My Alternative Great North Run Report - Strathclyde parkrun #73

I’m going to try to keep this as upbeat as possible, as I know that I much prefer to read positive blogs, so keep with me through the intitial paragraph.


The last two weeks should have seen the culmination of my 16 Week Half Marathon Training Programme come into fruition, hopefully with me achieving a new half marathon PB of around 1:35. However, as you may know, I injured my knee in the final strait at the Irvine 10k on August 21st. Although I could barely walk the next day, when I should have ran 15 miles, I have gradually been building up the strength in my knee by running flat routes and on the treadmill. I had no chance of running the GSR Half Marathon or 10k but had hoped to at least get round the Cumbria 10 mile race, as it was the last race in the Kilmarnock Harriers Club Championship. However a test run, the day before, was a bit of a reality check and I realised that my knee wasn’t up to 10 miles on the road. I also accepted that I would need to give the Great North Run a miss. I toyed with the idea of doing the Stirling 10k, which is a flat course but in the end decided to have another race free weekend and watch the Rugby World Cup instead.

I’m now lodger free, for the first time in years, and can now get up in the middle of the night to watch live sport, without having to tip toe around. I also took advantage of my new freedom by watching the box on Friday night with a rather good bottle of Rioja. I awoke at 7am, as usual, and made my way downstairs to watch South Africa play Fiji. My attention started to drift as the gulf in the teams became obvious and, rather than looking forward to the Australia v Ireland match, I thought that I should really squeeze in a run sometime during the day. I was feeling a bit rough and thought that the sooner I could sweat out the alcohol in my system the better. It wasn’t long until I had decided that my run should be now and, with the cancellation of the Glasgow parkrun because of the Highland Cattle Show, I headed out towards Motherwell for the Strathclyde parkrun.

Smashing Time
I had left it late and had forgotten to take my Lucozade Energy drink, water or wallet with me. However my barcode was in my car and I managed to get to Strathclyde Loch safely with about 5 minutes to spare. I say safely as I observed two other parkrunners bumping their cars together as they entered the car park.

Record Turnout
With my knee support on, I had a quick warm up before joining in with the record turnout of 160 runners, for the 9:32 Start. There were a number of weel kent faces participating as the numbers had been boosted by an influx of Glasgow parkrun regulars. After a few pre-race greetings and instructions we were set on our way along the soggy grass and onto the loch-side path. The underfoot conditions didn’t seem to concern many of the runners as I was left somewhere near the middle of the pack. I was a bit concerned when I had lost sight of the 22minute pacer within the 1st kilometre but my time of 4:18 was reassuring.

I noted that Clydesdale Harrier’s septuagenarian Watson Jones was also in front of me. By the time I got to the 2k point, my pace had dropped to 4:34. Angela Stewart had overtaken me at about 1 mile and I was running alone with sizable gaps in front and behind me. I decided to increase my work rate slightly but running through the numerous puddles, slowing for the turn point and a slight wind, meant that my pace only increased to 4:30. I was happy enough with that and as I maintained my pace I managed to pass seven runners before catching Watson at the 4k point. The only target I had now was Angela, who was a good bit in front and I was struggling big time as I pushed myself physically and psychologically through the last kilometre.

Both, race winner, Stuart Gibson and Gavin Harvie, who had completed the 5k in 15:43 and 18:14 respectively, shouted words of encouragement but there was no chance of me having a sprint finish over the last 200m. This wasn’t the case for Mhairi Duff’s husband, Raymond, and Gary Henderson who both went flying past me as they battled it out towards the finishing line.

Top Fifty Finish
I crossed the line in 49th place with a time of 22:24, some six seconds ahead of Watson in 50th spot. I congratulated him and the other runners as we lined up to hand our barcodes in. It was good to chat with Mhairi, who is injured at the moment and some of the Pollok Park regulars, many of whom were delighted with the times that they had achieved at the faster Strathclyde route. I had offered to give Bellahouston Harrier John Softley a lift home and, after a quick chat with Bellahouston Road Runner Stuart Mcmillan, we left the park to the sight of John Gilhooly warming down after completing his 88th parkrun in his fastest ever time of 19:24. Well done John! I settled for getting my 82nd parkrun and my 53rd race of 2011 under my belt, with little adverse reaction from my knee.

First Woman
Claire McArthur was the first woman (17th overall), crossing the line in a time of 18:42.


Thanks
Once again HUGE thanks to the merry bunch of volunteers who make the Strathclyde parkrun one of the friendliest events in the country.

Full Results