Spring Roundup

North Ayrshire School’s Cross Country

Junior member Lauryn McLaughlin ran in the North Ayrshire school’s cross country 22nd March 2025. She finished 1st in the P6 girls race and took home 1st overall P6 girl for highest points after three races. An outstanding series of results for one of our junior stars. Well done Lauryn. *****

Reading Half Marathon- 23rd March 2025

Evergreen Charlotte McKay ran the Reading Half, and once again had an excellent run finishing an amazing 4th in her age category in a brilliant time of 2:35:12. Charlotte found the course a hilly challenge but was impressed by the finish into the Select Car Leasing Stadium, formerly the Madjeski Stadium, home of Reading F.C.

National Road Relays

22nd March saw a small but mighty representation of ladies attend and excel at the National Road Relays. Jennifer Telford, Jill Cox, Heather Lafferty and Fiona McFarlane gained an amazing National Silver Medal in the Women’s Master age category, behind Garscube and in front of Lothian. This was another amazing result from our Masters Ladies bettering their bronze medal from last year. Events like this, showcase the amazing running community, where club runners toe the line with Olympians. Megan Keith and Freya Ross being the elite athletes in the ladies race on this occasion.

The race is a four legged affair with alternating distances for each competitor. (5km/10km/5km/10km) Jennifer Telford ran a great leg in the opening 5km, coming home in 23.38. Club champion, Jill Cox ran leg two in an impressive 37.50. Jill passed over to Heather Lafferty who completed her leg in 24.24 before passing onto Fiona McFarlane for the final 10km and bringing the team home to silver in 46.35.

20 Across the Forth

Blast running run an interesting and varied series of races, mainly on the East coast. 20 Across the Forth is one of these races and is a perfect tune up for those preparing for the Spring marathon season. Add into the mix, as title might suggest, involves the added bonus of running across the Forth Road Bridge. Unknown to the two Harriers who made the start line was the hilly nature of the course. Cheryl Thomas, with Edinburgh marathon looming, and Olivia Devine, heading to Paris, discovered this as their day evloved. Cheryl described the hills as relentless, and used the day as her long weekend training run, completing the course in 3.22.02. This augers well for her upcoming test at the marathon distance. Olivia totally agreed with Cheryl’s assessment of the constant hills(“Horrible”) and was delighted to get finished in a time of 3.18.55. Olivia has been battling some ongoing niggles and has been managing her training and rehab sensibly in order that she gets to the start line fit and ready to race. This will surely have built both athlete’s confidence as they come to the end of their training blocks and begin their taper.

As always it is good to get an understanding of the different races around the country and Cheryl pointed out one of the nice touches provided by Blast who provided women only portaloos.It’s wee touched like this that make the raceday experience easier and improve the experience for runners.

Tom Scott Road Race

Four Harriers headed to Motherwell on Mother’s Day to compete in the annual Scottish 10 Mile Championships at the Tom Scott Road Races. The race takes place around Strathclyde Park, and attracts one of the strongest fields in Scotland to compete. The typically fast course was greeted with bright sunshine, but a strong north easterly wind made it a tough day at the office.

The route sets off into the wind heading for a lap of the loch in a clockwise direction, and turns off after 3 mile onto the back road to M+Ds where a half mile slog into the wind challenged even the hardiest of harriers. Once back onto the loch loop, there was a lap and a half anti-clockwise leading to a big downwind finish in front of the watersport centre.

Neil Lafferty led the way for team GGH, with a top 10 finish in the V40 category in great time of 56.25. A great effort ahead of the club’s 10 mile championship the following week where he looks to add points in his title defence. Chris Mooney was next, dipping under the hour mark in 59.12. A great run that saw him dominate the Scottish Athletics socials powering his way through the course.

The final two Harriers had a great battle on the course to be third counter for the team. Mick McLoone took the early lead over Stephen Hanley, and lead until around four miles when Stephen went ahead on the downhill at M+Ds. He held this until just before 8 miles where he lost himself in the wooded section’s sharp hills and Mick was able to power ahead. Mick held on and finished in 64.29 and took home the first v60 prize! Stephen just dipped under 65 mins and will take some lessons on to London Marathon later this month.

There were great runs from local runners Nynke Mulholland (59.20, 2nd Lady), Meredith Reid (63.08) and John Bell (10th, 51.58). The race was excellently organised by Law and District Harriers, and sold out in record time. One to get in early for next year!

Kilomathon

KIlomathon turns miles to kilometres and instead of the 13.1 miles for a half marathon you complete 13.1 kilometres starting in Leith and finishing with an external loop of Murrayfield before crossing the finish line in front of the main stand of Scotland’s National Rugby Stadium. The course runs mainly along bike path and some of Edinburgh’s parks. Harrier Greg Luke has run this race for the last three years and that suggests it is worth the early start to get there. On a cold morning Greg finished the course in 55.59 for 103rd place. Greg notes that the last 100m inside the stadium is spectacular and managed to secure a 2 minute PB