Success at the Great Scottish Run

So... not quite a 10k personal best - but very close: 53 minutes 53 seconds.

Obviously it would have been nice to set a new PB, but even though the time was slightly slower than my Hong Kong run last year I think this was probably a better run. I paced myself really well, and the Glasgow course was more hilly than the Hong Kong one, especially at the start. And I managed a negative split and a "sprint finish" - when I got to the 5 mile mark I realised I'd have to really motor for a PB and I gave it a good shot, covering the last 1.2 miles at 8:02 minutes/mile pace. I should have maybe gone a little harder earlier on but it's easy to say that with hindsight.

Overall the race was a real pleasure - well organised, easy to park near the start; lots of toilets; four starting waves giving plenty of space to run, aside for one or two small areas; enthusiastic and friendly support, and, surprisingly for Glasgow, a perfect day - 14 degrees, cool breeze and some early autumn sunshine. Perhaps the only fault I could find was the lack of distance markers - I only spotted two: a sign at 1 mile and a couple of guys with "3" and "K" on their T-shirts.

The course started on George Square and after a short level section climbed for around half a mile up St Vincent Street. Having set off conservatively I was overtaken by loads of people but by the top of the hill I had caught up with many of them, and used the gradient on the other side to gain some of the lost time, completing the first mile in 9:12.

Having crossed the M8 and turned off Argyle Street the route continued downhill on Finnieston Street allowing me to speed up a little, although there was soon another small climb up onto the Kingston Bridge: 2nd mile at 8:47 pace. A great experience to be able to run over a motorway bridge which I've driven over (or been stationary on in traffic) so many times.

Down the other side of the bridge and past Scotland Street school and West Street underground station, the next mile was mostly downhill or level allowing me to speed up further to 8:24 pace. The next couple of miles around the suburban streets of the south side were mostly level but with one short uphill stretch at around mile 4, and I reached the 5 mile point in 43:53.



By my calculations at this point I reckoned a PB of faster than 53:33 was beyond me, but I gave it my best shot, lengthened my stride and with the help of the gradient down through the Gorbals I crossed the river and turned towards Glasgow Green still with some hope.



However the line was just a little too far away and I crossed in 53:53.

My brother had beaten me to the finish but unfortunately not in the way he would have wanted - he walked there having dropped out at around half way with painful calves. I think he'd just been unable to do enough training in the last few weeks. A shame since he's capable of running sub 55 minutes.



We then walked back towards George Square and arrived there just in time to see the start of the Half Marathon at 11am - an impressive sight watching more than 11 000 runners setting off up St Vincent's Street.

So, overall I'm very happy with my run and I think it sets me up well for a good half marathon at the New Forest in 3 weeks' time.