Nigel Barge 10k 3/01/09
An impression of Michael rather than a likenessFirst, Happy New Year to fellow Porty Runners and All the best for 2009. I hope to make it across at some point in January for one of the training sessions.
I have reported before on this race having run it on 3 or 4 previous occasions. The route now consists of two loops around or in the West of Scotland Science Park in Glasgow's west end together with a short loop at the start. A good 10k test early in the New Year with a couple of hills to ensure no complacency. Conditions for yesterday's race while cold were excellent - long may this continue - a lovely blue sky and no wind to mention.
Having been living in Glasgow now for three months and training with the Bellahouston Road Runners I felt the need to don their purple vest thinking I may just get away unnoticed. I almost did and then spotted Michael Geoghagan. He made no mention of my vest so thanks Michael.
The race was a good test, to see how training with Bella has affected me and to see in a race where I stand in respect of other Bella runners. I do know some of their top notch runners were absent, in fact quite a few, so I this wasn't a true reflection of my positioning. It would also be good to see whether the festive season had got in the way of my running!
So off started the race, a short loop before heading onto the main course. Some parts of this were pretty narrow due to a late change to the opening section. I could see Michael just in front of me and given his fine recent showing in cross country scene I was quite happy to be close by. We were in the front 20 of around 230 runners. Being quite close to the front we managed to avoid crowding on the narrow paths. One thing I was aware of was a lack of Bella vests in front of me, uhmm, not for long as one Bella runner emerged within the first km on my shoulder and then slightly ahead.
We soon headed out of the grounds and onto the pavement around the outskirts of the park, a shortish hill to take us there. Between the 2nd and 3rd km I caught up with Michael and, as there were a couple of others around him, he maybe didn't spot me go by. Either that or he didn't recognise me in an unfamiliar vest! I was accompanied by my fellow Bella runner, Colin. Colin and I seemed to be taking turns in front, Colin on the uphill, where I couldn't quite match his pace, and then on the down stretches and some flat parts where I seemed to catch up and pass him.
I think this is Gerry (just behind Colin?) - poor quality because it is a still from a video.Onto the second loop and I had passed a couple of other guys, one female was ahead though not within catching distance! So there was Colin, me and a couple of others twenty or so yards in front, Chris Upson (Westerlands) and Paul Thompson (Helensburgh). I knew there were a couple of runners close behind but daren't look - I try never to look behind me.
Close on 6km point and getting near to an uphill stretch my clubmate Colin upped the pace a bit, to catch the runners in front and left me a few yards behind. He said afterwards he felt quite good at this stage and so thought he would take advantage of this. I couldn't quite match his pace though I did wonder if I might get back on the downward stretch later.
Colin broke the guys in front and went out on his own. I had caught Chris Upson and went by him and was closing on PT. Nearing 9k, we had a hill to attend to and I stuck in behind him. The last km was slightly downhill and I pictured the km stretch I used to do at the Tuesday Meadows' session. I caught Paul 500 or so metres to go and then got a slight lead which I was to keep to the finish though I was aware of his closeness right to the end.
I was delighted to cross the line in 35:48 (11th place) over 20 secs quicker than my run two years ago over a similar course. I was just over 10 seconds behind Colin who was Bella's first runner home. Michael came in 29th a couple of minutes behind, a bit disappointed but still a good time.
I should mention that I spoke to Ian Goudie, from the Bella Runners afterwards who used to play rugby with Iain Duckworth and passed on his best. Ian G did say that Iain D went onto good things in rugby winning the Scottish rugby championship - so well done Ian.Report Gerry Scullion
Thanks to John Kynaston whose daughter took the video from which I took these stills.
See that video or umpteen others of John running ultras here.
