Ian Goudie

My 33rd race of 2009 and the 1st one I’ve ever ran in Kilmarnock.

I wasn’t sure if I would race it or not.  The weather had been stifling recently and I had already entered the Arran Half Marathon taking place at the weekend.  However I had taken the day as annual leave, had went to a yoga class in the morning and had a siesta in the afternoon, so I decided to give it a bash, despite the weather.

I arrived at the new St Joseph’sAcademy in New Farm Loch, Kilmarnock at about 6.45pm the exact same time as fellowBellas Scott Telford, Carla Deans and Andrew Hardman. I chatted with the Killie Captains and race organisers Paula and Connell and also Michelle Goldie and hermum Karen Quinn, who I know from the parkrun. I also chatted with David Miller and Jim Sneddon of Irvine as well as Kerry Liam Wilson who runs for Cambuslang and Gillian Mullen, also ofKilmarnock.  As I was about to start mywarm up I recognised a lass that runs for Sprinburn and we introduced eachother.  I recognised her name, CarolineBrownlie, from previous race results. Whilst chatting she informed that she had lived in Kilmarnock for10years and that her 10k time was around 44mins.  Not dissimilar to mine.  I thought about running round the course with her but decided just to run my own race.

I asked some previous runners fora description of the course and learned that it was in the shape of a ‘P’.  Starting at the school, up hill, over themotorway and then undulating around in a reverse ‘C’ back to the motorway andthen downhill to the school.  I hadlooked at last years results and knew that the field would be about 80-100strong with times ranging from 32mins to over an hour.  I therefore picked my spot behind the fasterrunners but in front of Gillian and Caroline. Without any announcements the race started at 7.30pm and we headeduphill.  An Irvine AC runner asked me ifI knew if the roads were open to traffic or not and I replied that I presumedthat they were.   I felt quite good as Icontinued up hill and was satisfied with my 1st k time of 4:34.  I heard a couple of marshals supporting‘Gillian’ as I past by them and presumed that Miss Mullen was just behindme.  As I made my way across themotorway junction I noticed Keith Haining marshalling.  The road took a right     and continued uphill, through the scenic Ayrshire countryside with thecounty’s famous cattle grazing in the fields. At the 2nd k my time of 09:16 reflected a steady, ifunspectacular, pace.  As we ran alongthe road towards the hamlet of Moscow, I was overtaken by a couple of Killierunners.  At the 3rd k markerI was depressed as my pace seemed to have dropped significantly, however when Ireached the 4th one I had made up significant time.  There’s no way that I made up so much time,I thought.  The markers must have beenincorrectly placed.  I reached the 5kmarker with a time of 23:30 and thought that a 47 min 10k would be acceptablein these conditions and on this course. Just past the half way point was a water stop and as I stopped to take adrink and to cool myself down a bit by pouring some over my head the guy I hadbeen running along side for the last couple of kilometers passed by me. 

I rejoined the race before anyone had overtaken me and within the nextkilometer I had passed my temporary running mate.  I took another couple of scalps between the 6 and 7 k markers alongthe undulating road towards Crookedholm. I could see my next target but he was a good bit in front of me but Iconcentrated on catching him when my body was telling me to stop and have arest.  By the 8k mark he was definitelyin my sight but I could see that there was a big gap between him and the twoKillie runners in front and decided that their was no point in overtaking himat this stage.  I was right on his tailas we approached the M77 interchange. “C’mon Ian” shouted Keith and I grabbed my opportunity to overtake therunner and increase my speed.  “It’s alldownhill from here” shouted the next marshal and I increased my stride.  However the finish line wasn’t even in sightand as I hadn’t seen the 9k mark, I wasn’t sure how much further I had torun.  Downhill I raced. I was tired butI was determined that no-one would catch me in the final stage of the race andI gave it my all until eventually I could see the Finish Line and pushed it inuntil I crossed the line. I was happy with my time of 45:44 and receivedcongratulations and my commemorative mug, soft drinks and banana from Paula andher band of little helpers.  I had finished 19secs behind the Killie runner, Andrew Taylor, in front of me and had opened up a gap of 13secs on the runner behind me, Peter Williams.

My splits reflecting my strong finish: 4:34; 4:34; 4:44; 4:41; 4:43; 4:40; 4:15;4:46; 4:35; 4:04

Men’s Race

Irvine’s David Miller won the race in an amazing time of32:08.  Kilbarchan’s Thomas Hearlefinished over one minute behind him to claim second place in 33:18 withGirvan’s Kerry Liam Wilson finishing third in 33:30.  Brian Craig of Irvine AC won the Vet Men 50 Prize, withGarscube’s Tony Hall claiming the Vet Men 60 equivalent.  Girvan AC beat Irvine AC by one point totake the Men’s Team prize.

Women’s Race

Unattached Fiona Hogg won the women’s race in 44:42.  In the closest race of the evening,Springburn’s Caroline Brownlie beat Kilmarnock’s Gillian Mullen by 9secs totake the Second Women’s Prize in 47:12. Kilmarnock’s Karen Quinn won the Women’s Vet Prize in 49:55.  Host club Kilmarnock also won the Women’sTeam Prize.