As I mentioned in a previous post, the Scotland Run 10K is one of my personal favorite races of the year and it seems the word has gotten out. This year there were 7,000 runners in the race, one of the largest turnouts for a NYRR race.

The morning looked promising with sunny skies and no breeze, but unfortunately it was a little cold for spring, the temperature at 7:30am was 28 degrees. I knew it was going to warm up, but would have to suffer in the cold for a few hours.

The start area for the Scotland Run was set up in Mineral Springs Central Park and where the government of Scotland had set up a few booths giving away Scottish flags and bags as well as the ability to get your face painted. The band was great and for this year we had the Red Hot Chili PIPERS. Good times out there even though it was a little chilly, but starting to warm up.

The race is ready to start as the Pipers lead everyone out to the start line, where I position myself around the 7 minute mile pace area, hoping this will keep me from having to bob and weave too much through the crowd. Even though I know I planned to run around a 7:20/mile pace, to even have a chance to run that pace for the first mile I needed to set up close to the 7:00/mile sign. Let me tell you, I cannot wait for this corral system to start and really hope it will be a success. (I promise not to vent about slow packs of runner in front).

Mile 1 was still a little crowded and and a little uphill but managed to hit Mile Marker 1 at exactly 7:30. This was a pretty good sign.

Mile 2 -3 were spread out more with more downhill than up and I was able to pick up the pace, running 7:00/miles for these two. Nice bonus was seeing my friend Seth running the other way with his son in a baby stroller and hearing my name called out.

Now, I am not sure where, but I believe this occurred somewhere near the end of mile 3, after a long uphill climb, just when I thought I was out of gas, and ready to slow it down, suddenly the sounds of a single bagpipe were blaring through Central Park. One bagpiper in a quilt was standing guard at the top of the hill urging people on with his playing. Score one for NYRR and the race organizers for this move.

The next few miles went along real smooth as I tried to keep a 7:15/mile pace and look to finish below 45:00 minutes for the 10K. One other nice move by NYRR this year was widening the lanes so there was more room to maneuver.

As I hit the 6 mile mark I knew the sub 45:00 was within reach and just pushed through the last uphill portion (this part I hate) to the finish line at Tavern on the Green at a respectable 44:42, a 7:12/mile pace for a 10K, one of my fastest 10K runs and one of my better finishes. I placed 628 out of 7000 runners. This is promising for the upcoming season, because to be honest I have barely ran more than 20 miles a week since the start of 2008 and have not been as healthy as I would like.

Now I wish I could say all the other members of the Dukes of Flatbush were able to make it out for the race. As usual Eve F came out and turned in a stellar performance for the Dukes, but the same cannot be said of the Shampoos.

Seems they heard Nessie was going to be at the race and hid in Brooklyn, scared to cross the waters in to Manhattan.