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Gordon · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject: Pitlochry 10k

Three Harriers ran in this year's Pitlochry 10k - Tony, Cathy T and me. Angela and Fred were on the pre-entry list but no sign of them on the day. Apart from the poor final section of the race, it was an enjoyable run on a pleasant mild autumn day.

I don't have exact Harriers' times (bit irritated at finish, so forgot to stop my watch - see below) but Tony finished just ahead of me, both of us in 42 something, and Cathy ran 47 ish. We were all issued with chips, so chip times will follow at some point.

As well as putting the price up even further to £12.50 / 14.50 for entry on the day, perhaps to pay for the chips, the organisers had changed the final section of the race route.

Instead of running straight down the main street to a finish line outside Fishers Hotel we were directed down a side street to the right a few hundred metres before the hotel, and then by a rather convoluted series of roads and lanes that circled behind the hotel before ending with a sharp left turn back onto the pavement of the main road and the last 50 metres back towards the hotel. Those last 50 metres were between two narrow rows of metal barriers with projecting metal legs.

These changes may have been introduced to lengthen the race (?) or more likely in an attempt to keep the runners more safely away from traffic in the centre of Pitlochry.

However, from the tone of my description you may have guessed that I was not very impressed by the redesigned finish. Partly that's because at the final sharp left turn I went through a gap left for pedestrians, ended up on the wrong side of a barrier and had to go back, losing time and places, including being overtaken by Tony who I had just managed to pass!

I admit to some bias because of that (!) but all in all the final 200m of the race were pretty unsatisfactory. Two right-angled left turns in the space of 100 metres, gaps in the barriers through which pedestrians were crossing the race route, and cars crossing in and out of the hotel car park through a large gap in the barriers just a few metres before the finish line.

So the route redesign may be well-intended but it's not an improvement from this runner's perspective.

End of rant.

kaznicholl · Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 239

Oh dear, Gordon - bad day at the office!

Certainly doesn't sound the best and I think if I had just bust a gut to overtake someone I would be rather miffed to be overtaken again due to rubbish course design.

Still, 42 something is still an awesome 10k time for both you and Tony. Well done also to you, Cathy on your 47 something.

Rest well.

Kaz

tonyw · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 16

Quite agree with Gordon's comments about the finish - far too twisty and narrow. So narrow that even if Gordon hadn't gone slightly off piste, I might not have been able to overtake him with a final sprint in the last 50m.

I've had a bit of a play with some mapping software, and I reckon the redesigned finish added about 250m to the course, so the days of Pitlochry as a good course for PBs may be over.

tonyw · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 16

Published times and places are:
Tony Wayte 42.26 33rd
Gordon Morrison 42.28 34th
Cathy Tilbrook 48.20 80th

Winning time was 31.51

ian · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 115

Well done to all.

Maybe not the best finish, but at least they seem to have made an attempt at getting the distance right - surely we can't criticise the organisers for that? Embarassed

And does that mean any PBs on the old (potentially short) course are expunged? Very Happy

runningpix · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 211

I object!! Sad

It's my PB and I'm sticking with it!! I'm sure Phil T will agree!