A LITTLE less than 24 hours after surviving the Morrone Hill Race at Braemar, I drove back towards Edinburgh and then along the M8 to Glasgow.

The contrast couldn't have been more genteel. The rural spectacular countryside of Royal Deeside to the metropolis of Scotland's second city.

The quaintness of the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, a true slice of Scottish life and culture, to a modern day race around the city as part of the freshnlo Great Scottish Run.

The logistics for getting to the race were superb. Driving to the edge of Glasgow, a park and ride on the Glasgow underground was free to all runners.

The train took us to George Square in the heart of the city beside the towering statue of Sir Walter Scott and fronted by the impressive-looking City Chambers. The Square was buzzing with thousands of runners and spectators, enlivened by non-stop commentary to whip up an atmosphere. Even Sir Jimmy Saville was there to wave off runners in both the 10km and half marathon races.

Each race had four separate coloured waves to prevent overcrowding, and with each of the runners wearing timing chips held by velcro strips on their ankles, it meant you got an accurate finish time no matter what time you crossed the start.

The pre-race set-up was magnificent, the weather was good, dry but not too hot, and I was ready to race.

But come race time at 10am, what a disappointment. I ran the half marathon and the Great Scottish Run must rate as one of the flattest and drabbest of races going.

Glasgow doesn't set the world alight with its architecture, certainly not on the race route. We ran across Kingston Bridge along grim streets, past dready buildings in dire of a lick of paint and along roads which were sparsely populated with spectators.

The atmosphere was dead and this from a city bidding to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014. We ran through Bellahouston Park and then Pollok Country Park which offered some green relief from the eyesores, before the final five miles took the field on an uninspiring course towards the finish at Glasgow Green.

After the race the day before, my legs were feeling very heavy and I was lucky that a mile from the end I was joined by my friend Sid Gallacher, who is deputy headmaster at the local school in Campbelltown on Mull of Kintyre. We had run together in May at the Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon. I had pulled Syd round to a fast time, on this occasion it was his turn to return the favour.

Syd was brilliant. Just as I was faltering, he helped me to push on to the finish with the wind picking up and making running tough in blustery conditions.

I crossed the line in just over 1 hour 39 minutes which was surprising since I was on for a 1hr 36min half. I then looked at my Garmin watch which measures the route and it had as the distance 13.42 miles.

It didn't matter. I had finished, race 55 of the 80 completed, but I think I'll give Glasgow a miss in the future.