Dunbar 10k 5/04/08
Saturday’s race at Dunbar had gone very well for me. With great help from Shelagh and Derek E pulling me along – we ran together for the first 7k until Derek (the rotter) pulled away - I’d broken 43 mins for the first time. Although I’d had to work far too hard to do it, and the last mile had been more of a stagger than a sprint, I was full of beans and ready for more. So on the Sunday, in spite of getting up to find it snowing, I went off to Perth for the Heaven and Hell Half Marathon. Click here for report.
Report Richard Dennis
Photos Lynn Hanley, Peter Buchanan, Mary HunterResults here
Many thanks to Belhaven for a can of their Best for every finisher and well done to Dunbar Running Club for the well marshalled and organised race round an attractive course. And having the results online by 6pm. And the sandwiches and tea - thanks!
Just in - Gerry's report
I had to toss a coin the night before the Belhaven 10k race: whether to stay out late with friends and head onto a BAR having had a meal to celebrate one of their birthdays OR instead think of the following morning and head home as I was heading to another BAR, Dunbar. Maybe sense prevailed as I enjoyed the trip to the 10k race and was pleased with my performance.
It was great to see so many good shows by Porty runners, particularly Karen and Paul who took so much time off their PBs for 10k, but also great to see so many Porty runners (good to see Kerry back racing) as it shows the strength of numbers we have at the club when around 20 of us head to a 10k race like this. Sure other clubs wish they could match us.
Conditions were pretty good for the event, especially given the forecast for snow and wind. Whilst there was some wind in your face heading along the coast it wasn't too bad at all.
I started the race deliberately cautiously. Having watched the World cross country the previous week I felt one lesson to learn from watching Mr Bekele was that you can have a faultering start and still do rather well. So for the opening mile I tried simply to settle into the race and along with others gradually pick up the pace. This seemed to work. Peter was a few places (and seconds) in front of me til around 2 - 3km and then as a group of runners, we settled together; Peter, a guy from Lasswade, 2 from Moorfoot and a couple of others.
As there was a bit of a breeze to contend with I wasn't too keen to take to the front and so tried to find a bit of shelter behind the guys at the front of the pack. This lasted for at least a km or so and then I took to the front and along with a couple of runners and made a slight break. By this time the pace was quick and, as there's a few twists and turns in the course I felt these, I wondered whether I'd have the strength to keep going.
At one point, around the half way point, I deliberately tried slowing just a little hoping to that the two guys just behind would overtake and give me a chance to hide behind them. Strange, neither seemed to be keen though I did manage to see their vests and they were the two chaps from Moorfoot. I had seen them before at Alloa where they ran together for a good part of the race.
A bit further on as we turned away from the coast onto a track the Moorfooters went by me. I followed closely and was quite disappointed as they didn't stay together for long so I decided that, at most, only one of them was going to get the better of me and even then he was going to have to work pretty hard to do this. I quickly went by the slower runner and got to within a couple of yards of the other.
On a bit further, 7 - 8 km and the first chap had me. He had gained a few more metres and was catching a Dunbar guy who, from where I was positioned, didn't look too comfortable and so catchable. We ran along a road at this stage for half a km or so before turning onto a good country path (don't think cars can travel on it) and on this stretch I overtook the Dunbar runner. As I turned into the sports complex I saw the clock reading 35:40 and made a last dash to the line. I just got under the 36 min mark, my second time this year. So good, 7th overall of 320 runners.
As others have said, this is a really well organised and enjoyable event, great to get some sandwiches and coffee afterwards in nice surroundings. So thanks to Stuart Hay at Dunbar RC and all the others who helped to make the occasion enjoyable.Report Gerry Scullion
Richard saves time by proposing to four girls at once.
Gerry - first Porty home and prizewinner
Shelagh was also a prizewinner
Watch out John - here comes a Munro and you're about to be bagged...
Paul took about 2 mins off last years time
Mel, Shelagh and Mary made the womens' team prize
Luckily there was an ambulance handy to attend to Derek's blister
Faces were filled
