Archive

I didn't get the pace I was wanting, 10 minutes for the first lap, but slipped to about 11 minutes for the other two. Yet again I forgot to stop my watch as I crossed the line. Four races I've done now and I've only remembered to stop my watch on the first one. Just so glad to get over the finish line I'm not thinking about it. When I did eventually stop it it read 32:26. I'll be very happy if my time is under the 32 minutes. I'll find out tomorrow, hopefully, when the race results are published. Apparently there was a big clock next to the finish line, but I didn't even notice it. I saw Mel as I crossed and heard her congratulations, always good to hear after a race, and staggered away.

One good thing about the hills on Knockhill is that you get to run down some of them. The steep one after the first bend was fun, especially on the last lap. I really just let myself go and sprinted down it.

For the first lap I'd been able to keep pace with Shiona, but slipped a little. I could see her gradually get further and further ahead of me. On the last lap, going round the tri-oval part of the track, we could see each other as the track turned back sharply, and up an steep hill. She looked so far ahead of me. Yet I was only about 40 seconds behind her crossing the finish line. Managed to find a spurt of energy for the last twenty-thirty meters.

Jenni, who had been concerned that she hadn't done enough running the last couple of week while she was away on holiday, left us behind easily.

My blood sugar level was gone by the end, my hands shaking visibly, slightly dizzy and a bit of a shiver setting in once I'd sat down. Changed into a warm top and tucked into Mel's amazing gluten free carrot cake soon sorted that out.

running

Paul Campbell's blog
Login or register to post comments

by Paul Campbell on 31 Aug 10

Using Google's new Realtime search to watch the world got nuts about Facebook. http://www.google.com/search?tbs=mbl:1&q=facebook

kemitix: Using Google's new Realtime search to watch the world got nuts about Facebook. http://www.google.com/search?tbs=mbl:1&q=facebook

See original: Using Google's new Realtime search to watch the world got nuts about Facebook. http://www.google.com/search?tbs=mbl:1&q=facebook

by Paul Campbell on 31 Aug 10

August 31st

Graham Clark 3.9 Mile Memorial Race

Ah, the blog. Must really remember to feed this thing more often.

Back in May I started running. Some friends I know through BMF were running in the Edinburgh 10K. I thought "They're about the same level of fitness as me. I could be doing that." So I looked for the next 10K near by, and found the Forth Road Bridge 10K. I can see the bridge from my kitchen window. So I signed up and started running. I might talk about that another time. Another race got shoe-horned in before that one.

My next race is up tomorrow night. This will be my fourth race. It is the Graham Clark 3.9 Mile Memorial Race at Knockhill Racing Circuit. I'm hoping for a time below 30 minutes.

I certainly hope to place better than I did on Saturday at the Cloybank 6K Trail Race at Cloybank Estate. Coming 23rd sounds good, but there were only 23 runners. Someone has to be last, and on Saturday, it was my turn. I was just happy to have finished. I was even happy with my time and pace. 32:21 with a pace of 5:24/km. And by place better, I mean, "not last".

That was a tough wee course.

Tomorrow's race starts at 19:30 and is three full laps of the Knockhill Circuit. The distance isn't a problem. 3.9 miles, 6.3km. Most of the training runs I've done have been further than that. Compared to Cloybank, this is a level course. I've also managed to con two of my friends that I run with into doing the race too, Shiona and Jenni. And I'm looking forward to the delicious gluten free carrot cake that Mel is making for the post-race feeding frenzy.

Actually, I think Mel is crazy. She ran in the Ochil's 2000 on Saturday. Over 20 miles across the Ochils range near Stirling. What worries me is that it might be catching.

Normally on a Tuesday at that time I'd be at rehearsal for DDS. Tomorrow we will be casting our next show, Twelfth Night. I'll find out what part(s) I'll be playing sometime after the race.