Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers ::Road Racing and Cross Country::

Again, slanted towards my own experience.
For the 4th time in 5 years, the venue for the West District Cross Country Championships was the Royal Academy in Irvine though the course itself was altered enough to present a different challenge. However, variety is the spice of life. A change in location in 2010 wouldn't go amiss. As far as cross country courses go, it is not too bad. The wind and rain stayed away and there were only a few puddles to contend with.
I arrived with the combined under 15 and 17 girls/women race in progress. The place was a good bit busier than a fortnight before (weekend of the Lanarkshire races) when I popped down for a training session on the course. Back then, my car was the only one in the field and my sole company came from the local seagulls. It was pleasing to note the performances of Cambuslang's younger athletes, such as the under 13 girls 8th team placing, 4th for the under 13 boys and the under 15 team of Ryan Thomson, Matthew McKenna and Ross Stephen taking bronze.
Getting a chance to spectate, either Garscube's senior ladies thought the race was a handicap or they lost track of time. Either way, they missed the start. They finished 6th team. What would they have done if they started on the gun? I also saw under 17 Jack Hamilton's excellent silver medal winning run. Having trained with him, I'm not surprised but you still have to go out and do it so well deserved.
As for the senior race, I had seen Morag MacLarty at Gateshead refuse to let Stephanie Twell have it all her own way, tracking her for up to half the race before fading to 11th. I decided to adopt the same tactic, get close to the front and see how it went. For about 2 miles, it was okay, for the next 4, it was a case of holding on to as high a position as possible. I know the approach may have raised a few eyebrows but hey, never up, never there, worth a try. We packed together pretty well to take bronze team medals thanks to Robert Gilroy (11th), John MacNamara (15th), Kerry Wilson (16th), myself (21st), Andrew Coulter (25th) and Gordon Robertson (45th). Also doing their bit to muscle out the odd potential counter from other teams were Andy Steven (53rd), Colin Feechan (68th), John McPake (114th) and David Fairweather (130th).
Quite a good day for the club and for me personally in three ways. One, my highest ever placing in this race, two, my first ever District or National team medal and three, taking a few new scalps along the way. I don't mind the sore legs so much in those circumstances.