With all the attention and headlines being grabbed by the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday  I decided to sneak  over to Haddington for the annual 5 mile road  race on the Saturday. I ran this last year and it was scorching so bearing in mind the weather forecast I was a little better prepared this time around. The course is a toughie (or so I think). The description of a slight hill at mile two and slight rise at mile four should be setting of alarm bells straight away. To be honest though it is hard to tell how tough this course actually is as it’s really the Sun that plays the biggest part in sapping the strength out of people on the way round.

The course sets off from the back of Haddington towards Gifford and then takes a left onto country roads (the reverse of the finish of the Haddington Half ). After a mile and a half it takes another left up a hill then left again onto a tree lined lane then left again up a tough old hill. The saving grace is the last mile is pretty much down hill back into Haddington then it’s a hard slog back up to the park and along the edge to the finish.

I had got there quite early and the Haddington fair which is on the same day was in full swing in the park. I was the only runner from MADAC running but bumped into Scott Jarvie from Porty so we went for a quick warm up after registration. Even by this point it was getting uncomfortably warm and by start time it was up around 25 degrees.

I set off at quite a conservative pace (as had learned my lesson from last year) . and ended up in a group of about 6 runners setting a decent rate. By the time we reached the hill at mile 4 though we were starting to get strung out and I ended up pacing with Scott Jarvie up the hill, which seemed to go on forever. Then it was a fast belt down into town. I was really dehydrated by this point but Scott gave me some life saving water in the last KM which perked me up a bit (Cheers Scott) .  I struggled round the last few meters in the park and managed to come in at 32:29 for a PB time over 5 miles . 

I have got to say despite the heat and the pain on the hill I really like this race, and it would be a top route if the Sun had been a little less extreme. The turnout was quite low which is a shame but somewhat understandable with the Edinburgh Marathon the next day. It is sometimes a pity that all the attention gets taken by these big events and some of the smaller races are getting somewhat neglected in what is these days a very congested calendar, but judging by some of the issues on the Marathon on Sunday and on the other big Edinburgh events this year then perhaps its time to have a look at running more of the local races which I find much more friendly, value for money and dare I say it better organised!..

Pictures courtesy of Bob and Lesley Marshall.....Thanks

Cheers Alex