Heriot Watt Round the Grounds Trail 5k 11/05/08
BeforeI liked the sound of a 5k trail run through the grounds of Heriot Watt, and it was at a reasonable time -1pm - this afternoon. Mary kindly drove me there and took photos: what with yesterday's 20 miler with Richard and myself, she was still feeling a bit tired from E2NB last weekend to race. I had been running below pace yesterday which helped and while warming up was feeling (unlike last week) up for it. I liked the idea of running a student race. They are not the brightest folk (witness this exchange: race cost £2 (superb value) I gave a tenner and get £6 back.) And they all run off at top pace meaning you get to go through a pack of exhausted joggers at the 2k mark which is a great lift. And very few of them are over 40.
So I went along pot-hunting until I saw the assembling field and realised this might be a bit harder than I thought. I recognised a few serious runners. Only other Porty was Andrew Jeske and he and I lined up with the ever present HBT Ivor. The organisation was flawless (good course markings and marshals) and we were started on time. Most folk seemed to be wearing road shoes or racing flats – I wore cross country shoes which weren't too harsh on the tarmac for the first half and excellent on the dry dirt and bark paths in the second.
Initial pace is hectic...The route seemed to follow the circumference of the student grounds. I'd never been to Riccarton campus before and it seemed quiet and leafy with fields and a wood round the extremity. We started with most of a lap of the field then hit the road and past the entrance heading downhill. I worried about the loss of height wondering if we would pay for it later but there were no steep inclines up or down. After about a mile the students ahead were beginning to thin out and I could see Lyn Wilson and grey-haired number 92 towards the front of the pack about a hundred yards ahead. No. 92 I reckoned was first vet and uncatchable. However at the second k marker I overtook more students who were slowing and that gave me a real boost.
Well mostly hectic. Mike Lieberman is coach to these 2 - well done girls.We turned left and the road ahead rose slightly and at some point became a dirt trail covered in bark chippings like a garden centre. About then the second lady went past – one of the few people to go past. The path continued to climb and I could see glimpses of number 92 getting nearer until I felt I might actually be catching him. Meanwhile I could hear footsteps and without turning round I thought I glimpsed Ivor's brown shirt drawing even. (He let me know it wasn't him later, but..) This lit the turbo thrusters and I gave it some welly for a bit. In no time the grey haired one was within 30 yards and I wondered whether I should wait till nearer the end which had to be soon and sprint past to the line, but while I was thinking this I caught up and edged past. As this was near the top of the hill I suspected I would have the advantage on the downhill last k. Just before a medium steep down hill there was a sign saying Take Care. No chance. I saw a four k marker and realised we were just a few minutes from the finish so tried to keep the pace furious for the last few hundred yards. I had run up this part of the course to warm up and recognising the ground floored it to the line.
Starting behind everyone (pinning his number on while running) is HBT's Murray Strain having been late to the start due to running the Dunfermline half...(and wearing the t shirt)...Mary nearly missed the photo because as she said she wasn't expecting me out the woods so soon after the winners. I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or not. I was surprised to look at my watch and see 17.26, a 5k pb: although I've only ever done a couple of the Silverknowes wind-tunnel specials so don't have a lot to compare. I did enjoy it much more than the barren windswept esplanade though. And I suppose the first half of tarmac keeps it quick. And with the final k being downhill, ending in a gallop down through the trees there was a sense of euphoria building into a sprint finish. Top marks!
...however it didn't stop him overtaking the whole field and winning! (Number a bit squint though.)We chatted to Ivor and Andrew before making our way to the prizegiving in the Union. My anticipation of winning first vet had done a couple of u-turns during the day but when I overtook No 92 I felt I had nailed it. Not to be. Just one o/40 prize (this is a student event) and it went to a very young looking fourth placed guy who looked early 30s. Bummer. I resisted the urge to ask for ID. The o/50s winner was from Motherwell. They had about 20 team members along; by far the most represented club. I've no idea why.
Third overall and new female course record was Lyn Wilson (16.37)
Fourth and first over 40?
Taking the photographer by surprise. (Exactly a minute behind the winner.)However it was a good day (prizegiving aside) and we recovered with 30 mins in the Commie Pool as warm down. We declined the offer of attending the student party at Heriot Watt Union later in the evening despite the promise of “cheap drink and what not.”
No. 92 - Duncan McGougan
Andrew practises his marathon wave.
We are now supposed to be tapering for the marathon. (The third arduous chore of the month.) However the second arduous challenge, the Scottish Islands Peaks Race, for me at least, has been cancelled (my team dropped out) and so instead I get to run Goatfell Hill Race next weekend which I am looking forwards to hugely as I have many fond memories of this special place (even though it nearly killed off-road Tony last year....)
Report pb
Chauffeur, Cheerleading & Photos Mary
Results here - turns out there were o/40s in fourth and fifth place, so a line through this one for pothunting potential but a good race never the less.
After
