National Road Race Championships, Rouken Glen Park, Giffnock - 20/03/2010

A week later and still with an uncertainty over Emma's health, the girls travelled to Glasgow for the National Road Race Championships. The event was held at Rouken Glen Park in Giffnock and it provided a most picturesque backdrop for this slightly unusual setting for a road race. The public park gave a perfect viewing area for spectators who come to watch the event and for locals who had happened across it by chance.

The girls 3.7k course was undulating in nature and included one short and one long loop of the park. Emma took the race out hard and tested her health right from the gun. After pulling away from rest of the field in the first 1k, Emma was racing against the clock with none of the other 50 Under 15 girls able to stay with the sub-5.30min/mile pace she set.

Emma completed the course, picking up the National title in 12.41min and confirming her return to form with a 35 second lead on second placed Aberdeen athlete, Eilidh Prise.

Oonagh not to be out done worked her way confidently through the pack from 6th place and by the final 1k, was racing for the bronze medal spot. A final burst by a Shettleston athlete saw Oonagh miss out on 3rd by 6 seconds, coming home in 13.37min.

However along with a spirited run by the third Edinburgh Athletic Club team counter, Caitlin Gray in finishing in 8th place, confirmed Edinburgh as National team champions with 13 points, some 10 points clear of second placed Giffnock North with Pitreave AAC in third place with 40 points.

Joining the girls to compete in her first National competition was Sarah MacKinnon, Under 17 Women. Sarah has not competed out with the North District and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the larger event with mass spectators and constant racing partners. In what is an extremely competitive age group, Sarah acquitted herself well in working her way through from the back of the pack to finish in 21st place out of 31 runners. Her time of 21.38min demonstrated good endurance over the longer 5k course.

Both girls have a bit of rest now prior to their participation in the London Mini-Marathon on the 25th April. Emma has previously represented Scotland at this event, but Oonagh having had a late call up will represent her country for the first time.

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