River Tay Dash, March 29 2013

13 hardy souls braved the bitter cold night to race the 5km dash alongside the River Tay at Birnam.  This was my first time racing here so I had no clear idea of where the route would take us.  I feared I’d still get lost despite race organiser Adrian Davis’s very descriptive pre-race brief of every twist and turn the route would take and its waymarks such as the smelly sewage tanks and ploughed field!  A little off putting perhaps for those wearing their favourite new shoes! However all was good, there was a grassy verge in the field and no-one plunged to their death down any of the dark holes where the river bank had fallen away.  So the race begins, I set off at a strong pace determined to maintain it and my lead on those I’d left behind.  The winner was Will Hensman from Central AC in 17:58 and I was the first lady home.  Although only a small field I was thrilled with my time of 22:17.  After the race it was back to Birnam Guest House for cups of tea, yummy soup and flapjack and of course the race de-brief with old and new chums.

Sarah