Caroline, Chris & I represented the Michty Marys at this mass event on Sunday am. I wouldn’t say “lined up” at the start, as the crush reminded me of why I stopped doing the Glasgow halfs (apart from cost!) once I was no longer fast enough to keep clear of the big crowds of runners.
For me this was a new event, which although long-running & very local to me, had always clashed with other projects. In my old age I have enjoyed returning more to 10k’s, where I can still finish near midfield, now that I often struggle to meet cut-offs in hill & ultra. It’s the event which is accessible to all types of runners, reflected in the high proportion of non-club runners. However the larger the event the more impersonal they become. Not seeing anyone I knew, little chat or banter was shared along the way (gosh, they don’t know what they missed!)
The race base was “The Last Post”, in County Sq, former head Post Office, now a vast Wetherspoon pub. A coffee & cooked breakfast smelled like a great idea an hour before the 10am start; maybe just as well I’d left my cash in the car.
First k or so was a loop around the Abbey & Town Hall, Chris had warned me of the amount of kerbs & bollards as well as trying to avoid other runners, some deciding to walk already but 3 abreast. The route was mostly flat, heading out towards Linwood & returning via a 3k cycle path section to a final rise to finish down the High St.
Chris really enjoyed the race and reckoned he felt really fit with it being his 2nd fastest ever 10k (to Clydebank by a small margin) but more satisfying, as it came out on his gadget as slightly longer and not as flat. Caroline had a great start, doing her 1st 5k very fast but then had to walk a bit. 61st female, but as 4th V50 in a field of 1218 finishers she should be very happy with that! I was happy to finish in reasonable order, on a very warm sunny morning, & after a bit of a running slump. Nice wee warm-up for Cumbrae!
Results;
1st Callum Hawkins Kilb 30.40
2nd Paul Sorrie Shet 30.54
10th Hayley Haining Kilb 34.27 (vet!)
15th Gemma Rankin Kilb 34.58
224 Chris Hever MH 46.06
376 Caroline Hever MH 49.40
643 Fletcher M MH 54.51
1218 finishers.
