A Message from Martin

by ColinPartridge · Published August 8, 2014 · Updated August 31, 2014

Sunday Training at Dechmont Law

Dechmont Law Park is a wonderful free facility for training, well maintained by West Lothian Council; so I am delighted to see that club members are attending the 10am Sunday session in increasing numbers. The adults mostly do their own thing, based on laps of parts of the Trail Race course. Youngsters enjoy a variety of fun activities, ending with timed runs or a relay, for which some adults join them. Youngsters help to time each other and it is up to them to decide how many reps they do, or how far and how fast they run.

My Philosophy

I see running as a way of life! Not as a thing that youngsters do because we want them to, or because it is “good” for them, but because they enjoy it and it makes them feel good about themselves. Then there is a good chance that they will continue to run throughout their life. Some may become champions, many will not, but all are likely to have an increased quality and length of life because they continue to be active.

Hill Fun Runs

Every year I organise a series of Hill Fun Runs to encourage youngsters and newcomers to take up the sport. There are held in conjunction with established hill races like Peter West’s Boxing Day Handicap at Breecraigs. They all cost 10p (pensioners half price) and are about one mile. There are no prizes, but all get goodies and certificates. The most attractive of these is on woodland trails at Aberfoyle on August 31^st.

Details from Martin Hyman (01506 412322 martinhyman@clara.co.uk).

After the Fun Run there will be a series of Hill Selection Races for Scottish junior teams. The Senior boys’ Race is also an Open Race for adults.

The fun run starts at 11.30. You could make a day of it and picnic afterwards at the Duke’s Pass viewpoint four miles away and then go down to Loch Katrine for a boat trip.

Anyway Edel and I will be at Aberfoyle, along with coach Robbie Kennedy and some of our youngsters, so there will be no coached training on August 31^st. But of course there is no reason why folk should not do their own training there.

Martin