Lasswade10 2008

An early start to go over to the east coast like so many Westies today, but this trip was on my own and slightly further south than the majority going to Bishy. I got over to Rosewell with only mild anxiety as the road into Roslin Glen was closed for emergency road works. This not only made getting to the start a bother but meant the start (and consequently the finish) of the race was different from usual.

For anyone who doesn't know it, this is a popular, hilly 10 mile road race just south of Edinburgh. Not sure how much climb but it isn't flat (guestimate of 1500ft looking at gmap but that is very rough). Anyway I lined up with around 400 others, including a cluster of Boggies, Carnethisms and Kate J. Its a hard race and was quite windy in bits but not too bad, and beautiful sunny blue skies tempted me into vest and shorts..

I had given myself 3 targets in line with an article in RW this month,

1- beat last years time of 72:35

2- beat 72minutes

3- beat 70 minutes.

I started off too hard, in 2 x 6 min. miles. Then Kate passed me at 4miles after starting much more sensibly and I could see Stewart Barrie in the distance, ahead that is. Just a minute over 10k pb at the 6 mile mark felt ok and with most of the climbing done, now for a downhill fast finish with just a couple of short sharp rises. I had a gulp of gel, but probably too much too quick, for though I did feel better physically, I got a stitch at 7m and slowed a little before pushing on from 8. Isn't that always the problem when you swallow too much of the gooey stuff!

In the end I finished strongly and achieved 2 of my goals.

Some stats:

1st- Paul Arcari 53:05

10- John Kennedy 60:14 (1st V40)

21- Jan Roxburgh 62:10 (1st F)

41- Lucy Colquhoun 65:14

57- Kate Jenkins 67:34

65- Stewart Barrie 68:27

and just a couple of minutes behind

92/ 372- Jason Kaushal 70:41

So close to 70minutes but not quite under, probably down to the stitch at 7miles. However I am pleased with nearly a 2 minute improvement on last year and it does seem the winters running has gone well.

I hit the rain as I headed west, and it was heading towards Bishy so I hope you all got on well there. I'd recommend this race to anyone who hasn't done it before, so bear it mind for next year, and even the Lasswade/ Bishy double if they move the latter back to its normal time.

Posted by Jason Kaushal on Sun 2 Mar 2008 | 3 comments

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