Race Report by Martin Smith
This road race is an out and back course which starts and finishes at Musselburgh Racecourse on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
The route leaves the racecourse, passes Musselburgh Golf Course reputed to be the first ever golf club, and heads along the Firth of Forth coastline passing an old cold mine, now Prestongrange Mining Museum, Prestonpans – famous for its former salt pans, and turning at the site of the former Cockenzie Power Station now totally demolished and an empty space to head back to the racecourse. The final km marker was level with the 5 furlong post on the racecourse and so you could count down the furlong posts as you galloped to the finishing line in front of the grandstand to the cheers of the crowd !
We decided this would be a family race following on from our 2017 challenge at the Edinburgh 10 mile road race. So, it was father, son, and nephew plus we were joined by my former training partner, Steve Laing from Edinburgh AC when we used to run for the club at 800m and 1500m on the track plus
his son, Ewan.
The downside of an out and back course is that you see the leaders coming back when you have not reached halfway. The leaders went by as I passed the 4k mark. At the turn you see who is behind you – Adrian was 100metres behind and my nephew, Stuart, 400metres. So, it was not surprising that Adrian passed me at 7k.
We all met up at the finish with another Edinburgh AC couple. They had met training at the running track back in the late 70s and love blossomed ! So, Massey Runners, through running, you make friends and there will be some club members who you will remain friends with for many years even after you may have left the area or even stopped running !
38 – Ewan Laing – 39:12
130 – Steve Laing – 44:38 – 1st over 60
159 – Adrian Smith – 45:56 – Massey Ferguson
196 – Martin Smith – 47:10- Massey Ferguson – 1st over 65
245 – Stuart Smith -49:03
1500 ran.