Jim Dingwall Round the Houses 10k
Grangemouth 17/02/08
I entered this race a few weeks ago and after a flu type bug a couple of weeks ago, I only went because I had entered with no expectations of anything other than a gentle run. But in the end I was glad I made the effort as this was my fastest 10k in four years.
The weather was almost perfect, sunny and cool, with a bit of a wind. The course is the same as it has been for years, but this year a couple of improvements were in place, the race was chipped and for the first 6.5k the police had stopped the traffic on the left of the road where we were running.
At the start I positioned myself quite far back to ensure I started slowly; this worked a bit too well as I found for the first 2k I was running round people. However this kept my pace steady. After about 3k I noticed Andrew's Helensburgh vest in front (as I had not met Andrew or Julia before this I did not know it was Andrew, I recognized the vest from the pictures Andrew and Julia send in to our website). I realized I was very slowly catching the Helensburgh vest, and just before 7k I passed Andrew. I then had a bad patch between 7 and 8k (lack of longer runs!), I managed to pick up the pace a bit at 8k. On the last bend before the track I heard someone shout "come on Portobello" but I did not look up in time to see who it was, - thank you for the shout. As always it seemed to take ages to get onto the track, but when I did I managed a slight increase in speed to the line.
Just after the line Andrew introduced himself and said he had been trying to hang on behind me to the line. I then met Julia and had the obligatory photo taken (I am not sure I should get my photo taken with a strange man!). - Thank you Julia, it was good to meet you and Andrew having seen so many of your photos and race reports.I hope all the races I do this year feel as good as this one does, it is the first race in ages I have enjoyed running.
Report Fiona Mayfield
Photo Julia HGerry's report
This year's 'roon the hooses' race reverted to its February kick-off date. I am unclear why it changed 3 or 4 years ago to March/ April, maybe due to fixture congestion.
The conditions were excellent, cold in the shade, a slight breeze along one part of the route but for this time of year they were great! I remember well taking part in this event last year, in April (see my report) when there was a heatwave and conditions were uncomfortably hot. I recall borrowing suntan lotion in the changing rooms before the race.
So four of us Porty runners turned up: Iain Goode, Moray Paterson, Fiona Mayfield and me. Andrew Henderson was also taking part and wife Julia (formerly of Porty) was participating in the 5km race which was starting 15 mins before the 10k.
As I have run this race a handful of times before (6 I think) I am aware it usually attracts top notch runners. This time, a week before the BIG Scottish National cross country title at Callendar Park, there were fewer, but still some, elite runners.
The course is pretty flat really, apart from one or two slight inclines it is one of the flattest road races around. I don't protest at this. So off we went, along a km stetch slightly downhill and then to turn left behind a big petrochemical works. I know from previous years to try and avoid inhaling the air around this area as it does tend to have an aroma that is less than fresh - and I don't mean cows stuff, just chemicals!
I wasn't too sure how I'd tackle the race as my last outing was in a cross country before Christmas and last road race back in late September so I went off a bit cautiously but a decent pace without haring it. From 1 - 3 km, we ran along a fairly straight road and the runners began to stretch out. I was beginning to pass odd runners and gradually working my way towards a group of around 10 runners who had previously seemed quite far ahead. As we turned another corner my plan was to get into the group and sit in with them for a while. Of course once I caught them my plan went out of the window. Within a couple of hundred metres I was at the front of the group with one of the pack deciding to follow. So for the next two to three km the two of us ran pretty close to each other and catching another couple of runners in the process. During this part of the race I was quite aware that I was going faster than I had expected and reached the half way point in 18 mins - in fact I passed the 4km marker in around 14 mins so maybe the markers were out! I really didn't think I was capable of running 10km in 35 mins.
Into the second half of the race and as we caught another runner, the chap running with me got slightly ahead and I did consider whether just to let him go. I really was wondering whether I was capable of keeping the pace going. Still I decided to go for it and see. I caught the guy again within a 100m and then dropped him half a km later. Unexpected or what!
The second half of the course is a long, straight section heading past Grangemouth Stadium, where the race finishes, at around the 8km point and them turning directly back on yourself at 9km point to head back towards the ground. The next guy in front was a good 20 - 30 yards in front at the 7- 8km so being a bit tired I simply tried to keep the same distance from him. Passing the stadium it was great to get encouragement from the onlookers. Then, as we turned to head back, near the 9km mark and as I was planning how to catch the guy in front, from Kilbarchan, I became aware I wasn't alone, someone was closing on me. So I decided to use this guy to help me. I kept him behind me, reaching the stadium grounds, then as we turned with around 150m to go he went by but this was helping me as my pace had certainly picked up over the last km. I thought to keep with him and try to go by over the last 30m when we reached the track. As we entered the final stretch he was just in front and kept it that way over the line.
I was delighted, finishing the race in 35mins 54secs, my PB for this course. Others from the club did well, Iain finishing not far behind me in 36mins 23secs, Moray in an excellent 37mins 36secs and Fiona in 50mins 51secs.
Well done to Andrew too, in around 51mins and to Julia who won the ladies 5km in a time of 18mins 26 secs. So all in all a good day running roon the hooses.
Report Gerry Scullion
