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the jogscotland magazine | Summer 2018
Sammy’s Road Trip – promoting mental wellbeing Meet Marathon Mo! Plogging – the latest running trend There’s no stopping Ciaran Plus… the best summer running events for your diary jogscotland.org.uk
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2Our fun, friendly jogging groups are perfect for people who want to get active for the first time, or more experienced runners. Nobody is “too slow” to join jogscotland – total beginners welcome!
Mums on the Run helps mums enjoy the physical, social & psychological benefits of being active outdoors. You can take your wee one to class with you in the buggy too!
Running has never been so easy! Whatever your age, whatever your ability Morning, noon and night • Towns, cities, villages Parks, pavements, trails, woodlands, beaches, schools and workplaces For more information visit www.jogscotland.org.uk or call 0131 539 7341 www.facebook.com/JogScotty • www.twitter.com/jogscotland
jogworks
Our Junior jogscotland resource pack is full of games to help you show primary school age children that stride physical activity is fun! jogscotland magazine | Winter Winter 2016 jogscotland magazine 2016 www.jogscotland.org.uk/ |
Encouraging employees to be more active makes good business sense. Jogworks can help avoid some of the physical and mental www.jogscotland.org.uk/ health issues affecting the workplace.
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Contents Warm-up: Terry Kirkwood News and events Great Aberdeen start area Reaching out There’s no stopping Ciaran! Sammy’s Road Trip SAMH Stomp Marathon Mo! More marathon heroes Victoria Park Road Runners David Syme - Jogging along Get plogging! Race directory Cool down
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Just click on a title to go straight to the page!
Design: 3fiftysixmedia.com
sponsor and funder jogscotland magazine
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Meet the Jog Crew
Jo Stevens
Sue Gyford
Colin Hutchison
Angie Sutherland
Membership development officer
Digital communications and press officer
Head of Development
jo.stevens@ scottishathletics.org.uk 0131 539 7341
sue.gyford@ scottishathletics.org.uk 0131 539 7350
Coaching administrator (Jog Leader course bookings)
Carol Robison
Andrea Gavin
Laura Kirkland
Membership administrator
Communities project coordinator
Participation project coordinator
membership@ scottishathletics.org.uk 0131 476 7321
andrea.gavin@ scottishathletics.org.uk 07801 634 198
laura.kirkland@ scottishathletics.org.uk 07960 582 838
colin.hutchison@ scottishathletics.org.uk 07983 080 925
coaching@ scottishathletics.org.uk 0131 476 7328
Jog Scotty The Jog Dog! Mascot of jogscotland
Stride – the jogscotland members’ magazine Editor: Sue Gyford
Designer: Adrian Hallam, 3fiftysixmedia Ltd
Photographs: P20 – Diane Ramsay by Mark Shearman, other photos, including front cover, by Gregor Innes Published four times a year by scottishathletics. Copyright©2018 Scottish Athletics Ltd. www.jogscotland.org.uk
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Terry Kirkwood, Warm-up byjogscotland Meadowmill In each edition of Stride, a guest contributor shares their love of running…
I joined jogscotland Meadowmill in April 2017 as I needed to get some help on getting fit(ter) than I currently was – and losing weight was going to be a bonus. In fact, two stone has been shed since then! I was able to jog/run/walk up to 5K but it wasn’t consistent, certainly not fast nor pretty, as it was a combination of running and walking to just ‘cover the distance’ - to paint a picture, it was a mixture of the roadrunner and a sloth at times! So, finger was taken out, and I registered with jogscotland and found my local group, which is based at Meadowmill Sports Centre, between Prestonpans and Tranent in East Lothian. I got in touch with a couple of lovely ladies by the name of Audrey and Tracey, who are two of the original Jog Leaders who gave me the lowdown on what the group does, where they meet etc. All that was left was to turn up on the night. At this point, nerves set in as I was the new guy and hadn’t a clue who was who, or if I would survive the first night, or indeed if I should change out of lycra! I survived and live to tell the tale of our group today.
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Warm-Up continued jogscotland Meadowmill (now part of the Team East Lothian ‘TEL’ network), is a growing group of people who come along up to three times a week, have the same goals to get fit or keep fit and are part of a wider social network of friends. Since starting, we have never looked back, indeed we continue to strive and the results both for the group and individuals continually get better and better. I’m not saying that everyone joins to achieve exactly the same levels as others, but personally, the leaders have certainly helped me on my way to do 5K in under 21 minutes, 10K under 46 minutes and half marathon under 1hr 38 minutes, in just over 13 months. The potential is there for everyone to not just get fit, but excel beyond their own expectations if that is their desire to do so. Our group has sent large contingents to the Great North Run and Edinburgh Marathon weekends and numerous other running events UK-wide including ultra marathons - our members’ ambitions know no bounds. This year I will be taking on Jedburgh Ultra Marathon and Half Marathon on the same weekend for Prostate Scotland and PoppyScotland. I have also just recently joined Portobello Running Club who have enhanced the skills that I have learned and still gain at Meadowmill. jogscotland really is also an excellent start for you if your goal is to join a running club, no matter your age! jogscotland Meadowmill have a number of certified (and certifiable!) Jog Leaders, including myself - which was a chance taken to help give something back - who continually look after the health, safety and well-being of all the members. Their coaching/leadership skills and exploits have recently been recognised by recently winning Community Club of the Year at the Tranent & District Community Sports Club Awards, the first of many awards I’m sure - it’s well deserved and earned especially by Jog Leaders Craig Taylor, Tracey Frame and Audrey Ferguson (pictured collecting the award). So to sum up, jogscotland is the place to start getting fit, meet new friends and help towards a healthy mind and body. Yours in sport – Terry.
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News and events
15 years young Many happy returns to one of our longest-established jog groups - Jog Scotland Dunfermline celebrated their 15th anniversary on 5 May, by running a total of 15K around the town! They started with the Dunfermline 5K parkrun, then continued on to complete a further 10K, finishing at their usual meeting venue, the Dell Farquharson Centre. Members enjoyed a buffet and a speech from chairperson and founder member Christine Garvie. They also welcomed special guests Irene Miller and Ann Davidson, who were Jog Leaders at the start of the group and later went on to set up their own group, in Cowdenbeath (with Ann also working for jogscotland for several years). Longest-serving member, Karen Gray, was then invited to cut the celebration cake!
Baby birthday At the other end of the birthday scale, we were delighted to receive this picture of St Andrew’s Adventure Running Team (STAART)’s Mums on the Run group celebrating their first birthday. The group caters to walkers and joggers, and has several running buggies that can be borrowed for the session. All are welcome, including dads, carers, guardians and grandparents. Sessions are free and finish off with a blether in the café. The group meets 10.30am on Wednesdays at Craigtoun Park – for more information contact Henry Paul on henrythenav@hotmail.com
Sammy’s Road Trip We are delighted to have launched our latest initiative to promote mental health and wellbeing among our members, Sammy’s Road Trip. Sammy, Agnes and Lee are three wee black toy dogs, a symbol of the partnership that exists between jogscotland and SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health). They are travelling to jog groups around the country, with each host group holding a session focusing on mental wellbeing while the dog is with them. The pups come with a toolkit full of session ideas, and groups are posting photos and details of their sessions on social media. Read more on p14!
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News and events continued
International Women’s Day Glasgow Frontrunners marked International Women’s Day on 8 March with a special event to try and increase female recruitment at the club. The group, which is Scotland’s biggest LGBT+ running club, had a female Jog Leader club takeover, with every group being led by women. Jog Leader Penny Lowles said: “We had new female members sign up on the night and an increase of female participation since the night - overall it was a great success.”
EMF We were delighted to have a jogscotland cheering station on the Sunday of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. Our own Sue Gyford and a team of supporters gathered on a balcony overlooking Portobello Prom, hung out the jogscotland flag, and cheered on both the half and full marathon runners throughout the morning and early afternoon. Thanks to everyone who waved and cheered back, you all looked fantastic, we hope you had a great day! Here’s the cracking view we had from the balcony…
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jogscotland start area at the Great Aberdeen Run!
A special touch of jogscotland magic is going to descent on the Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen 10K on 26 August, with our first ever jogscotland start pen at the event. We’ve already had fantastic dedicated start areas at other Great Run events, including the Great Scottish Run 10K, Great Edinburgh Run, and Great Winter Run (pictured). But this is the first time the initiative will take place in Aberdeen, and with so many thriving jogscotland groups in the northeast, we can’t wait to see everyone there! The jogscotland area will be at the front of the pink wave, and all are welcome. We’ll gather together before the race, pose for photos, enjoy spotting all the different T-shirts from other groups and warm up together before the start. Then there’ll be a shout-out for jogscotland runners from the event announcers, and we’ll move forward to toe the line at the very front of the pink wave. It’s a brilliant way to start the race and adds a really special touch to the day. But don’t worry if you’d rather run in your allocated start wave – you’ll have the choice of both! Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Event Director Eric Wilkins said: “We are delighted that we can provide a dedicated jogscotland starting pen at this year’s Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run. “There are so many vibrant jogscotland groups in the north east and we already have almost 200 members signed up to the 10K. We hope that even more will join us for a great day of running in this lively city. “We are sure that visiting jogscotland members from all across the country will receive a fantastic welcome when they line-up with the locals for what promises to be an exciting occasion.” Sign up now at https://www.greatrun.org/great-aberdeen-run jogscotland magazine
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Reaching out For the past six months, we’ve had two extra members on the team, working hard on a Scottish Government-funded project to extend our reach into communities which didn’t previously have jogscotland groups. Andrea Gavin and Laura Kirkland have been working in the west and north east of Scotland respectively, helping lots of people to get active for the first time.
Wishaw jogscotland with Law AAC
Clydebank jogscotland
Home-Start Renfrewshire & Inverclyde
It’s been a busy six months – on one occasion in April, Andrea had three groups launch on the same day! With a total of seven new groups established or enhanced in the west of Scotland under her watch, on 17 April, she attended the launches of Just Jog Inverclyde, Clydebank jogscotland and Wishaw jogscotland. Wishaw marked their first night with a visit from Jog Scotty and support from local club, Law and District AAC. Just Jog Inverclyde has already expanded since their launch, adding a new session on a Tuesday morning. Andrea helped launch Kilwinning jogscotland, which has already taken part in Sammy’s Road Trip (see page 14), with a visit from puppy Lee inspiring a session chatting through SAMH’s 5 Ways to Better Mental Wellbeing. Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde started a walk and talk group for their families, where parents are coming along with their wee ones in buggies, chatting and walking, making friends, getting fresh air and feeling great for it. A new group has also started with East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities, and Andrea helped enhance Glasgow Frontrunners by helping them recruit more female joggers, and advising them on setting up a new walking group. Andrea said: “It was such a wonderful feeling getting all the groups set up, and it was like Christmas when I had all three in the one day - busy but lovely! I’ve been so lucky to visit all of the groups, join in and see that there has been a great need for the groups in these areas. I’m looking forward to seeing how they all grow in the future.”
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JogScotland WellNess
Meanwhile, Laura has been focussing on the north east of Scotland. In Inverness, we’ve been delighted to see a new group called JogScotland WellNess set up, based at the Centre for Mental Health. Staff members Natalie Ramsay, Judy Graham and Mairead Johnson completed the jog leader course in Lossiemouth and are now operating a staff jogging group every Tuesday – and will in due course open the group to clients too. Laura organised for a Jog Leader course to take place in Perth Prison in early May, open to both prisoners and prison officers. The six prisoners who were trained now hold couch to 10K sessions every Wednesday morning for other prisoners, and at the end of August a 10K will be held in the prison grounds. Meanwhile, in the Torry area of Aberdeen, a family 2K event was organised and led to the creation of Torry jogscotland, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council communities team. The group is supported by Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE), who supply each runner weekly with water and an energy bar. Laura said: “It has been fantastic working on this project. I have worked with some wonderful people, and seeing each group grow in confidence has been very rewarding. Each group has had its own unique challenges which I have enjoyed working through, and I am very proud of everyone for the effort in making their groups a success.”
Torry jogscotland
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There’s no stopping Ciaran!
by Angie Young
My son, Ciaran, is 17, and has autism, learning difficulties and epilepsy. He is also an accomplished member of Tain Joggers! He attends his local special needs school in Tain where they cater for pupils with severe, complex and profound additional support needs. Ciaran’s younger brother Matthew (15) also has autism. Ciaran was diagnosed with autism and learning difficulties at the age of two and with epilepsy at age seven. He didn’t start to speak until he was five years old, and many of his milestones took a lot longer for him to reach. When he was younger he had a lot of behavioural problems, mainly due to the frustration of not being able to communicate well and he could get overwhelmed easily by changes in his routine etc. Over the years his epilepsy has also been quite problematic at times but this has never stopped Ciaran - he has always managed to stay active most of the time despite being tired from seizures and side effects of medication. Even after a seizure, Ciaran is very positive and is keen to just get up and get on with it! Thankfully his seizures are well controlled at present. Ciaran has always enjoyed running – when he was younger he used to love to try and run off and kept us all on our toes! Over the years his school has tried to get him involved in sports at his local mainstream school but due to Ciaran’s autism, it was hard for him to be involved, especially in team sports, as he has limited understanding of rules and social skills and he struggled to fit in. He ran a couple of local 5K gala runs with his school in 2016 and 2017 and did a 3K Santa run last year and really enjoyed them so our jogscotland group was something I was keen to try with him. I’ve been a member of our local jogscotland group in Tain myself for over a year and in December 2017 I asked our Jog Leader, Cynthia Duncan, if it was possible for Ciaran to come to the next Couch to 5K group, which was starting in January. Cynthia was so helpful and encouraging and so I arranged for Ciaran to come along with one of his support workers, Laura Grant, and her daughter Katie.
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13 Because of Ciaran’s epilepsy, he needs someone with him who’s trained to deal with his seizures and who can administer his emergency medication if needed so it was great that Laura was keen to do the C25K along with Ciaran. Ciaran completed his C25K in March this year along with Laura and Katie and in early April at our club he managed to complete his first 10K distance which he ran with me, with Cynthia joining us for the last 5K, encouraging Ciaran on! He got lovely support from our group and a cheer and medal at the end so he was just delighted with himself! This has been an amazing achievement for him and we’re so proud of him! We hope to enter him in some 5K and 10K races this season and he’s already registered for the 10K at the Dramathon in October which will be a big challenge for him. One of our lovely group members has offered to buddy Ciaran for this race which was a lovely gesture. We’re so delighted at how Ciaran has been welcomed into our lovely running group and how encouraging and supportive everyone has been. Cynthia runs a fantastic group here in Tain and we are so grateful for all her help and input with Ciaran. It’s been such a confidence boost for him managing to achieve what he has so far and he loves running and coming along on club nights.
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Sammy’s Road Trip Our mascot Jog Scotty has had pups! Sammy, Agnes and Lee are small black toy dogs who represent physical and mental wellbeing, a symbol of the partnership that exists between jogscotland and SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health). They are part of a new initiative to help jog groups to engage in conversations around mental health and wellbeing. Jog Leaders from 23 jogscotland groups across the country have signed up to take care of one of the dogs for a few days, take it along to their jog group for photos, and use it as a starting point to introduce a session focusing on mental health and wellbeing. Each dog comes with a toolkit containing several ideas, such as walk and talk sessions, or positive message lucky dip. The tour started on 3 May, and groups are sharing their photos on the Sammy’s Road Trip facebook page with details of the session they host, to inspire others. Sammy and siblings are travelling around Scotland to finish back at jogscotland HQ in Edinburgh in time for World Mental Health Day in October. Sammy started his journey in West Dunbartonshire, spending time with the three jog groups there. Coordinator Angus MacDonald took Sammy everywhere, from meetings to a swimming gala and used the pup as a tool to talk to everyone he came into contact with. He was pleased to report that six new members joined his groups during Sammy’s visit as a result of these conversations. Angus said: “We had Sammy for three weeks, meeting three of our jogscotland groups throughout West Dunbartonshire and also visiting many more places. I signed up to get Sammy and after I did, was thinking ‘What I have got myself into?’ and ‘This will not work!’ “How wrong was I? “It has been fun and the amazing Jog Leaders I have made it so much easier they really took Sammy under the collar and made it work. We have even gained six new members who have came along and given jogging a go.
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“I didn’t only take Sammy jogging. He has been all over West Dunbartonshire and to as many places I could think of. Why you might ask? When I was at some of the sessions like rugby or swimming we had people asking what I was doing, giving me a chance to talk about jogscotland and SAMH. “If you are getting Sammy over the next few weeks, I wish you luck that we got in finding new joggers and also giving time to the people that need it.” Sammy was then passed onto jogscotland Cambuslang where he helped out with a social walk and talk session. Meanwhile, pups Agnes and Lee have also been busy. Lee has been to visit our new Wishaw and Kilwinning jogscotland groups, launched as part of our equalities project. Lee spent time with the Edinburgh Frontrunners who were cheering on their team members at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. Agnes was also part of the cheer squad, supporting SAMH fundraisers in their charity tent over the EMF weekend. Agnes then spent time with the beginners at Let’s Go Linlithgow and enjoyed cheering everyone on at the Alloa Half Marathon. Sammy’s current home is with the Glasgow FrontRunners, who took Sammy to Skye for the half marathon. We hope the initiative will help jog groups promote wellbeing to their joggers, make members feel more comfortable talking about mental health, and to let the population of Scotland see that jogscotland and SAMH are working to reduce barriers to participation in physical activity, and to challenge stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health. • Want to host one of the pups at your group? Drop an email to jo.stevens@scottishathletics.org.uk jogscotland magazine
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Marathon Mo! Morag Stark spent a long time feeling “too scared, too fat and too slow” to join jogscotland. But once she got started, there was no stopping her – and this year she completed the London Marathon.
The summer of 2016 was one of the most challenging of my life but without doubt it has made me a better person. Having lost my job in the April, I enjoyed some garden leave while waiting to start my new role. Three weeks before I was due to start, my husband of almost 30 years decided that our marriage was over. In the space of three weeks I moved to Kintore, became single and started a new job! I knew very few people in Kintore - maybe six through the Rotary Club - I had put on weight, had high blood pressure and all that goes with that. As girls do, a priority was to find someone to do my nails! We got chatting and I mentioned that I had always fancied joining a jogscotland group but was too scared, too fat and too slow. The lady doing my nails was quick to tell me that Jog Scotland Kintore were starting a beginners’ group the following week and I managed along to a couple of sessions with a Rotary chum. A few weeks later, my friend decided it wasn’t for her so I had a choice, feet up on the sofa or go it alone, as I knew not a soul there. That night I was put in a team of three to do sprint (I use the word loosely) relays in a field and I loved it, due to the fact I was paired with two amazing people, Jamie and Laura, who are now close friends. Fast forward to the following March, and our amazing Jog Leader Tammy Wilson was right, I was more than ready to take on a 5K race, but was utterly terrified. But a good friend and ultra-runner Jeni Rees Jenkins used my 5K as her warmup for her half marathon, and without her I would not have got round, I was astonished to get a sub 40 minute time, I had been aiming for around 45! jogscotland magazine
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18 By this time I had stupidly entered the ballot for London Marathon, choosing a charity option but thought nothing more about it until 31 July when the army charity, ABF, offered me a golden ticket to run for them. Those who joined me in the ballot were not so lucky, so thought this was hilarious! A year after starting my journey I completed my first half marathon at Fraserburgh, again with Jeni by my side, and Tammy running me in with the JSK family. I loved it - what an achievement from the chubby girl who was always last at school PE! So that brings me to the biggest challenge of my life – the London Marathon. I was so proud and more than a little overwhelmed, not least due to the hundreds of messages of love, cards and survival gifts I received from my JSK family. I cannot describe just what an amazing experience running in London was - a rollercoaster of emotions and lots of tears. Having trained mostly in subzero temperatures and some snow, the 24 degree heatwave was something I could not have prepared for, and made my first marathon doubly challenging. However, the amazing people of London provided water, sweeties, sun cream and even ice lollies! I made it round and crossed that finish line with a huge smile on my face. If you are reading this and keep finding an excuse not to join jogscotland STOP IT! Speed, size, gender - none of that matters - remember “FEAR� - Forget Everything And Run.
Morag (left) before she started running
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More marathon heroes There are always many inspiring stories that come out of marathon season – but here are two of our other jogscotland favourites from this year’s London Marathon. Jack Arnold is a Jog Leader with the Runbetweeners, a jogscotland group based at Run4It in Giffnock. Jack, who also runs with Bellahouston Harriers, had an incredible race in London, finishing 33rd out of 41,000 non-elite runners, in a time of 2.31! His achievement earned him an appearance on Reporting Scotland, where he told reporters: “I hadn’t really thought about it before the race… but I was really pleased, really proud of it. “I’d like to think I’d be a positive role model and get a few people into running that maybe wouldn’t have done it originally. I think the fantastic thing about running is that it’s there for everybody, everyone can give it a go and find their own level and there’s always progress to be made.” Emily Taylor of jogscotland Rosemount was running to raise money for our partners SAMH – you might have read her story in the last edition of Stride magazine. She tells us how she did… I did it!! I ran a marathon! Words can’t even begin to describe how proud I feel. As I ran, I slipped between loving life, high-fiving strangers and encouraging other runners …to hating everyone, shouting, grunting with every step and crying. It was quite the emotional rollercoaster! The heat was record breaking – and didn’t I know it? Not only did I train through winter for this, but I did it in Aberdeen! It was cruel! But it was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life. I now firmly believe that anyone can run a marathon if they put their mind to it. I could never have done the marathon without the support and encouragement from my local jogscotland group in Rosemount. I’ve continued to be the leader for the beginners group and am filled with pride when I tell them “That’s where I started…!”
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Couch to 42km – getting a non-runner to run the London Marathon By Emily Taylor, jogscotland Rosemount, Aberdeen
Fast forward two years a marathon, I am now a le London Marathon. Yeah myself or others – rather with it. It took me 26 yea the best things I’ve ever
I’ve often said that the ru like to take this opportun through breakups, make the best support networ
I was lucky enough to re raising money for SAMH been difficult to fit into a when my body aches an weeks into a gruelling tw and my body screams a
For anyone reading this would never have thoug not running the maratho and for jogscotland, an
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Follow me! Strava – emi I am not a runner. Take one look at me – my hips don’t lie, and my body does not scream ‘marathon runner’. So why am I ten weeks into a training plan to run the London Marathon?! I have never been a runner. The idea of running seemed so pointless to me – why would I go for a run when I could have cake? I only ever saw it as exercise to lose weight, or to show off to your non-running friends that you went for a run. Yet, for some reason I was always curious about running – why would people do it? What’s the enjoyment? I was always intrigued, so in January 2013 I emailed my local jogscotland group for more information…and did nothing about it. In January 2014 I did the same thing…and didn’t turn up. But in January 2015 I found myself walking to my local jogscotland in Rosemount, Aberdeen. I started running two years ago, and it has completely changed my life. I’ll never forget walking along to my first ever running group, feeling sick with nerves and convincing myself I would hold everyone up. I had such a low opinion of myself I was convinced I couldn’t do it, that I would embarrass myself or that everyone would laugh at the jiggly jogger. I ran just under four miles that night, and was proud as punch.
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VP is VG for jogscotland! Victoria Park Glasgow is part of the athletics establishment in Scotland formed in 1930, the club has a host of national medals and trophies to its name. So when the club decided it needed to swell the ranks of its senior endurance section, we were thrilled that they took the step of setting up a jogscotland group to bring new runners into the fold.
Relay: Diane Ramsay in action for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014
And they’re doing it in style, with 14 Jog Leaders already trained, and hopes that more will soon join them. The Jog Leaders got together for a “rehearsal” run on 14 May, and launched officially on 22 May at Scotstoun Stadium. The club’s Gordon Innes said: “We decided to start the group because we were aware that parents were dropping their kids off at the stadium and going for a run. Many of the parents we spoke to thought that a club of our stature wouldn’t be interested in them. Nothing could be further from the truth. “While we’ve been very successful at bringing young track athletes through to compete at the highest level we’ve failed to bring in and retain older road runners. We advertised through our website and social media and found about 40 of our members or parents wanted to be involved in a new joggers network or road running group. Fourteen of those expressing an interest also wanted to be Jog Leaders. “At the moment, the group is open to everyone four nights a week - it’s important that the group is available every night at 7pm to match up with the track sessions organised by the club.
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21 “We’ve still got a bit of work to do to advertise the sessions but everyone knows what the plan is and we’re confident it will be a success.” The groups are really bringing together the full spread of Scotland’s running community, as among the Jog Leaders is Glasgow 2014 4x400m runner Diane Ramsay. The 25-year-old hung up her spikes early in 2017, but now is loving the opportunity to inspire others who are just getting into the sport: “I’ve taken a Jog Leader course because VP-Glasgow are starting up a group and I enjoyed it,” she says. “I’m really pleased to be involved in that, and I hope it will feed people into the sport and the club. “I work for investment bankers JPMorgan and I started a running group there with two guys a couple of years ago – and we had 60 new starts racing in the Great Scottish Run. “It is great to see people get the running bug – or really confident individuals in work situations finding it really difficult when running. It’s interesting seeing how folk react and how you see the difference in can bring in mood and outlook.” • I f you’re interested in joining the group, contact Gordon on gordon@vpglasgow.com. Membership is £25 for a year, with the first month free.
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Are you wearing the right footwear for your training? Our partners DW Fitness First on why you shouldn’t just pick any old pair off the shelf As all good athletes know, your sports shoes are one of the most important pieces of your kit. It’s absolutely vital that you pick the right pair, as proper form-fitting sports shoes can enhance performance and help you feel comfortable and capable throughout your workout. There are substantial differences in the way various trainers support your feet and ankles, so you may not want to wear the same pair of trainers for everything. As you’ll be faced with different demands on your body, we’ve looked at the types of footwear you should be wearing for different sports and exercise.
Running
The best running shoes are designed to meet the individual runner’s needs. Each runner is unique in their style, speed and gait and this needs to be reflected in their shoes. For the best fit and a comfortable running experience, you should have your gait analysed by an expert, who can then advise you on the best type of running shoe for you. If you’re going to be running three times a week or more, gait analysis is vital. This service is available free in every DW Sports store.
Gym
Your gym routine may change week to week, but your training shoes should support you through every session. Whether you’re powering through a circuit, climbing the final hill in spin class or sprinting all out on the treadmill, training shoes provide the flexibility and cushioning you need to perform your best. For more information on wearing the correct footwear and suggestions from the professionals, read the full article at https://www.dwfitnessfirst.com/inside-track/ fitness/are-you-wearing-the-right-footwear-for-your-training/
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Jogging along by David Syme How do you best describe how you feel on a solo run when you just don’t feel right? There’s no spring in the stride, your thoughts are coloured by self-pity, you are as delicate and as precious as a snowflake. Your usual enjoyment of the act of running is absent and you can’t wait to reach your finish point. Listless is a good English word for that feeling, except that there is no opposite word, such as “listful” to describe the wonderful feeling you get on a good run. My German running friends had some good expressions for listless running: “The fire has gone out,” “I’m as flat as a flounder,” “total kaput” or my favourite “Null Bock” when Null means zero and Bock stands for macho. On a recent run I had a severe case of Null Bock. I had had a rest day the previous day, I had no injuries, my pre-run preparation had gone well (a successful toilet visit, if you must know) and I was under no pressure. It was a flat 5km route, one I know well, so why should I feel so flat? Even my “racing mile” was run without enthusiasm. So what’s the answer? I could: 1. Take a week off and hope that the negative clouds disperse. 2. Buy new trainers – always good for morale. 3. Run with others – no time for self-pity. 4. Try some interval work next run, small targets etc. 5. Enter a race – top motivator. 6. Run a new route, especially one with a high risk of getting lost – adds some pep. 7. Run the same route as soon as possible but run it with a better attitude.
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Summer 2018
25 On this occasion I opted for No 7. I prepared for my next run as if it were a race, psyching myself up well in advance for a good performance. I did some warmup exercises, trotted briskly to my start point, took some deep breaths and set off with real intent. It worked! After a few minutes my thoughts were more positive and I relaxed into a stride which was quite listful and even had a little bit of Bock about it. David has produced two collections of short stories about running world-wide: “Running Away From Home” and “Running Home and Away”. All proceeds from sales go to support Tong-Len UK, a charity for street children in Northern India.
OUTrun 2018 OUTrun is back on Saturday 18 August! Organised by Glasgow FrontRunners, Scotland’s largest LGBT+ running club, this is a fun and memorable five mile chip-timed run around Kelvingrove park and the Kelvin walkway. Since its start in 2015 the event has grown in popularity and quickly sells out – so sign up straight away! Starting at the beautiful Kelvingrove bandstand, OUTrun has included pipers and drummers to help runners around this incredibly scenic course. This year OUTrun is raising money for SAMH to raise awareness of the higher incidence of mental ill health suffered in the LGBT community. Donations can be made on the day or via their justgiving page. Along with prizes for the fastest runners, there will be a £50 charity donation to the biggest team entry and a prize for the fastest 3-person team over the finish line. They also have a voluntary cake stall for runners to share their home baking with runners and supporters afterwards and the most coveted prize of all is for the Best Home Baking! For more information see http://glasgowfrontrunners.org/outrun/ jogscotland magazine
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Summer 2018
Get plogging! Plogging is the latest running trend – and one that jogscotland groups have been embracing. It originated in Sweden, and is, in a nutshell, picking up rubbish while out jogging. The trend was highlighted in several recent newspaper articles, inspiring many jog groups to have a go themselves. Among them was Ellon jogscotland, who held a Wombling Wednesday Treasure Hunt! Group members had to solve clues dotted about the town, each of which led them towards the next clue – and as they went, they took bin bags with them. In all, they collected around 20 bags of rubbish, plus a discarded bike wheel! Jog Leader Glynis Buchan said: “We actually collected so many black bags we had to dispose mid run to be able to continue! We’re always thinking of new ways to keep sessions interesting - a fellow leader had read about plogging and another leader came up with clues to turn it into scavenger hunt style! “We received good feedback from all three groups. They enjoyed that the run was about working as a team - you couldn’t move onto next location until everyone had a piece of litter for the selfie. It also meant runners could choose their own speed of getting to next location but they mostly stuck together as a group. We’re planning another over the summer holidays.” Ellon are not the only ones to give plogging a go. In April, we were happy to promote Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Spring Clean, when the organisation was providing free rubbish collecting bags for people who wanted to take part. The take-up rate from jog groups was so huge that Keep Scotland Beautiful had to place a whole new order for the bags to meet demand!
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Race Directory There’s an event for everyone, go to events.scottishathletics.org.uk for full details.
16 June Edinburgh Frontrunners Pride Run, Edinburgh 17 June Peterhead Running Festival 24 June Westhill 10K, Aberdeenshire 30 June Barrathon (Isle of Barra Half Marathon and Fun Run), Castlebay
1 July Stonehaven Half Marathon Isle of Arran (Shiskine Valley) Half Marathon The Great Carradale Canter, Kintyre 4 July Brig Bash 5 8 July Crieff 10k & Junior Mile Race Girvan Half Marathon 10 July Moffat Festival of Running
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Summer 2018
28 18 July
24 August
Newburgh Trail Race
Eyemouth Twilight 5K
21 July
25 August
Musselburgh Festival 10K Road Race
Tom Robb Memorial Trail Race
29 July Ballater 10
Teviotdale Harriers 10k and 5k and Fun Run, Hawick
Fort William Marathon
Doonhammer 10K
1 August
29 August
Hessilhead 10k
Ayrshire Running Festival - 5K and 10K
4 August
26 August
Isle of Mull Half Marathon, 10k and Junior Races
2 September
8 August
Caithness Half Marathon
Dundonald 10K Road Race
8 September
12 August
Kyles 10 Miles, Kames
Prestwick 10k
Golspie 10K and 3K Fun Run
18 August
9 September
Nairn Half Marathon
Kilmacolm Running Festival
19 August
16 September
Forfar 10km Road Race
Pitlochry Running Festival
Paisley 10k & Fun Run (measured)
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Summer 2018
NAAC 10K
29 If you’re going to put yourself through hell, you might as well do it in heaven.
23.09.18 Marathon | 10K | 5K | Wee Nessie lochnessmarathon.com
GUARANTEED MARATHON ENTRY AVAILABLE NOW The Event Frontrunners
Free parkrun events (5K)
Aberdeen Alness Aviemore Ayr Bressay Camperdown Crichton Drumchapel Dunfermline Edinburgh
Eglinton Elgin Ellon Falkirk Fort William Ganavan Sands Greenock Hazlehead Inverness Kirkcaldy
every Saturday at 9.30am
Kirkwall Linwood Livingston Lochore Meadows Montrose Perth Plean Pollok Portobello Ruchill
Springburn St Andrews Stonehaven Strathclyde Thurso Tollcross Troon Victoria Vogrie
Junior parkrun events (2K) for four to 14-year-olds every Sunday at 9.30am Dumfries Duthie Helix Inverleith
Jacks Road Loch Leven Perth
Prestwick Oval Rouken Glen Stirling
Strathmartine The Meadows Victoria
Find out more at parkrun.org.uk jogscotland magazine
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Summer 2018
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Cool down by Sue Gyford Happy birthday to us! ‘My’ jogscotland group celebrated its first birthday in May – and we marked the occasion - of course - with a cake! It seems amazing that it’s only been a year as we’ve packed so much in. The group is based in the Balgreen area of Edinburgh, at a charity called The Welcoming, which helps newcomers to Edinburgh settle in. That includes everyone from refugees and asylum seekers to students, workers – any migrants who find themselves in Edinburgh are – well, welcome at The Welcoming. The charity offers language classes, cultural outings, support with practical things – and opportunities to exercise, which is we where we come in. We have an impressive roll call of nationalities who have joined us for a jog during our first 12 months – people from Syria, Sudan, Spain, Portugal, Morroco, the Netherlands, Romania, Belarus, Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, Italy – and, of course, Scotland! We’re open to local runners as well as people who find us through The Welcoming – we know that people who have just moved to a new place sometimes find it hard to meet local people, so it’s great to be able to help them do that. Running is also a great way for newcomers to explore corners of the city they might not otherwise see – with the Water of Leith and Colinton Dell close by, we have some really beautiful routes at hand. Perhaps my favourite run with the group was just after the clocks went forward this year. With the nights finally light enough to stray away from the roads, we climbed a long flight of steps and followed the canal towpath across the aqueduct that cuts, high in the air, through the south of Edinburgh. Then we jogged on into the Dell, along a tree-lined path with the birds singing either side, and descended a flight of steps into a deep bowl of land by the river. The water was crashing loudly over the rocks, the trees were towering
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over us on all sides – as we came down the steps and gathered on the bridge, everyone’s faces looked as if we’d just discovered a magical fairy glen, it was a wonderful moment, and hard to believe we were in the middle of the city! It’s not just the newcomers that get to explore. Recently a new member who lives locally came along, and introduced us to a footpath we’d never taken before. As we returned to the main road, we passed a very old building, hemmed in by garages and fluorescent signs pointing to nearby businesses. There was no clue what the building was, so we looked it up on our return and discovered we’d just happened across Stenhouse Mansion, dating from the 1500s! There’s nothing like making new discoveries in your own city on a summer’s evening to give your running life a sense of excitement. One of the group’s star members is Kristin, who started with us at our very first session, jogging 30 seconds then walking 30 seconds. She’s worked hard and kept coming, and on 27 May, just over a year after getting started, completed the Edinburgh Marathon Festival half marathon (pictured above with her medal)! Also running the half marathon was Fieke, from the Netherlands, and in the marathon we had Iulian from Romania and jog leader Caroline. As all the Jog Leaders out there will know, it was an incredibly proud moment to see all of them dashing past and waving back up at me as I cheered them on. I didn’t get to sport a medal that day, but I had a treat of my own the following week. The Welcoming nominated me for an Inspiring Volunteer Award for setting up the group, and I got to go along to the City Chambers to receive it. It was a great evening, hearing lots of uplifting tales of other volunteers who help make the city tick, and I was really flattered to be nominated alongside them. Here’s to many more years! jogscotland magazine
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Summer 2018