Front Page | News | Sports | Features | Voice Mail | Odds N' Sods

This Week | Previous Weeks

• Share Options
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

10k of pain and pleasure

Report of the Ormidale-sponsored 10k race last Sunday.

Written by Nick Underdown
Friday, 27 April 2007

2,562 views   0 comments


Running non-stop in drizzle for ten kilometres isn't everyone’s idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon. But the turn-out for last weekend’s Ormidale-sponsored 10k run suggested that fringe passions are alive and running. Of the 42 runners, some pretty speedy contenders had made the trip from the mainland and one was from New Zealand.

It was a muggy day but as the field set off a fine mist cooled the legs, before the lactic acid started to have its way. Running in the middle of the field, it didn’t seem that many people were actually enjoying the race, but many a runner has spoken of the masochistic pleasure that flows from jogging through a stitch.

The runners left the Ormidale pavilion at 12pm and just 33 minutes and one second later Kerry Wilson was back again after having run the 10k route along the shore road to a checkpoint past the castle entrance. It was a seriously bionic performance from the steely-faced Girvan Athletic Club amateur who clocked the winning time. ‘I didn’t want to be one of those unfit dads,’ he explained. With a personal best of 32m 23s, Kerry has two sons aged 6 and 11 and he trains by running 70 miles per week. Having been running for 3-4 years he now runs 30 races a year, tackling any distance, including marathons.

Bill Kenny, the oldest contender in the race, came in at just over 52 minutes. Having emigrated to Dunedin 35 years ago, he is travelling round the world to do all the Master Championships and catch up with his family. His next race was to be the Scottish Championship at Grangemouth, after which he’ll go to America and finally Australia. A diabetic with a pacemaker, the 70 year-old was a beacon to the potential of an ageing body.

There was a good showing from the island too, with Whiting Bay’s Nicky Emsley crossing the line after only 37m 2s and the Ormidale’s Tommy Gilmore cruising home with an effortless 45m 8s. Blackwaterfoot’s Kirsty Barton was the second ladies runner to finish with a time of 48m 12s. There was no overtly competitive atmosphere on the route, with most grimacing racers seeming to battling only against themselves. Zoe Dickinson, whose parents holiday in Lamlash, crossed the line a couple of minutes before her father. ‘There’s not much rivalry between us. He’s very proud of me,' said Zoe as her dad jokingly made vomiting gestures.

For the organisers, the route was a great practice run for the Scottish Co-op Goatfell race which is coming up on the 19th of May. Paul Emsley is expecting around 200 entrants this year and would welcome any volunteer stewards.

A slideshow of the race, including every competitor, can be found on www.arranonline.com

To add your own comments, you must be a registered member of The Arran Voice.
LOG-IN or Register FREE!