Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Killin 10k 2025
by Russell Turner - 10:46 on 24 August 2025
The Killin 10k in beautiful Tayside didn’t have a promising start. After overnighting half an hour away at the White Stag in Strathyre (cheaper than closer accommodation) I drove to the village, ignored the half-empty small public car park, because I’m a good citizen, and followed signs to the event car park. This was a mistake. I knew parking was to be in a field, but not that early arrivers would be stuck at the far end of it. As a bonus, the forecast overcast-but-dry was, in reality, a smirry drizzle which, combined with long grass, meant damp feet before I’d even started. At least there was no wind.
I made my way gingerly through the field, twice being directed back into the long grass by marshals determined to keep the flattened route free for cars. Beyond the field entrance I met an equally disgruntled runner who, after we’d chuntered for a while, offered the welcome news that the forthcoming race was not as hilly as I’d expected. Maybe the fact that he expected to get round it in 45 minutes should have warned me that our perceptions would differ.
The 10am hotel check-out and noon race start (noon!) meant I had some time to kill before the off. A recce of the start in Breadalbane Park (across the road from the Killin Hotel where the KGT reunions have met) didn’t take long, so it was fortunate that the village hall, venue of race HQ, was large and well equipped with tables and chairs where I could lurk out of the drizzle. It was also well served by charities selling soup, cake and sandwiches so I bought a couple for after the race to avoid a queue.
Having lurked for long enough, I ventured back outside to discover the drizzle had stopped. Splendid. I left baggage with two jolly ladies who stowed it in a Transit van, took a walk around the park, then a brief warm-up trot up and down and out into the village main street. I wasn’t the only one.
Back in the park, the local Microphone Man, almost as loud as his orange suit, was whipping up the crowd’s enthusiasm before handing over to the local Fitness Queen who took the starters through a few rousing stretches and mobilisations. I stuck to my own thing.
Just before noon we were chivvied into a start line, 5k and 10k runners combined, and waited for the hooter. And waited. It seemed that police were having trouble closing the main street which was the first part of the course. Finally, the word came through and 750 10k and 81 5k entrants streamed through the inflatable start arch, out of the park and into the high street, now free of moving vehicles, where we were cheered on our way by locals and tourists.
The Bridge of Dochart
Unsurprisingly, the start was a mite congested as everyone found their pace but it settled down quickly as we headed to and across the Bridge of Dochart, next to the Falls of Dochart, over the River Dochart (which can be spectacular, but not when rainfall’s been as sparse as lately), then turned off the main road at the Falls of Dochart Inn (I think there’s a theme here) and on to a bumpy track leading to the old railway line, back over the river on the old railway bridge, then back into the village, where traffic was once more being held, and past the park where Microphone Man was exhorting the 1k fun runners to keep going.
From there, we headed along the main road for a while before turning on to a single-track road up Glen Lochay, at which point we’d done around 3k, climbed 25m and dropped 17. My pace felt sustainable, and at halfway I’d covered 5k in 28:34, runners were nicely strung out, all was well.
I knew it wouldn’t last, because the seventh kilometre featured the only significant climb of the day after crossing the River Lochay: 36m in less than half a kilometre. Walking came into play (yes, I’m a wuss) until I rounded the turning point near Lochay Power Station and continued back down the glen, passing many of the runners who’d passed me during my walk. A couple more very minor climbs led to more walking (I did run up others) until we re-crossed the River Lochay and returned to the main road where we mostly stuck to the pavement because traffic had returned.
I hit 10k at 58:08, just as I turned off the pavement and into the park, finishing on grass. Knowing I wouldn’t complete the race in under 59 minutes gave me the excuse to walk up a very slight climb, but when it flattened out I ran to the finish line, crossing in a chip time of 59:16 – my fastest 10k this year! My self-satisfaction was spoiled slightly today when I checked the race results and found the only other Turner, in the female V70+ category, who’d finished in 56:59. I’ve still got some way to go.
Drizzle had returned (maybe it had done so a while earlier and I’d not noticed because of my athletic endeavour) so after collecting a decent medal and a bottle of water (no goody bag in a small race; I’d declined the shirt in advance) I watched a few more finishers then collected my baggage, donned a dry hoodie and went inside the hall for a nice sit-down. My wisdom in buying advance sandwiches was vindicated by the queue, which deterred me from buying soup. Shame
When I felt ready, I returned to the sodden field to embark on the drive home: three hours, plus a stop at Ralia where they were sold out of soup. Such is life. I was home by 6pm and had some there.
Killin and Loch Tay
So that’s my seventh 10k of the year done. The Killin 10k is recommended: well organised, decent course, great scenery (if you’re not spoiled for views by living in the Highlands). I’ll be tempted to repeat it next year if the weekend is free of gigs. Next up, next Saturday, is the Kinloss 10k, on a very flat course, so I’ll be hugely disappointed if I can’t improve on this year’s best time; 56-57 minutes might even be achievable. Fingers crossed.
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