Dechmont Law 10k Trail Race

Ran Dechmont Law 10k Trail Race today, well organised as usual, Lothian Running Club did a great job again, bonus it was only £4 to enter. It was a wee bit damp and drizzly, but the temperature was ideal for running. I decided to push it from the start, but soon realised after about 500m that there was no way I could sustain the pace, my legs started to really tire, possibly the after effects of the Black Rock 5 on Friday. I plodded on, started to tire even further on the hill towards the end of the 4k loop, managed to pick it up a bit through the woods at the start of the 6k loop, cheered on by an Alien in full regalia, I gave him the Vulcan salute , but soon started to slow down after the short sharp climb up the bridge over the M8 to the woods at the other side of the motorway, I must have lost at least 10 places at this stage, managed to pick it up a wee bit but started to stall a bit with 2k to go, then hit the bridge back over the M8, with it's short sharp steep hump, walked up it, thankfully there was a short downhill after that. Then 1k to go, although on the flat, I felt like I was running uphill, someone else passed me, the field was well spread out, so with the downhill section to the finish approaching, I though surely no one else will pass me, but I was wrong, I could not take advantage of the hill and with about 300m to go, yet another MSV went past me with ease, I did not have anything left in the tank to respond and he finished 9 secs ahead of me, where is my competitive instinct? Finished in 43:12 (49th place of 135 finishers). This was my best time for this race by 41 secs and nearly 3 mins quicker than I did the race last year, but was left feeling a bit disappointed as I know that I lacked that  determination to put up a better fight during the race not to drop so many places, bonus though, I managed to get a spot prize, so grabbed the last bottle of wine, so not too shabby a day. This is a gem of a race, tough but really well worth doing and great value for money. Our adopted CAACer Edel Mooney finished first lady in 11^th place in a time of 37:51, the race winner was Alan Ramage of Ronhill Cambuslang in 34:30.

http://www.lothianrunningclub.co.uk/results/2010/Dechmont10k2010.pdf