Running in the UK

Discovering the wondrous delights of churches, museums and pubs is only one aspect or working and travelling in the United Kingdom. And the Northern Hemisphere’s dreary weather doesn’t have to get you down when you’re weathering the winter greyness! Recently, en route back to Ireland, I had a two week stop over in the United Kingdom with some mates from back home.  Neatly slotted in, between pubs and ancient beauty exploring, I added in a running race or two.
 

In Bristol I joined my friend Kerry Wray’s Southville running club for a crisp Saturday afternoon off road relay, up through an area I had never previously visited, the Mendip Way in the Mednip hills, South-West England.

The Southville club was represented by two teams on the day, which attracted about 35 teams in total.

The start line of the race, involving about 35 teams of six runners each, was at a cute wee village called Uphill, right on the beach.

The 29 mile route, with a total climb of 3,259 feet, was completed in the lovely town, (well technically a city) of Wells, at the cathedral.

Runners got lost, even though they were armed with maps! But everyone smiled, encouraged each other, thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and all the hard work was rewarded with a drink at the pub.

Wray is English but lived in New Zealand for seven years. When she moved back to Bristol with her partner earlier this year, joining a running club was a great way to meet people.

“There are loads of clubs everywhere, some are more serious than others, and you don’t have to be part of a club to race,” she said.

Wray said the variety of races in the UK gives the sport a friendly vibe, and many people race and run with clubs for fitness. “The diversity attracts a lot of runners, it’s a lot less intimidating for people of all abilities,” she said.

Wray believed that more similar events in New Zealand would lead to more people joining running clubs, and taking up the sport on a social basis.

“Running keeps you fit, it’s open to everyone and you can do it anywhere,” she said.

After Bristol I had a week’s stop in Scotland, with another New Zealand friend.  Jerrie Andrews is from Southland and is currently based in Edinburgh.

On the drizzly Sunday morning, about an hour 45 minutes north of Edinburgh, Andrews and I stood outside the exquisite Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill in the Dumbries region, amongst the Scottish highlands.

Andrews competed in the Drumlanrig Demon 10 kilometre, while I opted for the Queensbury Half Marathon.  The event was a fundraising event for the nearby Wallace Hall Academy.

Diane Jarvie, the academy’s School Support Manager, knew many runners would be drawn to the event because of its stunning setting. The fun run was a free event on the day as well, for casual runners, prams and dogs.

“We encourage our community to be part of a school event, whilst giving them something on their doorstep that they would enjoy,” said Jarvie.

It was a beautiful run, despite the damp weather. There were 70 runners in the 10km, nearly 40 in the half marathon, and 20 in the short fun run too. Not bad for a school fundraiser in the rain on a Sunday morning.

Andrews enjoyed the run, and loved the challenge that the natural elements provided.
“It was a hard race, but a nice mixture of ups and downs. It was a good course with great views,” she said.

Andrews was involved in running and duathlons in Southland before she moved to Edinburgh last April. She said entering running races in the Northern Hemisphere was a great excuse to get away for a weekend and see a new place.

“It’s such a great way to see parts of the country you’re living in. It’s easy to get to cities like Paris for a weekend and run a half marathon and go home again,” she said.

Andrews has been happy with her running progress, and was thrilled to run her race in 56 minutes on the hilly and partially off-road route. She said running attracts runners of all abilities, there is no pressure to be ‘good’ to enter races.

“In every race I’ve done there’s been such a variety of running ability, it’s so open to everyone.”

Andrews has seen different parts of Scotland through entering half marathons and 10km’s, in beautiful places like Balmoral Castle, and to fun cities like Inverness. Next March she’s going to Lisbon in Portugal for a half marathon, hoping to run a sub 1.45.

Nicola Morrison was also at the race, and also enjoyed the scenic 10km route. As a vet nurse, she has lived in Dumfries, South West Scotland, for five years.  She’s 31, and originally from Masterton.  The race was organised by a member of her own running club, and Dumfries is a very unspoilt part of the Scottish Highlands that Morrison knew would provide for a lovely race.

“It was an extremely well organised day, and a perfect way to take in amazing scenery,” she said.

Morrison started running three years ago, in preparation for a five kilometre fun run.  She is now involved in a type of running quite unique to the Northern Hemisphere, called Fell Running.

“Scotland is lucky having ‘Right to Roam’ legislation, giving the public the right to cross all land. It’s great to be able to run anywhere!” she said.

Fell is another word for mountain, and fell running involves running up and down the side of a mountain, mostly following single goat type tracks. Some fell runs in the UK attract over 1000 runners. “So it makes for a very social day!” said Morrison.

She said joining running clubs while working abroad, or doing races while travelling abroad, was a great way to meet people and see great places.  Morrison said the internet is full of information about races and what’s going on and people are so welcoming.

“It’s simple. The more you get out and about, the more you see,” she said. 

USEFUL WEBSITES:

www.runnersworld.co.uk

www.jogscotland.org.uk
 

 

Image: the Southville relay team outside Wells Cathederal, near the Mendip Way, at the end of the race