Templeton 10 Mile Road Run 2/11/08
So it seems that I’m making an attempt to monopolise report writing within Portobello Running Club, but couldn’t refuse an offer to write a report about the Dundee 10miler which I ran at the weekend.
Dundee is very much my second home, having lived there for 4 years and run for the local club on and off for a lot of that time. Having run this race twice before I thought it only sensible to give it a third chance this weekend knowing fine well there was an excellent variety of sandwiches and cakes to motivate me through to the finish. Saying that, I must be honest, I very nearly missed the registration by staying in my very warm bed in Edinburgh until about quarter past 8.
The weather this year was excellent and really contributed to an enjoyable day out, in order to get to the start competitors are shipped by bus from Ward gym in Dundee city centre to Templeton Woods and from there it’s about a 5 minute walk to the start. Prior to the race starting I had decided this was not a day for half measures and that I was going to attack the course and hope my endurance would see me through to the finish.
This race is about as hilly as a road race gets but it’s not unforgivable as long as you are mentally prepared for them before the race starts. Anyway, I quite like running up hills (yes there clearly is something wrong with me), so I wasn’t really complaining.
The race began slightly late but as soon as it began I was determined to start quickly and maintain maximum possible pace. To be honest during the first half mile (all downhill) I even entertained the idea of trying to hang onto the leaders, an idea I’m very glad I decided not take on.
Up to about 4 miles the race is predominantly uphill and I spent a good deal of that time exchanging places with a few runners, but I was pleased with the way I was controlling my pace and by half way I wasn’t feeling the need to kill myself (always a good sign), from about 4 to 8 miles I did feel like I was hanging on to the preverbal coat-tails of anyone who entertained the idea of passing me. A few runners did but didn’t get too far ahead so I wasn’t disconsolate.
When I hit 8 miles, miracle upon miracles, I picked up the pace and managed to move past a couple of runners into the top 10. I finished in 1.02.06, a minute quicker than 2006, which I was ecstatic about. After finishing competitors can collect there belongings from the finish and are then shipped back into Dundee itself where access to showers, toilets etc is provided. There was also the aforementioned, much anticipated excellent and very welcome variety of sandwiches, soup and cakes.
This is a good race and I really am a huge fan of the post-race free food. I suspect the weather conditions helped a lot but I certainly am happy with the way my running’s been going lately and hope to continue the improvement into the New Year and I felt the way this race went gave me great hope for running a really good half marathon.
Report Michael Geoghegan
Results herePhoto is a composite of Templeton Woods with a Michael from next week's Tinto Hill Race pasted on. Michael will be continuing his reporting streak for this race which will appear shortly.
