Jimmy Irvine 10k

Posted in Race Reports on Nov 21, 2019

A less-than-ideal build-up can't spoil a good running event, as Deirdre Hoyle testifies after her experience at the recent Jimmy Irvine 10k.

Earning that T-shirt!

The Jimmy Irvine was to be my first 10 K for a while. I have what seems to be permanent plantar fasciitis, and two weeks before the race I had a sizeable slice excised from my left cheek. No running for two weeks, but training doesn’t really count, does it? Anyway, I had collected my number with ten others from Stefan at Achilles Heel on Tuesday, and handed them out to people at training. I attached my bib to my vest, with the details dutifully entered on the back, and hung it in the wardrobe.

Some mild back spasms for a couple of days, and poor sleep, were worrying, but I was able to have a long lie on Sunday as the race start was 12:00. I put on my vest and popped outside to check the temperature, but decided the base layer was needed. Water, Garmin, go back for the phone (just in case). All set.

It was a lovely crisp clear day, not my usual experience of the Jimmy. My warm-up to the start was an easy twenty minutes. I shook hands with the Man himself, greeted club-mates and unzipped my jacket. No vest! Base-layer, no number! Still twenty minutes to the race start, so I thought “The Roadrunners will have a solution!” I headed down the steps in search of Richard or Henry, but no joy, so off to find the Primary School. A friendly runner directed me down… the wrong street, two wee boys had no clue, but Google of course had the answer. It was unfortunate that there was no entry on the first side street, but I eventually found an open door, and after calling “Hello!” to echoing silence, I found the Roadrunners upstairs with the sandwiches. They had one unclaimed number! They carefully noted my original and new numbers and helped me pin the thing on.

Off to the start! There were no runners in sight, and Mr Stuweb was stowing his cable, but he was able to use his gadget to enter my start time. Garmin! Go! So many lovely club-mates and other runners were shouting encouragement (although puzzled) and it is an excellent route, with views, and trees and no cars. I was very happy to be running, with of course occasional walks as required. Unfortunately, being mostly on my own, I missed the big yellow arrow behind the Leisure Centre while trying to avoid a loose dog, but only about 0.2 miles was added to the course, and by this time that was irrelevant. Round the big wooden elephant for the third time, along the first chilly and icy section, and finally to the finish.

I collected my T-shirt and a caramel wafer, (almost as good as a medal), and Jenny and the running ladies were there to support. Lots of Harriers had volunteered, and the whole event once again demonstrated the loveliness of the running community. All in all, I had covered 11.5 miles, why is it that I don’t do half marathons again?

Nil Desperandum.

Deirdre Hoyle