This blog update is another race report and unusual in that I have started it before I have actually run the race. I'll finish it when I get back.
The race starts at mid-day but frustratingly registration closes at 11:15. What am I supposed to do during the 45 minute gap? I am sure if I turned up at 11:45 I could still register but I am not going to chance it. I suppose if everyone (400 runner limit) did that then it would be chaos and that's why they ask you to be there so early. So that's why I am up at 08:30 on a Sunday. I have had my pre-race porridge already (I'll have a banana later) and I will leave the flat in about 2 hours.
Here is a link to the race details....
The race is 10 miles on B and C class roads. I read the thoughts of some runners that posted on Runner's World forum after last year and one of them said,
"Slight uphill start before dropping down into a glen. There is then a long steep climb up the other side after about a mile. It's the hardest climb I've ever done in a race - there, I have warned you!"
Hardest climb sounds intimidating, but I have ran the Harris Half-Marathon and the uphill can't be as bad as that, can it?! Also Penicuik 10k has a really steep and long uphill straight after the start so I have ran races with tough uphills before. I will consider myself forewarned, but I am not overly concerned. I have checked out some photos of previous years and it looks like it's road shoes. It is categorised as a road race although I think that there is some trail. I'll find out soon enough.
The first water station is at 6.3 miles so my plan is to use an energy gel and to take it at 6 miles. This is about 10km distance and the water will help to take the taste away, so it seems like a good time. Must try to remember. The last time I ran a 10 miles race was Dunbar and I forgot that I had my energy gel (Not used to using them) and I only remembered at about 7.5 miles.
You can see from the route map and height profile that is is pretty much going to be hilly with two big climbs at 2.5 and 4.5 miles.
Is it better to know in advance or to be blissfully ignorant?
OK, so I am prepared as I can be and it's sunny outside. I am optimistic and I'll be back about mid-afternoon to resume typing and report how I got on....
Post-Race
I'm back, and it's done. For the second week in a row I am asking myself why I don't take up another hobby, an indoor one. I used to be fairly decent at squash. I spoke to Kata after the race on the phone (she's in Morocco) and I could barely hold the phone my fingers were so cold! There were hail stones that stung my face, and sleet that tried to break my morale. At the top of the steep hill after 2.5 miles, we turned left into the wind where just when you wanted to catch your breath, the gale force wind was making it very difficult to breath at all! In the club house afterwards I over heard a conversation that went something like this,
"What about that weather?!!"
"It wasn't that bad actually."
"Not that bad"? Seriously? Only in Scotland could this weather be considered "not that bad". I think it was "not that bad" possibly on the basis that it wasn't hailstones for the whole 10 miles and there were brief periods of sheltered respite.
The race in itself went well for me. The route was much like every other road race in a small town or village where you start in town, run a loop around some farmland, and finish back where you started in the town. It was hilly (that's hilly, not undulating as the website claimed) but not too bad. It certainly didn't compare to the Harris Half-Marathon in steepness, length, or spirit-crushing.
The sun was briefly out to shine on my glory. My hair evidences the previous and predominant nature of the day's weather.
The race as purely roads, no trail. I don't know why I thought it might have included trail. I think I just can't remember the last time I ran a pure road race so had forgotten that they existed I heard someone describe it afterwards to me as a road, hill race. Ha ha! Sounds about right. The guy that said this was actually talking to me and called my 'HBT' like it was my name. He said, "How'd you get on HBT?". I don't mind, I am just amused.
I await official results but I recorded myself as finishing in 1:10:49. This is slightly annoying as after a few miles I set myself a target of finishing in 70 minutes, then after 9 miles I misread my watch which was covered in sleet and judged I had no chance of finishing under 70 minutes so perhaps didn't grit my teeth and really go for it which I otherwise might have. I instead set myself the new target of sub 75 minutes which turned out to be very achievable. Still, it's a good time and I averaged 4:28km pace which for a hilly 10 mile race in hailstones and sleet is pretty good. It means I should be targeting under 1hr 35mins for a half marathon - must try to run one soon!
Not much of note happened during the race I'm afraid. I was nearly flattened by a girl running from Gala who kind of cut a corner by going across the grass then launched herself back not the road almost on top of me - this was all in aid of overtaking me. She did apologise to be fair. Also, in the home stretch, the guy in front of my moved out of my way to give me the racing line because I was faster than him. That was terribly nice of him and actually did give me a bit of an incentive to push on as he had made way for me so I supposed I had better make sure I finished strongly. I was very grateful of the amazing support again and there were a few shouts for 'HBT' as I ran by. The marshals did a great job of standing in the freezing conditions and pointing out which way to go which wasn't always obvious without direction. Well done them. And well done to Lasswade AC for organising the event and also the free buffet at the end which was very welcome and most appreciated. I'd definitely run this race again and recommend it to friends. 10 miles is a good distance. Oh and I got a medal which I always love.
HBT vest accessorised with gold effect medal
The event was a huge success for HBT's women who took the first 4 places. Won by Rachel, and with Eilis second, I think it's fair to say that the girls easily secured the women's team prize for the club.
Most winningist
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