Saturday was a big day - two races within 3 hours of one another. It marked the beginning of the running club's GP which awards points to members for running races over a 4 week period with the winner taking the glory and acclaim of their club mates. Bonus points are awarded for running a PB, running more than one race in a day, running a race where HBT had the most runners, and for drinking a pint after a race. I got the GP underway by running the 'usual' Saturday morning Parkrun. Except it wasn't the usual one at all...
There's a new Parkrun in town. The 18th April was the inaugural Portobello Parkrun. I am a fan of Parkrun in principle, but I have never been much of a fan of the course at Silverknowes - the headwind on the way back is depressing. I was therefore very keen to test out the new race in Portobello and I wasn't disappointed. The course was three laps of Figgate Park which could not be any more different than the seaside out and and back course at Silverknowes. Three laps at about 6:45 a lap meant that lapping people on the final lap was inevitable, but safe enough for not being lapped myself. The park was small and scenic with a duck pond and some slight hills to add a bit of interest. It was also nice to be able to see Kata and the other HBT runners as we passed one another on the loop around the pond. I ran an OK race, finishing in 20:38. This is 31 seconds off my PB but it is my 4th fastest time for 5km ever and heading in the right direction after last week's spirit crushing and headwind afflicted 21:15.
Kata and I on the home straight...
I really enjoyed this new Parkrun and I don't think it's just novelty value. The course is much more interesting than Silverknowes and it felt much more intimate and fun. There were 253 runners on the day (I was 24th) compared to 428 at Silverknowes last week. It's not that unusual for Silverknowes to attract more than 500 runners, even 600 one week and there is simply no way that Portobello could support that number in their wee park so we will see how it goes in the coming weeks. Thanks to the friendly volunteer marshals for making it happen.
Me (with bonus point beer), James, Brian and Kata
So that concludes the successful and fun part of Saturday's running. I don't want to moan and complain too much about the Bog Trot, especially as I appreciate how much work went into it from the club and the marshals, but I have to be honest in my blog and from a purely personal point of view it was a disaster. The course was very tough indeed but the same for everyone. It started with a climb from Queens Drive in Holyrood Park, up to the crags, back down and through the eponymous 'Hunters Bog' (also of Hunters Bog Trotters - HBT - fame), up the Radical Road (very tough), back up the crags, down again, then half way back up the crags before finishing roughly where we started. The first climb up to The Crags was really tough and very busy. I got stuck at the back and had to sprint past slow walkers where I could and that really took a lot out of me. The run down was jarring and steep and I was overtaken by a lot of runners that I had passed on the way up. By the time I got to the bottom my ankles were sore and I had a sharp pain in my chest. This was after only about 2km! I considered DNFing but I had to make a decision on that quite quickly as I was approaching the end of lap 1 and if I was going to DNF anywhere it should be there near the start. My indecision more than anything pushed me on and I began the 2nd ascent. I struggled badly and even though the pack had thinned out by this point I slowed to a walk as I was exhausted and my legs ached. On the 2nd descent I was so slow and was once again overtaken by a lot of runners. I was noticeably overtaken at this point by Brian who flew by as if his feet weren't touching the ground while I plodded and my teeth jarred in my skull and all the time braking to slow my descent. I really wish I could run downhill. I am seriously reconsidering my Ben Lomond entry - at this stage I think it'd be a waste.
Even now just looking at it gives me chest pain!
The event was a success for the club and in fact we ran out of bib numbers due to the amount of entries. I think it was a good and challenging course and a good event, it's just that I was rubbish at it. At the end I just wanted to go home, not talk to anyone, and possibly never run again. I was really disappointed. Maybe running two races in one day was too much? Maybe my expectations are too high given that I don't really do hill running? Maybe the two ham and cheese croissants I had just before the run accounted for the chest pains? Maybe I am garbage at running downhill? Whatever it was I was not a happy runner.
First ascent completed and still in it at this stage
The appropriately named "Crags" and that's the back of my head. Edinburgh in the background.
Well done though to those that did have a good race. Well done to the volunteers who ensured everyone went the right way (as far as I know) and to Kata who took nearly 300 photos, only stopping when the batteries in her camera gave up! And next year I have a time of 43:01 to beat.
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