Springburn Harriers Canal Canter

I had another long run at the weekend 23k+ at 9min/mile pace in the mid day heat.  I was happy enough with that.  I rested the old legs on Monday and worked hard at training on Tuesday.  I was weighing up the options of a recovery run or a wee cycle on Wednesday night when I noticed a FB posting from Tony McGale about the Canal Canter at Bishopbriggs.  This is a race that I’ve never got around to running before so a quick change of clothes and I jumped in the car and headed north for the 7pm Start. 

Although the sun was shining when I left the south side by the time I got to the Bishopbriggs Leisuredrome there was no need for my sun glasses as the sky had darkened and the sun rays had been replaced by heavy rain.  As a number of the runners sheltered under the bridge on the Forth and Clyde Canal, myself and Graeme Aitken warmed up along part of the route.  I had thought that most of the canal pathway had been improved in recent years but it was obvious that this part had not, as we encountered puddle after puddle along the way. 

Local Member of Parliament Jo Swinton sent us on our way at 7pm before joining in the ranks of the 65 runners heading southwards into the wind and rain.  Most of us tried to avoid the deepest puddles on the way out along the narrow canal path.  I started relatively quickly with the first kilometre taking me 4:22 but soon slowed down to 4:42 and then down to 4:50.  Just before 3k the marshals directed us off of the canal path along an even narrower trail, which took us through the wet willow woodland and marshes and around the shallow freshwater of Possil Loch.  On the north side of the Loch, I caught a glimpse of a large boulder, which marks the site where the High Possil Meteorite landed on 5 April 1804, a fragment of which is held by the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. It is one of only four recorded meteorites to fall on Scotland in ‘modern’ times.  Despite the historic and natural importance of Possil Marsh I was glad to see a marshal indicating that I would be soon back on the canal path.  “C’mon Eddie!” she shouted at presumably a local club runner behind me.  I had a quick glance over my shoulder as I turned a sharp left to start the homeward strait but rather than catching sight of one of the 150 or so birds which have been recorded in the area, I spied my Bellahouston Harrier club mate Tom Keanan and Ronhill Cambuslang’s Kirsty Grant.  With both of these on my tail there would be no room for complacency along the final 2.5k, or so.   I say ‘or so’ as really I didn’t know how far there was until the Finish line.  I only knew that I would need to work hard to hold off Tom and Kirsty and I increased my pace straight away.

There were two runners in sight in front of me and they were a good bit apart from each other but I set off in pursuit of them.  I caught the first one, Andrew Low, but there was no way that he was letting me pass him easily. However I wasn’t for giving in either and we ran along shoulder to shoulder for a while.  I was splashing my way through every puddle as if every second was a prisoner.  The 5^th k had taken me 4:46 but it wasn’t fast enough and I dug deeper, convincing myself that the race was a short 10k rather than a long 5k.  I managed to pull away from Andrew, with the next kilometre taking me 4:35.  I saw a camera flash ahead and was glad that the end was near but Andrew came flying past me like a man possessed.  I chased after him and was right behind him as he crossed the line one second ahead of me in 30:49. I placed 29^th out of 65 finishers.  Both Tom and Kirsty had overtaken Eddie Dickson to place 30^th and 31^st respectively with times of 30:54 and 31:03. Garmin indicated that the race had been 6.66k long. 

Upfront Springburn Harrier Scott Partakya had placed first in 24:43 with the home club also taken the honours in the women’s race with Marlene Hunter crossing the line in 26:17.

A youngster by the name of Darren Goudie brought the great wee race to a close finishing in a time of 62:27.

All runners were awarded with a bottle of water and either 

a Tunnock’s Caramel Waver or Tea Cake as they crossed the line. With the entry cost being £2, this is what I would call a good old school type of race.  I don’t know how old/young Darren Goudie is but I do remember running cross country races when I was under 15, so if he sticks in and follows in his namesake’s footsteps he has at least another 40 years of running to look forward to. I hope that he enjoys them as much as I have. 

Thanks to all at Springburn Harriers, the best wee running club in Glasgow, for organising such a great event and to all of the marshals, supporters and running buddies, both old and new, for making the event so special.  See you all next year!

Full Results

 Springburn Harriers Canal Canter 2012

Pos No Name  Club M/F Cat  Time

1 171 Scott Partakya Springburn Harriers M Sen 00:24:43

2 147 Robert Rogerson Kirkintiloch Olympians M 50+ 00:24:50

3 154 Brian McKie Non Affiliated M 40+ 00:25:14

4 149 Mohamed Dayib Tama St Rocks Runners M U 00:25:30

5 146 Grant Cairns Springburn Harriers M Sen 00:25:38

6 139 Kevin Ferris Springburn Harriers M Sen 00:25:48

7 166 Colin McLean Springburn Harriers M 40+ 00:25:58

8 115 Marlene Hunter Springburn Harriers F 40+ 00:26:17

9 169 Gordon Jame Gallacher Kilbarchan AAC M 40+ 00:26:56

10 143 Anthony Quinn Cartha Harriers M 50+ 00:26:59

11 113 Claire McArthur Non Affiliated F Sen 00:27:07

12 142 James Lewis Springburn Harriers M Sen 00:27:15

13 141 Greg Dimmer Non Affiliated M 40+ 00:27:37

14 145 Peter Jardine VP-Glasgow M 40+ 00:27:39

15 167 Graham Allerdice Springburn Harriers M 40+ 00:27:40

16 125 Dannielle Brown Springburn Harriers F Sen 00:27:50

17 161 Graham Aitken SRC Glasgow M 40+ 00:27:52

18 104 Wendy Gorman Glasgow Triathlon Club F 40+ 00:28:18

19 170 Tony McGale Springburn Harriers M 40+ 00:28:33

20 107 Graham Lamont Springburn Harriers M 40+ 00:28:46

21 116 Clare Gemmell Springburn Harriers F 40+ 00:29:03

22 148 Shahab Samaki-Rahmat St Rocks Runners M U 00:29:07

23 150 Sion Bingham Non Affiliated M U 00:29:08

24 151 Stephen Wilson Garscube Harriers M 40+ 00:29:09

25 155 James McAveety Non Affiliated M 40+ 00:29:29

26 158 Alan Jenkins Garscube Harriers M 50+ 00:29:38

27 159 Scott Walker Non Affiliated M 40+ 00:30:32

28 164 Andrew Low Non Affiliated M Sen 00:30:49

29 156 Ian Goudie Bellahouston Harriers M 50+ 00:30:50

30 106 Thomas Keenan Bellahouston Harriers M 50+ 00:30:54

31 111 Kirsty Grant Ronhill Cambuslang F Sen 00:31:03

32 153 Eddie Dickson Springburn Harriers M 50+ 00:31:15

33 160 John Gillooly Glasgow Jogging Network M 50+ 00:32:22

34 117 Jennifer Beanie Kirkintiloch Olympians F 40+ 00:32:57

35 120 Shirley MacNab Kirkintiloch Olympians F 40+ 00:34:12

36 162 Ian MacDonald Non Affiliated M 50+ 00:34:15

37 130 Anna Bogulki Springburn Harriers F Sen 00:34:31

38 129 Jo Swinson Non Affiliated F Sen 00:34:58

39 105 Carol Keenan Bellahouston Harriers F 50+ 00:35:28

40 157 Francis Doherty Glasgow Running Network M 40+ 00:35:38

41 109 Gillian Wallis Springburn Harriers F Sen 00:36:14

42 108 Lorraine Gray Springburn Harriers F Sen 00:36:22

43 114 Jean Clews Non Affiliated F 50+ 00:37:10

44 110 Fiona Nimmo Non Affiliated F 45+ 00:37:53

45 118 Mhairi McCallum Garscube Harriers F Sen 00:38:30

46 140 George Ingles Springburn Harriers M 50+ 00:39:02

47 102 Gillian Campbell Non Affiliated F 40+ 00:39:19

48 163 David Low Non Affiliated M U 00:39:33

49 165 Malcolm Young Non Affiliated M U 00:39:44

50 126 Hazel Fisher Springburn Harriers F Sen 00:40:27

51 127 Pippa Smith Non Affiliated F 40+ 00:40:30

52 131 Marie McCready Springburn Harriers F Sen 00:40:32

53 128 Sandra McLean Non Affiliated F 40+ 00:40:35

54 119 Margo Gillooly Springburn Harriers F 40+ 00:40:40

55 168 Andrew Dunn Non Affiliated M Sen 00:41:22

56 132 Lorna Dunn Non Affiliated F Sen 00:41:22

57 134 Victoria Devoy Non Affiliated F Sen 00:44:53

58 133 Gwen Hendren Non Affiliated F 40+ 00:46:06

59 144 William Drysdale Law+District M 50+ 00:46:27

60 112 Mary Gemmell Springburn Harriers F 45+ 00:46:53

61 124 Ailsa Young Non Affiliated F Sen 00:48:13

62 122 Fiona Young Non Affiliated F 40+ 00:51:15

63 123 Allison Low Non Affiliated F 50+ 00:58:47

64 121 Jane Munroe Non Affiliated F 50+ 00:58:48

65 152 Darren Goudie St Rocks Runners M U 00:62:27