Challenging weather conditions were to be expected after 24 hours of very heavy rain across Grampian. The forecast was for the rain to continue relentlessly all the way through the race which was scheduled to start at 7 pm.
However, at around 6.30 pm the rain let up and stopped allowing 256 of us to line up dry. Drizzle returned but the deluge didn’t resume until I’d finished my run so the refreshing drizzle allowed me to stay cool.
The Nucore Metro Aberdeen Beach 10k Fun Run was pre-entry only so I’d paid my money already and the weather conditions weren’t going to put me off. I did however wonder if I was mad for even considering running in those conditions. None of us were quite as nuts as the 20 or so surfers just off the beach having fun getting the waves. Normally you can see the boats offshore at Aberdeen but they were just shadows in the murk of the bay.
Registration was at the Beach Leisure Centre before the run. The route goes north on the top prom and turns back all the way to Footdee on the bottom prom (5k point). There then follows a run into the wind all the way back up the top prom again and the last 1.5k on the bottom prom to the finish. There was a bit of wind but the high winds didn’t come until 10pm. Water bottles were provided at about 6k or so and also at the end.
The conditions were murky and drizzly but the worst of the rain held off. I set off further back than I normally do then fell in behind a runner I knew to be a minute or two faster than me.
For the first time in a while I didn’t really pay much a attention to my watch and just went for it. I reached 5k in just over 20 mins so was on for a good time if I could keep it going. The second half was two thirds into the wind so I slowed up for the next 3k but managed to find something in the last leg to finish in 41:13. This was 1 min and 7 secs faster than my previous best from Feb this year.
Michael O’Donnell from Inverness Harriers was first in 32:47. Nicola Gauld from Aberdeen AAC and Fiona Brian from Metro Aberdeen both finished in 35:20. Nicola Gauld has been placed first in the results table.
Left over goodie bags from the Baker Hughes 10k were dished out at the end containing chocolate milk, protein nuts, a creamy protein snack and rainbow drops.
Report by: Chris Smith