FROM tiny toddlers to elite Olympic athletes, runners of all ages have been racing round the centre of Glasgow this weekend.
Hundreds of children and parents got their running shoes on at a sunny George Square yesterday as the two-day Great Scottish Run festival got under way.
A fun-filled forerunner to today’s more serious 10k and half marathon races, “Super Saturday” allowed families to race together across several events, including a one-mile family run and a 100m toddler dash.
Some parents were so determined not leave their newborns out, they even ran the course pushing their buggies.
Eight-year-old Donald MacInnes was first over the finish line in the family run, completing the mile-long course in just over six minutes. The young Newton Mearns athlete, who left mum Lorna in his wake, said it was “really exciting” being cheered back to the finish area by a buoyant George Square crowd.
“It’s an amazing experience,” said Lorna, who started the race alongside her son. “It’s a really good platform for kids to get involved in
sport, and across all the other races. It gets them excited and interested in running.”
Olympic, World and Commonwealth medal-winner Eilidh Doyle was lapping up the “fab” atmosphere in George Square as she took up her starter duties for the junior races.
The Scottish record holder for the 400m hurdles said: “You’ve got to just take in this atmosphere, because it’s incredible.
“And appreciate that it’s not raining in Scotland just now!”
Scotland’s favourite pensioners Jack and Victor, from hit TV series Still Game, even stopped by to cheer on the competitors. Taking a break from a packed run of live shows in The Hydro, the Craiglang duo, played by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, posed for pictures and chatted to families before hurrying back for their matinee performance.
English athlete Chris Thompson, who will aim to become the first British athlete to win three titles at today’s half marathon, was on hand to help adjudicate the ever-popular mascots race.
Among the ordinary runners taking part in today’s half marathon is 71-year-old Stewart Jameson, who hopes to complete his 37th event in a row.
The half marathon course features famous venues from the 2014 Commonwealth Games and takes runners through Pollok Park and Bellahouston Park, before heading back for the grandstand finish on Glasgow Green.
A number of road closures will be in place across the city over the course of the day.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here