A CHANGE of direction didn't stop the freshnlo Great Scottish Run beating a fast-track to glory as records tumbled over the race weekend.
A CHANGE of direction didn't stop the freshnlo Great Scottish Run beating a fast-track to glory as records tumbled over the race weekend.
All eyes were on the event as roadworks on the Kingston Bridge forced organisers to alter the route of the 10K and half-marathon for the first time in their 27-year history.
By the end of the day, 13,144 people had crossed the finish line on Glasgow Green - the highest number of finishers since 2006.
Despite concerns of a downpour, the rain held off and in front of a sea of amateur runners and people in fancy dress raising millions for charity, one man made Great Scottish Run history.
Kenyan Emmanuel Matui made the most of near perfect conditions to set a blistering time of 1:01:10 - 25 seconds quicker than the record set by his countryman Jason Mbote, in 2006.
This was the 23-year-old's last big race before the Chicago marathon and he wanted to test himself. He said: "I am very pleased. The conditions were good and the course very good. I have never taken part in the Great Scottish Run before and never visited Glasgow. I have enjoyed the experience very much. I'm delighted with my time."
The first woman over the line was 27-year-old Worknesh Tola. The Ethiopian, who finished second in this year's Paris Marathon, got round in 1hr 11mins.
She said: "There's a lot of hills in the first part of the race but the conditions were very good for running.
The first male Scot over the line was Robert Russell, from Auchterarder.
Robert, 26, set a time of 1:05:22. Using the race as a warm-up for next month's Berlin marathon, he was delighted to beat his own personal best by nearly a second.
He said: "It was a great day. The crowd here are brilliant, and there is a piper playing at every mile along the course.
"Technically, I was pleased with my performance, my timings were good and it sets me up for my next race."
The first female Scot was Dunfermline's Hayley Haining.
She was the official reserve for Paula Radcliffe in the marathon at this year's Beijing Olympics, but grabbed the glory in Glasgow in 1:11:28. She said: "The Great Scottish Run is always brilliant and the crowd were fantastic."
The 10K winner left commentators flummoxed. From the 5K point, number 6026 led, but no-one knew who he was!
After crossing the finish line the mystery man was identified as trainee actuary Murray Strain. The confusion was caused because he switched from the half-marathon to the 10K on Friday night.
Murray, from Edinburgh, has the world hill-running championships later this month and decided not to strain himself. He recorded a time of 32:22.
He said: "I could hear the Tannoy calling me the anonymous runner'! It was a last-minute decision to swap categories so I think it surprised most people. But the result made it worth it."
The winner of the women's category was PE teacher Lindsay Macneill.
The 30-year-old PE teacher, who has just joined Glasgow Academy, completed the course in just 35:53.
She said: "The new course does add a few more hills but overall I enjoyed it."
In the wheelchair categories, the winners of the half-marathon were Mark Telford, from Perth, who posted a time of 58:15, and Margo Whiteford, who trains with East End running club Red Star Athletics, who went round in 1:45:19.
The only 10K entrant was Ryan Macdonald, from Baillieston, who completed the course in 36:24.
Sandy Wilkie, sales and marketing director of Robert Wiseman Dairies, the event's main sponsors, said: "This year's freshnlo Great Scottish Run has been a fantastic experience."
Pictures: Mark Gibson, Lena Larsson, Martin Shields and Stewart Attwood
