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| Pic by Scott Photography |
There was a great turnout of some 217 runners for the
popular Bellahouston Harriers’ Brian Goodwin 10k. I think I knew most of them and it was good to see so many
familiar faces at the Pollok Park race.
The weather had improved from the heavy showers, during the day, but
unfortunately my health hadn’t and I struggled from the off. I knew this would be the case and I started
slower than I normally would, with the 1
st mile taking me 7:15. However by that time I was physically and
mentally shattered and my pace slowed as I struggled through Pollok Park and
along the perimeter roads with the acceptance that, for the first time ever, I
would throw in the towel at the 5k. It
was a hard decision to make but sometimes such decisions are the bravest ones
to take. However when I pulled over at
5k and took a drink of water, my friends, who were marshalling, encouraged me
to complete the race, “even if I had to walk/run the second half”. This and my respect for those runners who
were behind me was enough to convince me to re-start the race. Although I was still feeling shattered, I
managed to find some mental strength and decided that: I would beat last week’s
Men’s Health time of 50:06; I would try not to let anyone overtake me; and I
would pick off runners as I made my way around the second 5k.
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| Flying Finish - he looks as bad as I felt! |
I was actually surprised that Louise Couper hadn’t overtaken me
in the first half of the race but it transpires that she had been close behind
me and had been confident of catching me in the second half. I managed to catch three runners before a
Greenock Glenpark Harrier sped past me.
Unfortunately I couldn’t keep up with him but I did keep my discipline
and slowly worked my way up the field.
By the time I was approaching the last kilometre, I had caught another
two runners. Jimmy Irvine encouraged me
to pick off some more of the runners in front of me. I caught another three, including Graeme Pert. I had a Hamilton Runner (Ross Bickerstaff) in
my sights but I thought his lead was too great to catch him, however I
surprised myself to find a last minute sprint and catch him just as we were
approaching the Finish line. I had
caught nine runners and been overtaken by one, not too bad a result. Of course I was shattered but in a happy
way, despite the fact that it had taken me 47:37 (Gun time 47:45) to run a
10k. I’m sure if I had pulled out of
the race, I would still have been shattered but in a sad, depressed way, which
would have taken much longer to recover from.
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| Mike Deason and Robert Gilroy |
I placed 134
th out of 215, Lou finished in 141
st
place with a time of 47:46 (Gun time 48:00) and thanked me for pulling her
round the second half of the race. Her
younger twin, Claire continued her great form by winning the women’s race in a
time of 36:55, Jaqui Thomson placed second in 38:19 and the host club’s Louis
Warren earned Bronze with a time of 39:29.
In the men’s race Robert Gilroy pressed Michael Deason all the way but
had to accept runner-up spot, in a time of 31:52, just behind Michael’s winning
time of 31:51, with third place going to Paul Sorrie in 33:16.
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| Take Two- Louise Couper crosses the Finish Line |
Although the BBQ had to be cancelled because of the weather,
the runners mingled together in bar at Cartha Queen’s Park Rugby Club, where a
few beers helped to wash down the burgers and pakora as we chatted before and
after the prize giving. There was a
healthy scattering of prizes, with age related competitions and host club
runners all being well rewarded for their efforts. It was after 10:30pm by the time the Couper Twins and I
left. Congratulations to every one who
took part in the race, even if you were one of the couple who didn’t finish,
and many, many thanks to Bellahouston Harriers and all the volunteers for
organising, yet another, great event, especially those that kept me going.
It’s great being a runner in Scotland!
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