Just one week to go

0 - 0 • Published 14 May 2009 18:00

ONLY one week to go until one of the highlights of the sporting year in the town - the Helensburgh 10K Road Race - due to get under way at 7.30pm next Thursday.

This year will be the 22nd running of the event, which organisers Helensburgh Athletic Club have seen grow from just over two hundred finishers in 1988 to the present where the entries are capped at one thousand.

Runners will come from all over Scotland, several from over the border and at least one from over the pond - from Boyceville, Wisconsin, USA.

As usual the 10K (6.2 miles) has attracted the broadest mix of abilities amongst the entrants.

At the sharp end will be a string of top class runners while through the field will be the traditional assortment of club runners, fun runners and fund-raisers who, over the years, will have raised thousands of pounds for good causes.

Runners intending to take part are reminded that they must pre-enter.

The race will again utilise the Championchip technology whereby runners wear a small transponder attached to their shoelaces.

Special mats at the start and finish then record their individual running times.

The system does however require data capture of all entrants" details beforehand hence it is not possible to accept entries on the night.

As well as providing an accurate time for each and every runner, the technology eliminates the finishing queues necessary in previous years to manually record runners in finishing order.

Online entry for the race is available through the Series website at http://www.polaroid-10k.co.uk, where you can also see further details of the Polaroid Series, including photographs from previous years.

The new Hermitage Academy will again provide a spectacular backdrop to the event, hosting race facilities and Start and Finish areas. The runners will assemble and start in Cardross Road.

Their route will then loop round North Colgrain following Campbell Drive, Kenilworth Avenue, Ashton Drive, Waverley Avenue, Drumfork Road and Redgauntlet Road before crossing Old Luss Road into East King Street.

The runners will then follow East King Street, Sinclair Street, West Montrose Street, Rhu Road Lower, Kidston Drive, Cairndhu Avenue, West King Street, East King Street and across Old Luss Road into Redgauntlet Road.

To proceed to the finish the runners will turn into Talisman Crescent and onto the A814 then along Cardross Road to finish in the school grounds.

Helensburgh Honda will again kindly provide a lead car to guide the runners round the route.

At the finish, all runners will receive a specially-struck medal and a 'goody bag' courtesy of Asics Sportswear and will be refreshed with a complementary bottle of Highland Spring Natural Mineral Water.

An extensive prize list is available courtesy of the backing of Polaroid Eyewear and Asics Sportswear. And with other spot prizes from Polaroid Eyewear awarded throughout the field everyone has a chance of winning.

The runners will be greatly encouraged by spectators along the route so if you are not actually taking part you can at least play a part by getting out and cheering them on.

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This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 14 May 09

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