Sunday 27 November 2016
Sunday 6 November 2016
Edinburgh Men's 10K
My final race of 2016, I had registered for this one a few months ago after seeing a flyer at Ratho EICA. A friend who had competed in 2015 said it was a fast course and a chance for a good time.
Once registered, I was bombarded with frequent emails from the organisers reminding me to download and read the Entry Information Pack but any of the links I followed seemed to take me to the registration page. Very frustrating, but all I needed to know was where to go and when : the Lawnmarket for 10am on Sunday 6th November.
The forecast was suitably seasonal with temperature of 5C and a strong northerly wind; I chose to wear leggings rather than shorts which would be their first race outing since Glentress in February. After dumping the car in Murrayfield Road, I caught the 26 bus with a few other like minded runners and disembarked at George Street when it started on a diverted route due to the race course at Market Street.
A short trot up the Mound stopping for a pee at the public toilets on the corner of Princes St and then I found myself on the Castle Esplanade with a few dozen other lycra clad men pretending to warm up in the biting wind. I was very early, still 30mins till the start gun so I found some shelter behind Ramsay Gardens.
Down to the start pens and I lined up with The Yellows. I had presumably been asked to predict my finish time so had been allotted a category. As far as I could tell, the order was White, Red, Yellow and then Green. Two pace-makers jostled their way through the pens, one for 50min the other for 45min. I made sure to keep an eye on the 45min guy - he was my initial target.
10am came and off we went after a minute or so of walking to the start and then it was hell for leather down the Mound to the gap between Art Galleries. Not a great route, and then sharp right along the path in front of the Scott Monument. This was not great territory, more akin to the start of the Cramond Parkrun. Narrow, many mixed paces and no opportunities to pass. Quickly we emerged onto Waverley Bridge and I was able to get the pace up curving into Market Street. Into Jeffrey Street and I was able to pass the 45min pacer before we careered onto the Royal Mile again for the long and fast descent to Abbey Hill. I was passing many runners at this stage, but made sure to keep my place once we hit the flatter ground to Royal Park Terrace.
I passed another runner and took a triple take as I went by - it had to be Spud (Ewen Bremner) from Trainspotting fame. [Sadly he wasn't - according to the results]. Into the Queen's Park and flat ground allowed me to settle into a self-dictated pace. I targeted runners ahead and gradually picked them off as we reached Dynamic Earth and the turn onto the Cowgate. Of course there had to be some uphill and my pace slowed as we toiled up past the excellent Holyrood 9A burger joint into the Cowgate proper.
Into the Grassmarket and the noise of some supporting spectators at the west end spurred me on into the West Port and the wee kick up towards Lady Lawson street. I swung the arms to keep the pace up and onwards into Bread Street. Ahead I could see some major traffic restrictions in Lothian Road and I made sure to follow the marshall's directions into the west lane that was bollarded off. Round into the Western Approach Road and then a joyful 3km back towards Murrayfield Stadium. What a pleasure it was to run along this road that has no pavement!
But at the 9km marker I looked at my watch - 37:37. Hmmm no chance of beating 40mins then. Struggling a bit now, as a couple of blokes panted past me. Down into the stadium complex, past the war memorial and then a bit of contrived routing round a marquee tent to make up the distance to 9.96km! Now being overtaken by a fair few athletes. Into the stadium for my final 16second blast to the finish line. 41m51sec. 154/1190.
Definite room for improvement. Next time I'd make the following changes:
Once registered, I was bombarded with frequent emails from the organisers reminding me to download and read the Entry Information Pack but any of the links I followed seemed to take me to the registration page. Very frustrating, but all I needed to know was where to go and when : the Lawnmarket for 10am on Sunday 6th November.
The forecast was suitably seasonal with temperature of 5C and a strong northerly wind; I chose to wear leggings rather than shorts which would be their first race outing since Glentress in February. After dumping the car in Murrayfield Road, I caught the 26 bus with a few other like minded runners and disembarked at George Street when it started on a diverted route due to the race course at Market Street.
A short trot up the Mound stopping for a pee at the public toilets on the corner of Princes St and then I found myself on the Castle Esplanade with a few dozen other lycra clad men pretending to warm up in the biting wind. I was very early, still 30mins till the start gun so I found some shelter behind Ramsay Gardens.
Down to the start pens and I lined up with The Yellows. I had presumably been asked to predict my finish time so had been allotted a category. As far as I could tell, the order was White, Red, Yellow and then Green. Two pace-makers jostled their way through the pens, one for 50min the other for 45min. I made sure to keep an eye on the 45min guy - he was my initial target.
10am came and off we went after a minute or so of walking to the start and then it was hell for leather down the Mound to the gap between Art Galleries. Not a great route, and then sharp right along the path in front of the Scott Monument. This was not great territory, more akin to the start of the Cramond Parkrun. Narrow, many mixed paces and no opportunities to pass. Quickly we emerged onto Waverley Bridge and I was able to get the pace up curving into Market Street. Into Jeffrey Street and I was able to pass the 45min pacer before we careered onto the Royal Mile again for the long and fast descent to Abbey Hill. I was passing many runners at this stage, but made sure to keep my place once we hit the flatter ground to Royal Park Terrace.
I passed another runner and took a triple take as I went by - it had to be Spud (Ewen Bremner) from Trainspotting fame. [Sadly he wasn't - according to the results]. Into the Queen's Park and flat ground allowed me to settle into a self-dictated pace. I targeted runners ahead and gradually picked them off as we reached Dynamic Earth and the turn onto the Cowgate. Of course there had to be some uphill and my pace slowed as we toiled up past the excellent Holyrood 9A burger joint into the Cowgate proper.
Into the Grassmarket and the noise of some supporting spectators at the west end spurred me on into the West Port and the wee kick up towards Lady Lawson street. I swung the arms to keep the pace up and onwards into Bread Street. Ahead I could see some major traffic restrictions in Lothian Road and I made sure to follow the marshall's directions into the west lane that was bollarded off. Round into the Western Approach Road and then a joyful 3km back towards Murrayfield Stadium. What a pleasure it was to run along this road that has no pavement!
But at the 9km marker I looked at my watch - 37:37. Hmmm no chance of beating 40mins then. Struggling a bit now, as a couple of blokes panted past me. Down into the stadium complex, past the war memorial and then a bit of contrived routing round a marquee tent to make up the distance to 9.96km! Now being overtaken by a fair few athletes. Into the stadium for my final 16second blast to the finish line. 41m51sec. 154/1190.
Definite room for improvement. Next time I'd make the following changes:
- Position myself nearer the head of the Yellows at the start
- Concentrate on one runner who is going faster than me and try to keep him in view
- Avoid being overtaken (if at all possible) on the Western Approach road
- Be concious of segments on the route
Strava stats and route here:
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