With the Balloch to Clydebank half marathon out of action this year, we decided that we would use the Alloa half marathon instead for our club half marathon championship. This meant quite a few of us were running this for the first time.
The weather forecast earlier in the week was awful with gale force winds and torrential. Fortunately, it was actually quite a nice day apart from a heavy shower and the westerly wind along the A91.
The race starts in the middle of Alloa, doing a loop of the town before heading east along the A808 through Tillicoultry. We then faced the wind as we turned west along the A91, running through Alva and then turning south just before Menstrie. We then had the biggest hill to negotiate at 11 miles as we came into Tullibody before the last couple of miles back into Alloa which were mainly downhill.
From 2691 runners, the race was won by Kristian Jones from Swansea Harriers in a time of 1.07:19. The first lady in 29th place was Katie White from Garscube Harriers in a time of 1.16:52.
There was only a male contingent from the club and the results were:
117th: Andy Sutherland (1.24:03)- Half Marathon Champion
188th: Alan Richardson (1.26:37)- PB
253rd Craig White (1.29:24)
339th: Scott Coulter (1.32:10)
1068th: Mick McCartney (1.49:14)
1453rd: Chris Hever (1.56:13)
1916th: Chris Gunn (2.06:58)
Special mention to Alan for smashing his PB by two minutes. Many thanks also to the organisers and Joe McCartney for the great shouts just before the home straight.
Thanks to Wullie Law for the photos. View the rest of his Alloa Half Marathon pictures on Flickr.
