Edinburgh to North Berwick 3/05/08
The first of three rather arduous races this month. I'd have much preferred to have been scampering around the hills above Strathyre at Stuc a'Chroin which tends to share the same weekend as E2NB but we did that last year and this year frankly I need the club championship points. What I mean to say is its great to participate in such a well organised local race. However having focussed on the joys of hilly green scenic courses lately, the thought of 22 rather drab and long road miles down the coast into a SSE wind held little appeal.
Being overtaken by Fiona Matheson who stayed ahead and came first woman
George runs alongside Stuart Hay of Dunbar
Graham and Lucy ran similar times
Also I'd been living the vampire hours and after an 8am breakfast could have fallen back into bed for a kip with a happy heart. Sometimes you feel up for it and other times (this time) you just have to bite the bullet and gut it out. The 11am start gave us time to saunter round to Meadowbank and collect our thoughts before putting our bags on the bus. I was very jealous of my kit being whisked down the road on a comfortable warm coach.
One of the great traditions of E2NB is having the opportunity to put your own mix juice bottles into crates that will be taken to 5, 10 and 15 miles. I mixed up lucozade & psp sports drink concoctions and taped caffeine gels to the sides. It gives you a real lift not to have to carry anything but have such rewards waiting for you at the ten and fifteen mile marks. (We didn't bother with the 5 mile station though when I was speaking to Fiona Matheson later she said she benefited from a gel at 4 miles feeling if you leave it too late it doesn't get into your system in time.) Another tradition is the 1.75 laps round the track at Meadowbank – the only time I ever run here and its pretty much the last time you feel spritely all day. Scott F had asked what my game plan was and scoffed when I said I would try not to race the first few miles – that being my signature dish. However the day before I had noticed my pb for this course was 2.24 which works out at 6.32 pace. Or nearly four 40 minute 10ks back to back. This made me uncomfortable and want to race the first few miles while I felt fresh; fighting against the notion that if I held off and paced myself I would do a better time.
But you can't sprint 22 miles so I compromised and set off at a brisk pace at the head of the second lead group – in the top ten, but not trying to keep up with the head of the race. It was a great boost to see all the PRCers around Kings Road and on the prom. Thanks to all who came out to marshal and support. The first five flew past and I checked my watch at the aid station bridge at Musselburgh. 32.17 I think, so all I had to do was keep a steady pace for the next 17 miles. Not a chance in hell.
Going through Musselburgh Ricky on his bike spotted us and shouted encouragement. The guy beside me – Iain Cullen - noted the slight tone of surprise in Ricky's “well done” and wondered if I should be affronted.
Sally - back from injury. And cover girl for myRaceThe headwind on the prom had taken its toll and I could feel the reserves beginning to crumble. I knew I would have to play a cautious game rather than just plough on till I crashed and burned, so eased back a tad while trying to keep up a reasonable pace. At the racecourse a young whippet pulled alongside and started chatting as if we were out on a training run. About the point where I was going to fetch him a slap thinking that might convey the message that it was going to be a long day and I didn't have the wherewithal to expend energy explaining this, I realised this was Gareth, a PRC groupie (or low profile member) who had travelled with other PRCers to races but hadn't as yet come along to any Wednesday nights and wasn't wearing a club vest. Happily he moved ahead before I broke club etiquette.
Shortly after the turn onto the coast road Stuart Hay went past, the third member of the victorious and hugely impressive Dunbar team. Since then I have spotted a Hay-clone amongst the Black Rock 5 photos (run the previous evening) but surely not the same man? Luckily I didn't know this as he cruised past comfortably although he didn't disappear entirely and was still on the radar till at least Aberlady. Wonder if he's doing the 10k today?
Not long after the grassy plains between Musselburgh and the Pans I heard footfalls and suspected it would be Scott and George. A glance over my shoulder and a reflection of a couple of Porty vests in a shop window as we went through Prestonpans let me know they were there and my heart sank a bit. Last few times Scott or George has appeared while racing they shot past leaving me floundering. However Scott had the FLM in his legs and George has had his own domestic endeavours to keep him busy (congratulations George and Mrs. George) and I was pleased when they didn't cruise past. Then the cycle support appeared – Karen, Cath, Janis and pal Karen cheering on the Porty phalanx. They parked up just ahead and gave us a rousing cheer as we ran by and it was a good reminder that in fact Scott and George weren't the enemy but that we were a team. This became more apparent as the three of us ran the next 5 miles together.
I got a real boost at 10 miles (1.05.25) from the caffeine gel and sports drink but I don't think it was much help to hear from the timing marshal that we were 6 minutes behind the leader. “Only a mile behind” Scott wryly chipped in. I felt bad about littering the course with the remains of the gel and bottle trying to place it with other rubbish. I then pulled ahead with the boost of the first caffeine of the day but in no time George and Scott were back with me. Amanda then appeared on her bike and after pushing ahead for a bit, stopped to take photos. George accused me of speeding up for the camera – I'm sure it was just the lift from the excellent support – thanks for coming out Amanda when I know you would much rather have been running.
This was around half way and probably about as bad as it got – unusually I found the first half really quite dispiriting; the thought of how I was going to survive when I felt so bushed so early on. Whereas later I was just in a running trance and the miles kind of went by without the pain increasing too much, all those recent weekends of a race with a 20+ miler the next day providing the endurance (although not the speed).
About this point there was a competitor walking and as we went past I noticed it was my new friend Gareth. (If only I could harness that voodoo.) I think Scott's folks gave him a lift to the finish.
The long stretch to Aberlady I ran shoulder to shoulder with George and when I turned to gasp something at him I noticed he hardly looked to be working at all – I was like a wrung out dish-rag sweating, gasping and dragging my feet along the ground – there's George dry and cool and jogging along like he's out for a stroll. And saying he hadn't been out for anything more than a 15 miler. And that he would catch the guys up ahead in Gullane. I pointed out Fiona Matheson (first lady) in the yellow top about 200 yards away and felt it was good to be aiming forwards but suspected George might have to forge ahead on his own.
We got a bit of a telling off for cutting the corner at the bend at Aberlady but they would have had to have been firing guns at us for me to have taken much notice. The aid station at 15 (10-15 run in under 33 mins) was welcome but didn't have the same restorative value as the 10 mile table. I choked down my gel and tried to drink as much as I could. I knew this would be important to survival and the time it took meant I dropped back to Scott as George went ahead. Scott's folks were driving the course just ahead of us and gave us great support and took photos as we ran. Around this point I started shouting out motivations in a Graham Henry manner realising the activity gave me a boost at least as much as anybody around. The hills before and after Gullane went past with much less effort (though no greater speed) than previous years. Possibly hill running, possibly my pain fuse had blown. The marathon training ensured the pain was equally dispersed among ankles, back, feet, shoulders, legs and a rather poignant hot spot on the outside of the sole of my right foot. AHA! Now in 2005 I had stopped around the half way mark to empty a stone from my shoe only to find there was no stone. Different shoes different socks but there was that outside-of-the-sole blister, although curiously on the other foot. I haven't had that blister in the 3 years since on longer or harder races – there must be something about those harsh poorly surfaced roads that make me run a certain way. Looking forwards to that section of the marathon (not) – may tape those particular pressure points. Anyway I could feel the heat emanating from that blister, growing, until near the Dirleton turn-off it burst in a delicious white hot wave of tangible emotion. By this point the pain fuse had blown and I was shouting thoughts out loud. When we had crested the top of Gullane and turned the corner to get the first glorious glimpse of the Law, I had shouted 'THAR SHE BLOWS' at the whale like snout.
Lucy had a good run considering her 53 miler last weekend.
Graham also showed a return to form
The long gradual climb that follows blots out the hill until you turn the corner again and it sits right up in the middle of the road. Willie came past on his bike and I think I might have requested that he chase down George and trip him up. Then there's the Dirleton turn off up what in the past I found a challenging but short hill. No problem, then right turn and down through the small village where the 20 mile table (2.13.56) is the last chance for water before the long stretch of rooty pavement into North Berwick. As the course is short of the full 22 miles this only takes a bit over 12 mins but it can feel long enough especially this year as three young bucks came past during it. I (by now deeply out of it) may have accidentally spat on the second one as he went by, thinking “wow the Tourette's is really getting out of hand.” Heart felt apologies.
Personal Best for Paul
Mary - on the way to a pbAmanda there taking photos. I wondered if Scott was going to go for a sprint to the line and didn't really mind if he went past but I think the recent marathon had taken the edge off and if anything I might have been pulling away from him down the hill. All I could hear was my by now well skinned blister shouting yippee every second downhill footfall. Turn right and along the road to the glorious finish. Douglas and Karen and a number of folk make us stand together for a photo. I am delighted to be over the line and stopped.
the winner - Hugh McInnes
George strolls in (first Porty)
Finished
Paul wins the gritted teeth award
Spies tell me Lucy also ran Black Rock 5 the day before.
Rab and Mary finished togetherI jog up the hill to the showers (talking to one of the last-mile-overtakers) in an effort to get showered & changed and back down to see Mary cross the line but I run into (and chat to) too many folk and by the time we meet she is coming up the hill with Toby. She is delighted with a 7 minute pb and its great to see Toby too long absent from Wednesday night sessions.
Professor Dennis (another impressive pb)
Scott chose to wear the stockings and suspenders from his naughty nurse costume
Don't be fooled by the bike - one of these three bought a train ticket
Modelling the new urban chic PRC Hoodie - available now only £10At the prizegiving I was fortunate to get 2nd o/45 and along with Scott and George we got second team. Dunbar as previously mentioned romped home with all their team beating our best however none of the third team - HBT - could come within about 3 mins of us, so a result. Just to make the day the sun came out and the bus back was filled with happy banter and post race analysis. Well done all those who got pbs. A great day out, thanks to all the hard work of the organisers and marshals. (Next year Stuc!)
Report Peter
Photos Amanda Henderson, Graham Henry, Peter, Scott's Folks, Katie Blake, Douglas
Thanks again to all who came out to support (I didn't mention Alan and Gillian, and all those on the prom)
Results here
Lucy wins second lady
Second o/45
2nd Team Prize (sans George)
with GeorgeGeorge Salmond 2.24.21
Peter Buchanan 2.26.19
Scott Ferguson 2.26.27
Lucy (Carnethy) 2.30.35
Graham Henry 2.31.15
Scott Hutchison 2.36.10
Stuart Logan (who?) 2.38.20
Paul Edwards 2.43.40
Toby Durant 2.44.22
Sally Scott 2.44.59
Richard Dennis 2.45.20
Rab Henderson 2.53.44
Mary Hunter 2.53.44
Robert Kinnaird 3.29.40
Gareth Mayze (Teviotdale Harr.) dnf
