Grassroots Athletics

Many happy road runs

By Stuart Miller

Members of Bellahouston Road Runners swapped their usual routes around Glasgow’s southside for a track session to remember as part of the club’s 20th birthday celebrations.

‘If we can secure new permanent home in Bellahouston park, it would set us up for the next 20 years’ Richard Leyton President BRR

More than 70 members displayed the club’s distinctive purple and white vest at the Emirates Arena on Saturday 25 January to mark the occasion, with a series of 1-mile races over the indoor track. ‘It was a lot of fun, with lots of support around the track as members took part in the various heats,’ said club president Richard Leyton. ‘The facilities are fantastic and we had so much positive feedback from everybody who came along that we’re having a think about what we might do in future there with members, or more widely, to encourage more people to give indoor track running a try ‘Perhaps the most fun of the morning session was the impromptu relay race – I think we had eight teams of eight – with each team member running a 200m leg. It was a bit chaotic with everybody wearing the same tops!’ With the racing finished, members gathered for a series of training talks at the Glasgow Green football centre, which included a presentation from Glasgow Triathlon Club’s lead coach Vicky Begg on sport

psychology and mental preparation for training and racing. The busy celebrations were fitting for a club that has barely stood still in its short history: membership has grown to more than 200 strong from what was just a small gathering of people in the car Bella RR trio of Louise Ross, Ann Robin and Jane McNeilly on the podium at Cumbernauld with Louise (No 391) in action (right) PB 2020 | ISSUE 1 28

park at Bellahouston ski centre in the club’s fledgling months.

‘We are a club of members with a broad level of interests and paces,’ added Richard.

‘We have some members who run up hills, others who do marathon upon marathon and some people who run just to be able to eat cake. The variety keeps things interesting and is a spur to try different events and learn from others’ experiences in training.

‘We have a friendly, welcoming club and people are not intimidated to come down and that is a big thing about our club. We’re building on great work from our membership over the years, with contributions and innovations that developed and grew the club.’