Glasgow Parkrun #98

Results | Photos | Activity on Garmin Connect

After Dublin and the recent cross country relays, I decided I might be in shape to challenge my PB at the Glasgow Parkrun.

It was cold and dry with no wind, and a fairly sparse field, so I hammered off as fast as possible at the start purely trying to time trial myself with no interest in what the other runners were doing. I hit the first avenue of trees after 400 metres well clear in the lead, with no footsteps behind, but also with my heart rate hitting 188 bpm. I knew this wasn't sustainable and backed off slightly, but then accelerated up the hill and the first long uphill drag. I was still well clear and couldn't work out why Bella Harrier Amanuel Zerezighi wasn't closing me down.

At this point I had no idea whether to keep pressing on, or whether to wait for Amanuel and hope he could pull me along. I had half a notion that I could win the race, but then lost confidence and waited for the inevitable. Amanuel caught me on the first uphill zig-zags and I tried to respond and latch onto him, but my feet wouldn't move quickly enough. I rallied a bit on the second lap, and tried to force myself to keep working to ensure the PB, but also half-thinking I might go sub 17 minutes.

Just before the final uphill climb I couldn't generate enough pace to catch Amanuel but kept working all the way to the line and recorded 17:13 for 2nd place, and a new PB, so I was pleased enough with that.

Broadwood Loch 5k

13th August 2009

Results

A much bigger field than last time I did this race 2 years ago, and finished 2nd in 16:53.

I knew I wasn't on for sub 17 minutes this time, and had far more competition at the front. The 2 young guys from Glasgow Uni, Michael Deason and Daniel Bradford, set the pace with Ross McLennan in pursuit. I held 4th place for almost the first kilometre before Ian Stewart (Carnegie) and Adam Peters (Kirkintilloch) both went past.

Just before and after 2km there were 2 critical junctions, neither of which were flagged or marshalled properly. I stopped altogether at the first one wondering where to go as the other runners had disappeared, and at the 2nd junction discovered the lead runners returning having turned right instead of left. I was therefore amused to find myself briefly back in the lead!

I found it slightly confusing knowing how to pace it, being plonked back in the lead, so I backed off and allowed the leaders to take over, but they realised I'd also let Anthony Devlin of Falkirk overtake so I had to suddenly speed up again.

I was feeling fairly worn out and uncompetitive by 2.5km and this allowed Rob Soutar of Shettleston to sneak past. Then at 3km Paul Thompson pulled alongside and we ran elbow to elbow until the wooden bridge at about 3.8km. I tried to dredge up some resolve, but couldn't raise my game and Paul pulled away.

I pressed on across the dam and tried to close down Paul and Robert in the final 200 metres, but I was chasing shadows and came in 3 seconds after Robert in a time of 17:13 for 8th place.

Dawsholm 5k Trail Race

6th August 2009

Results

Race no.3 in the Tour of Clydeside 4-race series.

I started this race with a 27 second lead over Chris Devenney, following the first 2 races at Kilbarchan and Clydebank. I started fast and tried to track Chris, but he kicked away on the first climb and drove away the entire race, and was soon out of sight on the twisty hilly course around the woods in Dawsholm Park.

I held onto second place on the initial short lap, but on the first long descent John Bell of Springburn went past, and a little later Paul Thompson of Helensburgh got a yard or two in front.

I planned to close down Paul on the third and final lap, but discovered the tank was empty, and finished 19 seconds adrift in 4th place in 19:21.

Just one race left now. Tomorrow night's 10k featuring 2 laps of Pollok Park.

Photo courtesy of Ian Goudie

Pollok Park Run - Event 33

18th July 2009
Results

I took part in my first Pollok Park Run since January, and it was Ellie's first Park Run and her first ever 5km race. There was a pretty good turn out with 243 runners. I decided to conserve my energies at the start and tried to avoid getting swept up in the cavalry charge, but starting fast enough not to get trampled.

After the first 500 metres the wind quickly went out of the sails of most of the runners around me so I skipped forwards through the field and launched into the first little climb at 800 metres on a right bend and nipped past Rob Soutar and George Taylor to move up to 3rd position with the first 2 runners way out ahead by now.

For some strange reason I thought Rob was George and we battled along shoulder to shoulder until 2km at which point Rob opened a slight gap and George came past. At 2.7km where you link from Lap 1 to Lap 2 I had to shout Rob back as he was taking a wrong turn which allowed George to get a slight advantage. And from that point on I could never quite reel them back in, and Rob was always slightly behind George. So the 3 of us came in with George 17:22, Rob 17:25(ish) and me 17:30 for 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Ellie finished just ahead of Hamilton in 20:21 to Hamilton's 20:39.

Photos courtesy of Gill Williamson, Eastwood Photographic Society

Pollok Park 5k

31st January 2009

Results

A great sunny morning and a record turnout for Pollok Park Run no.9 with 107 runners. Due to re-measuring the course the route was slightly longer than previously, but despite the extra 50 metres or so, Robert Turner still set a new course record of 16:21, and beat Robert Gilroy in the process! I had my own personal battle with fellow V45 George Taylor of Giffnock who I had never raced against before, but noticed that George had run 2:41:50 at London Marathon 2007, so I was determined to give him a run for his money. We swapped places several times, but in the end George clocked 17:30, and I finished just behind him in 17:31 for 7th place.

Glasgow Pollok Park 5km

This was my first attempt at the Glasgow Pollok Park 5km race. It is part of the www.parkrun.com series. I was fairly pleased to finish 7th in 17:23, given that I haven't tried a 5km race for around 18 months.

Results | Glasgow Pollok Park Run at EveryTrail

Broadwood Loch 5k

16th August 2007
Results

A brand new race around Broadwood Loch at Cumbernauld.

The race was won by Allan Ramsay of Kirkintilloch in 16:42. I finished 2nd in 16:53.

Glasgow Green 5k

19th June 2007
Results

Fairly comfortable running temperature, but rather windy. I think the race was won by Chris Mackay in 14:23, with Robert Russell 2nd and Stephen Wylie 3rd. First lady was Susan Finch in 17:32. I finished 20th in 16:50 and was 4th V40.

Not sure why my heart rate graph was all over the place for the first 6 minutes.

Chatelherault 5k Trail Race

18th February 2007
Results
Fine cool frosty morning. Beautiful setting for a race, starting and finishing in front of Chatelherault House. Ran the first km or so with David Riach, until I pressed on into 3rd position. Eventually got knocked back to 4th place after the descent of the wooden steps. Robert Gilroy of Cambuslang won the race, with Claire Thompson of Bellahouston first lady.

Glasgow Green 5km - 13th July

Definitely not 5km. Closer to 5½.
Charles Thomson of Cambuslang won the race in 16:30, first lady was Lesley Chisholm of Springburn in 19:03. Carnethy's Mark Johnston finished 6th, I was 16th, and Steffen Gorgas was 23rd (running as Phillipe Grosse).
533 runners
Results