The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Runner’s delight at being lead woman in half marathon event
Kingdom athlete thrilled to be ambassador for Kirkcaldy Parks race
A Fife runner has spoken of her pride in being the first woman over the finish line in the region’s only half marathon.
Sheena Logan was ambassador for the Kirkcaldy Parks event, the first race of that distance to be held in the town for almost 30 years.
She finished in 84 minutes 44 seconds, beating her nearest female rival Kristin Lownie, of PH Racing Club, by two minutes and one second.
It was the latest in a series of wins for the 35-year-old from Auchtermuchty, who also triumphed in the women’s races in the Glenrothes 10k in June and the half marathons at Strathaven and Loch Leven.
Sheena, of Fife Athletic Club, considered the Kirkcaldy contest, in which more than 900 runners took part, a home race.
She said: “I was delighted to be part of it, it was such a fantastic event.
“The community spirit was really incredible and the organisers worked so hard to get a run like that off the ground.”
Sheena’s fellow ambassador Kirkcaldy Paralympian Derek Rae was the overall winner of the half marathon on August 25.
She focused her training on getting a good time on the 13-mile course which showcased Beveridge Park, Dunnikier Park, Dysart Harbour, Ravenscraig Park and Kirkcaldy Esplanade.
She said: “It was an honour to be asked to be an ambassador so I had to train quite hard.
“I was quite happy with my time, it wasn’t the fastest I have ever done over that distance but of course every route is different and I’m happy with the race I had.”
Sheena was also delighted to see a large field of female runners, with women accounting for 404 of the 932 who set out from Beveridge Park.
She said: “In relatively recent years you would go to races like that and so many of the runners would be men. It’s terrific to have balance tipped a bit more.”
Sheena is still deciding whether to defend her crown at Loch Ness Marathon in October – and what to take on next.
Last year she won the women’s race in two hours, 51 minutes and 11 seconds.
“It was an honour to be asked to be an ambassador so I had to train quite hard. SHEENA LOGAN