Lochaber (Eddie’s) Half Marathon

STORNOWAY runners did themselves and their club proud at the very wet Lochaber (Eddie’s) Half Marathon in Fort William on Sunday.

Three of the six who were running in club vests got personal bests – including veteran Howard Maciver, who got his first half-marathon PB since 1984 – and the men also took second team prize, snapping closely on the heels of Glasgow club Bellahouston.

Andy Joyce came sixth overall, with a time of 1.17.41, which is around a minute outside his PB, while Howard Maciver was just behind him in seventh position, with a time of 1.18.54 – beating his long-standing PB by more than four minutes.

Next home for the club was Jonny Pritchard, who was in 22nd position, with 1.25.19. It was also a PB and Jonny’s result secured the silver team prize for the club. Last year at Lochaber, Stornoway had taken third place in the team prizes.

Getting another PB for the club was Jason Laing, who came in at 1.31.24. He followed world record holder Andy McMahon, who also runs in Stornoway colours, at 1.26.32.

Mandy Macdonald was the only female runner from Stornoway taking part in the half and she came in at a very respectable 1.52.38, completing a fine team performance from SRAC in very wet conditions.

It was wet feet all round before the race even got going from the shinty pitch at midday, which was waterlogged. It rained relentlessly through the day, and roads into Fort William had been blocked the day before due to flooding, but the athletes were agreed that the conditions were almost ideal for running – it was cool and there was no wind.

However, the heavy rainfall did make for huge puddles along the mostly-flat course, which goes out and back along the main road to Mallaig. And, as that cannot be shut to traffic, some of the runners got head-to-toe soakings due to inconsiderate drivers passing them en-route. There were also some thrills and spills at the end, with some runners skidding and coming to grief on the increasingly-muddy pitch as they did their sprint finishes.

Nonetheless, most of those who were taking part had an enjoyable and satisfying race.

Lochaber is not the biggest of half-marathons, with just 178 finishers this year, but it has a reputation as a fast course and is a favourite mainland race among Stornoway runners, along with Inverness.

It was the first time Howard, 47, had done a half-marathon that wasn’t the Stornoway one and, as well as being placed seventh overall, he came second in the male veterans category.

He said he was “delighted” to get his first PB in 25 years.

He said it had been a “very hard” run, but he had known he was in with a chance of a PB after running 10 miles recently in 58.40.

On the day itself, he said: “It was good running conditions; no wind. Some drivers were very considerate but twice on the way somebody pulled out in front of me and one guy absolutely soaked me.

“I could see Andy Joyce up front, in the distance, so that kept me going. I was glad to see the 13-mile marker though.”

Jonny Pritchard’s PB was also most welcome, and a highlight in a disciplined running year which has seen Jonny complete two marathons – Edinburgh and Moray – and prepare to resume training for the Barcelona marathon in the spring.

Howard commented: “This was only my fourth half-marathon. Jonny’s run more races this year that I’ve run in my life!”

This year’s Lochaber half was won by Neil Renault from Edinburgh AC who stormed home in 1.07.25, setting a new course record that the organisers expect to stand for some time. Cheeringly for the older runners among us, the first woman home was one Fiona Matheson, who is in the 40 to 49 veterans category.

Neil Renault had also won the Inverness half this year and Stornoway half-marathoners will be turning their attention to Inverness 2010 as the event to aim for over the winter.