For me this is a great event. Local race, local running club and lots of great supporters/volunteers on the course. Whats not to like about it. Growing up in Dyce I have run the railway line many times and know the route quite well, but like most places in Aberdeen it has been altered due to the AWPR.
The weather was great for running – not too hot and a slight breeze, but nothing significant to blame for the outcomes of the race. Starting in the Pitmedden playing fields, after the race briefing, and we are off.
One lap of the playing fields and we head onto the railway line. It starts off a little downhill which is a great feeling to start on a downhill but keeping the pace in check is so important for a half marathon. Over the first two bridges and it wasn’t long until the first route change, a couple of sharp u-turns on loose gravel changed the terrain up enough to ensure concentration was important. Returning onto the trail – we headed back out hitting the first water stop around mile 3-4 – great support here and it always makes you run that little faster when there are supporters.
The only really technical aspect of the run comes at the road crossing, steep down, high-five Phil Mann, back up the other side. The out and back race is slightly up hill on the way out taking in views of Goval, Kingseat, Newmachar and Swailend…peaceful and serene – aptly named race.
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The next water station at 7 miles roughly we were met with dance music high fives and if you were lucky a seamless transition of a water bottle. The guys really helped to motivate at a tough part of the race. I always find out and backs so tough, but today being able to encourage the other runners as they pass was brilliant as the majority of them were local and well kint faces.
Halfway turn and some cracking pictures, now repeat in reverse taking in views of Aberdeen skyline, Dyce and the new AWPR as it snakes across the countryside. Back through all the water stations and the great support once more, this time down hill which helped increase the pace a little bit. There was an added bonus of a little kitten on the route which didn’t seem phased by the runners running past just carried on with his / her daily walk.
Completing the race on an up hill is mentally tough but knowing the finish line is close definitely helps….once round the running track to the loud cheers always makes you feel like an olympian and I sometimes wonder if I could run faster if I just had thousands of folk shouting the whole way round.
For me it was a lovely run, tough physically, not my finest performance but a grit your teeth and complete it day. What I lacked in performance, the love and support from the volunteers certainly more than made up for. Finishing to a banana, mars bar, Fierce Beer and a medal…what more could you ask for.
A lovely day with some lovely people, thanks for all those that volunteer…allowing us to run we are so very grateful…and to all the organisers and race director i raise my Crannachan Killer to you.
HWI – Lairig Ghru Marathon (27miles)
HWI – Coast 2 Coast – Banchory to Potarch
Thanks for reading
Run Long and Prosper
James
