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| Final Strait - Pic by Kenny Phillips |
I returned to Club training last Tuesday for the first time this year. I had a fairly low key interval session but may have overdone the last one, when my youthful exuberance took over. The result was that my legs were that sore that I could hardly walk, never mind return on Thursday for the Club 2 mile Time Trial. I did endure a 5k 'recovery run' instead though. The old legs were still sore and tired on Saturday morning. I decided that a long run or a fast parkrun would be too much but quickly made up my mind to head down to Ayrshire and try out the relatively new, Eglinton parkrun. I knew that the course was over mixed terrain and not one for getting a PB but I was guaranteed a Course Best and that would do me nicely.
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| Napoleon III |
When I was 17, I had worked at Eglinton
Farm but Eglinton is best known for a lavish, if ill-fated medieval
tournament, organised by the 13th Earl. The Eglinton Tournament
started in 1839, cost an absolute fortune and ended in a farce as
torrential rain washed the proceedings out. Amongst the participants
was the future Napoleon III of France.
There was no Napoleon on Saturday and
no torrential rain either, instead it was a gorgeous morning that
welcomed me and 77 others to the Ayrshire event.
Wilma Kyle was the first friendly face
that I met in Cunningham but I never got the chance to talk to her as
I made my way to the toilet and then a warm up before making my way
to Neil Ash's race briefing. I snatched a quick chat with Sylvia
Mulholland and Sandra Hunter before the 9:30 Start.
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| Into the woods with Sylvia |
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| Eglinton Castle |
The route started on tarmac and headed
east towards the River Garnock, up a short but steep hill and with
the castle ruins on our left, we turned right onto a trail and then
right again into the muddy woods, where some casual campers had
pitched their tent! Through the trees and a sharp right turn took us
down past the Start line, where the volunteers cheered us on towards
the cobbles and Tournament Bridge. Across the bridge and another
sharp right took us onto the large clockwise loop. A mixture of
footpaths, tracks and trails took us through the gardens, around the
loch, through the woods and along the countryside as we experienced
the undulations, loops and bridges that make up the testing course.
I was working hard but not getting
anywhere fast. I heard my Garmin bleep and looked hoping to see that
I had run 4k, only to see that I had only reached the 3k point. With
Mike Flynn and Kenny Philips among the cheery marshals supporting us,
I plodded on for a second smaller loop, crossing Tournament Bridge
for a second time but then crossing back across the next bridge
before a right turn took us down the steep hill along the path to
reach the Finish.
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| Tournament Bridge |
I placed 31st with a
disappointing time of 24:34, so there's plenty of scope for
improvement but I'd ran my first Eglinton parkrun and my 121st in all.
I continued along the paths and trails of the park for
another 4k before getting changed and joining some of the others for
post run coffee and a roll in Ayrshire bacon.
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| View of Arran |
I continued to stretch my aching legs
by walking around the park with my camera catching a few photographs
before driving along the beautiful Ayrshire coast to Portencross to
take some more photos of the scenic hamlet and its stunning views of
Arran and the Cumbraes. The old home shire was looking gorgeous
under the blue sky and bright sunshine. It would be around 4pm when
I finally arrived home for a somewhat later than usual brunch.
Gorgeous weather, great scenery, friendly running buddies what more
could a running photographer ask for?
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| Portencross Castle |
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| Portencross Angler |
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