Haddington ½ and Pitreavie 10k 9/08/08 & 10/08/08
Due to an admin error, and being over-zealous to return to training after my broken ankle saga, I ended up being entered in both the Haddington ½ and Pitreavie 10k this weekend. The plan was to focus on the ½ marathon, and just view the 10k as training for the Berlin marathon in 7 weeks.
The horrible weather cleared up just before the Haddington ½, and it turned out to be warm and sunny at the start (always good for the tan). I’d never run the route before, and hadn’t seen a map so I had no idea what to expect. The only clue was the word “undulating” in the flyer. Anyway, it was a great course and I really enjoyed it. Sometimes when I’m running I focus straight ahead, and don’t see much, but this weekend I was really into the scenery, which was beautiful. The course was very “undulating” with a few steep hills (both up and down!). There was a nice down-hill section just towards the end, and then a nasty little loop at the finish throwing in another 500 meters just when you thought you’d made it! My official time was 1:29:10, position 29. Not my best time, but I’m happy with that, considering I’ve only been back racing for 2 weeks.
The weather was also good on Sunday for the Pitreavie 10k. Minor drama on the way over as they closed the Forth Road Bridge for road-works an hour before the race, resulting in massive tail backs and stress. I’ve run this race a few times in the past and it’s my favourite 10k. Great scenery, great view, great crowd and great cakes at the finish. This weekend was no exception. The start of the race is brutal at there is a bottle-neck to get out of the starting area, and then it’s a really fast first 2k. I seemed to settle into a pace around 3K just as I was crossing over the Forth Road Bridge southbound. The sun was out, but there was a really strong wind in your face the whole way over which was tough. However, on the way back, the wind was behind me, helping on the deceptively steep uphill section crossing back over the bridge northbound. At the last 500 meters I decided to go for a sprint finish, and zipped past 2 guys just at the finish line. One of them was unhappy at this, and made some remark. Ha ha! My official time was 39:04, position 18. Pitreavie is definitely my favourite 10K. I’ll need to remember and book up early again next year as it was over-subscribed this year.
Report Moray Paterson
Here is John Pickard's version...
after all the excitement of the helensburgh half it was back to the distance i am not too keen on the 10k too much like hard work if you ask me anyway moray, marc and stephen also made the trip across to do a 10k that is always full, well before the closing date this time it was 7 weeks. the first km is mostly downhill then when you get to the station you have a hill but nothing too severe, then its downhill all the the way to the bottom of inverkeithing then you have the long drag to the middle of the bridge so any time you lose between 3 and 5k you can make up between 5 and 7 although when you are across the bridge there is a hill which caught me out last year and again this year. so after going down up and on to the other side of the bridge which even though is another long drag i think is the best part of the race. 8k in 35mins so i was going to be outside last years time of 41.11. the last km it was a case of head down and going for it and managed to get a few runners in the last 100metres. although it is not one of the easiest of 10ks it just shows how popular it is when it is full with 7 weeks to go
18th Moray Paterson 39.04
23rd Marc Grierson 39.48
47th John Pickard 42.42
65th Stephen Maley 44.31
well done to everyone at haddington . next run for me will be the strathaven 50 a week on sundayReport John Pickard
Full results here
Photos from Roadrunpics. Many thanks and many more great pics here.
