Stride Magazine - Summer 2019

stride

the jogscotland magazine | Summer 2019

Try our Virtual 5K and get your exclusive Jog Scotty medal!

“I’ve lost nearly 13 stone – now I run every week” Running with lupus Praised in Parliament Plus… the best summer running events for your diary jogscotland.org.uk

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2 Our 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 2016

Encouraging employees to be more active makes good business sense. Jogworks can help avoid some of the physical and mental health issues affecting the workplace.

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

Community Strides coordinator

Community Strides 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: Susan Thorburn at the Pseudo Black Rock Fun Run (pp10,11): John Rennie

Published four times a year by scottishathletics. Copyright©2019 Scottish Athletics Ltd. www.jogscotland.org.uk

www.twitter.com/jogscotland

www.facebook.com/jogscotty

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Welcome!

by Sue Gyford

Stride magazine | Summer 2019 Welcome to the Summer 2019 edition of Stride – and it’s a magazine packed with inspiring stories from our members.

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Susan Thorburn is, to us, an example of jogscotland courage personified. We know that many of our members come along to their first session with a sense of trepidation. They think they’ll get left behind, or make a fool of themselves, or stick out like a sore thumb.

Fortunately, they come away from that first session reassured and often jubilant – they did fine! Everyone was friendly! The other new joggers were the same as them!

So to read about Susan walking the parkrun route on her own several times before she turned up for the event itself really struck a chord with us. And now just look at all she’s achieved, turning her life around and really enjoying getting out with the fantastic team at jogscotland Dunfermline.

I think we all recreate ourselves a little when we take up running. Whether it’s through increased physical strength, improved mental health, or finding better ways to deal with the difficult parts of our life, it changes us for the better.

You can see that in other stories in the magazine – how Karen Stenhouse has improved her body’s ability to cope with lupus by joining the Galavanters; how Michael Mullan quit smoking and experienced the pride of halving his 5K time. Whether the changes we experience through jogging are large or small, they’re significant to us all.

It’s also been a fantastic few months for us as a community. Meeting Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey and receiving her praise in Parliament was wonderful. And we’ve so many great initiatives going on – our first ever Virtual 5K, Andrea and Laura’s hard work on the Community Strides and Jogability projects. We hope you enjoy reading all about them!

Sue Gyford, Editor

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Contents News and events 6 Virtual #jogscotland5K! 8 A whole new life 10 Retiral for Margaret and Raymond 12 Plogging week!

13 Running with lupus 14 Remembering Ann 17 Ministerial seal of approval 19 I halved my 5K time in a year 20 Community Strides & Jogability 22 David Syme - Jogging along 23 Race directory 25 Just click on a title to go straight to the page!

Design: 3fiftysixmedia.com

sponsor and funder jogscotland magazine

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News and events Join us on Instagram!

We’ve now launched an Instagram account for jogscotland – come and join us there! Just search for jogscotland and you’ll see us, sharing photos of all our wonderful Jog Scotties getting active across the country.

10th Anniversary Congratulations to JogPeebles – The Pink Panters, who celebrated their tenth anniversary in May! And they celebrated in style, putting on their glad rags to gather at The Park Hotel in Peebles. With a number of people there who attended the first ever session, it was a real look back through the years. There was a display of photos, with a caption competition, guess the location, general photos and a slide show of press cuttings. And of course a rather fabulous cake! Founder Miriam Adcock, who still leads the group, thanked everyone – jog leaders, committee members and joggers – for making it so enjoyable.

On the airwaves Rocksport Radio invited us on air in April to chat about jogscotland. Our own Sue Gyford joined Tom Russell in the studio to talk about what we do, the joy of running, and the benefits of staying active as you get older. Listen again at https://rocksportradio.podbean.com/e/sue-gyford-fromjog-scotland-chats-to-tom-russell/ And that wasn’t our only recent radio appearance! Morag Stark of jogscotland Kintore joined Kaye Adams on BBC Radio Scotland to chat about running when you’ve a fuller figure. Morag (left), who previously appeared in Stride, chatted with both Kaye and Julie Creffield of the Too Fat To Run? website – we were delighted to hear that Morag had found jogscotland such a welcoming place to all.

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jogscotland start area at the Great Aberdeen Run We’re delighted to say we’ll be having a dedicated jogscotland start area at the Great Aberdeen Run again this year. Whatever colour your number, you’ll be able to join the jogscotland area and we’ll all start the race together. It’s a brilliant atmosphere, with lots of other groups to meet and chat with, a shout-out from the announcers, and the chance to set off en masse. Just turn up on the day and find the jogscotland area.

Two years of great work with SAMH We celebrated the 2nd anniversary of our partnership with SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) in April. It’s been an incredible two years, with so much achieved. As well as being among the first signatories to Mental Health Charter for Sport, we’ve seen 640 jog leaders taking SAMH’s online mental health awareness training. Leaders at more than 75 jog groups have taken a pledge in front of their groups to be open to mental health conversations, and donned the I’m here badge to show they’re happy to listen. We were delighted to receive praise in the Scottish Parliament for our partnership – turn to p19 for details.

PSP Fundraiser Anster Allsorts and Haddies raised £550 by organising a charity run for the PSP Association on 19 May. Jog leader George Findlay decided to arrange the event in memory of his cousin Lil Gimmestad and friend Ian Birrell who both passed away from the condition. PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) is a neurological condition caused by the premature loss of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain.

The event offered 5K and 10K distances around Cellardyke and Anstruther.

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Virtual #jogscotland5K! The first ever jogscotland Virtual Run is underway, with joggers across the country completing 5K in their own time, and receiving one of our specially-designed medals featuring our mascot, Jog Scotty!

You just register online via www.jogscotland.org.uk/join-virtual-5kfantastic-jog-scotty-medal and then complete the 5K however you like – walk, jog or run. You can complete the distance in stages if that’s easier for you.

When you’ve completed it, share a picture of your efforts on social media– use the hashtag #jogscotland5k and/or tag jogscotland’s twitter, or Instagram accounts, or post it to our facebook page. You can post a selfie of yourself at the end of the run, or if you’re shy, a picture from your running app or GPS tracker will do!

jogscotland Westhill

Amanda Spencer

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John and Karen Stenhouse

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William Field

9 You don’t have to be a jogscotland member to take part – it’s open to everyone, so fetch your pals and get jogging!

The entry fee is £12.99 and all money raised will be ploughed back into jogscotland‘s work, helping more people improve their physical and mental health by getting active, and supporting the jog leaders who make it all happen.

If you can’t complete the 5K within four weeks, that’s OK – we know life sometimes gets in the way, and we trust you! The support you’ve shown jogscotland means a lot to us so you will be sent your medal even if you don’t complete the challenge within four weeks – but don’t forget to do it! We’ll look forward to seeing your completion picture on social media in due course. If you’re taking part as a group, you can choose to sign up in a group of five or ten, and your medals will all be sent together to the group leader to distribute.

These are just some of the fantastic virtual 5K-ers who’ve already sent us photos of their runs – why don’t you join them?!

Gordon Largue

Jane F Hamilton

Lynsey Anderson

Grey Usrey

Lizzie King and Fiona Mellan

Scotty medals

Evelyn Roxburgh

Irene Mcintosh

Glenn Denny and John Allen

Catherine Payne

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A whole new life…

By Susan Thorburn, jogscotland Dunfermline

In April 2015, my health was starting to fail and I was developing health conditions related to my weight. I was referred to the Fife Weight Management Team to take classes, and given the possibility of future weight loss surgery. I’d been weighed at 28st 10.8lbs, and was willing to try it.

Some might ask how I got here and to be honest I didn’t realise I was there. I suffered with postnatal depression after the birth of my daughter in 2000 and son in 2005. Then in 2007 I lost my second son, who was stillborn. My anxiety and depression took over my life and eating was my release.

The classes were run by a dietitian and psychologist. I threw everything at it and attended all sessions. I also took up a commitment to walk every day to improve my chances at losing weight and improve my lungs for surgery. On 27 of April 2018 I had my surgery - on the day, I weighed 22st 10.3lbs.

Walking became my main form of exercise and slowly but steadily my weight began to drop. Then it was suggested that I attend the parkrun. I was defiant and said: “No I don’t run, I am not a runner!” However the seed was planted, and with the belief that person had in me, I decided to go and look online at local parkruns.

After much soul searching I headed to Lochore one morning to see how long it would take me to complete the 5K route on my own.

59.42 minutes later I had finished. I did it again the next day in 59.28 mins and

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11 again a few days later in 59.18, even managing to run for a few 15-20 second intervals. Eventually, I bit the bullet and attended my first parkrun. I couldn’t have been more nervous and had to fight my anxiety, but was determined to give it my best shot. I was unexpectedly joined by a friend’s husband who runs, which lifted my spirits and 56.38mins later I’d completed my first parkrun.

I felt exhausted, sore but amazing. All the volunteers and runners had made me feel welcome. I was hooked. The support and encouragement from everyone at parkrun - especially those who come back to run with me after completing their run - kept me going back week after week. I strived to improve my personal best and I “became a runner”.

The feeling I get from running is indescribable, I began watching YouTube for tips on how to improve my running and breathing, and my PB was slowly improving.

My physical and mental health was improving every day. After speaking to a few people they recommended joining a running group to help me improve my times.

So again I took to the internet and found my local jogscotland group that met in Dunfermline. Again my anxiety got the better of me but after a few weeks I decided to email the group and went along to join for the first time at the beginning of March 2019. I was made to feel so welcome by the leaders and other runners. First night was hill running but I had a fabulous time. The encouragement and belief from everyone has allowed me to believe in myself.

If seven months ago you’d have told me I’d be running two or three times a week I would have laughed but I really could not imagine my life now without running.

I am now 15st 13.5lbs, a weight loss of 12st 11.2lbs. Running has given me a whole new confidence and life. It just makes me realise we never know what we are capable of if we don’t try.

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Retiral for Margaret and Raymond The members of jogscotland Bridge of Don are bidding a sad but very appreciative farewell to jog leaders Margaret and Raymond Simpson, who are planning on hanging up their Jimmies (local dialect for trainers!) after an incredible 16 years of leading.

Member Kay Leslie tells us: “They have been our wonderful leaders. We are gutted but completely understand that their family commitments are vast. In their time, they have funded 24 Jog Leaders, and ran thousands of miles in the 3,052 sessions that they have taken between them! We have over 150 current members, with around 600 over the years.

“As a group we have raised thousands of pounds for local charities, including Aberdeen Mountain Rescue, Maggies, CLAN, a local cancer support group, Befriend a Child, Give a Greyhound a Home, and the Scottish blood transfusion service.

“They have made folks believe that it is fun to run! Most importantly, they are the centre of a fabulous group, which when people discover they are hooked on a Tuesday and Thursday every week. We love them!”

Margaret added: “Raymond and I have very happy memories with this wonderful club. We got an invitation to attend the Garden Party at Holyroodhouse, I got to carry the Baton for the Commonwealth Games 2014 but the most important over the 15 years is seeing members improve and running races. We have built a very special relationship with every one of them. We are going to continue to jog with the club but feel it’s the right time to let someone take over the leadership. To all jog leaders, remember your last runner is the most important one!”

Margaret and Raymond officially stepped down in May, but will have their final send-off after the Aberdeen half marathon in August.

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Plogging week!

We were delighted this spring to hold the first ever jogscotland plogging week.

Plogging is picking up litter while jogging, and as well as giving you a wee change from a normal jogscotland session, leaves your favourite paths just a little more pleasant for everyone! We teamed up with Keep Scotland Beautiful for their annual Spring Clean, and focused our activities on Active Travel Week, along with cycling charity Sustrans, and walking organisation Paths for All. The enthusiasm from our groups was amazing! Plogging sessions were held all over the country, with 16 groups taking part, from Elgin to Peebles, Strathclyde Park to North Queensferry.

Heather McLaughlin, Community Project Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “Well done to all the ploggers who helped us over Active Travel week as part of this year’s Spring Clean campaign. We are delighted to see an increase again in numbers this year with over 40,000 people taking part across Scotland to help us make it cleaner for future generations. Well done everyone – let’s keep it up!” jogscotland magazine

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Running with lupus

by Karen Stenhouse of the Galavanters When I was 26 ( I am now 52) I was diagnosed with lupus (also known as SLE) after having my first son. Lupus is an auto immune disease, which means that my immune system works against me rather than for me.

Just after my son was born I started to get a lot of swelling in my feet and hands, to the point that it was hard to walk in the morning. There were days that I was unable to dress my son or myself as my hands were so bad. Over time the symptoms got worse and the pain was causing problems with most of my joints.

Every time I got a cold it turned into a chest infection and over time this has caused scarring on my lungs (similar to COPD although I have never smoked).

This has caused issues with walking at times, especially up hills, as I could not get my breath.

Then about 10 years ago I had chronic fatigue syndrome and I was very ill for about 10 months. This affected all my motor skills so was unable to do most things without help. I was in so much pain at night I could not even turn myself over. I think after that I had pretty much written myself off.

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15 But about three years ago my husband, my sister and I decided to do a 26 mile walk for Macmillan Cancer Support. We went out walking most days for a short walk and then at weekends for longer walks. I would always say that I did not want a route with hills as I really hated the feeling of struggling to get my breath back. Well, we managed the walk on Hadrian’s Wall and I felt a real sense of achievement. Last year my husband, sister and niece and I did another walk for Macmillan along the Northumbrian Coast and again put in all the same training. I felt when we were doing this that my fitness was getting better and every now and then when my husband would stop to tie his laces I would run on so he would need to catch up. At this point I kept saying I could maybe think about taking up running.

In October 2018 my husband convinced me to join jogscotland group the Galavanters, thinking that I would only be able to do the first few weeks at most.

I was so nervous of going, as I am also quite shy and did not know anyone. The first session was really hard and all we did was run for 1 minute and walk for 1.5 minutes, eight times.

When I got home it was amazing the feeling of achievement that I had actually done this. I kept going back week after week and it was hard, but the feeling afterwards and the support from the wonderful people that organise the group continues over

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Running with lupus continued was enough to keep me wanting to try. On week 8 I ran my first 5K in 40 minutes (it was not all running I had to walk a few times but I did it). I then was hit with a succession of colds, chest infection and a virus which kept me from running for about six weeks.

At the start of March I had to go to the doctors to get annual breathing tests to check how my lungs are. The results of this most recent test shows that my lungs are stronger than they were two years ago – and the nurse advised that this is definitely due to the running that I have been doing with The Galavanters. When I left the doctors you would have thought I had won the lottery! I felt that I have achieved something really big in my life and the feeling of pride is overwhelming.

I joined back to The Galavanters for the last three weeks of the couch to 5K and on one of the worst nights of the year completed another 5K in 38 minutes (again, short walks were needed but I ran for the longest time so far). Since I started running in October I have been so, so hard on myself because as the saying goes, “I wanted to run before I could walk”, but doing the 5K, I actually felt like a runner, so it does take time – it doesn’t happen overnight.

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Remembering Ann

by Graeme Shaw, Jog Scotland Chryston We at Jog Scotland Chryston had some sad news passed to us recently about one of our runners, Ann Findlayson. Ann sadly succumbed to her cancer on 3 April this year.

She had already been through some severe treatment about a year or two previously, returning to the club to continue her running. Later in 2018, she picked up an injury that just didn’t seem to go away, and stopped running on the advice of her doctor. Unfortunately, this problem turned out to be more serious than a simple running injury. She then underwent numerous treatments, only to pass away unexpectedly (she was only 44).

As I had already signed up for the Stirling Half Marathon, I asked Ann’s husband what charity he would like me to support. As Macmillan Cancer Support had given the family some great support during the time of Ann’s illness, he mentioned this to me. I said I’d be proud to run in her memory. Both current and previous Chryston runners rallied round, and with the help of family, friends and work mates, I raised £1,000.

Ann had been at the club for about six years, and in that time she’d grown from knowing no one to being established as a ‘seasoned runner’, someone who people looked to for inspiration. She was always happy to run with anyone and have a good blether on the way round. It was a joy to run with her. She ran with an enthusiasm that sometimes we can only aspire to.

Ann changed her Facebook profile with her own self-motivational statement last September: “When you start doubting yourself, remember how far you’ve come.

Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome”.

Sadly, this last battle was just one too many. jogscotland magazine

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Summer Running Essential Kit When the UK’s best athletes tell you that kit can make all the difference, and as the weather is finally confirming to us that summer is well on its way, we think it’s the perfect time to remind you what a difference choosing the right gear for your run can make.

Wearing the right kit can make a big difference when it comes to feeling comfortable and performing optimally in the summer.

It might seem like a small thing, but there is plenty of different gear that can make a big difference. There is weight and breathability to think about, not to mention how it all actually looks!

Jenny Meadows, the international 800-meter runner, and now one of our top coaches, agrees, highlighting that it’s the small things that can make the biggest difference. “Summer is all about putting the finishing touches to a great winter’s training, so I make sure I pay particular attention to the small details - like hydration. Get that wrong and you’ve pretty much wasted all those dark nights training! A decent hydration system is vital.”

In our online article we take a look at the kit, the technology, footwear and other accessories that should be in everyone’s kit bag this summer: n

Hydrate for success – stay hydrated for short or longer distances

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Move to a faster beat – get pumped for your run with a good set of headphones

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Make a note – fitness tracking to see your progress

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Time to Train – breathable pieces of kit to help keep you going

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On your feet – correct footwear is critical

To read the full article on Summer Running Essential Kit, visit www.dwfitnessfirst.com/inside-track/fitness/summer-running-kit-essentials/

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Ministerial seal of approval We were delighted to receive a visit from Minister for Mental Health, Clare Haughey in April – and then to hear her praise jogscotland and our partnership with SAMH in the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Haughey visited jogscotland and SAMH staff at Crownpoint Stadium, home to Shettleston Harriers, and one of the jog groups being set up under our Community Strides project, to help more people from black and minority ethnic (BME) commnities to get active.

We told her all about our work with SAMH, particularly the I’m here movement.

It clearly made an impact, as Ms Haughey then talked about it in the Scottish Parliament, during a debate on Changing Lives Through Sport. She said: “Last week I met with staff delivering the Community Strides project, a collaboration between SAMH and jogscotland, funded through the Changing Life Funds and it provides opportunities for people from the BAME communities to get active with local jogging groups. I was struck by the passion of the staff to use jogging as a tool to impact on individuals’ physical and mental health.

“This work with BAME communities builds on the existing successful partnership which sees jog leaders undertake mental health awareness training, and then wear a simple I’m here badge which they can use as a tool to start a conversation with their members and show that they are open to chatting about mental health. And the intention is not to turn jog leaders into trained counsellors, but to make them feel more confident to provide a listening ear and know how to help members find more help if they need it.”

Thanks to Ms Haughey for taking such an interest in our work – and also to our jog leaders, whose dedication has been responsible for the success of I’m here. jogscotland magazine

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I halved my 5K time in a year

by Michael Mullan, Ready Steady Go Pitreavie I had tried so many times to kick the habit of smoking and failed each and every time, but I finally managed it in May of last year. Two months on I had installed a beautiful new three quarter length mirror into the bathroom. It was fantastic until I got out the shower and got the fright of my life at who was standing in front of me! It was then I started on my journey to fitness.

I bought a bike and used it three times and then left it in the shed - cycling wasn’t really for me! Then I remembered how much I used to love running. I did it between the ages of 14 and 17, and it left me with some very fond memories.

How hard could it be to pick it back up? It’s only one foot in front of the other after all, isn’t it? I found out how wrong I was VERY quickly.

Google showed Pitreavie AAC Endurance as my local running club. Nice evening it was, so I chucked on my shorts, t-shirt and trainers and jumped in the car to be ready for them all starting at 6:30pm. We started the session at the top of the hill. I got a whole 200 yards down the hill when I thought my whole body was going to explode! I could not for the life of me get my head around what was going on. This wasn’t what I remembered at all!

Campbell Blair, a coach, noticing the terror on my face, ran back to me and guided me to start slow - jog one minute and walk one minute. In all, it took me 53 minutes to cover little over 5km. Plenty of time for him to tell me about the group called Ready, Steady Go Pitreavie and the amazing work that they do to help get people, quite literally, up and running. I was sold from that chat.

I turned up for my first jogscotland session, with jog leader Nicola Moriarty and

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the gang, and we did a short run at the beach. It was tough, but not so hard that it would put me off. Everyone was really welcoming and amazingly supportive.

I instantly felt part of something special, and the feelings that I used to get from running came flooding back to me. I decided right there and then that was it, I was going to do whatever it took to get back to running.

That was in July 2018. Skip forward to May this year, and how things have changed! One year since I quit smoking and I’ve done it, I’ve really done it!

I could genuinely cry – I finished a 5K race, without stopping, in the Scottish Championships at Silverknowes in Edinburgh, and in a time that previously would have needed the car to get me there so quickly. I’d run it in 25 minutes – half what I’d taken to do that first 5K I attempted.

I also had a weigh in before the race and I had lost over 2 stone since I started.

I’m over the moon and I know, deep in my heart, that I would never have got to that point without the encouragement and guidance of the jog leaders at Ready, Steady Go Pitreavie, and Pitreavie AAC. For all this, I will be forever grateful.

There are a few great lessons that I have picked up along the way from all of this: Set yourself realistic goals, train consistently, be patient, learn to fail happily, and NEVER let anyone tell you that you can’t - especially yourself! jogscotland magazine

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Community Strides & Jogability

Andrea Gavin

The Community Strides project is now in full swing in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee under the eye of our project workers, Andrea Gavin and Laura Kirkland. We’ve linked up with scottishathletics club Shettleston Harriers, who are striving to create a jogscotland group that reflects their club’s welcome for black and minority ethnic (BME) communities.

Laura Kirkland

The project has supported six jog leaders through training and every Tuesday since 16 April an enthusiastic group of joggers have been meeting at Crownpoint and running to Glasgow Green, divided into groups that suit different abilities. The group and club are engaging with other local community groups to extend the BME membership – watch this space!

Saheliya, a well-being support organisation for black, minority ethnic, asylum seeker, refugee and migrant women and girls, have been running jogscotland taster sessions at their Edinburgh hub. The needs of the women who come along to the Open Arms Project has meant that we’ve delivered the sessions indoors, using an adapted version of the junior jogscotland programme.

Laura’s worked with Dundee International Women’s Centre, offering sessions on pilates and a talk on pelvic floor strength with the help of local jog leaders. She’s also been talking to the Aberdeen Multicultural Centre to see whether we can work with them to spread the jogscotland magic!

Jogability has started with a bang! Following our announcement of a successful funding bid from sportscotland Women and Girls Fund, we’re working to bring the benefits of jogscotland to girls and young women with disabilities and additional support needs. The project is in five areas: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire. In Glasgow we have trained senior pupils at Abercorn Secondary School as sports leaders and they will deliver the sessions at a local primary school.

In Edinburgh Andrea has been delivering sessions with a group of hardy girls who’ve have been getting enjoying themselves despite the great Scottish rain!

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Jogging along

by David Syme I start off and savour the weather; not as warm as the forecast promised, and the grass is wet.

Ah, well, under-dressed again, and wet shoes to take off later.

Thank goodness for the buffy, with its flexible response to the weather. I’ll make a hat of it today to cover the ears. I’m happy to put on the £3 black gloves, too. I exchange “Hellos” with a dog walker; there’s no-one else about.

Feeling sluggish, so I think of shortcuts. I’m not training for an event, I had an active day yesterday, so why bother? I plod on, sticking with Plan A, but I wonder how much longer I can be bothered with this jogging lark.

A runner comes towards me…… so tummy in, head up, put a wee spring in the stride…. Here he comes… should I speak? No, he has wires coming out of ears, so a hand-wave will do. He waves back. Back to the default speed, a shuffling “get you there” gait. A double decker comes along, tummy in again, mustn’t give joggers a bad name. Would you look at that jogger – short shorts, bare arms, no hat…. What is she trying to prove? She has a fine tan, maybe braving the cold to show it off. We exchange waves.

Careful here, remember I tripped on a loose paving stone just after this road junction last month, lucky to come away with a few grazes and injured pride. No problem today.

A ping from an overtaking cyclist is acknowledged with a wave. Getting crowded now, people hurrying along to work, so some ducking and diving to pass through.

Then the long, quiet stretch before my finish…. Can I muster up a sprint? Well, it’s not really a sprint, more a slightly longer stride, a lope almost. I lean forward and give it my best shot. Yes, it feels OK! A few more metres and I can wind down - job done. Now that wasn’t so bad, was it? I hope my shoes dry out before tomorrow morning’s jog.

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.

jogscotland magazine

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stride Summer 2019

We know as a Jog Scotland member you understand the positive impact that physical activity has on your mental health and wellbeing.

On 26th October, hundreds of people will come together at BT Murrayfield Stadium to take on the unique challenge of the SAMH Stomp, and make strides for Scotland's mental health.

We'd love you to be a part of it.

As a thank you for supporting Scotland's mental health, SAMH are offering you an exclusive ÂŁ5 discount on your registration fee until 31st August.

To take advantage of your exclusive offer and team together for the SAMH Stomp use the promo code JOG5 during registration.

www.SAMHStomp.org.uk

stride

SAMHmagazine is the Scottish jogscotland 2019 | SummerAssociation

for Mental Health. Scottish Charity No. SC008897

25

Race Directory There’s an event for everyone, go to events.scottishathletics.org.uk for full details.

21 June

3 July

Edinburgh Frontrunners Pride Run 2019, The Meadows, Edinburgh

Brig Bash 5, Bridge of Earn

Brian Goodwin 10K, Bella Harriers, Cartha Queens Park Rugby Club

Stonehaven Half Marathon

Kirkcaldy Promenade 1 Mile race, Fife AC

Newburgh 2019

7 July 17 July

22 June

20 July

Loch Lomond 10K, Balloch Country Park

Musselburgh Festival 10K Race

Portobello Beach Race (4 miles), Edinburgh

Ballater 10, Monaltrie Park

23 June

28 July 3 August

Westhill 10K

Devil o’ the Highlands Footrace, Tyndrum - Fort William

29 June

6 August

Barrathon (Isle of Barra Half Marathon & Fun Run)

Graham Clark Memorial Race Knockhill Racing Circuit

30 June

10 August

SAMH Five (5K or 5 mile run/walk), Drumpellier Park

Marathon Hebrides, Talla Na Mara

Isle of Arran (Shiskine Valley) Half Marathon, Blackwaterfoot Playing Field

Ceres 8 Mile Road Race

Dechmont Trail Races, Dechmont Law Park

13 August 17 August Nairn Half Marathon

jogscotland magazine

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stride Summer 2019

26

18 August

The 9th ERN LP Run, Meadowmill

Paisley 10K & Fun Run

1 September

Forth Road Bridge 10K, North Queensferry

Perth 10K Race

21 August

Go Festival Ayr - 10K and Half Marathon

Jim Young Marymass 10K Road Race, Irvine Sports Club

7 September

8 September

23 August

Around Cumbrae 10 Mile Road Race

Beveridge Park 5K

City of Stirling 10K Road Race and 2K Fun Run

25 August

10 September

Great Aberdeen Run Kirkcaldy Parks Half Marathon

The Stuart Duncan Memorial Run, The Lomond Centre, Glenrothes

Free parkrun events (5K)

Aberdeen Alness Aviemore Ayr Bressay Camperdown Crathes Castle Crichton Drumchapel Dunfermline Edinburgh Eglinton

Elgin Ellon Falkirk Fort William Ganavan Sands Girvan Prom Greenock Hay Lodge Hazlehead Inverness Kirkcaldy Kirkwall

every Saturday at 9.30am

Lanark Moor Linwood Livingston Loch Leven Lochend Woods Lochore Meadows Meadowmill Montrose Perth Plean Polkemmet Country 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 Barshaw Craigswood Dumfries Duthie

stride jogscotland magazine

Helix Inverleith Jacks Road Loch Leven

MacRosty Perth Prestwick Oval Rouken Glen

Find out more at parkrun.org.uk |

Summer 2019

Stirling Strathmartine The Meadows Victoria, Glasgow

www.gofestival.scot gofestival.scot www.gofestival.scot If you’re going to put yourself through hell, you might as well do it in heaven.

en Funfair in Pipe Pants Band Street Street5k Food Challenge!

The Funfair Pipe Band Food The Men Menin inPants Pants5k 5kChallenge!

Challenge!

If you’re going to put yourself through hell, you might as well do it in heaven.

06.10.19 Marathon | 10K | 5K | Wee Nessie lochnessmarathon.com

06.10.19

Marathon | 10K | 5K | Wee Nessie lochnessmarathon.com

GUARANTEED MARATHON ENTRY AVAILABLE NOW GUARANTEED MARATHON ENTRY AVAILABLE NOW

Walk, jog, run with jogscotland Get fit and have fun with our sociable, supportive jogging groups for all levels – beginners welcome!

Affordable, friendly sessions with trained Jog Leaders.

Find your nearest group at www.jogscotland.org.uk/local-groups