Kirkcudbright Half Marathon
My in laws live in the small Scottish fishing town of Kirkcudbright and I’ve been aware of the running weekend for a number of years having cheered on a cousin years ago. When my mother in law sent me the link to this years event, which happened to be on bank holiday weekend and I realised that we hadn’t been up in while, we planned a trip. However with the annual MAC awards evening taking place the night before, and with my other half David getting a prize, it would now mean a very late drive up. I was secretly hoping that the several texts I sent to David during the evening telling him to stay, enjoy himself and not to rush would mean such a late night would remedy taking part impossible. Alas this tactic didn’t work.
We arrived in Scotland around 2am and made it down into town for the thankfully later start time of 11am, albeit a little bleary eyed. I knew nothing about the course and having not raced on the road since September last year, had very little expectations. The event also has a junior race and a shorter 5 mile option. With fairground rides, stalls, smiley marshals and even a mobile sauna at race HQ in the local park, it had a nice atmosphere. It seemed a predominantly male field and I felt somewhat diminutive surrounded by an army of tall, burly Scottish blokes at the start line. Several of whom were already shirtless having partaken of a pre race sauna.
The route was really tough with a mile and a half along the River Dee estuary being battered by wind and then another 4 miles of ascent on small lanes as we made a turn inland. By half way I was struggling with my breathing and starting to doubt my ability to finish. I was determined to keep with the group of chaps I had been following since the start so I snuck in a 20 second walk, a drag on my inhaler and gave myself a talking to. A brief respite of a mile or so of descent followed, giving my lungs a break. I was able to stretch out, overtaking two local female club runners, the only other ladies I’d seen since the start. Here I started making some progress and then up we went again, with a hard slog of ascent for another couple of miles on lovely tree lined roads and bridleways. I picked off the group I’d been following and one chap who had stuck with me said when we got to the top, “you’ve got me lass, I cannae keep wi’ yee, go get em” as he stopped for a walk.
The final mile or so was down hill and I caught up with another 3 gents. With half a mile to go I kicked for home and over took them. As I entered the final hundred yards I felt someone behind me and the spectators gave a big cheer. Having not been overtaken since the start I wasn’t about to let it happen now so I sprinted for the line and held the guy off. I was knackered.
When David said he thought I was top 10, I assumed he was just being kind. Turns out I came 7th lady in 1.49, 40th/131 overall and first MAC 😉 Our son Fraser, also managed a 3rd place finish in the junior event. This race definitely taught me the benefits gained by knowing a course, I hope to return in the future a little wiser and hopefully more rested! No MAC vest as my hasty packing meant I couldn’t find it. Now found in a washing pile rivalling the height of Everest 🫣
If anyone ever ventures north of the border, worth checking out.
https://www.whatsmytimeresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=17047&RId=6345&EId=2&dt=0
