The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
On your marks for city event
Sport: Athletes discuss motivation for inaugural Great Aberdeen Run
Runners lined up yesterday to share their remarkable reasons for taking part in the inaugural Great Aberdeen Run.
Thousands are expected to grab their running shoes to tackle the 10K, half marathon and family mile this August, with the routes taking in some of the Granite City’s most iconic landmarks.
The event is being supported by the council’s masterplan which also provided backing for the recent Nuart street festival.
Yesterday, some of the runners already signed up met at Marischal College to explain what was motivating them through their training sessions.
Adam Swinton, 49, from Aberdeen, said he would be keeping a late friend in mind as he pounded the miles.
He said: “I’ll be running for the National Autistic Society. A friend of mine died in a diving accident last year, leaving behind a wife and two children.
“One of the youngsters is autistic so I decided to do what I could to help. All the money I raise this year will go to this charity.
“I have always run for charity. My sister is deaf and her partner is deaf and blind, so I have previously run for Deaf Blind Scotland.”
Meanwhile, Inverurie’s Steven Brown, who has battled his way to fitness after having six operations on his legs as a youngster, will be competing in the half marathon.
He will be joined by Aberdeen’s Nick Murray, who survived a brain haemorrhage 15 years ago and will be fundraising for Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
And Neil Skene, fundraising co-ordinator at North East Sensory Services, will take part in the half marathon in August.
He said: “Being blind myself, I want to do this to help ensure that youngsters with a sensory impairment get the support that I didn’t get 40 years ago.”
The first Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run takes place on Sunday, August 27.
It is the latest event from the organisers of the Simplyhealth Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon, held every year between Newcastle and South Shields.
Lord Provost George Adam said: “The Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run will not only showcase our magnificent landmarks but add to the growing buzz around the Granite City.”
Sign up for the event at www.greatrun.org/Aberdeen