Running: On the run at East Kilbride

Jul 1 2009 by Susan Bryden, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

EAST Kilbride played host to more than 1,500 runners recently as it celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Diet Coke East Kilbride Half Marathon and 10k.

Seven athletes from Dumfries Harriers made the short trip north to take part in what has become one of Scotland’s biggest races.

Tosh McCaig, Helen Cameron, Elaine McMeikan, Alexa Pike and Colin McMeikan opted for the shorter 10k event, while Bob Mitchell and Steve Head choose to do a second lap of the course and race the full 13.1 mile half marathon.

Tosh McCaig surprised no one by being the first Harrier to complete the 10k course in a time of 39 minutes 21 seconds.

Tosh sets himself very high standards these days and was disappointed not to dip below the 39 minute mark; however, it later became clear just how well he had performed on the day when it was revealed that he had finished in 12th position in a field of 896 runners.

Colin McMeikan and Alexa Pike set off together in the 10k, both setting a good early pace.

Colin was a little wary of a muscle niggle he had picked up at the previous week’s Mabie Trail Race, but happily was untroubled by the injury and able to push on in the closing kilometres.

Finishing in 45 minutes 10 seconds, Colin was placed 68th in the race, just over four minutes in front of Alexa who was delighted to register a season’s best performance for the distance.

Elaine McMeikan and Helen Cameron joined forces to run the 10k together, hoping to reproduce some of the form they show in training each week.

Holding a steady pace and revelling in the atmosphere, the pair produced a superb top half of the field performance to finish in 57 minutes 16 seconds, 441st place.

Bob Mitchell and Steve Head decided to race in the half marathon at East Kilbride as the beginning of their preparations for bigger events this autumn.

Bob has set his sights firmly on October’s Dublin Marathon, while Steve will be taking part in both the Berlin and Florence marathons.

Starting the race together, Bob quickly established a faster pace and stretched out ahead, looking to achieve a new personal best time for the distance.

Working hard through to the finish, Bob achieved his objective, setting a new best time of one hour 45 minutes 26 seconds, which placed him 240th in a field of 631 runners.

Steve held on to an even pace throughout and was a little surprised to improve upon his season’s best performance by seven minutes and run his fastest half marathon for five years.

Crossing the line in one hour 41 minutes 40 seconds, Steve finished in 183rd position.

Dumfries Harriers are now busy preparing for their own event, The Gallovidian Dumfries 10k which takes place on September 1.

For details of how to enter the event and more information about Dumfries Harriers go to www.borderharriersdumfries.co.uk