I came across this race after straying off the SHR race calendar onto the Scottish Athletics website and fitted my criteria of an interesting but not too challenging nearby race that could be turned into a family day out. It was advertised as a multiterrain hilly 10 mile race and well organised by Dunbar Running Club. The main navigational challenge of the day was to find the Hallhill Sports Centre where the race started as it seemed the whole running club and their friends where marshalling the actual race. A small field of 38 set out in perfect running conditions and I was one of 4 Carnethies who entered along with Joanne Anderson, Pamela Whitlie and Craig O Donnell.
I disconcertingly found myself leading the way for the first 2km due to my usual start-line adrenaline which I would pay for later and the novelty of running on something flat. The race lived up to its billing and soon we were off tarmac on tracks, fields and country lanes winding our way up Doon Hill ( 177m ) and I found myself battling Megan Wright and Jon Rathjen of HBT as David Wright surged onto an unstoppable lead. I was hoping they might be road runners who would wilt as we hit a long gradual climb then fast off road descent but I couldn’t shake them off and they swept past me as we regained tarmac again at 10k stage and my fast start / lack of training started catching up. Great views of Dunbar and surrounding East Lothian countryside kept me going as the legs tired but a last ditch sprints on the running track to the finish meant I surpassed my expectations and finished in 1.07.51 and 6th male. HBT dominated the prices but Pam Whitlie picked up FV40 prize. Goodie bag and sandwiches in sports centre as well as a complimentary Belhaven Best at the finish.
Definitely a race I would recommend as it’s an interesting route with a bit of something for everyone in it – with only 200m climbing over 16km more of a trail race but good to give the knees a rest and have a speedy workout. Results here
Steve Best