Back in 2016 I wrote a comprehensive report on the Nigel Barge 10k covering both its history and the course. At the time, I didn’t expect it would be another six years before I ran it again, but that’s Scottish weather and a pandemic for you. It’s been a tough few years to be running in January with either snow or rain or COVID acting as a pretty good deterrent to running around north Glasgow. This year, just like in 2016, I thought it would be good to get an early race in the legs and entered it again.

The route had a slight change as it was run completely on paths rather than having a short section cutting across grass. This was an improvement on 2016 as I remembered, and the re-reading the blog I can see it confirms, that there was a massive mud bath in the middle of the grass. This time, with paths, I didn’t have to throw my shoes straight into the washing machine.

Registration was straightforward and the route easy to follow with marshalls at all crossroads. The race starts in Garscube and then runs round and through Dawsholm park.

Dawsholm park is famous or infamous as the park most likely to be featured in an episode of Taggart whenever they find a dead body. It’s a popular spot for fictional serial killers but there was no police out when we went round. Also, no stabbings, as far as I could see, which was good. No one wants their run to be interrupted by a gangland revenge attack.

If you’re looking for a race to start the year then the Nigel Barge race is recommended. It’s popular, with nearly 400 entries, so you need to be quick to enter but, when you do, you can take comfort in a well run murder free race in North Glasgow.