Isle of Arran Half Marathon, Scotland   - Sunday 3 July 2005

The west coast of Scotland has many islands.  In summer several of them host a half marathon event. 

The lovely Hebredian islands have names that roll off the tongue, Lewis, Harris, Benbecula, Coll, Barra.  Then there is Skye, technically no longer an island with the building of a bridge to the mainland and mystical Mull.

Getting to the island races for city dwellers from the central belt of Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling or Perth, offers a welcome opportunity to see Scotland’s scenery at its finest.  It also involves much logistical planning and studying of ferry timetables and sometimes bus/train timetables as well!

Further south in the Clyde estuary off Ayrshire is the beautiful island of Arran, often known as Scotland in miniature.  On Sunday 3 July 2005 the annual Arran Half Marathon was held.

From Edinburgh, a 75 mile car journey with an early start brings you to Ardrossan on the Ayrshire coast.  From here you take the 55 minute ferry ride to Brodick on Arran.  A bus then waits to drive you the 11 miles across the island to the small village of Blackwaterfoot where the half marathon starts. The tiny village nestles by the sea; today we find it bright, but breezy with superb views out to sea over to the Kintyre peninsula. 

This year runners had travelled from all points of Scotland, a few from England and also a contingent from France, on a club outing.

The course is a natural loop of quiet country roads undulating in places and meandering through rural pasture; past white sandy beaches where the quaint Mochrie Golf Club hugs the shore; up and over open exposed moor land with, today, wonderful views for miles across the island; returning along the Shiskine valley to Blackwaterfoot.

The race itself is grassroots athletics at its finest.  A line chalked on the road outside the car park of the Kinloch Hotel, which acts as race HQ signifying the start line.  Runners at a race start are a little like sheep in the hills.  Here, with no PA system, runners seem to gravitate towards the start so that at 11.57am an assembled throng has put up a temporary barricade across the road, behind the start line, expectantly waiting for 12 noon and the start.  Race organiser, Paul Emsly gives a short informal talk and with a verbal “get set – go!” we’re off!

Within a minute we are out of the village and running along quiet country roads in an idyllic rural pastoral setting.

The Edinburgh based club, Hunters Bog Trotters, named after a training area in one of Edinburgh’s many parks (Hunters Bog), are here in force.  Their “serious fun” attitude to athletics always brings a touch of colour to proceedings.

Cambuslang’s Rob Gilroy, recently crowned Scottish Marathon Champion at Edinburgh three week’s previously, probably still has that race in his legs, especially as he ran a 10k trail race on the Friday!  With his main summer goal achieved, he seems to have decided to keep competing, but just enjoy events and he finishes 4th, leaving the Bog Trotter trio of Nick Altman, Ian Harkness and Dave Wright to finish 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd and take care of the team prize.

The women’s race is fairly clear cut.  Dhavala Stott of the Sri Chinmoy club in Edinburgh set off fairly determined to dip under the 1hour 30 minute barrier. However, the strong breeze in the face of the runners for the last four miles and heavy showery rain and hail in the last mile, leaves her falling just short with 1 hour 30 minutes 28 seconds, over 2 minutes clear of Glasgow’s Debbie Cox, who, like your reporter, was still heavy legged from the 95 mile West Highland Way two weeks previously.

In what may have been a first for an “islands” race the prizegiving was conducted in English and French, a nice touch for the visiting French contingent who really seemed the appreciate the gesture.

On the bus ride back to Brodick, the sun is shining brightly; the colours radiating off the moors and hills show Arran at its finest.

As the ferry docks back at Ardrossan I glance across the Firth of Clyde with the late afternoon sun glimmering on the water, Goat Fell and the hills of North Arran are silhouetted against a sunny, but watery sky. Did I dream I went to Arran, maybe, but it was a wonderful dream!

Tarit Adrian Stott

Sri Chinmoy AC results

Dhavala Stott            1.30.28 (position 1^st woman)

Tarit Adrian Stott            1.35.58

Amelia Lloyd              1.53