Ian Goudie

This was my 15th parkrun and my 29th race of 2009.  My original intention wasto run this race as part of my long run. My marathon schedule had an 8 mile run, so I started with a 5 mile runfrom Pollok Park to Bellahouston Ski Centre and back.  I met about a dozen other Bellas out for their long run as I left Pollok Park.  After I had finished my 5 miles I met up with some of the usual parkrunners as well as Jan Fellows from Helensburgh making her debut.  Jan’ sbeen under the weather recently and advised me that she would be taking it easy today, likewise I informed her that I wasn’t racing it but using it as part of my long run. 

As we chatted I noticed a number of blue and white vests ofKilmarnock Harriers, who had chosen today’s event as one of their clubchampionship races.  13 Killie membershad travelled to Glasgow this morning to compete, including Brian Darroch, whoI had overtaken in the recent Helensburgh 10k. Brian’s running loads of races at the moment but is still trailingbehind my 29 in 2009. 

As the race started I found myself running at a decentsteady pace and made my way around most of the first lap with fellow Bella Jim Robinson just within eyeshot.  There was a guy in white that I overtook near the bottom of the first downhill section,the point where Marie McChord usually overtakes me, although she waits until the second lap.  However as I approached the first of the three consecutive hills, he overtook me.  I overtook him again and a young Motherwell runner on the second hill and as we approached the third hill, I heard the youngster asking one of the supporters (his mother?) if there was far to go.  We were about half way round the course at this point and I could tell that the supporter didn’t know what to say.  I overtook another runner at thef oot of the third hill and increased my pace on the slightly down hill part of the course, catching quite a few runners as I did but also being overtaken by a heavy footed 14 year old from Giffnock. As I turned to run up the hills again, I could see Brian in the distance and thought that I might be able to catch him. I pushed it in and started picking of those runners between us as I closed the gap.  As I feared he was justt hat wee bit too far ahead of me and I crossed the finishing line some 20seconds and two places behind him, in 57th spot and a time of 22:17.    Jan finished in 69th position in 22:57 and Jim in 30th spot in 20:00. 

I’m now in 14th place in the Glasgow parkrunmen’s table with 973 points.  Only three runners have ran more than me, two on 16 and one on 20.  I might be able to pass a couple of these before the year end.