A Stark Contrast

Another South By Five race weekend and another new route. Some sort of “artic bomb” as the click bait press would call it, led to a very late change to the route last year. The snow and ice lending a seasonal magic atmosphere to the race, with declarations of the route being better than the standard route.

At nearly three laps, it was a bit too lappy for Alex, so he set about taking the best bits and combining them into a new route.

The new route is totally flat and features no mud designed especially for Ayr Seaforth’s Laura Wallace, who unfortunately couldn’t make the event and see the course she inspired! Maybe next year….

In stark contrast to last year, the weather was unseasonably mild in the run up to the race with some heavy showers giving a promise of a meadow surface being greasy and prone to slipping. It also left some very soggy marshals!

Another stark contrast (to Laura), Glenpark Harrier Nathalie Smith claims she didn’t enter this year’s series due to the lack of mud! You can all blame her for Pollok Park!

Sticking with the stark contrasts…Unlike Linn Park there was no fallen trees to clear to ensure the route was runnable, which came as a relief to the race team! The last thing we needed was another last second new route!

The race

New route, same old start. Uphill! No complaints as you all love the downhill finish.

Some added woodland trail bits and the lovely mid-meadow dip on top of the core trail path, a visit to the river and some steps and a grassy meadow meant that this route is very multi-terrain and once again showcases the park well.

Participants were full of praise and compliments for the new route after they crossed the finish line. Taking a leaf from John H Roach last year, each race is becoming the “new favourite”. Going to be hard to keep that going. Maybe mince pies and mulled wine will convince folk that Pollok Park is their new favourite in the series.

Battles

The front two were neck and neck for the entire race, with Ruan pipping Callum with an awesome sprint finish. The Fife AC runner and the Bellahouston Harrier battling hard throughout the series so far and making for an interesting spectacle.

South By Five debutante Oliver Traynor (Giffnock North) completed the top three and is set to return for race four after promises of a flatter route!

Top three females becoming familiar faces on the podium Bellahouston Harriers Karen McQuarrie once again leading home Lindsay Branston and Ruth Harrison.

Throughout the field the wee head to heads are starting to pop up. Folk seeing their nemesis from the previous race and determined to beat them this time out. Many of the nemeses don’t even know they are a target for someone!

Full results available at:

https://southbyfive.run/races/2024/race/rouken-glen-2024/

Another Stark Contrast

Sticking with a theme, Richard Stark, the men’s V60 West Highland Way Race record holder is taking part in the contrasting 5k distance. What an achievement!

He even found time to play a quick game of fetch with the marshalling Jim The Dog who was singing in the rain on the meadow supporting the runners with RD Alex.

ReShoes

We continue to collect your pre-loved trainers to donate to ShoeShareMalawi. We recently received a thank you card from Malawi for previous donations.

Food bank

Thank you for your kind donations to the food bank. As the race took place in Rouken Glen we decided this year to donate them to the East Renfrewshire Larder.

Thanks

Our marshals got soggy, but their enthusiasm was not dampened! Well done and huge thanks to:

Lynn Connor, Cedric Moreaux, Dorothy Buchanan, Karis McDermott and Skye, Garry Smith, C and H, Mairi Milmore with the cow bell kids – Beth, Patrick and Dominic, Zuzana Rencova, Phil Knight and Barney, Claire Taylor, Magda Thomas, Angus Robinson, Sheila Murray, Sam Hampton-Smith and Bram and Mazikeen, Imaan with Marwa, Callum Wallace, Lukasz Pudlow

Paparazzi

George Wilson, Ian Cochrane, Laura Lennon, Blythe Lindsay, Kev Queenan

Photos can be found on the Acorn Trails Facebook page and the Acorn Trails Pinboard Facebook group.

Next up…

We head off to Pollok Park for the next installment of the South By Five series on December 15th.

Entries are also open for the Castlemilk Trail Race on February 16th. Click here for details