The Dunbar Belhaven race is always a good early-season 10k to blow away

the cobwebs and conditions for the latest race certainly achieved that.
A blustery wind made it a more testing course than normal but almost 300 runners braved the conditions (no doubt expecting kinder weather!) and a

decent turnout from Musselburgh with half-a-dozen in all - Tony, Craig,

Mike Jones, Steve, Mary and myself.
Alex entered but was still struggling after his recent illness and did

not make it. Probably a wise decision.

not make it. Probably a wise decision.
The race, previously round the boundaries of the town, changed course in

2010 for arguably a more difficult route with a steady climb around the

halfway mark to keep runners on their toes.
We all knew at the start that we were going to face the wind at some

stage and could only hope it would mostly be at our backs. It was a

forlorn hope.
For some reason, the wind seemed to be in our faces running alongside the

A1 in the early part in the race and was also against us in the most

testing kilometre, between 6k and 7k.
It was a more gruelling run that I remembered the previous year, particularly as there were long, solitary stretches, but we all gritted our teeth and took it in our stride. At least, there were a couple of downhill stretches to ease the pain.
I led the Musselburgh contingent but was aware that Mike and Craig were breathing down my neck for most of the race.
Mike, running his first 10k for a few years but timing his run to perfection, caught me at around 8k and, although I kept him in my sights, he finished impressively in a personal best 41.48 (39th). A run that promised much for the season ahead.
I managed 41.52 (42nd) with Craig looking sharp ahead of the London Marathon with a brisk 42.13 (45th). It showed he is on the mark as he prepares for his London trip and he exorcised his demons from last year when he was unhappy with his run.
Steve finished impressively in 44.47 (68th), ahead of the Edinburgh half-marathon, his 69th at the distance as he closes in on the century. Tony dashed across the line in a steady 46.58 (104th) and Mary ran well ahead of her own expectations in 54.24 (186th) in her first race at the distance for some time.
The race was won by Edinburgh AC's Bryan Mackie in 34.25 with Kenneth Chapman (Scottish Veterans) winning the veterans' race in third place with 35.20. First Over-50 was Portobello's Willie Jarvie (13th in 37.46) and first female was Dunbar's Susan Lyle (49th in 42.42).
As ever, the race was well organised by the Dunbar club and the can of beer at the end is always a welcome touch. If there was a water stop, I missed it!