark Pollard, a strong field had been assembled. Among them were two Hawkins brothers, one (Derek) who conquered the marathon with more success than me to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and another (Callum) who is attempting to meet the 5000m qualifying time. Myself, Robert Gilroy, Ryan Thomson and new boy James Healy flew the Cambuslang flag.

 

The race started and finished in nearby Battery Park. Dry weather but with a strong wind passed for ideal conditions by recent standards though, being on the coast, I felt cold. I decided it wasn't a day for glitz and glamour and wrapped up with the usual top under the vest, gloves and a hat. We set off into the wind for a lap of the park. I put some previous experience to good use by sheltering behind others until the wind turned in our favour. Paul Sorrie took the early pace, leading Derek and Callum Hawkins, Andrew Douglas and one or two others.

Above: in the slipstream of Dougie Selman (144) and Neil Renault (177) with Mark Pollard (black and white vest) and Colin McKenzie (147) behind me. Photo courtesy of Kenny Phillips.

 

The course headed past the Boat Club onto the promenade where we ran out towards a block of flats then doubled back into the teeth of the gale. On the way out, I sought to establish a position I could hold onto when the wind turned against me. I moved ahead of Paul Sorrie, Neil Renault and Dougie Selman then caught up with Craig Ruddy who had dropped off the lead group. I was now clear in 4th place behind the breakaway group of the Hawkins brothers and Andrew Douglas. I ran without checking the watch but, judging by position, I was doing fine.

 

Shortly after the turn, Dougie overtook me and, for the first time, I was exposed to the wind. I tried to compensate by lengthening my stride and counting the runners coming the other way as a means of concentrating. The 4 ahead of me increased their gaps on me though Andrew also dropped behind the first two. I did however close the gap slightly on a climb off the promenade at the Boat Club. After that, I couldn't make up more ground.

 

The race concluded with another loop round the park, finishing at the Pavilion. I held on to 5th place to clock a quicker than expected time of 24:55. This was also a new personal best which, on such a windy day, astonished me. I was closer to the winner than I thought with Callum Hawkins running 23:58, 6 seconds clear of his brother. Andrew Douglas finished in 24:32 and Dougie Selman in 24:39. 6 seconds behind me, Neil Renault and Craig Ruddy finished in a dead heat with the former receiving the nod for 6th place ahead of the local man. The full Cambuslang results were:-

 

5th: Stuart Gibson, 24:55

8th: Robert Gilroy, 25:17

12th: Ryan Thomson, 26:09, 1st under 20

34th: James Healey, 29:35

 

After going out to cheer in Ian Goudie, who I'd chatted to pre-race, then  a warm down jog, my Dad and I retired to the Boat Club to indulge in their spread of soup, sandwiches, home baking and tea. The bar was still well protected. These down to earth, club organised races are the ones I like best. I'll definitely be back for the Renfrewshire 5.

Scottish Inter District Cross Country Championships, 11th January 2014





Photos courtesy of Paula Wilson.

 

As I got the train from Motherwell to Edinburgh on the morning of this race, I felt it was a litmus test. Consistent training in, at times, thoroughly horrible weather and an encouraging outing over 3000m on an indoor track suggested things were going the way they were supposed to but this would be my longest race since the West District Cross Country 5 weeks earlier and, indeed, only my second one at all since then.

 

A 7.30am rise wasn't ideal after a working week but represented a necessary evil to arrive at the capital's scenic Holyrood Park on time for the 11.35am race start. Sometimes you feel someone is looking after you since the weather was clear and dry and the underfoot conditions suited me. The 8km course comprised the same 4 laps as the previous year though with no log to hurdle this time. The part of the course however where the log previously lay was the windiest.

 

Generally, the race panned out with a satisfactory conclusion. I didn't quite have the pace to go with the rapid start but settled into a rhythm fairly quickly and slowly started picking off people who had been unable to maintain the initial pace.

Above: working through.

 

 

I could feel the benefit of training as, unlike the West race, I sustained a constant effort. I was being pursued by a group which included a previous winner, Murray Strain, and a new Cambuslang recruit, Kyle McLennan. Encouragingly I felt strong and, by the later stages, had pulled away, leaving me running in a bit of isolation with a gap in front and one behind.

 

 

Above: on the far right with a gap to the chasing pack lead by Murray Strain.

 

I maintained position and enjoyed the finishing straight to myself as I achieved a similar result to 2013, 12th (2 places down) out of 44 finishers in 27:01 (6 seconds quicker) and 3rd West runner (5th last year). After a tight battle at the front, Alex Hendry won in 25:50 with only 5 seconds separating the first 4 runners.

 

While still not quite where I want to be, I took a lot of positives from the race and enjoyed the day overall. Pass marks for the litmus test. I had moved forward from the previous month. With any luck, in another month, I'll have progressed again.

 

Some photos of all the days races (copyright protected) are here and results, including the international events, can be found here.