Penicuik 10k 12/05/07
The drizzle had just about stopped by the time this race started but the heavy grey clouds threatened for most of the day. A strange 2.15pm start doesn't suit everyone (Shelagh) but I enjoyed a late breakfast and unhurried start to the day. I haven't done this race before and I believe we have Mr. Forker to thank for it being a championship race. A good big PRC turnout with a few names absent.
Having been warned about the big hill near the start we descended for a couple of minutes then hit the start of the hill. I was pleased that only 2 folk overtook before the long steep ascent levelled off and I looked to see 10 mins on my watch. One of the overtakers had been wearing Trabucos - a trail shoe which concerned me as I thought this was a road race. Did they know something I didn't? The other guy disappeared off into the distance. I went past Trabuco as soon as we went down hill but he came past once more going up again in the second or third mile. There was a bit of a watersplash but no other reason to be wearing heavy shoes that I could see. The course was very up and down with hardly any flat in between. The third mile marker went past and I thought it funny after the last 2 endurance events, how we were half way in less than 20 minutes. There was a water stop and I did a quick rinse and spit to cope with a dry mouth from all that hard breathing. I could hear Trabuco or someone else just behind and I wanted to stay ahead. Lots of downhill and countryside reminiscent of the Lasswade 10 miler. I felt I was keeping up a good fast pace but my watch told me I only managed one of the miles sub-6 which didn't seem to match the effort I was gamely putting in. Must be these hills.
The place was littered with PortiesAt last the mile 5 marker, as we made a long sweeping descent and I thought, "well only about 6 mins to go, rally the troops and let's charge." However nobody had mentioned the last cruel mile evens out then does a series of hills and curves and in and out the dusty bluebells and although there were plenty of marshals (as there were throughout the course) it was like someone was taking the worst route possible to the playing fields. I glimpsed over my shoulder at one turn to see Tony Kot not far behind and knowing he is in my age group I thought I best keep the pace up. At last we get to a group of marshals at the playing field and they say follow the flags. I felt my joie de vivre depart as you required binoculars to see the other side of the field and a tiny Finish sign a long way away. I gave it my all but it was a long unpleasant hike across that grass. I managed to stay ahead of Tony but frankly I needn't have bothered as there were loads of our age group across the line already, whom I hadn't seen since about that first hill.*
Not a fast course and a rather grey day, but the very excellent selection of homebakes and very cheery organisers Penicuik Harriers, made up for it. Everyone filtered off after good hot showers (even for latecomers) but Mary and I hung about long enough to catch the prizegiving which was good, as Shelagh won first Vet, Mary won second Vet and together with Fiona Mayfield they won the team prize. Highly recommended apart from the running bit.
Report Peter Buchanan
Photos Mike Lieberman, Peter BuchananShelagh's Report
I must admit I had serious reservations about this race. Not only was it 6 days after the BUPA 10 km but it started at 2.15 pm. Personally, I don't think races should start any later than 12.00 pm. Afternoon starts interfere with my domestic arrangements, eating habits and various other unmentionable functions and end up taking up most of the day. However, since it was a club championship race I thought I'd better enter. The turnout from PRC was lower than I'd expected but it was quite an unpleasant and rainy day. John F had warned me about the long hill at the start so I was prepared and deliberately let the guys and Mary go flying off! I soon caught Mary on the hill although it took me a bit longer to catch John. The long downhill stretches were welcome and I felt quite strong throughout the race. I had a Victor Meldrew moment somewhere in the first 2-3 miles when I thought I heard John's voice saying "Mary" and I thought "I don't believe it". It made me hurry up a bit but as it turned out my ears were playing tricks as John and Mary never met up during the race. I set my sights on catching Ben and Paul Eunson and gradually pulled them in, waiting for my chance to pounce in the last mile. The chance to give Paul the fright of his life came earlier than I'd planned as I knew he would speed up once he saw my back. I gallantly led Ben and Paul up the last hill and then Paul zipped by me as we turned left to head to the road where we started. I tried to muster up a sprint finish to catch him on the grass but couldn't and in the end he beat me by 9 measly seconds. Thankfully, I still managed to cross the line just ahead of Ben by a massive 4 seconds. My time was a minute faster than the BUPA 10 km and as it wasn't an easy course, I felt reasonably pleased. Mary and Peter represented PRC at the prize-giving ceremony and learned that PRC ladies (Mary, Fiona Mayfield and I) had won the team prize and that I'd got 1st vet and Mary 2nd vet. Not a bad haul for a wet Saturday afternoon.
Report Shelagh McLeish
Reply from Paul...
I feel obliged to submit a spirited defence of my conduct in the Penicuik 10k where Shelagh hints that I was ungentlemanly in allowing her to break (the) wind going up the last hill. The reader should be aware that Shelagh and I have a long history of oneupmanship. When Shelagh was in her prime - ah, what a sight - she zipped past me on Princes Street at mile 24 on the 1999 Edinburgh marathon and beat me by a number of minutes - I forget how many, but she has not. Shelagh has a very distinct foot fall, and since that day, on many a race - Portobello, Granton, Silverknowes, Haddington - I have listened for that ominous sound. I have become like Captain Hook, paralysed with fear at the sound of a ticking clock.
Ben overtook me on the downhill at Penicuik - I can cope with that, he has such effortless style. Then Shelagh came up to my shoulder and whispered, "Your worst nightmare". I let them get a little ahead and despaired. I had this vision of myself sitting drooling in front of day-time television in the old folks home in 30 years time musing on past glories and failures. "Why did I let her beat me again?" So one last supreme effort, up the hill, across the line, and almost as slow a time as the previous week. But I have exorcised one particular demon and will return to running like a gentleman and break (the) wind for the ladies.Paul Eunson
Poor Werner has been out of action due to knee problems and only took part
because the race starts in his street.
Much hilarity on the warm down, note Scott's new fast shoes
Mary picks up the team prize for herself, Shelagh and Fiona. (Photo: Ramon)Results and very good slide show here
*Actually (since seeing the results) I was 3rd mv40 but the organisers saw fit to give Brian Kirkwood (1st mv50) second vet (40+) prize so I was, in fact, awarded a big fat nada. Also somewhere in the day's excitement Douglas and Werner seem to have swapped numbers and therefore results.
