Running News Daily

The organizers of the Stirling Scottish Marathon have moved the event to May 9 2021 due to the pandemic

The organizers of the Stirling Scottish Marathon, Classic Run Events, have issued the following message to all registered runners.

Dear Runner, I hope you and your family are keeping well during these very difficult days.

We are writing to update you on the status of the Stirling Scottish Marathon, which was scheduled to take place on the weekend of October 10th and 11th this year.

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, after very careful consideration, we have taken the decision to postpone this year’s event.

The event is being moved to the weekend of May 8th and 9th 2021, with the marathon taking place on Sunday the 9th of May. 

During the lockdown period we have been closely monitoring all advice and guidelines from the Scottish Government.

In assessing all current available information it is our view that there is a very high risk that social distancing restrictions for mass gatherings will extend into the summer and autumn months.

If this is the case it will severely impact our ability to organise and deliver the world class marathon that we promised.

All of our team are bitterly disappointed in having to make this decision but the welfare of our runners, colleagues, volunteers and suppliers is paramount.

Given the risk we decided an early decision would be in the best interests of all runners as many have already made travel and accommodation arrangements for the weekend in October.

All entries for the October 10th and 11th dates will be deferred to the new dates in May 2021.

While we hope you will join us in 2021 and support the re-arranged event, plus all the charities involved, and any runner unable to take part on the new date can request a refund.

We would like to thank our charity partners, sponsors, Stirling Council and all our key stakeholders for their understanding and support on this matter.

We appreciate that you have been training hard in readiness for the Stirling Marathon weekend but we look forward to seeing you, and many new participants, on the start line next spring when the world will undoubtedly be a safer place.

Entries for the 2021 event are now open at thestirlingmarathon.co.uk 

Stay safe and healthy.

With our very best wishes to you and your family.

The Classic Run Events Team.

Speaking after today's announcement, Councillor Chris Kane, Convener of Community Planning and Regeneration: said: “This was a tough call to make but I applaud the organisers for taking this decision early, and communicating it clearly with all participants.

“The Marathon was gearing up to be one of the key components of our events calendar and I have no doubt it will remain one of the most eagerly anticipated attractions in Scotland next year when we are hopefully all in a better situation.

“I thank everyone who has signed up so far and hope to see you all at the finish line next year in May.”

(05/05/2020) Views: 1,240 ⚡AMP

Basketball star Kieron Achara swops basketball for marathon running

Kieron Achara  is pounding the cyclepaths of Paisley for another challenge - running for mental health charity SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) at the Stirling Scottish Marathon.

At 6ft 10in in his size 15 trainers, crossing the finishing line will earn him a place in the record books as Scotland’s tallest marathon runner. However, his motivation for partnering SAMH is intensely personal.

Achara has witnessed first-hand the mental struggle of fellow professional sportsmen and women as they come to terms with their sporting mortality.

A crushing loss of identity and purpose as they go from the adulation of millions on the world stage, to anonymous twenty or thirty-something in civvy street on the first rung of the job ladder. It is the closest thing to grief – so much so that sports psychiatrists say “athletes are the only people who die twice”.

Achara sees the partnership with SAMH as an opportunity to talk openly about mental health; to challenge more Scots to express their feelings and share their inner thoughts and fears with family and friends.

He grew up in Stirling and as the tall, black kid, stood out from the crowd. However, he learned to embrace his uniqueness and went on a journey that saw him study in the USA, become Scotland’s youngest internationalist, captain Glasgow Rocks and play at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.

“I don’t think I suffered from depression, however, I went through a difficult transition as my career neared its end,” Achara said of his retirement from basketball.

“For the first time in my life I felt I couldn’t control things; I was playing poorly, the team was playing poorly then I started becoming obsessed by a few trolls on Twitter, who were consistently criticizing my performance.

“I ended up playing to trying to please them. I would judge my performance by what two or three people were writing about on Twitter. I then took the decision to quit one Christmas and it was like a weight off my shoulders.

“However, when the time came, it was real shock when I saw my name had suddenly been removed from the basketball team group chat. That was so final – I was no longer Kieron Achara basketball player with team-mates, manager and physios. I was Kieron from Paisley, looking for a job with a baby on the way.”

Achara believes the key to good mental health is purpose in life, something he has found through his two children and a rekindled interest in sport. He began training again before making the commitment to run his hometown marathon of Stirling, in a frame that was perfectly designed for basketball, but faces challenges in navigating 26.2miles, albeit through some of the country’s most scenic countryside.

“Running helps me feel good, mentally and physically. It’s accessible, you don’t need a gym membership and is satisfying seeing your progress.”

(02/28/2020) Views: 1,561 ⚡AMP

Over £10,000 prize money will be won in 2020 at Stirling Scottish Marathon event

Elite runners will contest a record prize fund of over £10,000 in the Stirling Scottish Marathon, organizers revealed. First over the finishing line in the men’s and women’s races will pick up £2000 each - ten times last year’s pot.

As well as upping the total, the prize money goes deeper and wider with cash for the top six in men’s and women’s race, plus the top three in over 40s, 50s and 60s. The half marathon carries a first prize of £250 in the men’s and women’s races.

Classic Run events director Steve Simpson said: “We want to attract a field of top-class runners and reward them accordingly. Although this is our first year in partnership with Stirling Council in running the Stirling Scottish Marathon, we took on board feedback from athletes about the level of last year’s prizes.

“This is a substantial prize pot, one that is unrivaled in Scotland. And I think it is important, even at this early stage, that we are transparent and open about our prize policy.”Steve said that for the majority of runners money was not the key driver.

The biggest attraction is conquering the most scenic course in the UK, running through a historic landscape dominated by Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.

Every runner, no matter their ability, will be chip-timed and receive a commemorative T-shirt and specially crafted medal that reflects the heritage of the course.

Last year’s women’s champion Jenn Wetton welcomed the increased investment. The Stirling runner fits her training around work and looking after her one-year-old son. She said: “It’s a wonderful marathon course with fantastic supporters along the route.

The backdrop of Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument make this one of the most awe inspiring runs I’ve ever taken part in.

“I’m especially pleased that the prize money for elite athletes has been significantly increased to reflect the status and importance of the new look event. A £2000 first prize is a great reward for athletes who will be running sub three-hour marathons in Scotland. I hope it will help raise the level of competition and attract more of our top domestic marathon runners.”

(01/18/2020) Views: 1,541 ⚡AMP

The Great Run Company has announced that the Stirling Marathon will be canceled for 2020

The Great Run Company has announced that the event will not continue this year. Taking to social media, the organizers said: “We’ve taken the difficult decision not to stage the Great Stirling Run from 2020.

When the great Stirling Run was conceived three years ago, it was our ambition to build a world-class marathon in Stirling. Whilst we’ve created a great event, we haven’t been able to deliver that ambition.”

The Stirling XCountry event, which took place for the first time in January, has also been axed as it too, was deemed not to be financially viable.

A number of reasons have been voiced by locals and previous runners as to what the main reasons are for the failure of the event to continue.

The event was hosted on the same day as the London Marathon, which is one of the world’s biggest sporting events and attracts more than 40,000 participants every year.

Commenting on the Facebook announcement, a disgruntled local said: “Gutted! I had hopes that this race in my hometown would grow. Such a beautiful route and great support in the villages in town! Was London being the same day the downfall?”

Another added: “You could have doubled the number of entrants on a different weekend.”

Others have argued that it is far too soon to pull the plug on the sporting spectacle, given that it has only been running for three years.

To top it off, there was also only a £200 prize for the winners of the elite races, which was unsurprisingly unsuccessful in attracting a world-class field to Stirling for the event.

There are a lot of students who will be disappointed at the news, given that the university’s athletics and triathlon clubs have been represented in both the marathon and half marathon distances over the last three years.

It has been a great opportunity for members to produce personal best times on a home stage.

Students have also used the Stirling Marathon to raise money for charities of their choice, and to promote health and well-being in the area.

A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “This is obviously a disappointing decision but our focus is already very much on bringing new events to Stirling.”

 

(07/13/2019) Views: 1,841 ⚡AMP
by Sam Ormiston

Stirling Marathon Gets A Half Brother

Organisers of the Scottish Stirling Marathon have added a half marathon contest to their Sunday 29 April race day programme. Following the successful introduction of the new marathon earlier this year, the Great Run team behind the event have been working hard on an improved marathon for 2018 including a revised route. The addition of a 13.1 mile race will enhance Scottish Stirling Marathon’s status as one of the Scotland’s top events. (12/21/2017) Views: 1,477 ⚡AMP