Tom Scott Memorial 10 Mile Road Race, 8th April 2012

Easter Sunday. What better way to spend the morning than have a stroll in the park. Walk the dog. Feed the ducks. Have a cuppa afterwards. Such tranquility was spoiled for many at Strathclyde Park as I and almost 300 others perched up for the Tom Scott 10 Mile Road Race and Round the Loch 6k. The 10 miler is the Scottish 10 Mile Championships. The race has a degree of history, detailed more fully than I can give on the race website. Until 2003, the race was run from Law Village where Tom Scott lived firstly to his place of work then latterly Strathclyde Park, seeing the race sometimes billed the "Law to Motherwell." I ran the old route twice, each time in 62 minutes. On police advice, and despite the intervention of then First Minister Jack McConnell, it has been run in the confines of the park since 2004. My previous appearance in 2010 brought a time of 52:54.

Before my last 10 mile race, Brampton in November, I had some red and white war paint applied to my face by Calderglen Harrier Joanne McEvoy. I said hello to her and one or two other Calderglen folk pre-race but resisted temptation to ask for a repeat performance. A tip off from Robert Rossborough that I was standing in the pre-registration queue saw me pay and collect my number instantly while a load of pre-entries waited. Advance entry is meant to be an advantage. Given the length of queue, I was surprised that the races were starting on time. Assuming there would be a delay, I was still wearing my club jacket 5 minutes before the advertised time which I hastily discarded before taking to the start line.

Starting off round the loch, I was not of a mind to bound away too quickly and let a leading group of Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde), Ross Houston, John Newsom (both Central), Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab, Lachlan Oates and Michael Deason (all Shettleston) forge ahead. I briefly ran with then pulled away from previous Tom Scott winner David Millar (Irvine AC) then ran with a group including Mark Pollard (Inverclyde) and another Cambuslang man, Kerry Wilson. Moving ahead of this group in the first 2-3 miles, a sense of deja vu descended as Thomas Fay (Shettleston) came beside me. Deciding that 8 miles was too far to have someone sitting on my shoulder, I sat on his for a little while. Together, we were keeping close to the leading group. I could see one or two dropping off who I felt we could catch in due course. We each gained a place without passing anyone though as Deason turned off to complete the 6k race.

We weren't exactly slouching as we completed 3 miles in 15:05. My aim was more for scalps than times and I focused on drawing in those dropping off in front. The course lead on to the road round the perimeter of the park towards the theme park where, amidst the early screams of weans on the big dipper, I seemed to pull away from Fay then overtook John Newsom. Fay rallied on a downhill stretch though and caught me up before we turned back on to the path around the loch.

Fay and I ran more or less side by side for a spell then, just after 5 miles, he opened a small gap, overtaking a struggling Lachlan Oates in the process. At 5 miles, the watch said 25:20 something so, worried the pace was slipping a little, dug deep to inject a little pace, catching Fay and passing Oates myself. At 6 miles, we passed the start/finish area where some spectators and 6k finishers had gathered. I also got a shout from club coach Mike Johnston around there which I needed at the point I got it.

And so it continued round the loch, spoiling the peace for many of the aforementioned dog walkers. At 8 miles, I felt the same scenario of 8 days before developing and tried to work out a strategy on the move.

Above: myself and Thomas Fay between 8 and 9 miles. Photo courtesy of Gillian Scott.

Mengisteab, Houston and Douglas were visible but I couldn't get close enough to make an impact on the medals. 4th, best of the rest, would be alright. I felt relatively fresh. By that I mean "fresh" in comparison to how I've felt at this point previously in 10 milers. In a sprint, Fay would only do the same as the previous week. I decided to gamble and try to run the finish out him. At 9 miles, I checked the watch (46:10-46:15 I think) and immediately surged for several seconds then pulled the pace back. Fay closed in. I then saw an electric meter box and a pole 50m or so in front of it. I surged again between these two points. A little while later, one more surge. The sudden changes in pace really drained me but I could no longer hear him. Touch wood, I only had to hang on until the finish outside the watersports centre which I did to take 4th in 51:04. Fay came through 16 seconds later with John Newsom and Lachlan Oates both also under 52 minutes. The last mile took me around 4:50. Maybe I shouldn't have been strong enough to do that after 9 miles but I did say it was about scalps. Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab won the race in 49:55 followed by Ross Houston (50:08) and Andrew Douglas (50:17).

After a lengthy warm down with Kerry Wilson and Andrew Douglas, I briefly kept watch on Kerry's youngest son Kalle as I waited for the prize giving. £50 for 4th and a team silver (myself, Kerry and Robert Gilroy) represented a worthwhile shift. I had just enough time to feed the ducks before heading off for a lazy afternoon of two Premiership matches on Sky with an Easter egg.

Cambuslang Results

4th: Stuart Gibson, 51:04

8th: Kerry Wilson, 52:40- first vet
9th: Robert Gilroy, 53:47
20th: Alan Ramage, 57:41
65th: Robert Rossborough, 64:44- around a 6 minute improvement from Millport in September
132nd: Sandy Eaglesham, 1:12:55

Full race results

National Road Relay Championships, 31st March 2012

Having missed this race last year after doing the Home Countries Cross Country the week before, this was my first go for a couple of years. I don't know what it is but there's something about Livingston. Things never go well for me. The one time I watched Queen's Park there, they were defeated 2-1. On another occasion I drove all the way through only to discover on arrival the game was off then got lost on the way home! In 2003 when I ran the short relay leg (3.15 miles) for Calderglen, I was diagnosed with asthma on the Monday. On the flip side, I made my Cambuslang debut there in 2009, running 31:30 for the B team on the long leg (5.8 miles). In 2010, I ran the short leg following an experiment of a steak for breakfast that morning. I've yet to try that again.

 

We had an excellent response from our under 20, senior and vet men but sadly no women. 3 full teams of 6 and an incomplete team of 4 lined up. First leg is short, second leg is long and so on. Being on last leg for the A team,  I arrived a little later just as the first leg was concluding. Jack Hamilton brought us through 2nd behind Central's first runner, former Scottish Cross Country champion Robert Russell. David Thom meanwhile completed the leg for the B/Vets team in 19th with Gordon Robertson 11th for the C team. As the race unfolded, I walk/jogged the first and later sections of the course cheering on various current and former club mates and acquaintances from other clubs as I did so. One of Robert Russell's successors as Scottish champion, Derek Hawkins, clocked the fastest long leg of the day, 27:57, to take Kilbarchan into the lead on 2nd leg before they slipped to 10th. Central were clear in the lead but there was lots of movement between ourselves, Shettleston and Corstorphine. Robert Gilroy and Martin McLaughlin kept us in touching distance of a podium finish then a dogged effort from Kerry Wilson on 4th leg took us into 3rd. Stewart Orr kept us there, giving me a 50m deficit on Shettleston's Thomas Fay to close.

Little did I know how this would unfold. The course starts slightly downhill then turns sharply uphill into a cycle path/walkway. By the top of the hill, I had closed the gap on Fay who, almost like a light switch had flicked, gave a glance and changed pace. I attempted to pull away but he stuck with me. With no other runners near us, I had no choice but to brace myself for a one on one for the next 5 miles. I only beat him narrowly in the National Cross Country and by one second and one place at the Inter Counties Cross Country so we were evenly matched.

At one point, the course briefly goes onto a main road. I caught a glimpse of Ross Houston on the last leg for Central but he was on his way to a time of 28:48, faster than both of us. In saying that, little did I know Fay and I were dragging each other to the 5th and 6th fastest long legs of the day. The pattern of me slightly ahead with Fay quite literally on my heels at times continued into the final mile. The route went under a bridge where a number of spectators congregated due to its proximity to the start/finish area. I deliberately let him edge ahead, the first I had actually looked at him for at least 4 miles. After the bridge I overtook again. With half a mile to go, I was betwixt and between- push now and try to hold on or leave it to an uphill sprint finish. I felt totally spent and unable to lift the pace for so long. Trusting my hill training, I decided on the latter.

Heading up the same path as the start, I made a move. Sadly my sprint finish is still somewhere in Falkirk after the 2010 National Cross Country as Fay opened up a 4 second gap to take silver for Shettleston. In a strange quirk that can happen in relays, I bettered his time, 29:02 to 29:05, but crossed the line after him.

After initial frustration at losing silver, I was happy to secure my first medal in this race at the 7th attempt and Cambuslang's second consecutive bronze medal. Elsewhere, our vets took gold and 8th place overall and Scott Hunter and Robert Rossborough on the final two legs for the C team helping secure a top 20 finish, illustrating an encouraging strength in depth at senior level.

Above: bronze medal winning team, left to right- Robert Gilroy, Kerry Wilson, myself, Stewart Orr, Martin McLaughlin. Missing from the photo- Jack Hamilton.

I felt the medal merited a celebration so joined a few old Calderglen friends at the Montgomerie Arms, known locally in East Kilbride as "The Monty" for a few refreshments. A 14 mile Windfarm run on Sunday comprised, I think, 2 miles for every pint of beer I consumed.

 
A team- 3rd place

Jack Hamilton, 15:22
Robert Gilroy, 29:59
Martin McLaughlin, 16:14
Kerry Wilson, 30:04
Stewart Orr, 15:57
Stuart Gibson, 29:02

B/Vets team- 8th place and 1st vets team

David Thom, 17:34
Kenny MacPherson, 32:37
Greg Hastie, 16:58
Stephen Wylie, 30:36
Michael O'Hagan, 17:44
Alan Ramage, 32:44

C team- 15th place

Gordon Robertson, 16:26
David Munro, 31:02
Shazad Hakeem, 18:10
Jamie Reid, 31:27
Scott Hunter, 19:07
Robert Rossborough, 36:59

D team

Thomas McPake, 21:38
Colin Feechan, 35:32
Walter Edgar, 21:30
Frank Hurley, 37:12

Training for the National Road Relay

The National Road Relay on the last Saturday in March proved a successful one for Cambuslang with the senior men A team taking bronze for the second consecutive year, the vets winning gold and finishing 8th overall and the senior B team in 15th. With another incomplete team of 4, 22 athletes was a terrific response. Hopefully in the future, we can get a ladies team in there as well. No reason why we can't.

Until I get time to stick a report up, here's my training in the 3 weeks leading up (most folk will probably stop reading now). It starts 2 days after the Inter Counties Cross Country. With the tendon problem firmly behind me, I felt the need to get into proper shape.

Week Commencing Monday 12th March

Monday: Track, 1 x mile (4:50), 2 x 800m (2:20, 2:21), 4 x 400m (68, 68, 67, 68), 8.2 miles including warm up and warm down.

Tuesday: Club, Hampden run in reverse, 7.8 miles (49:33)

Wednesday: 7 miles easy (55:22)- included some running at the Jog Scotland Canicross group at Whitelee Windfarm.

Thursday: Hill reps, High Point, 10 reps running hard off the top of the hill, 8 miles including warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Showground, East Kilbride, 10 x 3 mins with 90 secs recoveries, 8.7 miles including warm up and warm down.

Sunday: Long run, Whitelee Windfarm, 20 mins easy then 5 mins, 1 min, 2 mins, 4 mins, 5 mins, 1 min, 2 mins, 4 mins, all with 5 mins easy recovery, 14.4 miles (1:33:07)- first time in 2 months doing this run since getting injured, very happy.

Mileage: 54- good, solid, boring training week.

Week Commencing Monday 19th March

Monday: Track, 15 x 400m (1 in 70, remainder in 67-69), 100m walk/jog recoveries, 9 miles including warm up and warm down.

Tuesday: 6 miles easy (38:49)- relaxed run before Queen's Park v Clyde.

Wednesday: 10 miles (1:03:43) comprising 20 mins easy then 5 x 5 mins with 2 mins jog recoveries, remainder of run easy- identical time to previous attempt at the session 3 weeks before.

Thursday: Hill reps, High Point, 10 reps running hard off the top of the hill, 8 miles including warm up and warm down.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Pollok Park, Glasgow, 6 mins with 2 mins recovery, 6 x 3 mins with 1 min recoveries, 6 mins, 8.5-9 miles including warm up and warm down- only used a stopwatch, ran how I felt, slight cold and sore throat so wrapped up in thick winter gear and a hat even though approximately 16 degrees. Sweated a bit!

Sunday: 15.1 miles easy (1:40:41), Whitelee Windfarm.

Mileage: 56- another good, solid, boring training week.

Week Commencing Monday 26th March

Monday: Track, 12 x 500m (1 in 1:24, 1 in 1:27, remainder in 1:25-1:26), 300m slow jog recoveries, 8.8 miles including warm up and warm down.

Tuesday: Club run, 6.5 miles easy (42:09).

Wednesday: Hill reps, High Point, 12 reps running steady all the way, 7.4 miles including warm up and warm down- extra 2 reps as a psychological boost but shorter warm down, hence, the lower mileage. Also moved to Wednesday to allow recovery for the race.

Thursday: 6.9 miles easy (43:42)

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Race- Scottish National Road Relay Championships, Livingston, 6th (final) leg, 5.8 miles, 29:02, 5th fastest long leg and team bronze.

Don't say insomnia cannot be cured!

Alloa Athletic v Queen's Park, Beer and Sunday Running- 24th and 25th March 2012

I approached the above weekend fairly content- work was alright, weather picking up, clocks going forward and a consistent spell of training evidenced by my training diary being a boring read for 2 consecutive weeks. Unfortunately I did pick up a sore throat and cold on Friday but that was a rest day anyway so nothing lost. The following morning brought a grass session at Pollok Park of 6 minutes (2 minutes recovery), 6 x 3 minutes (1 minute recoveries) then another 6 minutes using the grass area next to the Burrell Cafe, giving any leftover Parkrunners something to watch over their tea and scones. Despite temperatures hitting around 16 degrees, for my 10 minute warm up, I deliberately wrapped up in my thickest long sleeved winter top, jacket, hat and tracksters to sweat the cold out. I kept on the top and hat for the session.

That afternoon, in a moment of misplaced optimism, my Dad and I made the 43 mile trip to Recreation Park, Alloa to see Third Division second placers Queen's Park attempt to secure their first points in 4 attempts against the league leaders. A 9 point gap with 7 games left meant only a win would keep our chances of the title alive. A bumper crowd of slightly over 800 gathered to watch on.

Queen's started reasonably well with some good possession and some corners but no great efforts on goal. In charge at Alloa is Paul Hartley, latterly of Celtic and Aberdeen, who has fared well in his first year as a manager. Among those in his squad are former Aberdeen players Darren Young and Robbie Winters and one or two loan signings from another of his former clubs, St Johnstone. By Third Division standards, it's decent  calibre. Therefore, in 14 minutes, when Winters converted after a shot rebounded off the bar, I struggled to see how Queen's could get back in the game. We had a couple of chances- a long range effort from Jamie Longworth produced a good save from Alloa keeper Scott Bain and a one two took James Brough through on Bain only to shoot straight at him.

Above: Alloa Athletic v Queen's Park, action from the first half. Queen's are in blue.

In the second half, the football continued to be pleasing on the eye but with too many attacks breaking down and powder puff shooting. Our strikeforce of Jamie Longworth and Michael Daly, 28 goals between them for the season, hardly got a sniff. Winters added another goal around the hour mark leaving a long half hour of blunt attacking football from the Spiders and jibes from younger Alloa fans about the scoreline. In 85 minutes, Brough received a red card for an alleged elbow after which Alloa rubbed it in with a goal from Stevie May before Spiders keeper Neil Parry capped things with a comical fresh air swipe at a through ball to leave home midfielder Graeme Holmes with a chance even I might have scored. The aforesaid young Alloa fans enjoyed that.

In the end, 4-0 and a sound gubbing. No complaints because I've seen Queen's dish out several beatings recently- 6-0 to Elgin, 5-0 to Montrose and, the Tuesday before this game, 3-0 to Clyde. At the time of writing, we are 12 points behind Alloa who have taken 12 out of 12 from us. They are the reason we aren't winning the league. Still, I licked my wounds by purchasing a few beers brewed in the Alloa based Williams Bros Brewery, Fraoch Heather Ale and Seven Giraffes. I like beers where I spend as much time reading the story on the bottle as I do drinking it. Fraoch has apparently been brewed in Scotland since 2000 BC. It was good enough for the Romans so it would do me. It's certainly good enough for the locals since I picked up the last two in stock at the Morrisons in Alloa.

My usual Sunday run is from my back gate into the countryside through Auldhouse up a fairly steep climb to the Ardochrig end of Whitelee Windfarm where I then run on the trails for as long as I feel like before turning back. The entire run is in the country so I never get bored with it and always feel satisfied afterwards. I ran there before the Windfarm even opened when it was simply a forest trail. The main thing I appreciate is the solitude, peace and quiet it offers, and only 5 miles from the house. With unseasonal spring weather for my gentle 15 miler, I took out the camera. It beat watching the Old Firm game. There's more to life.

Above: Ardochrig end of Whitelee Windfarm, route lying ahead of me.

Above: top of Ardochrig Hill, view of East Kilbride on the horizon. I climb the hill on the way out (takes 11-13 minutes depending how fresh I'm feeling) and descend it on the way back.

Blast From The Past- Dundonald 10.5km Road Race 2005

The Dundonald Road Race, held on the first Wednesday in August every year in the lead up to the Dundonald Highland Games, is a race I've run more often than any other having been every year bar one (2006) since 2002. Depending on weather conditions, it tended to alternate between a 10km and 10.5km road race, the decision being dictated by the condition of the playing field which tended to form part of the course. It was a 10km on my first visit when I struggled to a time of 39:18 then was up most of the night unwell after eating a rather cheap and nasty microwaved spaghetti bolognese. More recently, the 10km option has been settled upon.

Having another flick through old training diaries, I found an account of the 2005 edition. If only I had the foresight to have a flutter on my premonition. I notice I sat my driving theory test the day before. I know I failed because, on 15th August, I recorded the fact I sat it again and passed.

"I was 8th here last year and found myself within the top 10 again. Being a little close to the leaders, I resisted temptation to follow them, having harsh memories of previous Dundonald misadventures (cf 2002).

The uphill slog to Symington lay ahead...inside my lungs were burning as were my thighs.

After 3 miles, tactics came into play when, as planned, I made a burst for glory during the mainly flat second half. I moved into the dizzy heights of 4th plus attempted to gain ground on the downhill stretches. At 5 miles, a thought struck me, I had another 1.5 to go. Energy levels were lowering. As did my position, by 3 places, to 7th.

Time- 38:22, course best and 7th place. At my current rate, I will triumph in 2011."

Honestly, that's exactly what I wrote. 2011 seemed a long time away. If only I could predict the lottery numbers.

Above: Dundonald 2011, emerging from the dusk to win. I wish I'd put money on it 6 years earlier. Photo courtesy of my Dad.

UK Inter Counties Cross Country- A Sense of Perspective

Saturday 10th March was the UK Inter Counties Cross Country at Cofton Park in Birmingham. The bare stats are I finished 89th from 278 finishers in 38:24. The distance was billed as 12km. I believe it is slightly shorter but is at least 7 miles. English Cross Country champion Keith Gerrard won the race with a time of 34:57. Here are the results for the Scottish contingent. Club and county represented (East or West of Scotland) are given in brackets.
 

30th: Murray Strain (Hunters Bog Trotters/East), 36:55

54th: Alex Hendry (Central/East), 37:41

57th: Sean Fontana (VP City of Glasgow/West), 37:44

79th: Michael Deason (Shettleston Harriers/West), 38:10

84th: Chris Devenney (Kilbarchan/West), 38:18

89th: Stuart Gibson (Ronhill Cambuslang/West), 38:24

90th: Andrew Crichton (Edinburgh AC/East), 38:25

91st: Thomas Fay (Shettleston Harriers/West), 38:26

106th: Lewis Millar (Central/East), 38:49

107th: Michael Wright (Central/East), 38:50

111th: Mickey Breen (Corstorphine/East), 38:57

143rd: Scott Green (Central/East), 39:49

The race more or less went to form per the National with Alex Hendry, Sean Fontana and Chris Devenney again getting the better of me (Murray Strain didn't run at Falkirk) but Michael Deason also running strongly, forging ahead in the later stages. On a dry day, underfoot conditions were pretty firm, ideal for someone like me who slips and slithers through mud. Over the 4 lap course, I worked my way through the field for 2 laps before struggling badly thereafter. The missed training kicked in and it took a bit of gritted teeth, brute force and ignorance to maintain the position I'd established.

My initial reaction was disappointment at dropping 26 places from last year and regret that the tendon problem ever manifested itself. On the other hand, another minute would have placed me in the top 50. It's that type of race, no quarter given, no margin for error. I got away with things to an extent at the Scottish National. Previous training carried me through. I'm not sure I would have placed any higher in Birmingham but I definitely think I wouldn't have found the later stages as painful as I did.

I have felt a tad deflated about this winter. When I look back though, I've achieved a fair bit- 7th and team silver in the West Cross Country, 13th and team bronze in the National, 14th and team bronze in the National 4km Cross Country, silver in the West Relay, 12th in the BUPA Edinburgh 10k and a second consecutive UK Inter Counties selection. It's a nagging feeling of not being as good as last winter. Maybe the injury interrupted momentum? Perhaps it shows how good last year was? Possibly both? As recently as 2 years ago, I didn't have a sniff of races like the UK Inter Counties so there is definite progress. I suppose it cannot be a never ending upward curve. At times, a step back is needed to move forward again. I will be blunt, I don't like being 89th in a race but I would have bitten anyone's hand off for it in 2010. So I'm happy and keeping a sense of perspective.

So far I've watched 5 minutes of Sky Sports 1's coverage of the race, spotting myself 3 times after much rewinding and pausing. I'll maybe see how the rest of it panned out now.

UK Inter Counties full results

Ronhill Cambuslang Down By The River 10k, 4th March 2012

Selection for the UK Cross Country (on 10th March, not 4th as stated in my previous post) gave training a bit of focus. On the Monday after the National, I felt far too tired physically and psychologically to run.so returned to the swimming one last time for a 35 minute aqua jog. This included 6 x 3 minutes with 1 minute jog recoveries and a 100m breast stroke/crawl mix to warm up and the same as a warm down. I worked up to 46 miles for the week with the following:-

Tuesday 20th February: Club, Hampden run, 7.8 miles (51:06)- legs still tired.

Wednesday 21st: 10 miles (1:04:30) including 20 mins easy then 5 x 5 mins with 2 mins jog recoveries, remainder easy- legs feeling fresher.

Thursday 22nd: Hill reps, High Point, 5 times including 3 x 3 mins, 1 min jog recoveries, 4.5 miles including warm up and warm down.

Friday 23rd: 10km/6.2 miles (38:10-38:20) including 4 sets of 3 x 30 secs, 30 secs jog recoveries, 5 mins jogs between sets.

Saturday 24th: 11.4 miles easy (1:16:30), Whitelee Windfarm.

Sunday 25th: 6.2 miles very easy (52:45).

The following week, I managed a morale boosting Monday track session of 2 sets of 1000m, 800m, 600m, 400m, 200m (around 4:40/mile pace throughout), a similar Tuesday run (on my own instead of the club due to work commitments), the same two sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, both faster than the week before, and did the Friday run with strides on Saturday (day before the 10k) and took Friday off. I intended to do 12 or so again on the Saturday but ended up having a bit of a lie in and a fry up, going out later before dinner. The training diary is looking boring again, similar stuff every week, the way I like it because it suggests consistency. No more of this swimming malarkey.

To be honest, had the Down By The River 10k not been the last race in our club championships, I probably wouldn't have run it. However, my closest challengers, Robert Gilroy and Jamie Reid, were competing so, to retain the title, I not only had to run but to be first Cambuslang finisher. Our inaugral senior women championship also got off the ground with Vicky Semple and Kirsty Grant lining up. Relations were admirably cordial between the two beforehand.

For anyone normal, the race start is about 1.5 miles from Cambuslang Rugby Club. For me, it was a wee bit longer. Deciding to keep the mileage up, I jogged to the start with Robert Rossborough with Vicky and Kirsty then a guy called Mark Paterson putting their trust in my sense of direction. My route added on at least half a mile. Robert, Vicky and Mark may be forgiven. Kirsty should know better by now....

Having made a bid to wear out 4 of my opposition, we lined up for the 11am start minus at least one entrant, Michael Deason (Shettleston) who got lost somewhere in Rutherglen. He should have followed me! 3 right turns and roughly 2km later, the route took us onto the River Clyde. I had forged myself a lead. Tending not to look behind when racing, I didn't know how much. I also resisted temptation to check the watch until halfway. The first 5km took 15:27. I realised the course record of 31:25 set by Commonwealth Games and European Championship marathon runner Martin Williams in 2008 was there to aim at. It gave me something to focus on in addition to holding off the chasing pack.

The race is an out and back course. The turning point came at 6km where club member Frank Hurley indicated I had a healthy lead. Not willing to take anything for granted, I powered on as hard as possible, seeing the entire field on their outward journey as I did. Cambuslang's Robert Gilroy Steven Wylie, Martin McLaughlin and David Munro were all in pursuit. Slightly behind them was Jamie Reid who sacrificed some breath to encourage me to get the course record. Numerous other red and white vests littered the field including recent new father Gordon Robertson, running well considering recent sleep deprivation. Vicky was on the way to leading our womens championship. Kirsty also spared some oxygen to update me on my gap. There were one or two other shouts of encouragement, none of which I had enough breath to return.

8km (5 miles approx) was reached in 24:58 so the pace had remained consistent. The record remained on. A short, sharp climb off the canal path lead me onto the main road with 600m to go then left into the finish.

Above: the final 200m. Photo courtesy of Scott Sport Photography

1st place in 31:18 meant a new course record. Robert Gilroy took runners up spot just over a minute later edging out Steven Wylie, Martin McLaughlin and David Munro, all of whom dipped under 33 minutes.

I was happy to accept a lift from Alan Ramage, winning vet over 40, back to the club where I jogged an easy mile to warm down and hung about for the pies, sausage rolls and prize giving. 45 miles for the week and an encouraging 10km time having run solo for the vast majority of the way. Next stop, Birmingham.

Another report on this race and full results can be found on the Ronhill Cambuslang website.