Tain 10k roadrace

Whilst planning the summer holiday, I had scanned all the usual running sites and found this race in Tain that was during the week we were staying 'nearby'. It was an annual event organised by the local running club Tain Runners as part of the week long Tain Gala celebrations. With a 7pm start, it allowed for a full day of 'holiday activity' before I would need to get up to Tain for the race. 

Infact, it became a family and friends event when Sally decided to run too, and the Taylors who were also on holiday in the area. Registration opened at 6pm, and both cars arrived on the Tain Links at 18:01. First in the car park! It was a bit breezy, not condusive to chatting outside so we headed into the marquee registration tent to pick up numbers. 

Previous results suggested 70-80 runners per year, so it wasn't going to be too busy. At 18:55 there was a general movement towards the coastal path and we joined them. I stood fairly close to the front whereas Sally moved to the middle. 

On the start line, lets get on with it

There was a bit of chat from the Race Marshall, then we all had to walk forward to the actual start line. We were off and heading into the wee town over the railway line. The pace was far too fast and within 400metres I was already peching and losing places. There was a nasty hill that reared up to the main road and I really struggled to keep my position amongst the leaders. We reached 1km and thankfully turned left onto flats and an easterly direction into the town.

The wind was on our backs here and I was able to get back the couple of places I had lost on the hill as we toyed with the traffic that was still trying to use the road. Through the other side, and then a long descent back down the hill and over the railway line again. At this point we passed the 5km race fork - they would head back to the finish line, whereas the 10km race went out on an out-and-back route.

The road was straight and flat so it was just a case of settling into a pace and trying to keep position. I could see the places in front were stretching out. In the far distance I could just about see the flashing light of the leader's following car who had reached the turning point. Soon enough he had run past me on the way back and he was going very fast. I started to count the following runners until I reached the turn - I was in 13th.

I noticed the guy in front of me had stopped for a drink from the water station and was looking to be in a bad way. I happily overtook him and started on my return to the town. I was then able to look at the following runners until I spotted Sally who I went over to high-five as we passed.

Then to my dismay I heard the guy I had overtaken on my heels and then come alongside. He mumbled some encouragement and carried on. I tried to keep up.

He died again on the other side of the wee hill over the railway so I managed to get past and leave the tarmac onto the farm track that avoided the hill back into the town. This was shared with the 5km route so I was now overtaking the backmarkers of that race. A few wee corners, over the railway one again and then back to the Links for a 'sprint' to the disorganised finish line.

The sprint to the finish! 

A miniature of Glenmorangie handed to me.

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