The Rigg Race 22/5/06
Having run the Rigg Race for the last five years I didn't expect any surprises and didn't get any, apart from my finishing time.
The evening before - Perhaps I shouldn't eat tomorrow to lose a pound or two. Could be good on the way up...
Next morning - Just a couple of pieces of toast with honey to help those glycogen stores...Four pieces of toast with honey in the morning, two Schnitzels with gherkins for lunch and another two slices of toast with jam in the afternoon later, having lost the battle with the scales weeks ago, I set off for Balerno.
I wonder if the weather will hold, better take a couple of extra layers... could be windy, too...
I decided on a long sleeved shirt under the Porty vest and felt instantly better.
The Rigg Race is one of those homely events, with lots of local folk milling about and great support up and again down the hill. The organisation has always been flawless, if you forget this year's pre-race announcements from an organiser standing 50 yards away.Shouldn't he have taken the cover off his speaker, can't hear a thing.
I do take in the odd instruction, keep to the left, watch the marshals, and then we're off. Up that seemingly interminably long hill I see a Porty vest or two streaking away in the distance, probably Scott and Bert(?). No point in trying to hang on. I try to find my own rhythm and manage to avoid going off too fast, which has proved fatal in the past. It is strange how one forgets the details of a course from one year to the next, but staying within my limits certainly helps to get up the steeper bits toward the Pentlands. The views across to the hills are stunning and take the mind off the struggle to stay with the runners ahead. Mind games to forget the pain are useful but have their pitfalls. Last year during the Alloa Half I came close to solving Fermat's last theorem in my head but had come to a virtual standstill as well.
No sign of Kerry, Gillian or John Forker pushing past me, so I can't be doing too badly. Exactly three miles into the race we reach the highest point, downhill and/or flat from now on. Coming down that slope I still can't make an impression on anyone ahead of me but manage to make up a few places on the long straight back towards Balerno. Despite the short race I am happy to get onto the last downhill stretch, I overtake a couple of teenagers in football trainers, then check my watchStill heading for that under 42 mins finish...
and promptly stick my foot on the side of a man hole and go over on my ankle.
You should know better. Keep your eyes on the road, you idiot.
Not much damage done, luckily. I think about a sprint into the finish, then ask myself why and can't come up with a compelling answer. The two youngsters and another runner hare past me into the funnel. I stop my watch, both feet planted firmly on the ground this time, to record a new PB of 00.00.
Report Werner Kittel
Photos Peter BuchananI think Werner is being generous when he speaks of a flawless organisation - although I enjoyed this short but taxing race I did find the delayed start cold and disagreeable. The unheard speech through an alleged loudspeaker could scarcely have been quieter. Afterwards there appeared to be no showers for the women unless they were expected to shower with the men who were soaping up through the open space at the end of the female changing room, and after that bracing experience a group of us including Zac who had won the race were unable to find the prizegiving in time. Nobody seemed to be able to direct us there either. Finally, it takes a week till the results are published.
pb.Full results here
