Wee Joe's Fifth Glasgow Five

13 NOV2009

Joe Chambers ran in the recent Glasgow University 5 Mile road race. We asked the 25 year old Springburn Harrier to share his experience with www.scottishrunningguide.com

"It was that time of the year again; time to compete in my fifth Glasgow University Hares & Hounds 5 Mile road race in the last eight years. Where did this year go? It seemed like only yesterday when I was last here. When I left my house in Royston conditions seemed perfect more or less. It was dry, the sky was clear and it was coldish with no wind. On the short train trip to Maryhill I noticed that the sky was darker and cloudier, I thought the rain could come pouring down at any minute. Fortunately it stayed off.

I arrived at the Garscube Estate and went into the sports complex to register for the race and then get changed. After chatting to a few folk and hanging around for a bit I met club mate Eddie Dickson. We then went outside for a warm up jog along the path, over the bridge and up to the vet clinic place before turning back. Shortly after, we jogged back up to the start waiting to go. I started back further back this year and I didn't want to make the mistake of going off to fast. I am not too fit at the moment so my aim today was just to get round the course.

The race started and I was just plodding along nice and easy in the first half mile or so up to the gate then everyone stopped for a bit while all the 227 competitors had to get through the three foot wide gate. I smiled as I observed the other runners frantically looking at their watches, as they were losing vital seconds, as if their life depended on it but I wasn't giving a hoot. After the first mile along Temple Road I picked up the pace slightly and got into my rhythm. The pace quickened in the final mile going down Dawsholm Road when one of my running mentors Bobby Young (Clydesdale Harriers) was at my back. This brought back memories of 2004 when I, Bobby and Bryan Burnett (Bellahouston Road Runners) had a good race between each other in the final mile back on the old course.

I finished in 89th place in (32:23), 11 seconds quicker than last year. Bobby was one place behind in (32:24). I enjoyed the run and I'm pleased that I didn't set off too fast."