Myself and Liz entered the Tour of Clydeside this year, which is a series of 5 local races over consecutive nights, resulting in a total race distance of 40km over the week.
As I cycled home on Monday, the usual ‘I can’t be bothered with this feel came over me’, and as I drove over to Kilbarchan to the first race, I was saying to myself I must try and enjoy this, racing has not been my thing for possibly a year now. I was really surprised. The races were low key, simple format, everyone was really chatty and friendly, saw quite a few people I knew, so it was great to speak to them.
Throughout the week, different harriers would try the other races with us (Linda managed 4 of them), or support Liz and I. As you are essentially racing the same people for 5 nights, you quickly develop mini-battles. Liz and Linda were duelling away over the last 4 races, Liz finally getting the better of Linda at the 10K. I raced Erica Christie, Garry Henderson, Marlene Hunter and Louise Crilly throughout the week, each of us having wee victories at the different races. By Friday’s cycle home I was buzzing, looking forward to my nightly fix of racing.
I really enjoyed the whole week, one of the best weeks of running I have had.
All the results can be found here http://www.garscubeharriers.org.uk/index_en.php?pageid=18&subpageid=362
And some chat and photos here https://www.facebook.com/tourofclydeside
Race details:
Kilbarchan Klassic 8k Duncan 35th 33:59 Liz 58th 38:56
Garscube Gallop 7k trail Craig 24th 30:13 Duncan33rd 32:07 Linda 63rd 37:37 Liz 67th 38:11 Margaret 78th 41:15
Canal Canter 8k Duncan 29th 33:47 Linda 60th 39:51 Liz 61st 39:57
Mugdock Meander 7k trail Duncan 30th 30:34 Michael 39th 31:29 Linda 71st 36:00 Liz 72nd 36:11 Margaret 85th 39:53
Bella Belta 10k Andy 22nd 36:57 Craig 52nd 41:20 Duncan 62nd 42:18 (PB) Scott 68th 42:43 (PB) Chris 93rd 47:48 Liz 104th 48:29 Linda 113th 49:55
Tour of Clydeside Series 40km Stuart MacDougal, Bellahouston Harriers 2:21:27 Jenifer Telford, Scottish Prison Service 2:48:09 Duncan 25th (21st male) 2:52:45 Liz 45th (10th female) 3:21:44 57 runners managed to complete all 5 races.