Stirling 10K 16/09/07
Four Porty runners turned out for the annual Stirling 10k race hosted by Central AC on Sunday, 16 September.
Contrasting with previous years, where there has been fine weather, rain was falling heavily leading up to the race and during the event. However, other than that, conditions were good for the race over one of the flatest 10k courses that I have taken part in, reports Gerry.
Willie and Scott Jarvie, Stephen Maley and myself were the Porty runners braving the rain. We turned up to the starting line rather wetter that we would want. However once the race started I soon forgot about damp clothing and concentrated on the run ahead.
A partial Porty?I normally look out for the first distance marker, usually a 1k marker in a 10k event but didn't see one. I checked my watch and we had been underway for over 4 mins. I had expected to be doing better than this and certainly felt I was going pretty well. At last, with about 5 mins gone I saw the 1st km point. Then within less than 3 further mins gone I passed the 2k point. Beyond this the km markers seemed to improve.
I settled into the race quite early on and one by one picked off fellow runners. I didn't see Willie but guessed he must be close by. After 4k I could see 2 ladies in front, 10 - 25 m in front, one I recognised with a Kilmarnock Harriers vest and the other I didn't know.
I felt if I stuck close to them I could get a good time and also possibly pass them later. At the 5k my time was around 17m 50s. I was pleased, as I had only 2 weeks ago run 5k in 17m 18s so I wasn't much slower. But could I keep the pace going?
Suddenly the two ladies in front of me swapped positions. The one closest to me had picked up pace and with a bit of a battle with the Kilmarnock lass had eventually gone by her. In trying to stick close behind them I had also caught other runners so my position continued to improve.
The course continued to be flat, some of the biggest hurdles I faced were jumping from the pavement onto the road and then back to the pavement, I found this a bit interupting to my pace. At least it wasn't the soft sinking mud of the cross country.
Around 8k the first lass had got a 30 - 40 yard lead on me and had passed another couple of runners. I was still catching the Kilmarnock lass seeing another couple of vests in close proximity whom I recognised as Frank Boyne and Andy Laycock. I'd be very happy if I could get passed these guys by the finish.
I passed the Killie lass, then Frank and finally Andy, with only a couple of hundred metres remaining. There was a gathering of cheering spectators over the last 100 metres to cheer us through to the finish. At the line I clocked 35 mins 56 secs, my first sub 36min 10k this year. I was knackered but happy.
Willie came in soon after me with Scott a couple of minutes behind and then Stephen. No photos I'm afraid as we were a little away from our cars to get a camera, and I was keen to get dried out.
Still a good day out and a nice well organised event to take part in with over 700 runners taking part in rainy conditions.
Timings and positions
Gerry Scullion 35 mins 56 secs (25th)
Willie Jarvie 36 mins 24 secs (31st)
Scott Jarvie 38 mins 55 secs (68th)
Stephen Maley 43 mins 3 secs (161st)
results here
Photos taken by David Bauchop
and posted on his excellent website roadrunpics.com
