Kirkcudbright Half 23/05/09
I’ve come to expect pretty good weather in Kirkcudbright in the six times I’ve run this race but it had to end sometime. The gala atmosphere at the start and finish was marred somewhat by wet blustery weather but this is not necessarily a bad thing for runners. Apart from a bit of headwind up the firth, most of the time the cool weather worked in our favour, especially on the long, slow climb from mile 4 up to Twynham.
I’ve always managed a decent time here, even after the course correction a couple of years ago. Partly I think it’s because the race starts at 1pm to allow runners from Scotland and the North of England to compete in this distant corner. (Last year someone cycled from Manchester, ran the race and cycled back). However, I travel up the night before to stay with a friend who lives about 200 metres from the start, so it makes for a very relaxed prep for the race. Johnnie Lawson was in town also but Bert, Willie, Tom Harley and Philippa Headley (running for Carnethy), drove up from Edinburgh before the race. Fiona and Keith Mayfield were also planning to run but had to pass due to injuries, and so formed the club support team.
Bert’s idea of preparation was to arrive in town a bit early, have a coffee and biscuit, jog a couple of laps around the playing field and then puke the lot up. At the start he was tying his shoelaces wondering why all these people were rushing past him and so contrived to be last across the start line. A few more races and he might get the hang of it.
I kept a steady pace on the flat, picking off a few stragglers on the way. On the uphill gradient I tried to keep the same effort going (i.e. running slower) and felt pretty good at the top. The long flat straight and fast downhill always suits me and like last year I hit the ten mile marker in under 80 minutes with high hopes of keeping up the pace. Unfortunately, the lack of mileage in training began to show and the last three miles tailed off into a slow slog. At 1:44 I was 3 minutes slower than last year but this pretty much tallies with the amount of training I’ve missed so I was fairly pleased.
Bert, obviously tapering for the marathon, roared through the field from last at the start to 34th over the line and came in at 1:26 only three minutes behind Willie at 1:23 and 17th, and four behind Johnnie who at 1:22 was 14th overall in a great run. Willie took the 2nd o/50 prize despite a long period of knee trouble. I suspect these three just missed the men’s team prize that went to Dumfries RC. Tom arrived in at 1:32 and with Philippa at 1:46 completed a good set of results for the club.
Report Douglas Young,
Full results here.Many thanks to Jennie, Keith and Fiona for support and photos.
