Virtual MOKRUN is a real success
Just short of 600 adults and children laced up their training shoes over eight days to take part in this year’s virtual Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon and 10k Race (MOKRUN).
For adults there was a choice of completing 10 kilometres or a 13.1-mile half-marathon and for the children it was either one mile or five kilometres. And they all took up the challenge with energy and enthusiasm.
The MOKRUN Facebook page was inundated with photographs of runners and walkers completing their race in places as far afield as Jakarta, Luxembourg and Salou.
In Milan, the ever-popular KISS STRONG team completed their run in Busto Gardolfo, raising a few eyebrows, but receiving lots of cheers.
They first took part in MOKRUN in 2018, loved it, and hope to be back in Kintyre competing next year.
There were also photographs from all over Scotland - Arran, Ayrshire, Glasgow, Arrochar, Garelochhead and North Berwick - as well as a strong Kintyre contingent.
A MOKRUN spokesperson said: ‘Although we missed the buzz of a live event, we are delighted so many people got involved in our virtual event. Feedback from competitors has been very positive.
‘There were some fantastic performances in all the categories, with a lot of runners achieving a personal best time.
‘Campbeltown athletes were well represented in all the category placings, with married couple Kenny and Jennifer Campbell the male and female winners of the half-marathon race. A small group of runners from Campbeltown Running Club tried to recreate the competitive atmosphere by setting off at the same time on Saturday morning, allowing the faster runners to pick off the opposition as they went.
‘It was also great to see three members of Achilles International completing the race for the first time, having been training since before last year’s cancelled event under their coach Jake Sanders.
‘It’s been a pleasure seeing everyone’s photographs and we were very happy to see that lots of people kept up the tradition of celebrating with a well-earned Danish pastry at the finish. The spirit of MOKRUN lives on.’
The spokesperson added: ‘The MOKRUN committee thanks all our competitors who have supported and stayed with us to take part in the virtual MOKRUN 2021. A special thank you to the staff of Wee Toon Trends for their assistance in distributing T-shirts and medals to participants.
‘All going well, we are very much looking forward to staging a live event next year - on Saturday May 28 for the juniors with the main races on Sunday May 29 2022.
‘Entries will open in January 2022 on EntryCentral and we are hoping to welcome back many of the runners who have told us how much they have missed coming to our town for this event.’
Any Kintyre runners who have not yet picked up their T-shirt and medal can do so from Wee Toon Trends on Main Street. All others will be posted out.
The committee has asked for patience on delivery time as there are a lot to package up, address and mail out.
Results: Half marathon: Gents: 1 Kenny Campbell; 2 Kieran Cooper; 3 Richard Cooper. Ladies: 1 Jennifer Campbell; 2 Laura McMillan; 3 Morven Glennie. 10k: Gents: 1 Matthew Turner; 2 Kyle Paterson; 3 Stuart McGeachy. Ladies: 1 Emma Morran; 2 Lorraine MacPherson; 3 Rhona Sloss. Children’s 5k: Boys: 1 Eoin Quinn; 2 Daniel Semple; 3 Hector Robinson. Girls: 1 Emma Millar; 2 Niamh Quinn; 3 Evie Judge. Children’s one mile: Boys: 1 Jude Garcia; 2 Wallace Amaru Amaut Nimmo; 3 Noah Scott. Girls: 1 Hannah McLellan; 2 Cara McFadzean; 3 Sophie Millar.