After 10 weeks of training and it time for the big day. The Great Scottish Run was on. I had prepared the night before by pinning my number, 21332 to the front of my Ceridian Payback Foundation T-Shirt and taping it down with black tape.
I was up till midnight making final preparations, checking parking, checking the route, setting my alarms and I was starting to feel nervous.
I got up early next morning. The Korean Grand Prix was on at 7, so this gave me just the right up time to get set for the day. Had some porridge around 8 and started to get myself into a bit of a fluster in anticipation of the race.
T-Shirt On, Number on, bag backed for afterwards, got myself well hydrated and started warming up in the front room. We drove to just past the Glasgow Barrowlands. It was market day but parking is free on a Sunday. I managed to get a space and walked up through the merchant city and on to George Square. I had the good lady, Olga Misneva, with me and her Mum, Anastasia, who where going to see me off and make their way down to the finish line. I met Clyde, the Commonwealth 2014 Mascot on the way so got a few pics ready for the race.
Made my way to the start line. I was in the Green Wave so the queue was forming just past the Square but I was up near the front. Looking round at all the people, the commentators and the atmosphere, I didn't feel nervous any more. It was just past 9am so there was plenty of time to look out for my colleagues who were running the race too.
At about 9:05, I met up with Ross Moffat, who had also been training for the 10k and was raising money for the charity. We were chatting away and getting ready for the warm up when he looked down and asked me - where is your race chip?
Looking down at my shoes my heart sank and fell into them. I had forgotten to attach it!!!!! Panic mode set it and I was trying frantically to call Olga but she was not answering. My only hope was to go to the information point and ask for a replacement but I was jammed in with the thousands of runners who were about to start their warm up.
I realised quite quickly that I was not going to get out without jumping the fence, so this I did and had to cut through the opposite flow of runners who were joining the back. I was really starting to panic. I eventually managed to find the information point, but there was a queue. Checking my phone, it was 9:15 and I could hear the warm up starting behind me. All I could think of was, I hope that I can get a replacement. I had no money on me as it was all with Olga and I was really getting worked up. Luckily though, I managed to get to the front of the queue by about 9:25. No problem sir, they said and promptly issued me with a new number, chip and safety pins.
Great, just enough time to get back. at 9:30, the race would start, with the Green Wave at 09:38. I had to cut through the White wave to get back to Ross, who was waiting patiently for me. I jumped the fence again to get back in line and Ross helped me quickly get numbered up. The race had now started and I was still fastening my chip!
Anyway, as luck would have it, the Green wave was delayed so I still had plenty of time to settle down again and get my Tunes on and Map My Run set up. New number for the race was 9897. This was a 1/2 Marathon number but the girl reassured me that it was registered for the 10k. Race on!
So it all started rather well. A bit of a jostle at the start to get position but the first kilometre is all up hill on St. Vincent Street. I was getting a bit frustrated with people who could not make it up and had started to walk. The whole point of declaring a time to do this in was to ensure that you did not slow people down. These walkers should have been in the pink wave and I was not impressed at all but I pressed on.
A bag piper at KM1 and I was at the top of the hill and feeling good about it. The first KM had been a disappointing 06:42 but I had started logging the run while I was still in the queue and the initial dodging about to get position compiled with the first uphill, did not leave me too disheartened. The challenge was on to get the 60 min 10k done.
I started just behind a 60 min pacer and passed her at the top of the hill. I had it in my mind that if I kept her behind me, I would be on target. We approached PC World and took a left down to the expressway, I could see another 60 min pacer at 2 KM. 05:17 was the time so I knew that I would pass him. Turning right onto the expressway as the Scottish drummers pounded (nice work guys!), it was a slight uphill to get on to the carriageway and I rattled past the pacer.
3km (05:24): I am making good time and hoping that I could maintain it. I was now within the 18:00 that I needed to be under for the 60min target and was confident and in my stride at this point. The road is closed towards the City but still open outbound. Almost every other car that passed would beep its horn in encouragement - thanks for that folks, it is amazing how much that helps!
Looking across the road, I could see the White wave passing the 5km marker as they headed for the SECC but my more immediate challenge was the uphill slip road to get to the Riverside (transport) Museum. Head down and attack it was the strategy as I was quite sure that this would be the last uphill on the run. 4k (05:57) at the top of the slip road and I am now conscious that I am at the 6min per km mark so slowing down a bit but still on target for now.
A run around the new Transport Museum and the Tall Ship gets me to the 5km (05:44) marker and another piper. Its a nice down hill and I know that am still under the 6 mins so its all good - just got to keep the pace up. Its at this point that I realise that the 60 min pacer who I passed at 3km is now in front of me, which has got me a bit concerned. This is either someone who looks very similar to the last one or he has cut the Transport Museum out. All sorts of stuff going on in my head now about my confidence in getting in on time.
I get to the water station at 5.5km and grab a bottle on the way past. Only a couple of seconds delayed, I take a couple of swigs to refresh myself and toss the bottle onto the grass. Seemed like a bit of a waste but the drink was welcome (thank you Strathmore!). I can refocus again and see that the 60 min pacer is still in front of me. Strategy now is to try and keep up with him till the last km and see if I can push past.
A run around the new Transport Museum and the Tall Ship gets me to the 5km (05:44) marker and another piper. Its a nice down hill and I know that am still under the 6 mins so its all good - just got to keep the pace up. Its at this point that I realise that the 60 min pacer who I passed at 3km is now in front of me, which has got me a bit concerned. This is either someone who looks very similar to the last one or he has cut the Transport Museum out. All sorts of stuff going on in my head now about my confidence in getting in on time.
I get to the water station at 5.5km and grab a bottle on the way past. Only a couple of seconds delayed, I take a couple of swigs to refresh myself and toss the bottle onto the grass. Seemed like a bit of a waste but the drink was welcome (thank you Strathmore!). I can refocus again and see that the 60 min pacer is still in front of me. Strategy now is to try and keep up with him till the last km and see if I can push past.
6km (06:08) and the pace is still good even if just a tad over. I am now past the SECC and getting to the new Hydro building. This area of the city is architecturally magnificent I have to say so I make my way to the squinty bridge (Clyde Arc for the non locals!). Just over the squinty bridge and I can see the 60 min pacer is passing me one other side - I'm now sure he cut at the museum and the temptation was there to cut in behind him but by my integrity checked in and I made my way up to the 7k (05:56) mark.
Back over the bridge then and down to Lancefield Quay. I can remember thinking that I was feeling a little bit hot at this point and just happened to look up and there approx 150m ahead was a shower (ya beauty!!!). A lovely refreshing dose of cool water and its suddenly 8km (05:50). This time is great and I am quite sure at this point that I can cruise in under the 60.
Under the Kingston Bridge and I am feeling really comfortable and good about myself. Kept it going along the Clyde to the 9km (06:12) mark and I am suddenly aware that this is now the furthest that I have ever run and I was feeling it. I could see the pacer in front of me and really wanted to push on to catch him, but I was running out of steam and was now more concerned about getting in under the 60 minutes. I was also now aware of the poor souls who were dropping out. A lady in tears at the George V bridge and a gent being attended to by the paramedics. All this in the last KM, I really felt it for them but I had to focus, I must be about 9.5km by now. The crowds were cheering us on as I entered Glasgow Green. Time to pick up the pace and bring it home but I am really spent and having to dig deeper than ever.
I look up and see the clock. Green Wave 59:40 so I stepped on it with everything I had and passed under it in 59:47! I did it for sure. Map My Run clocked me at 10k at the start of Glasgow Green in a 58:54 but the finish line was 59:47. I was thinking that the Green Wave clock would have started well before I crossed the start line, so given that my pace was over 6min/km I was expecting the official result to be a mid 59 but hey - I'll take it. I wanted under the 60 and it looks like I achieved it.
I caught up with Olga, Anastasia and some colleagues after the run. Ross was there with Bob Leiser and Katie Wilkie, who incidentally is the person who first put the notion into my head to do the 10k for payback! It was a great atmosphere but the guys needed to press on and by 11:20, it did not look like anyone else would show so I left to get back to the car and get home to watch the 1/2 Marathon and check out my official time.
I got home and logged in to find that the results were in. Anticipation killing me, I checked my number (9897) and it came back, not identified. Ok no problem, check the original number in case they cross matched it... 21332... not identified. Eeek! final chance was to look for my name so punched in Wright and scrolled down to Robert, found it under a different number but the official time was 1:00:44. I was absolutely gutted. How could this be? I definitely checked the Green Wave Clock, verified the Map My Run times and I was apparently well in the 60 min time, so I had a rant on Facebook and got some really encouraging support from my friends. I could still claim the hour I suppose and I managed the 10k, so it was time to take the positives and put the timings down to technical error.
Next day, though, I was not feeling good at all and the whole 60 min thing was really distracting me so I decided to log a challenge to the race organisers. I looked up my name again for the 10k to capture a screen shot (evidence!) and to my absolute astonishment, there were 2 Robert Wrights this time. Better still, the new one had my number against it and even better than that, the official time logged was 58:35. Getting excited, I had to check my photos for my race number and they matched!! Yeeeeehaaaa!!!
Next day, though, I was not feeling good at all and the whole 60 min thing was really distracting me so I decided to log a challenge to the race organisers. I looked up my name again for the 10k to capture a screen shot (evidence!) and to my absolute astonishment, there were 2 Robert Wrights this time. Better still, the new one had my number against it and even better than that, the official time logged was 58:35. Getting excited, I had to check my photos for my race number and they matched!! Yeeeeehaaaa!!!
I was so happy that I think I started to well up a bit. I was straight onto Facebook to announce this new development. So who knew? I have a namesake and he was in the same race as me and completed it in almost the same time. A bit of a twilight zone moment, I am sure you could agree but it just goes to show that the old cliche of to assume is to make an ass out of u and me it totally true. I assumed the different number was my new one but got it wrong, got myself into a right state about it and all I had to do was wait till the 1/2 marathon chip times got uploaded to the website to get my correct time!
Anyway, it has been a great experience and I am writing this on the Friday after the race. I have just signed up for my next 10k, the Movember 10k round Glasgow Green on November 9th so I will be looking get this done in under the 58:00!!!
Anyway, it has been a great experience and I am writing this on the Friday after the race. I have just signed up for my next 10k, the Movember 10k round Glasgow Green on November 9th so I will be looking get this done in under the 58:00!!!
