Donkey Brae race 2005

To the two certainties, death and taxes, can perhaps be added “good weather for the Donkey Brae race”! This race is one of the highlights of the Festival in Aberdour, a picturesque town on the north bank of the Forth. The route is a fairly scenic 7 mile loop along the Fife Coastal Path. Competitors range from vets to fun-runners, with a few classy runners too. Into the last category came local star John Newsom, who won by some 3 minutes; among the also-rans were John’s dad Steve, who was my student some 30 years ago; myself, clad in my bionic Reebok carpet slippers; and warhorse-not-donkey Drew, who surprisingly hadn’t run this one before.

Young John led the motley pack off at a brisk pace. Panting in his wake, I had 2 aims: to break 50 minutes for the race, and perhaps to beat Steve in the process. Near the halfway turning point, both seemed possible, as I passed a group including Newsom Snr, but both he and the years caught up with me on the slow climb to the water station at 5 miles, and the nasty wee Donkey Brae at 6.5 miles. The finish has a cruel digital time display, which allows you to see the seconds tick by as you puff up to the finish! Missed that 50!

RESULTS:

John Newsom (Pitreavie) 35.13

M. Anderson (Corstorphine) 38.08

Also ran:

Grimorr (Westies) 50.15Drew Turnbull ( ” ) 56.??