Now here is a novel idea, pick a race you fancy on a Friday night and then spend Saturday morning using public transport to get you there, easy enough I here you say, but what?, If you run for Pitreavie, stay in Edinburgh and your chosen race for the day is the Sinclair in Greenock. This is what Mr G Farquar does to add a little extra to his day. MMmm? … Well! It’s only £3.00p to enter and he is from Auld Reekie after all.

 

Mr Farquar had the last laugh though, finishing 2^nd overall and 1^st V50 in a class 34:35, a whole 6minutes ahead of yours truly 2^nd V50.

 

They are a nice bunch the Inverclyde AC lads (our cordial hosts) although a little strange, they wear St Mirren strips yet support Morton … and their clubhouse is a bungalow.??? Seemingly a little ducking and diving with a local house builder who had an eye on the land that their club hut was built on saw them the proud owners of a cosy little bungalow. It’s a bit of a Tardis mind, as inside it is fitted out as a clubroom with the necessary showers, toilets and kitchen. Totally Bijou.

 

So as you can imagine it was with slightly raised eyebrows that Andy pulled the car onto the paved driveway and up behind Stevie’s yellow 650.

 

And so to the race,

What a change from last weeks windless sweltering 25 degrees in Aberfoyle, Greenock was flexing her muscles, a 12 degree drop in temperature and a strong, cold and wet wind into the bargain. Robert Shaw, an Inverclyde stalwart, had given us a few pointers on the course and warned us that there was a bit of a hill in the middle? Oh Aye Bob thanks.

 

A watery sun had come out in sympathy as we bunched for warmth at the start, which is close to the old Ravencraig Hospital. Someone cracked a joke about a cycle-path but I didn’t get it, and we’re off.

This is an out and back with the first 4K sending you flying past IBM at a rush with a tail wind and a spur from the marshals. Turning sharp left at the water station saw us climbing upwards towards Cornalees. Although steep, the quiet country road was a welcome break from the speeding cars thrumming along the main carriageway. Some steady work saw me getting the better of Robert. That’ll teach him for his bit of a hill, I thought.

 

 Just before the turning point, Stevie Hards came whizzing by me in the opposite direction, Hards by name hard by nature, Stevie is one of those tough of the track types, always giving 100%, puffing along, a smile on his face, Thomas the Tank Engine on piecework.

 

Then it was my turn to round the marshal and catch my breath on the enjoyable downhill back to the main road. Everyone has their strategy, but if you ever run this race keep a good bit in reserve for the 4K back to the start. It is a constant slog all the way on a negative incline, which you can fail to realise on the way-out, and on this particular day, laced with a strong blow and cold driving rain. A real grueller.

 

I somehow managed to keep my end up all the way to the finish and was rewarded with a slightly more encouraging result than I’ve had as late.

 

Andy and I both had things on so we didn’t hang around to sample the home baking on show, so it was Ta Ta, see you next year. A well run race in friendly competition.

 

Oh! I nearly forgot that Andy won a spot prize. Stevie collected it for him

and passed it on to me for safe keeping. ?????