Archives trio store up marathon memories
Three members of Stirling Council’s archives and library service are preparing to write their own history in this weekend’s Stirling marathon.
Reader Services librarian Liz Moffat, culture and archives team leader Fiona McLean and archivist Pam McNicol will be on the start line after months of preparation for the inaugural event. Pam and Fiona will be tackling their first marathon. Liz has behind her the experience of completing the 2009 Lochaber Marathon Broomridge and the New York man Ian Couper has Marathon in 2013 been pounding the having missed the pavements in preparation for 2012 event in the this weekend’s Stirling Scottish Big Apple because Marathon. of Hurricane The 39-year-old is taking part in Sandy in October the gruelling 26-mile run to raise of that year. Liz (60), who money for Down’s Syndrome is originally from Scotland and he says his Galashiels but now training has been going lives in Menstrie, well. has worked for Stirling Council for 17 years. She started running to up her level of fitness for hill walking. And it paid off, because she completed all 282 Munros in 2008. She said: “I decided to train for my first marathon mainly to relieve the stress of planning for my wedding and it worked, but when I completed the marathon I thought ‘oh heck, there’s a wedding to organise’. “After New York, I was never going to do another marathon but because this is the first Stirling marathon I decided I wanted to be part of it and came out of ‘marathon retirement.’”
Liz has been training for the race with Wee County Harriers and been following a 16-week course of preparation. She has a 22-mile run under her belt.
She said she’ll be joined on the start line by husband Ewan, adding: “He is a wee bit faster but for me it’s not about times, it’s about taking part, enjoyment and being involved in the community of running.”
Pam has been running for three and half years but described her decision to participate the Stirling marathon as a “moment of insanity”.
“I took up running just to keep fit,” she added. “I have always been active and do a lot of hill walking and cycling and I commute by bike from Dunblane to the archives in Springkerse every day.”
The 52-year-old has been training since January and warmed up for the Stirling marathon by completing the Alloa half marathon, in March, in two hours and one minute.
She said: “It will be nice running through some beautiful countryside in an area that I know,” she added. “What I am dreading are the laps around the city centre because there are two and a half of them and it’s going to be hard going. ”
Fiona, a 49-year-old mumof-three, has been preparing for the event by running round Kinlochard, where she lives with her family.
“I had not done any running for 10 years but as soon as I heard the news that there was going to be a Stirling marathon, I decided I was going to take part.” she added.
“I have been training on and off for about 12 months, doing up to 40 miles a week, and I have managed a 20-miler and a couple of 18-milers, and I also did the Alloa half marathon.
“It has been difficult to fit in training as I have three children and also work full-time. It’s been interesting getting up to do training sessions at 6am to fit everything in but the family have been every supportive.”
Fiona is raising money for MS Scotland and has set up a ‘JustGiving’ page on social media.
All three are understandably cagey about the times they hope to clock for the marathon but Liz probably summed up the view of many taking part when she said: “There is a guy in my club who says if anyone asks about times just say ‘the time of my life’ and I think that’s a good way of approaching it.”
It will be nice running through some beautiful countryside in an area I know