Race Review Dumfries Half Marathon
EVENT. NAME: Dumfries half marathon and West of Scotland district half marathon championships
VENUE: Dumfries, Scotland
DATE 25 Sept 2016 Time 11:00
Headline Event Owners: Dumfries Running Club
Event Organising Company: Dumfries Running Club Race Director: Mark Johnston and Alan Baxter
Timing company: Dumfries Running Club
Registration company: Entry Central
THE EVENT
This was the 35th running of the Dumfries half marathon, which this year again doubled as the West of Scotland district half marathon championship race.
At least 50 Dumfries Running Club members were working hard behind the scenes and along the course to make sure the event went as smoothly as possible.
The race value was exceptional with an event tee, time chipped bib, goodie bag, refreshments and finisher medals all participants entitlements.
It was therefore somewhat disappointing that the field was so small, just 168 hardened club runners¹. I feel that the race coinciding with the Loch Ness Marathon weekend of races would have had a big impact but it did make for a good class field, especially for the hares upfront fighting for the district championship.
Reasonable weather, just one rain shower and a headwind in the early stages meant we were able to focus on the race itself along with keeping ourselves warm in the 9 deg. temperature.
The start [and finish], was from the Dumfries and Galloway College, a new complex built in the grounds of what was previously a mental institution, my father would say very apt too.
Once away the runners were led by a contingent from the Dumfries and Galloway blood bikers, the 2016 charity partners.
Even though the field was largely made up of seasoned club runners, well versed in running etiquette, the starter gave full race instructions regarding such things as littering the course, which side of the road to use, slower runners keeping left, slower runners to start at the rear, etc. etc. Something that should be copied here in Malaysia.
The race was held on open country roads and what little traffic there was during the race was well marshaled and drivers were very considerate towards the runners, many stopping to give a clear pathway.
The first few kilometres were a fairly steep climb, but, this gave us a good feeling as it would be our downhill final effort on our return to the finish. The ‘frying pan’ of a course undulated to the top point past the Dovecotewell animal rescue center with superb views over to Criffel, to this point the runners were running into a stiff breeze which as we dropped down to the river died away robbing us of the back-wind on our return.
Along the river to Glencaple and then turning into the tricky steep 500m climb, relief was short lived as the steep hill only led onto the 5 km of gentle climbing that took us back to that very welcome down-hill stretch back to the college and the finish line.
The West District championship was retained by Kerry Liam Wilson in 1:14:24, over two minutes down on his 2015 time. Craig Reid and Connell Drummond finished second and third. Race prizes along with gold, silver and bronze medals were handed over on behalf of Scottish Athletics.
The first woman in the race was Lisa Finlay in 1:24:23 and in 6th place overall.
To further emphasize the club feel of the event there were also male and female team and local club prizes awarded.
The race was about so much more than the sharp end of the field with many competitors commenting on the superb support on course and the encouragement given to those striving to do their best as well as the excellent facilities, toilets, showers and the campus café, at Dumfries and Galloway college. My only real major criticism of the event is that having finished less than thirty minutes after the third podium runner the presentations had all been completed, it would have been nice to have witnessed the prize giving.
Thanks are due to the Dumfries sea cadets and the Solway skating club who both provided a superb service on route and at the finish manning the water stations. Adding to the atmosphere was the Dumfries Town Band who entertained spectators and competitors before, during and after the race.
¹ Club Runners, unlike in Malaysia, are runners affiliated to a competitive running club. Discussed to a degree in the previous post Diary of an Old Pair of Legs April 2016.
EVENT SCORE CARD SUMMARY
PRE RACE.
Entry and information:
Event information and updates 10/10. Contact details: Facebook, Web-site, Phone, E-mail available 6/10.
Value of entry price at 20:00 GBP [RM 102] equivalent to approx. 2.75 hrs at min. wage UK, meaning that the equivalent race in Malaysia would need to cost RM 17. 20/20.
Race registration and kit collection: Collection point, ease of collection. 20/20. 56/60
Race site Facilities:
Space at the venue 10/10. Toilets, number and condition 10/10.
Start area staffing and information 10/10.
Parking and transport: 10/10. 40/40
Care of Competitors:
Warm up. Starting time, timing and control 10/10. Medical facilities at start/finish and on course 18/20. 28/30
THE RACE.
Organisation:
Course management: Traffic control, space, signage, difficulty, enjoyment factor 35/40.
Marshaling quantity and quality 18/20. Feed stations number, staffing and stocking 16/20. 69/80
POST RACE.
Finish line ease of medal/shirt/food collection, choice of food and hydration 8/10.
Resting and cool down areas 10/10.
Top placings posting board, announcements and prize ceremony 0/10. 18/30
AFTER EVENT
Results 18/20.
Post event communication 6/10. 24/30 Total 235/270
My overall score for this event is 87.0%
Only a few small items and rushing the prize giving stops this event scoring even higher than this excellent mark. Overall I think the Race Directors and all who have been involved did a grand job and deserve far more support.
Would I return to this event: Yes.
Happy Running
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
My personal race.
1:45:27 [21.1 kms] PB
3rd. of 11 Veteran [60 plus]. 67th. of 168 Overall. Age Graded 77.43% PB
My race can only really be summed up in that I achieved both a personal best time for the half marathon in quite testing conditions on an interesting hilly course and also set a best ever age graded score for any distance.
This was all done without a race-plan, I just went out to enjoy myself and that is exactly what I did.
