Atkins 3k On the Green

This was the last in the winter 3 race Atkins series and having got a 3rd and a 2nd already I was really hoping for a first place to let me win the series. Looking around at the start it looked like the main competition would come from Derek Govan but I ended up not seeing him during the race.

We lined up under McLennan arch under slightly windy and cold conditions. Based on the conditions I resigned myself to the fact I probably wouldn’t get a PB for the first time at an Atkins race. The race kicked off and I took the lead with a fairly speedy pace. I was hoping for a relatively easy race but ended up with Darran Muir running right on my shoulder and a group of what sounded like about 5 runners just behind, so I upped the pace a bit to try and open a gap but I was followed closely by Darran and I think Crispin Walsh. I felt myself starting to tire a little about 1/3 of the way through so I let Darran and Crispin through and followed up until just before the halfway turn where I overtook Crispin.

Feeling better for the slight rest I got running back in 3rd, after the turn I decided to overtake Darran and try to build a gap. I speeded up and overtook and he speeded up with me, however I steadily built the pace to open up a gap before easing off a little. I think I was about 5-10 metres ahead and every time I could hear Darran’s footsteps coming closer I speeded up to keep a decent gap.

Turning on to the finishing straight I was feeling pretty shattered but I thought I’ve got to win one of these so kept up the effort. About 150 metres to go and with shouts of encouragement from Mark Johnston I picked up the pace for a bit of a sprint finish crossing the line in 9:40 for another PB and 1st place.

1st John Denovan 9:40
2nd Darran Muir 9:43
3rd Craig Mitchell 9:46

I’m happy to say this was my first ever win :-) and allowed me to take the winter series with a 3rd (9:52), 2nd (9:41) and 1st (9:40). The race certainly seems to be getting tougher with 4 runners all finishing in under 10 minutes so I sense the spring series, starting at the end of January is going to be a great little challenge.