…Letters Straight From The Heart
Dear Glasgow City council,
I write to you in disgust after competing in today’s Freshnlo (Fresh And Low – Surely?) Great Scottish Run.
Whilst I was upset at the changes made to the course and thus, the general uphill nature of the run, I appreciate that the council’s Highways Agency are probably not the most competent in finishing work on time. I therefore accept that the course had to be changed due to circumstances outwith your control.
The real reason for my complaint occurred after I had completed the race. I dutifully handed over my chip and collected my medal, refreshments, and my goody-bag. However, imagine my disgust when I discovered that there was no Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer in my goody-bag. For years I have completed this event, safe in the knowledge that I would be suitably refueled by Tunnock’s finest, and yet here in 2008, NO WAFER!
Please ensure that myself and other competitors never have to face this extreme disappointment again.
Yours disappointedly,
pacepusher
P.S. You also measured the course incorrectly. It was in fact 13.2 miles, not the traditional Half-Marathon distance of 13.1 miles.
Or, as the old man himself started the race…
Dear Jim,
Can you fix it for me to have a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer in my Freshnlo Great Scottish Run goody-bag after all future races.
Please reply by mail. I don’t want to sit on your knee and breathe in your cigar smoke.
Now then, now then,
pacepusher
10:30 13.2(?) miles 1:35:06
1 7:33 2 7:19 3 7:00 4 7:15 5 7:26 6 7:29 7 7:29 8 7:35 9 7:07 10 7:01 11 6:52 12 6:46 13 7:00 .2 1:15 (6:12 pace) Average 7:12 min/miles
I decided to at least start with Crazyboy and see how close to marathon goal pace (7:15 ish) I could run. I stuck with him till about the 8 mile mark then pushed on strongly. My average pace was about right, but let’s face it, I was hardly evenly paced. Still, I finished well, felt strong throughout, and gained yet more confidence for Chicago.
Well done to all those that took part. A special mention for The Headless Chicken who ran the 10k in about 45 mins, then got himself to George Square to run the Half Marathon in 1 hour 37 mins – all in the name of charity! And also for Mrs pacepusher who set yet another PB!
Actually I’m thinking of starting a petition. Does anybody else feel that it is unacceptable to set a PB every time you run a race, regardless of training and/or preparation? It’s just soooooo unfair!
September 7, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Neal, I must admit that I get a bit irritated when I read people questioning the course length based on their own GPS. The Glasgow course is measured by an IAAF accredited course measurer, who works in accordance with the rules specified for measuring road race distances across the world. It needs to be, as the course is used for UK chamionship purposes and it is used as a selection race for internation competition. The most important of these rules is that the course is measured by the shortest possible route at all points – if it is possible to cut a corner the measurer will assume that everyone running will cut that corner. It is almost impossible to imagine that you will have run the shortest possible route, so in big races like this I would always expect your GPS to show a longer distance than that officially measured. In fact if your GPS had shown a distance of only 13.1 miles I would have been astonished. Ian
September 7, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Meant to say that my grumpy reply was nothing to do with the fact you finished 7 seconds in front of me
I was with the Headless Chicken for long stretches but I didn’t see him after 9 miles or so. I’m surprised I didn’t see you, but guess you must have started a bit behind and crossed the line just behind me, albeit with a faster chip time?
September 7, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Dear pacepusher
Glasgow City Council doesn’t organise the event, doesn’t run a Highways Agency and probably doesn’t have anything to do with how Freshnlo want to spell the name of their milk.
Now stop moaning or I’ll fix it for you to have to dress up as the Duchess and live in my cupboard.
Love
Jimmy
P.s I ate your wafer.
September 7, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Firstly Jimmy, You have just confirmed all my thoughts about you! I was lucky, you only ate my wafer, what happened to all those others that you fixed it for?
Secondly Ian, I was just jesting at the length of the route. I have reached the conclusion that the GPS isn’t as reliable as most people believe. I now take the course distance as set – recording my times as per the GPS though. I’m actually considering not wearing the GPS in Chicago as it’s starting to irritate me during races anyway as it never measures as per the course, generally leaving you with more than the 1 mile you thought you only had left! …good luck next week, we’ll see you in Perth!
September 7, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Neal I have done that race 9x so far and I believe that caramel wafel was always there! And I always ate it with the utmost delight. Today when I searched the “goody bag” I was just as dissapointed. Silke also complaint about the missing caramel bar.
Re your petition I am not allowed to comment on that. Silke produced a PB too today…
Looks like you (both) are in good shape for Chicago.
September 9, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I am a very slow runner who persists in running races anyway. Having not run a race for a year and a half for various reasons I decided to enter into the 10k and run it SLOW! Which I did. I had a great day and have definitely got the running bug again. Hopefully next year I’ll be back to the half. I was mightly disappointed at not having the caramel wafer in my bag at the end. We ended up sitting in gridlock in High Street car park for 1 hour 15 mins trying to get home (A HUGE DISGRACE THAT I WILL BE WRITING A COMPLAINT ABOUT) and all I had to eat was some stodgy granola bar. Bring back the wafer!
September 10, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Neal, if you are unhappy with the distances then I have a trundle WheEL which you are quite weLcome to borrow & run with in your next race.
RegarDs,
Max.
P.S. Believe it Or not but TunNocks Caramel Wafers arE actually sold in shops.