Silverknowes 5k 13/06/07
A great turn out from PRC. Everyone gathered at the pavillion / Tea House half way between Granton and Cramond. The weather was pretty much par for this horrible June - blowy and grey. The wind was trying a new direction for this year and I think it worked well. Most of a k to the flagpole with the wind behind as warm up, then a long grind past the start and down to the marker into the teeth of it, then as you turned around, you could hear the birds again and a slog up the home straight with the wind helping you home. Didn't make it easy though. The good thing about a 5k is its over quickly and you can go home feeling you've earned dinner and a beer. The bad thing is its a full on, needle in the red, run till you hurt all over twenty minutes. Or longer if the wind is that strong and there's precious little to shelter behind.
Smiles before the raceVery similar story to last time and most of my 5ks. I started fast (and due to being blocked in by some big fat-headed eegit it was a couple of hundred yards before I squeezed through) and ran past Ben. This happens like never, so I was feeling pretty good till we went round the flagpole and the wind slapped us in the face. I began to recall the pattern: runners start to go past, Gerry goes past, Ben goes past, the pain increases, the legs tire, you look longingly for the tape, it remains in the far distance, eyes boggle, breathing rasps, chest thumps, probably most of the symptoms of a heart attack. This year I think it may have been slightly longer before Gerry went past and when Ben went past shortly after that I managed to stay immediately behind him. I also got the feeling that whoever was right behind would be coming past if I didn't keep the pace up. I didn't much enjoy it. When we went past Jim Scott and he cheered something about good Porty grouping I began to realise it must be Leo forcing the pace from behind. Thank goodness the Flying Dutchman (I wish I'd come up with that epithet) has a young family and doesn't have more time to train. Anyway well done Leo. And to be fair to Ben he has been doing more time in the pool and gym than running of late trying to keep injuries at bay.
Gerry was first Porty home and I thought there might be half a chance of a male team prize because I couldn't see that many vests of the same teams ahead. However not to be. The good news was that Amanda won third lady, and Bert won first really old man (o/50). They were both very pleased.
I gave my camera to Gordon just before the race, since he wasn't running, and about a 20 second lesson on how to use it. I was impressed he went for abstract as well as documentary. The more traditional photos are from Jim Scott.
Report pb
Photos Jim Scott, pb and Coach Gordon
Results here
on your marks
GO!
Feeling my number was my age.
Nice one Gordon
Mary and John race to get out of the photo.
Gerry leads home the team
Sheena not wearing regulation colours tsk tsk.
Prizewinners (wee buns)
