2019 was the ten year anniversary for Kyles 10 Miles and this would be my third year in a row running it. About three months ago, I knocked up a training plan for the Great Scottish Run and thought it’d put me in good shape for a decent effort at Kyles. The plan was going alright, Coach Mick was happy with the interval times I was hitting…but then I went on holiday. I only went for a couple of runs over two weeks then when I came back the inconsistency continued, a week on, a week off, losing a bit of the mojo then got a cold and used that as an excuse not to run for the two weeks leading up to the race. Squeezed a couple of miles out two days before race day and that was me ‘ready’.
I grabbed a lift with Garscube Gav and Sir Andy Murray down to Kames. This was Gav’s third in a row as well, the Maryhill Mafia reconvening for another year. We arrived in plenty of time as Andy was doing the walk which started at 11. After seeing him off, we jogged off to Tighnabruich for the start line where the masses were starting to gather. As usual, there were many clubs represented: a bumper turnout as always from both Bella clubs, Gav was joined by a few more from Garscube, pure hunners of Dunoon Hill Runners, along with Dumbarton, Giffnock North, Greenock Glenpark, and Westerlands. Springburn, Kirkintilloch, Cambuslang, Central AC, Kilbarchan, Glasgow Phoenix and West End Road Runners were also represented.
We set off at 12 noon and Gav and I settled into a steady pace as we tackled the first five miles of hills. It’s usually about the 3-4 mile mark that your legs start to let out a collective groan but you push on knowing it doesn’t get any easier for a wee while yet. There’s at least a wee downhill now and again for a bit of respite.
Myself and Gav were probably skirting around the top 10 with a posse of Bella runners out front chasing after their own Jack Arnold who led from the start. Gav had the party tunes on as we stuck together for the majority of the race and provided entertainment for the few runners that passed us, including Graeme Mitchell who repeated his overtaking manoeuvre from last year and Alex Osborne who ran strongly to get a good course PB.
After about 7.5 miles Gav managed to push on but my lack of training gave me nothing to work with and I just tried to keep the legs moving. Nearing the end, my head nearly went after being passed by another runner. I couldn’t see the finish line and thought about having a walking breather. Thankfully the finish was just obscured by the corner and I held it together, encouraging the legs to keep turning over and throwing my arms up in relief to cross the line. I was about 4 minutes slower than last year but happy enough to finish in 14th. A burger and a couple of pints soon put any negative thoughts to rest.
Not a great personal result in terms of time but it’s still one of my favourite races and no doubt I’ll be back next year. Why wouldn’t you want to run in such a beautiful place with beautiful people? Thanks to the organisers, marshals and everyone involved in making the 2019 ten year anniversary of the Kyles 10 Miles another brilliantly run event. Special thanks for the superb photos of the day captured by Ken Clark. View all of his albums on Facebook.
(M)
- Jack Arnold, Bellahouston Harriers, 55:02
- Craig Lamont, Bellahouston Harriers, 59:25
- Wesley Pattison, Greenock Glenpark Harriers, 1:00:48
(F)
- Kate MacArthur, 1:09:14
- Louise Ross, Bellahouston Road Runners, 1:10:50
- Kelly Baillie, East Kilbride AC, 1:11:46
Maryhill Mafia:
12. Gavin Hinde, Garscube Harriers, 1:06:36
14. Kevin Campbell, Maryhill Harriers, 1:07:43
