Dumfries Running Club members had a busy race weekend

The Dumfries competitors took part in a number of races in various areas including Glasgow, Inverness, Cumbria and Cologne in Germany

The Glasgow half and 10k

Fourteen Dumfries Running Club members were among the more than 30,000 competitors who took part in both these races at the weekend.

Starting at George Square in the city centre the conditions were perfect all weekend with it being dry, overcast and mild. The races showcased the city with a run through both Pollok estate and Bellahouston park and the final mile along the Clyde attracted thousands of spectators who supported even the most exhausted competitors on the way to Glasgow Green.

Most of the club runners were taking part in the half marathon with only one in the 10K and Daniel Nordkill was delighted to finish his 10K race in 52.05 and celebrated by immediately joining DRC for his debut club race.

In the half marathon, the fastest performance came from David Parrish who had a superb run in 74.08 in 40th place which placed him in the top two per cent of the field. Jamie Ovens also had an excellent run and was delighted to break the 80 minute barrier for the first time to finish in 79.32 for 155th place.

Lisa Finlay ran very consistently and was rewarded by winning the first vet 55 prize in a superb 83.06. Ranjit Thomas ran with his daughter Rebecca most of the way and initially seemed less than pleased that she ran away from him in the final mile but he was pleased to finish in 95.18.

The most heart warming performance of this, or any other race, came from Andrew Cole who pushed his father Michael round in a wheelchair in 112 minutes. Michael has been a long standing DRC member and they were raising money for Motor Neurone Disease as Michael is fighting this condition. Unknown to him, several of his former clubmates were on hand at the finish to cheer him over the line and he thoroughly enjoyed the chance to catch up with friends and family at the end of the race.

Alex Carlyle had a good run in 113 minsute, four minutes ahead of Neil Moffat and Maureen Dickson ran together with her daughter Hollie Gordon with both finishing in 124 minutes. Carolyn Priestley was delighted with her run in 137 minutes as was Chris Belford who was a minute behind. Chris ran carefully as he suffered a knee injury in the Great North 10k in July but he got round without incident and was pleased to knock more than six minutes from his personal best.

For Jamie Cottrell he was pleased to get round in 2 hours 20, much faster than his time in this year’s Great North run with an 11 minute improvement. He only decided to enter at short notice and enjoyed the whole spectacle of the race.

Rebecca Queen and Claire McLaren thoroughly enjoyed the whole event, especially the pipers at each mile marker and they took several selfies around the course and even managed to knock six minutes off Claire’s personal best into the bargain.

Cumbrian Run

Four club members took part in the 40th Great Cumbrian Run on Sunday with two in the half marathon and two in the 10k. Both routes started together at 9am and there were lots of spectators and supporters all along the route shouting encouragement.

The routes started in Bitts Park and took in parts of the town (which had been closed to traffic), the Castle, Rickerby Park and the River Eden so it was very pretty. The 10k route was the same as the half-marathon until around mile four where it branched off.

In the half marathon, Kevin McCaig had an outstanding run in 89.29 in 46th place overall and he was second vet 60 in the entire race. Stuart Black ran consistently throughout and aimed to get in under the one hour 50 mark and he was pleased to cross the line in 106.08 in 202nd place.

For Kerry Precious and Louise Mcpeake this was only their third official race and each was massively encouraged by the fact that Kevin and Stuart offered lots of support as they finished their races. Both Kerry in 78.30 and Louise in 79.58 recorded their fastest ever times and say they will definitely do this race again.

Cologne half marathon

The Cologne Half Marathon on Sunday was again the biggest in Germany with 20,000 runners and a further 10,000 took part in the full marathon at the same time.

Dumfries Running Club member Malc Isherwood took on the challenge of the half. After initially being held back somewhat by the mass of competitors he was able to pick up the pace and was happy to finish in 1.52.04 in 3040th place overall and 56th in his age group. It was a very well supported event with thousands of excited and enthusiastic spectators, which really helped all the runners.

Loch Ness Marathon and 10k

On September 29, four club members travelled to Inverness for the Loch Ness marathon and associated 10k race. There was a record entry with 3,731 finishers in the marathon with Jim Godfrey representing the club.

Jim felt that the race organisation and course were first class and the weather was perfect too. By his high standards he felt he had an okay run and he finished in 3 hours 38 minutes. Jim was happy with this after just seven weeks of training following two months off running and his legs felt quite heavy towards the end though as he finished in 575th place.

In the 10k, Gillian Godfrey completed this along with Sean McGleenan and Anne Macfarlane. In all there were 1,931 finishers for the 10km.

The course, apart from a slight incline at the start, was generally flat and each felt was it was good to aim for the same finish line as the marathon just for the number of supporters around to give encouragement.

Anne had a very good run in 49.14 to finish in the top 20 per cent of the field and Gillian and Sean finished very close together with Sean in 67 minutes exactly, finishing 40 seconds ahead. Gillian was delighted with how the race went as she managed to keep her speed consistent over the course and this was only her second ever 10k over a two year gap and she is looking forward to tackling more races over this distance.

Monday running group

The Monday night beginners and improvers group meets at Dumfries Sports Club on Nunholm Road at 6.30pm where organised groups are led over distances from 2km at a suitable pace up to five miles. Prospective newcomers are reminded that high visibility clothing is required for safety as nights have become a bit darker. Further details can be found on www.dumfriesrunningclub.org.uk

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