Loch Katrine 12K, 27th March 2005

I managed to persuade Hamilton to come and join Grimorr & me at the Loch Katrine 12K, a local venture set up to raise funds for a new village hall at Brig O’ Turk. From the number of 4×4’s in the vicinity and the apparent accents of the organisers, I guess that social deprivation isn’t the main driver for a new village hall, but this is a minor quibble at a good wee race.

Grimorr nearly got himself disqualified before the start. The two women at registration were just a tad non-plussed when oor Grim, on receiving his number, 88, turned with a twinkle in his eye and exclaimed, “oh look, two fat ladies!”

The race itself is on tarmac and undulates 6km along the loch before returning along the same route. Weather was a bit dreich, but the 200 odd runners were in fine form. Hamilton sped off in front whilst I, thinking about my recent calf injury, kept in site of old Yellow Bobble Hat Orr for the first few kilometres. After a while I got fed up being passed by joggers with beeping heart monitors and 10-too-many-layers on and started moving through the field. At half-way, I was 15 places behind Hamilton. On the return section I got into my stride, but never seriously threatened the unmistakable dayglo yellow top of Mr Semple (somebody for pete’s sake get him a vest, please?) Grimmor meanshile, finished a few minutes behind, yellow bunnet still firmly on his napper; appropriately I suppose it made him look like an Easter chick.

So, a good race. But how about making it even better by running it all 13 miles from the pier round to Stronachlacher, with buses organised to take everyone back to the start. Now that would be a cracker of a race.

30 Hamilton 50:03

35 Dave 50:43

?? Graeme 56:01