When Bill and I left Penicuik on Sunday morning the sun was out,
it wasn’t too cold and it was almost Spring-like. When we got to
Whitesands beach a few miles to the south of Dunbar (beside the
architectural masterpiece that is the Cement Works) it had
clouded over a bit and there was a brisk northerly wind, but still
warm compared to what we have been used to.
The course was a new one due to some orienteering event at the
John Muir Country Park (probably needing the forest) but it was a
similar mixture of sand, seaweed and tracks with very little mud
or wet bits. In fact it was quite excellent apart from the lack
of hills. Although Bill was bemoaning the fact that there were no
icy burns to slosh through, no walls to vault and no muddy fields.
It was probably just over the 4 miles and I came home in 26th place
in 27:09 and Bill was 88th in 44:03, beating Mike Pearson and a couple
of ladies with an astonishing sprint finish. We didn’t hang around
for the Prize Giving as neither of us had done the required 3 rounds,
but we nonetheless drove home feeling quite achieved.
Duncan Ball.
I agree with Duncan, a good course which would have benefitted from a couple of steep hills; but beaches don’t have steep hills. However, it was an enjoyable run round a well marked and marshalled course though I nearly went off in the wrong direction near the finish. But thanks to a couple of lady runners giving me a shout I got back on track.