Lasswade 10, 5/3/06
TAIL-END VIEW
A fine start to the day promised a good run at Lasswade for the annual BUPA-sponsored 10 mile event. As everyone gathered at the rugby club registration tent it was clear that there would be a big field of over 300 runners and plenty of competition at the sharp end. About Twenty-seven PRC runners turned out even if some were running under Lasswade AAC (and other) vests of convenience.
The ritual of jogging up the long hill to the start is a good way to get into the right frame of mind, even if the start does seems to be slipping closer and closer towards the finish line every year adding on a few uphill metres each time. A picturesque view of the Pentlands covered in snow was enough to inspire even the most jaded runner and a warming sun quelled the usual grumbles and took the edge off a chilly wind.
By the time the pack had descended in to the Esk valley just after the first mile marker there was already a lot of spread in the field, only to be increased on the way up the first hill where any pretention to fitness was severely put to the test. Having overtaken Paul Edwards on the way down, he overtook me on the way up but stayed within sight. As I came onto the straight section between the hills Lynn, Kerry and John F were pulling away nicely in the distance. This was the last I was to see of them. I managed to gain a few metres on Paul by the time we reached the bottom of the second descent into the valley, only to lose it all and more on the way up.
I hit the half-way point at 42 minutes thinking I had the worst behind me. I can never relax until the water station after the six mile marker and I know the course is (mainly) downhill from then on. In the past I've been able to recover lost time in the last four miles and this proved to be the case - for a while. As we entered Rosewell I was within thirty metres of Paul but the last two miles seemed to go on forever and he slowly pulled ahead. Only the steep downhill from mile nine enabled me to put on a final dash and just manage to keep off Zoe who was creeping up behind me. Then a trot through a mudbath and across the line a minute slower than last year.
Gerry was first in for the club in a great time and pb of 59.59. Willie Jarvie's sub 60' times have yet to be beaten by any current club runner but alas Willie was off with injury this time.
Since the Lasswade 10 has had BUPA sponsorship the goodies after the race have improved dramatically, which makes for an enjoyable, good-value race that other organisers might learn from.
Report Douglas Young
As Douglas said the weather was nearly perfect, the last damp spots of melted snow drying in the cold sunny breeze as we took off. I was aiming at sub 60 - normally feasible for 10 miles but with Lasswade, you have to work that bit harder. Last year I did 62.27. I got a good start and stayed in first place for maybe 200 ridiculous yards before the first dozen went past. However I felt strong and managed the first couple of miles in under 5.50 each. I reckoned the only way to offset the long up-hill miles was to knock out a few fast ones before I started wheezing. Later it was put to me that I might have started too fast but I was interested to hear Andrew reckon he hadn't started fast enough. I certainly felt okay going up the first hill - even overtaking a few runners - and felt fine until about halfway, when I got a bit of a stitch and Gerry went past. Gerry hasn't 'went past' for some time and I felt I might run beside him and we could encourage each other. Not a chance - he showed excellent form and pulled away, slowly at first then overtaking several people and disappearing. I felt I was having a good run though and still able to hit the target. The hills seemed shorter this year and I felt fitter.
After the long drag down from Rosewell the course turns sharp left onto the cinderpath for the last 100 yards. Just as I was thinking (going full tilt for the line) hey that looks slippy someone could have an accid- my world turned upside down. I did a quick roll to make sure I got mud on every surface and gave the crowd a spectacle worthy of their stand in the cold, then got to my feet and finished without dropping a place. I was delighted to notice it was Donald Shaw behind me, though he seemed to be trying to take advantage of my early (mud) bath to gain a place. Last couple of outings Donald has been miles ahead so he must have had as much trouble with the course as myself. We were given the same time but I was on the page above him. Last year I was left wondering how Willie manages well under the hour. This year I looked at my watch to see 1.01.01 which I interpreted as why oh why oh why. Gerry felt he had done 60 mins on the nose but the results gave him 59.59 - a tremendous time and a great run. I managed a pb but was still a bit off what I hoped for this year.
We hung around ages after the prize-giving as they hadn't compiled the full list of runners and hadn't announced the women's team prize which there was a feeling Portobello might be in the running for. Lasswade were being duly cautious as last year they di
d their sums wrong and ended up buying a second load of trophies for the rightful winners - Porty Ladies. Eventually we dispersed none the wiser. When the results were published it turned out the PRC girls were third not first. I think inadvertant revenge was a dish served cold by Lasswade AC.
Despite the cold and tough course everyone seemed to enjoy the event - there were a number of pbs and a huge turn out from PRC. Both teams did very well. And when you consider the weather we had just 2 days ago it could have been quite a different story.Many thanks to Marc Thomson, who took photos at a couple of points along the way. In fact looking at the images I see I might have gone quicker if I spent more time on the ground.
Report Peter Buchanan
Photos Marc Thomson, Andrew Jeske
Gerry Scullion 59.59
Peter Buchanan 61.00
Andrew Jeske 63.03
Moray Paterson 64.40
Scott Jarvie 65.53
Scott Hutchison 66.20
Graham Henry 66.52
Tom Watson 68.04
John Pickard 68.57
Shelagh McLeish 69.55
Keith Harper 73.32
John Forker 73.40
Paul Ewing 73.46
Sally Scott 74.46
Mary Hunter 75.16
Derek Elms 75.50
Kerry Costello 78.16
Lynn Hanley 78.58
Teresa Cleary 80.17
Paul Edwards 81.16
Douglas Young 83.14
Zoe Leitch 83.34
Sandi Bomphray 87.11
Karen Munro 88.35
Sandra Murray 89.55
George Quinn 92.33
Janis Stirton 94.09
Louise Kay 96.40Women - 3rd team out of 6
Men - 5th team out of 18
