Mileage: 11.25 miles
Moffat Gala Run 15K: 6th place, 55.50
One thing I love about the summer is that there are simply loads and loads of good local races all across Scotland. What’s even more enjoyable about many of them are that they are usually not the traditional distances you would expect to run and they are rarely flat or without scenery. They are different, exciting and full atmosphere. Many of these races are not that well advertised either. You certainly won’t find them plastered throughout Runner’s World. Word of mouth is often how these local races are advertised and that is how I found out about the Moffat Gala Run and that was how club mate, Kim had heard about it too.
Kim had mentioned the race to me, Magnus Inglis (who used to train regularly with us on a Thursday night) and former club member and ultra marathon runner, Lucy Coloqhoun and we were all convinced, so last night Kim drove us all to Moffat about 70 miles south of Edinburgh for the Festival 15K. At the start line I met up with fellow club member Callum and we chatted about the race ahead. Callum had run the race the year before and so I gleaned some valuable information about the route.
It was a slightly overcast with a stiff breeze, but it was still warm and pleasant and in the small Borders town surrounded by stunning countryside it was a perfect evening for a race. We had heard through word of mouth, and Callum, that the run was largely on road with the first 4 miles leading out of the town on undulating country roads, and so it was.
Last week I did a 98 mile training week and n Sunday I had run 20 miles in 2hours 15minutes, and on Monday my legs had felt very tired on my run to and from work, so I knew I wouldn’t be at my peak for the race, but that didn’t stop me from having a go! I blasted out the first mile up the road in 5.30 minutes and found myself in fourth place. However, by the end of the first mile my legs were straining a bit and were as tired as suspected they would be. I took my foot of the gas slightly and watched as Callum caught up with me and went by followed by another runner from Motherwell AC.
Once I settled down I found myself in a nice rhythm and I really enjoyed running along the back roads out of Moffat surrounded by farm fields and trees and this was how it went for the first four miles. It was certainly a much nicer way to get a good workout than bashing out reps on the track at Meadowbank.
A lot of the pre-talk race had been about the big hill in the middle of the race, which I had been expecting and sure enough it popped up (literally) just before the 4 mile marker. We left the comfort of the road and hit a farm track, which snaked up for over a mile. It wasn’t Carnethy steep, you could run it, but it certainly gave your lungs and calves a good workout. I have really enjoyed running hills this year and I feel that little bit more confident about attacking them, so when I hit the bottom of the hill I didn’t look up with intimidation but saw it as an opportunity to catch up. I ran the first part particularly hard and quickly caught the Motherwell runner in front of me. After that my legs felt pretty heavy and tired, but I have to admit I loved the hard work and the effort. After just over a mile I reached the top where we joined the A70-something backing into Moffat. We had driven this road in to the town so I knew that it was a nice down hill stretch of road all the way back to the finish line.
My first few steps were a little Bambie like after the work on the hill and I must have wobbled about the road a bit as I got used to lengthening my stride again. At this point I noticed a Dumfries Harrier coming up on my shoulder. He pulled alongside me and was about to go past me, which I have to admit didn’t bother me too much, as I was just enjoying the event more as a good tempo run than a serious race. Then I snapped out of it and remembered how much I hate anyone passing me! Just as he began to pull ahead of me I pushed myself on to his shoulder. We then ran stride for stride, side by side for just short of four miles. It was about as much fun as I have had in a race. As much as we were working together we were also trying desperately to drop each other. The gradual descent also meant that we were running much faster than on the flat, which added to the thrill and the excitement of it all.
My legs were tired and heavy, but what was great was that all the little niggles and tightness I have felt in my legs in recent weeks was not there. I felt a few twinges, but they went almost as quickly as they came. My lungs felt fine too and really strong, so I know I can go faster with more rested legs.
Just after the 8 mile mark my friend the Dumfries Harrier found an extra spurt of speed from somewhere and moved ahead slightly. Again I was almost prepared to let him go, as I didn’t want to push beyond my limit and strain something. Again, I found myself unwilling to do this, but this time I decided to make a break for it myself and so when I kicked not only did I pull up along side him, but I went past him. I tried then to hold my pace and put some distance. It worked and I was pulling clear. Unfortunately I was simply running out of gas and when my opponent kicked again at the 9 mile mark I had nothing left and this time I didn’t have any choice, but to let him move past me and take fifth place, leaving me with sixth.
I hate to lose out like that, but I had really enjoyed the last four and half miles blasting down the road toward the finish line. The best thing though was my body felt strong and fit. I am fairly certain that with proper rest and few less miles in the preceding weeks I would have run a lot faster at this race. On a personal note it bodes well for races I plan a taper for.
As for my friends they had all done well. Callum finished third, some 7 minutes quicker than he had the year before, a great result. Lucy was fourth woman home and first Vet. Magnus wasn’t too far behind her and Kim wasn’t too far behind him. I should also mention that the first lady home was Kathrine Brownlee in a great time of 58.23, she has been coming along to Thursday night training for several weeks, and looked in great form leaving her rivals far behind.
We had all enjoyed the course and the race a great deal and were quickly exchanging promises to come back and do it again next year. With our return car journey full of running chat and a stop off for fish super it was a great evening and one I really enjoyed.
Selected Results:
1. Paul Arcari – 51.24
2. Grant Wikie – 53.23
3. Callum Reid – 53.56
6. Richard Meade – 55.50
10. Kathryn Brownlee – 58.23
31. Lucy Colquhoun – 62.42
33. Magnus Inglis – 63.26
46. Kim Threadgall – 65.35
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