In 2016 I wrote a comprehensive report on the Nigel Barge 10k covering both its history and the course. It’s one of Glasgow’s oldest races, up there with ‘Running from a Man with a Knife on Sauchiehall Street’ and ‘Sprinting Away if Someone Says Are You Looking At Me?’.

This year was unusual. It was dry in the run up to the race and it was forecast to be dry during it too. Maybe. Perhaps. This would be the first time we would run it without getting wet? And, for the first two miles, we were dry. And then we ran through Dawholm Park and there was huge perpetual puddle of mud and brown water squatting across the path. I suspect it doesn’t dry out until Summer. So, wet feet again.

The route was unchanged from previous years: two circuits of Glasgow University’s vet school and Dawsholm recycling centre and Dawsholm park. It’s not scenic but it is very well organised and attracts a sell out each year.

This year, after a couple of weeks of colds and coughs, I was expecting a harder run – and I was right. But not because of the colds and coughs. My chest felt okay and I felt reasonably strong throughout. However my left calf cramped and clenched as soon as I started running and didn’t relax until I was mile 9. The run became uncomfortable and each step felt like I was dragging my leg round the course.

Saying that, I was only 50 seconds slower than last year, when I thought I was running fine, so any slowness was more in my head than in my legs.

After the race there is a cracking buffet, which is not well know. Despite finishing half way up the field, Iain TwinBikeRun and I were the first people to get to the buffet. Maybe winners don’t eat cake?