Dunfermline Half Marathon 21/5/06
When I done this race in 2004 I was not sure if I was going to do this half again but with the Edinburgh marathon 3 weeks away it is the kind of course you would have wanted to do. The course has been changed to two even sized loops which is better than the short loop then the long loop, but still the thought of loops does my head in. Reading the Dunfermline press the day before, it stated it was a faster and flatter course and before the race started it was mentioned again. It brought a smile to my face as I said to another he is telling porky pies. So off we went, missed the first mile marker so hadn't a clue what pace I was running then 2 miles came, oh dear 13.10 then by 3 settled down to 19.40. Going along Halbeath Road is the flatest part of the course which gives you some relief but then when you go into the park after Transy Grove instead of going up and along past the Carnegie Hall and down the high street, you went down which I thought was better - how wrong I was because after you went through an underpass you had a nasty little hill down again and then undulating until you got to Pittencrieff Park which again was different - you only went about 100 metres into the park then back out again to do the second loop. I suppose the good or bad thing about loops whichever way you look at it is you know what's coming. Gets to 10 in 66.30 well on course to beat alloa then Halbeath Road again trying not to think about the hill coming out of the park. Back into Pittencrieff Park hills out the way the best bit downhill then past the pavillion along past the museum then the side of the gardens, right turn then straight run to the finish in 1.26.37. I did see 2 other PRC runners but only saw 1 of them at the finish. So Dunfermline is a better course with the 2 even sized loops, but faster and flatter? No. Won't be at the Rigg Race but see you all on wednesday.
John Pickard 1.26.46
Susan Forrest 1.40.31
Derek Elms 1.43.40
Margaret Sandeman 2.02.29Full results here
Many thanks to John at myRace for the photo, more hereReport John Pickard
