On your marks as Parkrun craze arrives at Lochore Meadows

A new running event is to be launched at the scenic Lochore Meadows Country Park in a bid to get Fifers fit.

The free weekly 5k Parkrun will launch on Saturday following a successful trial run at the weekend.

More than 400 runners are expected to gather for the inaugural event which will set off from outside the £1.8 million Willie Clarke visitor centre at 9.30am.

Park manager Ian Laing told how he hoped the new event would put the beauty spot on the fitness map.

He said: “This is something we’ve been thinking about for quite some time.

“We had looked at it happening in other places and it occurred to us that the venue was excellent for such an event.

“Not all venues that do parkruns have got a facility for refreshments at the end of it which we obviously have.

“But one of the main things that seems to be interesting people is that it’s a mixed terrain parkrun as well.

“We’ve had new bike tracks put in and we’ve got the new one opening between us and Lochgelly High School which is right next to the park.

“We are conscious VisitScotland are looking at us for being a fairly high-profile sporting area and this just gives us another string to our bow to have this event here.

“It will also raise the profile of the park to people who may not normally visit here but may come and do the run and realise the park has so much more to offer.”

He continued: “We’ll be doing a bit of shepherding in the morning to make sure the cows aren’t near the path.

“It’s when dogs get near their calves that they tend to get agitated and that would be something that we would have to deal with nearer the time. But there are quite simple rules for people involved in the parkrun in that their dog has to be on a short lead and it’s only one dog per person.”