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Hugh Wilson 10K, East Kilbride, 2006
Another Classic as EK Takes Westies by Storm!
Those who have never run the East Kilbride 10K would be forgiven for expressing a lack of interest in the apparently mundane trail which winds around dual-carriageways, overpasses, underpasses and the town's legendary roundabouts. However, these same people are missing a treat; whoever had the insane idea of organising a road race in EK in the middle of winter deserves our eternal thanks. EK10K afficionados always come back for more. Previous races have been in 6 inches of snow, death defying ice, extreme cold...yes, this is also the race where Archie got lost in the first mile!
And so, those of us who return year-on-year for torture were well-rewarded with gale force winds and torrential downpours which turned it once again into an epic. This was coupled with a change of course (due to road works) to an out-and-back which probably further discouraged those who have not previously indulged in the delights of this event. Actually it added a certain je ne sais quoi to the event; whilst we were driven along at 5 minute miles on the second km by force 10 winds, we knew it was going to gain revenge just before the finish when we were feeling really tired. The out-and-back also had the perverse advantage of showing us that the leaders seemed to be struggling just as much as the rest of us.
So it was a proud day for Westies; 10 competitors was as many as any other small-to-medium sized club and more than most large -to-extra large ones too. Chris took the honours, although for most of the second half he was being pulled in by Dave, who was desparately trying to make sure that homeboy Don didn't scalp him at the finish. Steffen was next, followed by Rob who incredibly, before the race had been musing that possibly he should have been going up the hills as the weather wasn't looking that bad!!!! I'm not sure of the finishing order after that....I certainly wasn't hanging abut too long to give encouragement, and for this I got pelters from Muffy. However, I think the finishing order was Muffy, Ian, Bill, Drew and Pat. Apologies if I've got that wrong. Times are almost irrelevant in the conditions, anything under an hour would be good value. Next year, forget the delights of Druim Fada or Meall a Bhuchaille; there's just as much adventure to be had on the Queensway!
"Madness" said one finisher to me as he crawled away to his car. Mibbies aye, but he'll be back next year, no doubt!
Posted by Dave Calder on Sun 3 Dec 2006 | 9 comments
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Comments
Chris said...
Marvellous write up Dave, and what a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.... in a kind of getting absolutely soaked and frozen sort of way. And by the way, you were looking alarmingly close at the 5km turning point, and at the end I barely had time to visit the portacabin, get a top on, find my camera and come back out before you'd already finished.
A few photos here, but they don't do justice to the full misery of the experience.
Full Results
Sunday 3rd December 2006 7.09pm
Don said...
This was enjoyable in the same way that banging your head against the wall is - ie when it stops. The long awaited head to head between Dave, Steff & myself on the hard stuff was an irresistible challenge, and all credit to Dave who ran a strong confident race and slowly pulled away from about 1/3 distance.. I gave it my best shot but just could not hang on to him. On a positive note, the efforts of chasing Dave brought me to the closest finish I have had to Chris on the road. It was very enjoyable looking back at Steff battling with the guys I train with on this course. Well done to all the Westies finishers on a pretty foul day even by EK standards Next week we get to do it all again in the EK mud. Watch out Dave - in the words of Arnie 'I,ll be back!'
Sunday 3rd December 2006 10.50pm
Muffy said...
Dear ChrisI think that we're going to have to employ a womens photographer soon, no photos of girrels for the second week running :)
I admit that I was not looking my best, was that the reason?
Despite running a pw by about 3 minutes I had the hardest tussle of my life on the track at the finish with Ada from Kirkie, I would have chucked up if my innards hadn't been frozen solid. And noone there to see it... sigh.
Did everyone else get "swing" from the marshall at the turning point? Nearly a full blown ceilidh for me!
Monday 4th December 2006 9.13am
Rob said...
After experiencing the EK weather, I'm very glad I'd wimped out of a day of hillwalking! As Don said, the best bit of this race was getting into the hut at the finish. The final 2km, predominantly uphill and straight into the gale and rain, was a real low point in an already grim experience. I followed a guy in a Stirling triathlon t-shirt for a while. He probably wished he'd brought his wetsuit.
Muffy - No ceilidh for me at the turn. Favouritism for the ladies I suspect.
Bill - Hope you've recovered from your tumble on the bridge.
Monday 4th December 2006 10.56am
cat said...
It sounds fantastic - much better than the 30 long dull minutes on an eliptical cross training torture device that I suffered through at 2pm. I'd much rather have been buffeted by gale force winds and drenched by freezing rain torrents...honest I would.
And well done to Muffy - keeping the Westies Ladies out there, even if there is a lack of photographic evidence!
Monday 4th December 2006 12.56pm
Marc said...
Those 355 degree turns at 6k were crazy.I resorted to the old Monkey Technique with the old swinging action.
Monday 4th December 2006 3.03pm
Chris said...
Muffy - sorry about no photos after Rob, but my hands had reached a level of numbness and pain that I couldn't operate the camera anymore.... a pity because you looked in a completely hilarious bedraggled state when you finished.
Monday 4th December 2006 4.31pm
Dave said...
Looking at Chris's photo's reminded me to chastise my clubmates for wearing too much kit. It would appear that I was the sole Westies to wear only vest and shorts without thermal undergarments of some description...a shocking indictment of how soft we have become. Why, in the days of Campbell, Sheridan, Reid & Co, such behaviour would have resulted in a good hiding from the club disciplinary committee.
By the way, I also got the twirl at 5K turning point from "Gay Gordon" Colvin!
Monday 4th December 2006 9.09pm
Bill said...
Rob - still recovering thanks! Got a cracking graze on my right knee which is weeping greenish fluid onto my trousers as I type. Also my thumb is now swollen up in the way that a washing up glove might appear if you vigorously pumped it full of helium. What with falling like a complete twat on the bridge and later running headlong into a gale force 10 wind with the rain slapping my face like a cruel mistress, I never thought running could be so exciting!
Monday 4th December 2006 10.17pm