A few days ago I took part in the Balloch to Clydebank half marathon. Not the most scenic of races although I was enjoying the relative flatness of the route. Certainly made a change from my usual hilly Skye training sessions.
Garmin details can be found here: Balloch to Clyebank Half Marathon
The race was scheduled for a 9am start, with competitors meeting at the Playdrome to be transported out at 8am to the start line. This mean't their was a bit of time to hang around before the race was due to start. The reason for being sent out so early soon became evident when the queue for the toilets started forming!
After a non-to-brief visit to the gents I began doing some gentle stretching. I was in my racing gear and had decided to brave the weather and wear simple my vest and shorts. This made for a rather unpleasant warm up in the cold wet car park at Loch Lomond shores.
Bellahouston had a few members taking part in the race, so I took the time before the start to catch up with a few of them. Everybody seemed to be feeling good and we were all desperate to get the race going and warm up.
Just before 9 competitors began to assemble around the corner at the start line. There was a slight delay as police checked a section of road which apparently had significant pot holes. Eventually a race organiser appeared with an air horn and we were off.
Immediately a lead group of four formed; myself, club mate Kenny Richmond, Iain Reid of Ronhill Cambuslang and local favourite Michael Deason of Glasgow University. We went through the first mile in 5:06, this is much faster than my normal half marathon pace but I was feeling good and wanted to hang with the leaders as long as I could.
We navigated through the pot holes at mile one and came out to a roundabout still in a lead group of four. We went through the next mile in 5:10 and I was still feeling good. Iain Reid began to surge and Michael Deason followed him. I immediately responded and pulled back towards them. At this point Kenny dropped back slightly but was still only slightly behind.
Mile 3 was passed in 5:10 again and Kenny pulled back in to the lead group. I knew I could't sustain that pace for much longer and sure enough at mile 4 Michael Deason made another surge to which Iain Reid responded. I had to let them go at this point as the surge was around 5 minute miling and I decided to play the sensible card.
Mile 4 was passed in 5.24 which was slightly slower than my intended pace of 5.20 but I suspect I was recovering from the initial fast start. At this point Kenny and I were running alongside each other. We tried small surges here and there but neither of us seemed to gain much ground.
Mile 6 passed in 5:10 which again is faster than my intended pace but I was still feeling pretty good and breathing was controlled. From Miles 6-11 I ran beside Kenny and we were both running well. I was actually on for a PB until we both took a wrong turn at an un-marshalled junction around mile 8 which probably added enough time on to deny me my PB.
Around mile 9 I managed to gain some ground on Kenny and tried to keep on top of my pace to try and create a gap. At this point my breathing was again fine but my leg muscles started to ache. It was quite unpleasant and had to really concentrate on maintaining form.
At mile 10 I had gained a 100 yard gap and was sitting in third place. Unfortunately I could not see either Michael Deason or Iain Reid so there was no chance of chasing them down. I had to concentrate on sustaining my pace and keeping my position.
Miles 11 & 12 were past in 5:25 and 5:22 and my legs were feeling a little worse for wear. I was still maintaining my gap on Kenny and knew I had to prepare myself for a strong finish. The last mile includes two long straights which at the time seemed to go on forever!
I came around the last bend and could see the finish area 300 yards ahead. I gave one final surge and covered the distance in 4:55 pace, crossing the line in 1.11.16. Immediately on stopping my legs stiffened up so I tried to stretch my calfs against a building wall.
The race finishes in an Industrial estate so it definitely has a very "urban" feel to it. Kenny came in soon after in 1.11.33. We both shook hands and with the combination of our efforts and club-mate Russel Whittington (who ran a PB of 1:15:02) Bellahouston won the team event.
The race was won Michael Deason in 1:08:51, taking a massive 3 minutes of his Half Marathon PB. Second place was Iain Reid in 1:09:47, also taking a minute of his PB for the distance.
Although I had missed out on a PB, (partly due to my poor navigational skills!) I was still happy with the performance. I felt strong throughout and although I suffered from muscle pains in the final stages I still rate this performance as one of my better ones.
The next day I did a 6 mile recovery run with my Coach Scott Kennedy and the race had taken its toll on me. My thys were very stiff and running down hills was very painful. I often moan about the long bus journey home but the opportunity to sit for a long period of time was very welcomed. I also got a nice plate of Mince and Tatties in the Morrisons in Fort William to round of a good weekend ;)
