Hilly and hot – RGTR ’24 report and results

“Hilly and hot”, not exactly how we advertised this event. Especially the hot bit. You can’t really advertise an event in Scotland as hot. But with the thermometer tipping over 20° before the race finished, I think it’s safe enough to call it hot. For Scotland.

Now hilly is as relative as hot! If you spend your time running along the Clyde Walkway, Rouken Glen would definitely be called hilly. The race does take in some of the lowest parts of the park, and starts at it’s highest point. Guess that could be classed as hilly. One runner was heard to claim that the “whole race was uphill”!

So hilly and hot it was!

Year Three

Our third year of hosting the Rouken Glen Trail Race, and I think the best yet. Certainly in terms of the route and how glorious the park is looking.

The heat would suck away any chances of course records. There was a very fast start, and the downhill charge that followed. A beautiful mass stampede.

Cruising past the finish line, runners began the first of the two laps, that wind their way sinuously throughout the park. Quite often the route passes close by to parts of the course, offering participants chance to see their running pals and sometimes offer a brief word of encouragement. If there’s enough breathe in the lungs for such things.

Twists and turns were marked by arrows and awesome hi-viz heroes. Even ‘that hill’ had the encouragement of a marshal blaring out Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’!

The race

Apologies for the late start, this was due to fuddery with some interference with the course marking. Cones removed and arrows redirected! Sigh.

An 8km route that is very much multi-terrain, runners were kept on their toes checking for tree routes, admiring the park and avoiding other park users (and their collection of Bichon-Friese).

First lap round saw both the top three males and females close to each other. Tactical racing at play rather than eyes out full speed ahead.

Second lap saw eventual race winner Cameron Muir (Shettleston Harriers) move away from the gang of three and cross the line in 32.02. Visiting from France, Matthew Azzi, crossed the line 21 second later in 32.23. Local boy, Lewis McGuire (Giffnock North AC) rounded out the top 3 in 33.31.

Top three females, none of them strangers to an Acorn Trails podium, had a great wee tussle around both laps.

Tootalinn third place female, Katherine Lafferty went two steps better to take first place in 40.19.

Hot on her heels, Jenny Peebles (Westerlands CCC) taking second spot on 40.29. Hilary Carswell (Giffnock North AC) matching her male club mate McGuire with another third place for the local team in 41.44.

Podium prizes were Migo Sports vouchers, 1st – £50, 2nd – £25, 3rd – £15.

Age category prizes a free entry to one of our next two races:

V40 David McLeary (Motherwell AC) & Sheila Lewis

V50 Simon Parkinson (Bellahouston Harriers) & Wendy Arbuckle

V60 Jeff Farquhar (Pitreavie AC) & Terry Nimmo (Bellahouston Road Runners)

Full results are here.

Thanks

As mentioned we had hi-viz heroes all around the course. Huge thanks to:

Lynn Connor, Brian Hughes, Cha Harris, Callum Wallace, Gregor Robertson, KMAC and Sophie, Zuzana Rencova, Phil Hume-Hopper, Alison Wright, Catherine Crawford, Ailsa Crum, Kerli Koel, Hannah McNeish, Steven Gilligan, Catherine Mullaney, Gillian Gallagher, Garry Smith, Blythe Lindsay, Claire Taylor, Paul Fletcher, Robert Hill, John Softley, Graeme McNay, Stephanie Rudd, Kathleen McGee, Cameron Winton, Nick Cowley, Kevin Queenan George Wilson, Bill Oliver, Iain Cochrane and the Boathouse Cafe.

Thanks also to all the family and friends that came along to cheer and support the runners.

ReShoes

Thanks to all who finishes shoes which will be donated to the ShoeShare Malawi appeal.

Next….

We head down to Scotland’s secret corner, Galloway, for our Sandhead10 – a ten mile multi terrain race, starting along the beach and sand dunes of Luce Bay and finishing on the pier in Stranraer with views over Loch Ryan. That takes place on Sunday 15th September (we’re taking August off to prepare for heading back to our full time jobs!)

A bit more local, Mugdock Park in October see the return of The Dunky, 7.5km of trail which is our flattest and least muddy event!

Sign up for both at entrycentral.com/acorntrails

Weretalso looking for to returning to Rouken Glen for South By Five this winter.