Endurance athletes on the run
MEMBERS of Pitreavie AAC’s endurance section have been out in force enjoying several events over the summer.
Twenty runners, which made them the club with the greatest representation, competed at the Milnathort Dash, in which David Henderson was their first home in a time of 32 minutes and 28 seconds, with Karyn Stewart (42:47) the first female runner to cross the line, followed by Pam Pattison, who finished as the first F70 athlete.
Henderson was also the first Pitreavie member home in the ‘Brig Bash’ five-mile event, organised by Perth Road Runners, in which Keith Vandermotten won the M60 age category, while Diane Stewart was the club’s first female to cross the line.
Rebecca Burns, in 1:17.30, was the first female in the Edinburgh Half Marathon, a race in which Jonny Cotton (1:17.45) was the first M50 runner, while Lou Millar finished third female at the Cateran Ultra Marathon.
Held over 55 miles in Perthshire, and including an ascent of 7,684 feet, she completed the race in just under 11-and-a-half hours, as did Darren Stoker, with the pair having also raced together at the 72-mile Great Glen Ultra.
In that event, Darren finished in 15:04.22, with Lou three seconds behind, which saw her finish as the second female, while Cam Warner completed the 95-mile West Highland Way Race, from Milngavie to Fort William, in 21:21.47, which saw him place 34th out of a field of 155 entrants.
Some runners have also received recognition at Pitreavie AAC’s annual awards, including David Henderson, who won awards for ‘All Round
Male Performance’ and the President’s Special Award; Kym McCulloch, who collected the ‘All Round Female Award; Lukasz Cwiklewski, who won an accolade for ‘Male Ultra Achievement’; Lou Millar, who won the female equivalent; Pam Pattison and Christine Syme, who won the PAACE (Pitreavie AAC Endurance) Inspiration Award jointly, as two of their longest-serving and inspiring members; and Mike Gudgeon, who was feted with a ‘Special Recognition Award’ for running the Fife Coastal Path in less than 27 hours for charity.