The 2016 Cumbernauld 10k took place on Sunday 18th September, with a record 700 runners taking part in the 10th anniversary event. Almost perfect running conditions greeted us in Cumbernauld, with nice cool conditions and little to no breeze. The Mighty Blues were represented this year by myself, Chris, Caroline, Natalie and Cat. This is one of my favourite 10k events of the year, and not just because you run round the street I grew up. It’s always very well organised and it is pleasing to see how the event has gone from strength to strength over recent years in terms of numbers. The course is also a rarity in that you start and finish in the same place but seem to descend far more often than you go up!
After a warm up, Natalie and I took our place near the front of the pack and agreed to try and stick to 4 minute km’s and pace each other round. As ever, I got carried away and shot off in 3.25 for my first KM, enjoying the cheers from the sizeable crowd in the stadium a bit too much. From then, I managed to steady myself into a more natural rhythm and felt good going round the first 5k in 19.56. The course extends out of Cumbernauld into the country roads near Twechar and it was at this point my calves began to burn a little with a few runners overtaking me. At the 7km road crossing, I noticed Natalie only 30 metres or so behind, which gave me a boost to power up the hill and into the last few KM’s round Broadwood Loch. Past experience of the race told me that it was all flat from here, so I gritted the teeth and was delighted to get back to the stadium and finish in 40.25, a new PB. Natalie came up shortly after, finishing a brilliant 4th female and narrowly missing out on a podium place.
The Old Firm have been hogging the headlines recently, but it is no doubt what the premier rivalry in Glasgow is – Chris vs Cat, and true to form both came powering into the stadium neck and neck for the last 100m. Chris narrowly pipped Cat at the line, with both having identical chip finish times. Congratulations to both, especially Cat who continues her brilliant return to form with a ‘post-baby PB’ (as did Natalie). Shortly behind those two was Caroline, who ran terrifically in her first 10k in a while to finish in 51.23, and a superb 5th in her category. Well done Caroline.
Overall a great day out for the Harriers, with all 5 of us happy with our run. Thank you to NL Leisure and all the marshals on the day and to Allan and Skye for their cheers at the finish line. The race was won by local boy Cameron Richardson in 32.45, first female was Nikki Lyons from Dumbarton in 39.27.
Maryhill Harrier results
39th Scott Coulter – 40.25 (PB)
51st Natalie Somerville – 41.10
227th Chris Hever – 49.38
228th Cat Nisbet – 49.38
275th Caroline Hever – 51.23
682 finishers.
