North runners gear up to play the generation game

● Race between city bridges compares times with 1894 athletes

Runners from the northeast are being challenged to test themselves against the area’s best 19th century athletes in an event which represents a novel departure from the virtual races to have emerged during lockdown.

In 1894 Aberdeen’s main club, the Shire Harriers, organised a race from Bridge of Dee to Bridge of Don.

Competitors had to choose their own route, the only rules being that they couldn’t run along George Street or King Street (until the final couple of hundred metres), although they could cross these streets.

The runners were set off at five minute intervals to prevent pacing and to discourage anyone from following the route chosen by one of their rivals.

Now a variation on that event is to be revisited with 21st century athletes trying to improve upon the times posted by their 19th century equivalents.

Runners are asked to run on their own and can tackle the challenge any time between now and July 26.

Banchory’s Great Britain international Robbie Simpson is a co-founder of the Hidden Peak Running Group which is promoting the idea.

He said: “As there still aren’t any races going ahead we thought this would be an interesting little test for local runners. It’s different from the virtual events on offer and it’ll be interesting to see how everyone compares with the best from the 1890s.

“It should be easier for runners nowadays.

“Competitors in 1894 didn’t have the hi-tech running shoes or kit we have nowadays. Also, many of the streets were cobbled back then, while others weren’t even hard-surfaced.

“The street pattern hasn’t changed too drastically so we feel the challenge allows reasonably accurate comparisons to be made between then and now.

“To keep a level playing field between our running ancestors and ourselves, however, we’d ask people to plan their optimum routes without using digital mapping technology.

“It’s not a race and there’s no entry fee or prizes. It’s just a bit of fun and an attempt to give everyone something different to incorporate into their training.

“We want runners to post their times and the route they used on our facebook page along with a photo. They can wear 19th century-style running kit if they want.

“They must adhere to social distancing rules when running, as they should be doing in any case, and must take care not to do anything to endanger themselves or others.

“To add a bit of intrigue we won’t reveal the time taken by the 1894 winner, or the route he followed, until after this month’s event is complete.”

Simpson hopes to be able to test himself against his forebears if his training schedule allows.

● Full details of the Dee to Don challenge can be found at facebook.com/ hiddenpeakrunning

TRAILBLAZERS: The Shire Harriers members who, in 1894, organised Aberdeen’s Bridge of Dee to Bridge of Don race