P*shing wet on the way to this race, surprise, surprise! A replacement for the long-running & much loved (by me, anyway) classic Helensburgh Half, which was out & back towards Faslane.
A little anxious about the high tide flood warning signs on parking by the pier- tide highish & still on way up! Early for once, levered myself out of the car for some kind of warm-up; mild & calm though, so very pleasant once running. Start was in the renovated central square, a smallish field by today’s standards, of 100 & something.
Route headed W for a while, & then all my ideas of beating the hour went even further west as the “undulations” started. Very enjoyable & almost traffic-free route though, generally gentle climbs in the early stages leading to a lovely lengthy gentle descent- I can still run downhill! Those familiar with the 10k route will recognise the loop through the houses behind the old & new schools, continuing down & back to reverse the finishing couple of k. Sting in the tail was a 1st gear hill in the last half mile- only point I had to walk!- to the finish in Hermitage Park. I ‘d never visited it before, it’s off Sinclair St., the approach road from the N.
A very stylish medal rewarded my finish, not quite last. Needless to say, the rain had eased off alter the race. A route to be recommended, sadly not the scenic Half, but very different in character from the 10k.
100 finishers were recorded, but later runners don’t show in the results, maybe several dnf’s.
I discovered only later that Brian Watson had been running; Brian, sorry not to have clocked you at the start.( Related to Sinclair W??) Most folk were sheltering in doorways. A very sharp run to make 6th place, a credit to Maryhill!
Winner; Craig Reid Bella 38.52
6th place; Brian Watson Maryhill 42.42
1st Lady (12th) Nicola Pearson DAAA 45.23
94th; Fletcher Murdoch Maryhill 64.39
