Linlithgow 10k 23/09/07
After the previous Sunday's 10k at Stirling where the weather had been very wet and dull, I checked the forecast for the 10k at Linlithgow reports Gerry.
The forecast was for a windy day to start with, but likely to improve as the day went on. So it was lucky that the start time was 2:30pm as by that time the weather was fine, with a minor but quite pleasant breeze along the opening part on the race.
Prior to the race I bumped into all the Porty entrants, names etc at the end of the report. Keith Mayfield told me this was his second last race before his retiral from top level running. (Which level? ed.) I saw him at the end where he repeated his plan. Come on Keith, we'll get Graham Henry onto you if you don't change your mind.
I started well, along the front row of 470 runners. It's a nice start, running along the main street with crowds cheering on both sides of the road. It's not the easiest of starts though, as there's an early hill in it before heading away from the town. You then run around a 'square' loop before returning near to the starting point and then head around Linlithgow Loch. I am sure the Loch is lovely and scenic but I must admit the only time I have seen it is before or during the race so cannot truly vouch for it's beauty. One day I will visit Linlithgow to take in the views.
I was pleased with my time at 4k of around 14 mins and then, while running round the loch, I passed the 5k marker in 17 mins 40 secs. If this was accurate then I was on for a good time. I felt a bit tired so guessed it must be about right.
I had made this race one of my aims for the year. I enjoy the race and 2 years before I had recorded my fastest 10k on this course. I wasn't confident beforehand that I was in a position to challenge this time but at the half way stage I did begin to wonder.
I passed a guy from Perth Road Runners after the 5k point. I then had to think how I could keep the pace going. Two years before Peter Buchanan was in front of me at this point and I had him to aim for. He eventually got the better of me but it was a great way of keeping my attention on the race.
Two guys were ahead of me, 20 -30 yards in front. I decided that these guys would be my focus, let's call one of them Peter and that should keep me going.
Leaving the lochside, around 6 - 7km point there's a nasty uphill stretch, however it is no Penicuik so you just have to buckle down and not feel too sorry for yourself. I got through it and was closing on one of those ahead. Onto an undulating but more downhill stretch towards the 8km marker and I had closed down on the guy and passed him. He was a triathlete from Orkney. This was so similar to two years before though this time I thought I had seen the last of him. The previous time it had been Peter that I had caught but he had reacted strongly and kept me to his rear. How wrong I was. Just like 2 years earlier the race seemed to catch up with me. It wasn't that I was slowing, only that the Orkney chap was catching me and then went by me. At this point the ground turned a bit stoney and seemed to sap my strength. I kept going but didn't challenge him as he went by. This is one of only a few races where, having caught someone and gone by them, they have caught me and beaten me. I am not sure why this is!
Nearing the final km marker I glanced ay my watch. I was disappointed as my reading of it suggested I was going to be over 36 mins by the finish. I don't know if I read it properly though as, given my tiredness and eyesight, I couldn't be sure I had read my watch accurately. A lesson for all, don't always believe your watch (or distance markers in a race) especially when you are tired!
I ran as hard as I felt able, turned in towards the finish line and was now not far behind the second chap, from Falkirk Vic, the two guys I had in view had now swapped places. I saw the clock and to my pleasant surprise found I was quite well under 36 mins. I didn't quite get to the Falkirk runner and crossed the line in 35 mins 45 secs, only 10 secs outside my PB. I was tired but pleased, my fastest time for a 10k this year and not the easiest 10k course either. I was in 10th position overall and 2nd vet.
Fellow runners from Porty did well:
Keith Mayfield 40 mins 14 secs, 43rd
Stephen Maley 43 mins 8 secs, 96th
Tracey Lazenby 48 mins 23 secs, 200th
Lynn Hanley 48 min 26 secs, 202th
Fiona Mayfield 52 mins 55 secs, 303rd
Janice Stirton 54 mins 58 secs, 339th.
Well done to all and I think we'd all agree, a good race to do!
Report Gerry Scullion
Here is Lynn's report...
Janis, John and I went through to Linlithgow on a sunny if blustery Sunday, John having hot footed it back from Prestonpans where he cheered on the championship baggers that morning. The one downside of Linlithgow is the start time, 2.30pm with the problems of what to eat and when. Janis and I shared a tin of Red Bull, too wimpy to have a can each in case the effects were more than we could handle (this is known as the Amsterdam effect...cycling tour 07). Tracey, Fiona, Keith, Gerry and Stephen swelled the depleted Porty ranks, always good to see the team vest.I really like this race, I did it for the first time last year and supported it the year before.The t-shirt is a useful long sleeve affair and the route includes a nice wee donder along the loch, very picturesque! That's if you want to take time and enjoy the views. I was on a bit of a mission however. Having finished last year 46mins and 9 secs I wanted to get as close to that time as possible. I haven't been in a race for a while due to injury and general laziness and I had forgotten how stressful it is. I set off at blistering pace getting to the 2k mark in a smidge over 9 mins by the time I got to where John was standing ready with camera I was about to explode! Classic "do as I say not as I do" of setting off too quickly! The sun was out and as soon as we were on the Lochside I started to calm down. I was distracting myself by trying to keeping a Perth runner at bay when I heard a heavy breather behind me and Tracy drew alongside. After a brief chat she pulled in front and I followed her up the hill managing to overtake her at 8 k. This didn't last long and she came in in front of me; it was great to have someone pull me along as I was running out of steam and would have been even slower than I was, if she hadn't spurred me on.
I was a bit disappointed with my 48 min 26sec time but our team supporter was as ever encouraging and I felt better, thanks John. So off for reward in the shape of tea and scones and catching the final minutes of the Hibbies beating Celtic made for a good day all round!
Well done to Portobello Runners and well done to John for general bag carrying, photograph taking and cheering on.
Gerry came storming in 35 min 45 sec
Keith Mayfield 40min 14
Stephen Malley 43 min 08
Tracey 48min 23
Lynn Hanley 48min 26
Fiona Mayfield 52 55
Janis Stirton 54 58Report Lynn Hanley
Photos and support John Forker
Tracy's report...
Having made myself inconspicuous due to poor attendance at Wednesday night training sessions over the past several months (for various excuses, but mostly poor ones), I thought I’d try and do the same by registering for the Linlithgow 10k, knowing full well that the majority of you lot would be off enjoying the Prestonpans half. I guess that my desire to be inconspicuous was underpinned by the knowledge that I would be distinctly slower and suffer far more than in previous races due to lack of training, and this, for whatever strange reason would strike unease and shame at the prospect of explaining myself to fellow Porty runners. It is indeed strange how the mind works.The reality was that I encountered friendly and familiar faces before the race including John who was kind enough take photos (and gracious enough to miss photographing my suffering at only 4km), and Gerry who provided sound words of advice concerning one of many hills at around the 7km point.
During the race I managed to catch up to Lynn at around 5km and we were more or less together until the end. Without Lynn’s encouragement I do not believe I would have kept going after Gerry’s hill, but Lynn and I both managed to stick together to finish in under 49 minutes. Far from a PB for both of us, but after putting things in perspective (and putting the stopwatch aside) we realised that we both managed to finish a race completely pain and injury-free, which was no mean feat. That’s enough to be delighted about.
The weather, the support, the t-shirt and the organisation of this race were great. And thinking about Graham’s advice not to be a ‘slave to the stopwatch’, in the end, meeting with fellow Porty runners to chat about the race and enjoy the post-race atmosphere was enough to remind me what running in a club is really about.
Photos: Many thanks John Forker.
