Ian Goudie

My 17th race of 2009 and the worst weather conditions to date!  Gale force winds,rain, hail and sleet were to make this flat course into one of the most challenging this year.  It's a popular race and both a Bellahouston Road Runners and a Kilmarnock Harriers AC Club Championship race, so I knew plenty of the other runners.  Registrations had closed a couple of weeks ago, when the event reached it's maximum 1,000 entrants but just over 800 were to brave the conditions on the Ayrshire coastal town of Troon on Wednesday 6 May.

I gave my running buddy Veronika a lift to Troon and we arrived as planned at 6.30 exactly one hour before the race start time, to find the race HQ, the Wallace Hall, packed to the seams with runners sheltering from the extreme weather conditions.

After collecting my race chip, chatting and getting changed, I ventured out for a brief 'warm up' along the sea front.  A few minutes later we were hurdled together for the Start of the race and soon we were running along the South Beach esplanade towards the Royal Troon Golf course and into the wind and the rain.  After my too fast start at the recent Tom Scott race, I was taking things cautiously and was happy to tuck in behind two Kilmarnock runners.  A sharp left hand turn took us on to the B746 Craigend Road and over the railway bridge.  Scott Kennedy and Craig Ross from Bella were standing here providing us with words of encouragement as we passed the2k marker. I must have missed the 1k mark and as I looked at my Garmin to see how I was doing, I saw that it was dead!  A quick press on the On Button but no joy and I carried on without knowing my pace.  Further along Craigend Road I ran, sheltering from the elements by sticking close to the wall.  As the road turned a sharp right, the route continued straight on to the rural and rather cutely named Isle of Pin Road.  Around 3k, I passed Gillian Mullen from Kilmarnock and a wee while later Scott Johnson and Louise Ross from Bella caught up with me.  Let's race it as a team, I heard Scott say but the road was more like a country path at this point and it was easier to run your own race. Past a stately home and some rugby pitches we ran, trying to dodge some of the worst puddles.  The hard running against the wind was starting to take it's toll and I found myself struggling a bit.  At the water station I grabbed a plastic cup of water and as I stopped to drink it and rest for a second I realised that the cup was almost empty.  I witnessed my friends Peter Carr and Li Wang overtaking me as I took a breath or two before rejoining the race. I'm not sure which road we ran along next, it was either Monktonhill Road or Southwood Road, all I knew was that the rain was now really heavy and was frozen, not sure if it was hail or sleet but I had to almost close my eyes as I ran into it.  A sharp turn left and some respite until we reached the railway bridge again.  Scott and Craig's words of encouragement were much appreciated as I reached the 8k mark.  I always argue that the 8-9k part of a 10k is the hardest, as the9-10k looks after itself.  Tonight was only different in the severity of just how hard that penultimate kilometre was.  As we descended from the brow of the railway bridge the energy sapping gale force wind and rain was straight inour faces and as I struggled I noticed a few fellow runners overtaking me.  I could see Li's yellow Giffnock North vest ahead in front of me and that provided me with the motivation to press onwards. 

This time the South Beach esplanade provided some shelter from the wind and the rain and as I reached the 9k marker I stepped up a gear.  As did the runner immediately in front of me!  There were about seven runners between me and Li at this point so I set myself a target of getting as close to her by the Finish line as possible.  I'm sure I was catching up with her but it was difficult to tell, as everyone else seemed to be pushing it in for the last kilometre as well.  I managed to overtake one guy and then another and another and some more, I didn't quite catch Li but was only one place and three seconds behind her at the Finish.  It had been a hard race, in dreadful conditions but it felt good to have had such a strong finish.

After mutual congratulations with Li and Peter and with the other Bella and Kilmarnock Runners, I handed in my chip collected my t-shirt etc and cheered the remaining Bella and Kilmarnock Runners over the Finish line, before heading into the hall for some much needed warmth.

As I chatted with my fellow runners it became clear that there had been some great results and new PBs despite the weather.  Not least of all Scott Johnston who finished in a great time of 43:18.

I had finished in 227th position in a timeof 45:07, my slowest 10k of the Season, therefore winning no points for the Club Championship!  But it was another race under my belt, I had beaten a few people that had beat me at the recent Tom Scott, Whangie Whiz and Culzean Castle races and the strong finish had given me confidence which should help me through some of the races that lie ahead.