Pitlochry 10k

Cheers and big smiles all round at the Pitlochry 10k. My great friend Marina won a prize for 3rd lady vet with a time of 44.12. We had planned it as a hard fast training run so the prize was a real bonus -- well done Marina !!! Great wee race attracting a field of 340 -- well organised, good if basic, changing and shower facilities and free grub afterwards for all the runners -- you can't beat that. My own race did not go exactly according to plan. A stupid oversight meant that I had to stop and retie my shoelaces losing me about twenty odd seconds but apart from that I ran strongly and comfortably. I am trying to use visualisation to help me psychologically and it seems to work. I visualised myself running easily, fast and comfortably with good breathing and strong legs -- and essentially I did -- finishing in 45.12. We can both probably knock off the 12 seconds as we started quite far back and took that time to pass the finish line. A bonus for me in that my old pal John Swinney MSP started the race -- nice to get a chat with John and his wife Elizabeth afterwards. Out tonight with Anne Murray and big Stewart from the Clydesdale Harriers for a 90 minute training run. I did think of ducking out but I feel well up for it..
PS Highlight of the race for me, apart from Marina's prize, was chatting to another veteran for part of the way. " We're doing no bad for a couple of older guys, " says I. " How old are you, " says he. " 52 " says I. " I'm 68, " he replies. He finished seconds behind me !!! Now that's inspiration.
PPS As is probably obvious from the above report I could have run a bit faster on the day -- next time !!!
PPPS Late update on the Berlin Marathon -- my other big mate Stevie finished in around 3.22 -- well done Stevie to overcome injury and loss of training to get such a great time