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pounds for pots
racing snake david riach obviously realised that you only have to step off the train at irvine station and you are awarded a trophy, so thats exactly what he did. in a rare visit to this tourist hot spot, the snake took to the start line bare footed but for a covering of bandages over his toes, balls of his feet and heels, but not before he has quizzed all runners with a vest on to establish their predicted finish times.. and took up his spot on the front row. after the first k(kilometre) the snake was nestled in with the first ten runners with his racing bandages now soaked in blood, although by the time i had reached this it was well hardened into the tarmacadam surface. riach dug deep over the next 3.85k and set himself up nicely for a personal best time, keeping the high tempo pace up by singing a medley of 80's classics as he picked off the field. i had the pleasure of seeing the great one shortly after the halfway point but my encouraging chants were met with a mid-stride leap and an, 'i'm gonna live forever... i'm gonna learn how to fly...' shit, this guy really was on song. what a performance. i caught up with the snake as he sifted through the post race pears to find he recorded a chip time tbc of 34mins and 8seconds. i thought he would be pleased with this pb time but all he could mutter was, 'let's see that bastard upson beat that one!' and 'gonna pass me some of those tangerines'. i was a little frightened by this and when i realised that he still had his work shirt and tie on underneath his yellow vest i left him to fill his free race sack with stolen fruit and made my escape. 7th place, a personal best by 30 seconds or so, 10gbp in a brown envelope and a great performace by mr riach and a pw for fellow vestie scott racing snail mckendrick.
Posted by Scott McKendrick on Wed 20 Aug 2008 | 6 comments
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Comments
snail-boy said...
oh yeah, and he asked me not to list his time as it may affect next weeks handicap time. sorry david.
Wednesday 20th August 2008 11.50pm
Ermintrude said...
A little too much sun this year perhaps Mr Snail?
Thursday 21st August 2008 11.23am
Chris said...
Amazing run by Mr Riach.6th place in 34:18
Full results
Monday 25th August 2008 12.04pm
snailboy said...
yes, my stats are getting closer and closer.but dont forget the slow guys, cap'n... its guys like me that make your times appear all the more impressive. 134 runners of assorted shapes and sizes breathing down my neck for that last top 30 spot!!! come on mr upson. remember what the sport is all about; throw away that casio, start sports shopping at aldi and get back to reporting with a magic marker on the back of a frosties box. as my old father says, 'lets get back to the 2-3-5 formation!'
Monday 25th August 2008 12.57pm
the snake said...
I was amazed with my time too, but it was a perfect evening after the rain of the day, lightly warm with the hint of a cooling breeze, and the course was near perfect too; weaving on smooth paths and quiet roads alongside the beachpark and harbour with barely a corner and hardly a gradient, though McKendrick said it was too hilly for him. I was in no-man’s land after 3km, wondering if I’d overcooked it before the turn, watching 2nd to 5th gradually reshuffle ... not enough to come back to me, but the sight of Scott holding off an eminent Kilbarchan runner spurred me on. Kerry Wilson of Cambuslang won in 32:22.
Afterwards, I trod the hallowed turf of the silver mile, that grassy track where The Legend scorched to a mention in Saturday’s Herald results column. Getting a lift to the station, the Irvine experience ended on a surreal note revealing where Scott gets it from, as his dad phoned and explained the crux of The Merchant of Venice !!
Monday 25th August 2008 1.13pm
Slug said...
Great run by Snake Riach. It reminds me of the halcyon days when Cap'n Toad (aka Archie Cameron) would regularly post times of this quality...and look where he ended up, warts and all!!!!
Monday 25th August 2008 8.03pm