Belter of a Race - Series Ends at Bella

Off we go again.....pic by Sandra Hunter

The Tour of Clydeside culminated with the Bella Belter 10k race on Friday night hosted by Bellahouston Harriers and my Club didn't disappoint, providing an army of volunteers as well as a significant amount of runners for the final race of the series.  The weather was also about perfect for racing, although my legs after four consecutive nights, most certainly were not.  It's one thing training five nights a week but racing takes it to another dimension, that said, I was loving the challenge that the Tour presents.

Passing Pollok House pic by Bernie O'Neil

 Following the customary pre-race chatting and warm up, I lined up with the other 58 Tour survivors for the concluding race of the series.  We were joined by an additional 81 runners, who, I hoped, would help us around the two lap, 10k, course.  The race started on the driveway into Cartha Rugby Club, which is wider than the paths that we have become accustomed to and minimised the usual jostling for space.  However, my heavy legs almost gave way and I stumbled a little as we set off. Once I'd recovered my composure, I settled into my race pace, well what I'd like to be my race pace, as I slowed just a little after the first mile.  Nonetheless I was still running at a decent pace of 7:20min/mile.  I would have been happy with a sub 45min race this week but my competitive spirit set in and I refused to let the guy behind me overtake me as we approached the half way point.  I hadn't intended to take on any water but at the last second I grabbed a bottle, took a quick drink and poured some of cold water over my head.  I was glad that I did, as I felt refreshed and tried to open a gap between myself and the footsteps behind.  Around the 6k point, someone appeared on my right shoulder and we matched each other stride for stride for a while.  I was having to work harder but I didn't mind as we were visibly closing the gap on the runners ahead of us.

Lap 2.......pic by Sandra Hunter

I managed to shake off the guy on my shoulder but a young woman passed me as we approached the 8k point. I caught a couple of other runners, that I recognised from the preceding races and was closing the gap on others, including the women that had passed me but I ran out of time and crossed the line in hot pursuit.  I was still delighted to look at my watch and see a time of 43:58. Amazingly enough, exactly the same pace that I had run the 2k shorter Canal Canter on Wednesday (4:24min/k), enough to reduce my Run Britain handicap a little more.  I had placed 75th out of 140 finishers and 28th out of 57 in the series, having taken a total time of 3:01:50 for the five races, which aggregated to 40k (24.9miles) of racing.  Not too shabby, I suppose.

and the Tour is done.....pic by Sandra Hunter

I exchange accolades with the other finishers and cheered on those behind, as they crossed the line, before having a warm down and a hot shower before joining friends and running buddies for my first alcohol of the week.

We did it ....... pic by Iain Burke

Congratulations to all my fellow runners during the week and all the volunteers too, particularly Stuart MacDougall and Jennifer Telford who won the men's and women's Tour of Clydeside 2014.

Bellahouston Harriers  

Not only did Bellahouston Harriers put on a great race but we had the largest representation of any club participating in the Tour with thirteen racers, including the overall winner Stuart MacDougall, third woman, Erica Christie and both James McMillan and Christopher Steward winning their age category prizes.

Bella Belter Full Results

Tour of Clydeside Final Results