Runner Robert Gilroy enjoyed a great week of races and events in his personal life.

Sep 16 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON runner Robert Gilroy enjoyed an amazing week by finishing second in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run 10k and winning the Cumbernauld Road Race over the same distance.

And Gilroy (34) proposed to his girlfriend Sharon Ross the night before the Great Scottish Run on September 5.

Rob, who represents Ron Hill Cambuslang Harriers, said: “I got engaged on Saturday to Sharon, who is from Alva near Alloa.

“I had a few drinks to celebrate on Saturday night but nothing too wild. I was a bit shaky on the starting line but once I got started I was fine.

“I celebrated at the end and had a good run.”

The race results mean a bit more than usual to Robert, who recently recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of action for a month and a half.

He said: “It was the first time I’d run the 10k event at The Great Scottish Run as I usually go for the half-marathon, but I got a knee injury at work and was out for about five or six weeks.

“But I feel that I’ve come back stronger and I’m happy with that.

“There were about 11,000 people taking part in the 10k and I was quite comfortably in second place, so I was delighted.

“I’m really chuffed with second because it’s a big event. My best time in a 10k is 30.34, and I finished in 32.32 at Glasgow and 32.15 in Cumbernauld, so I’m nearly back to that and feel that I’m doing really well.”

Rob’s next challenge is the Scottish 10k Championships in Stirling on September 19.