Races

I enjoyed the races at the club championship on Saturday. The trails for the races while difficult for the runners are great for the spectators and the scenery is among the most spectacular I have seen at any course. The competition was good too with a lot of quality on show among the young athletes. The girls, led by Rachel, Roisin and Claire, all seemed good and only need more racing. Rachel made a wee mistake in not listening too hard to the marksman at the start (the marksman is the chap who describes the course to the runners and tells them to keep their toes behind the line) and misjudging her finish. All runners make these mistakes it is a question of limiting how many you make - she's young enough to learn and next week is after all more important than last week. I once fell out with a club official after the West District Championship in Bellahouston Park in a similar situation. It was an Under 17 Boys race and Phil Dolan ran well but John Tonner had a poor run to finish inside the first ten but out of the first five and one of the club officials went across to him while he was still dripping sweat and started an inquest on his performance. I just barged in and told him that immediately after the race wasn't the time for the post mortem - John knew he had not run well and was even more upset and annoyed than he was. I told him to leave it to tomorrow when they had both calmed down and it would be more productive. He didn't speak to me for a week or more. "You're no in your classroom the now, you know!" was one of the milder remarks!!!
In the Seniors Paul Carroll deserved his win and rarely have I seen such determination in a race: may in Scotland will run faster this year but none will run harder. Gary Dick and Ian Robertson both ran well and if Gary can get his knees back into a painfree condition he will be a real threat. Ian just needs more conditioning and racing, I think. Pamela was a worthy winner of the Ladies race from Marina and Kath who both ran steady races on a difficult course.
Roll on Saturday - Falkirk is not as difficult as our trail.