As I turned 50 at the start of the year I required some age related PBs for the club merit league. A quick search on Entry Central and I found the Buchlyvie 10k just a couple of weeks after my birthday and promptly entered. I then read the details and noticed the words trail and hill.
I then wondered where the hell is Buchlyvie.
I arrived at the Buchlyvie village hall in plenty of time for a 1:30 kick off. I had arrived wearing my carbon shoes hoping for a nice non slippy trail. The trail section starts just after the 1km mark so did the warm up in the carbons stepped on to the trail and slipped. Turned back and headed straight to the car to slip on the trail shoes.
Got off to a decent paced start on the first km which is tarmac and downhill. Nice start, but an out and back race so uphill to look forward to on the way back.
Just after the 1km sign a right turn on to the old railway track. A muddy gravelly surface similar to some of the paths on our Bannerman race at Dawsholm/Dalsholme park.
This is a ramrod straight path that goes on and on and on as far as the eye can see. I decided to keep the head down to make it less annoying mentally. The trail shoes gripped well, but lacked the cushioning and spring of road shoes.
I kept a consistent pace and overtook a few folk. The turn marked by a traffic cone arrived and I stuck with a conventional turn rather than the new trendy Japanese turn. As I turned I immediately felt heavy legged. Let’s just say I enjoyed the Christmas period and my birthday trip to Rome too much. I pushed on though keeping the head down. Mentally better second half knowing at the 8km sign only a km until the road. And the uphill. Had a fella just ahead and reeled him in a little at a time. He looked fairly comfortable though. By the time I got to the road section I was a few yards behind him. I motored up the hill as best I could. So did he right enough and he broke away after the hill. A tough second half, but I was glad no one overtook me. I finished 18th overall in 43:16 and 5th in my new age category. 2nd and 3rd overall were filled by 2 fellas in the M50 category so that’s the standard.
A well organised friendly race. On a dry path good times could be attained. Recommended.
