Runners not racehorses, under starters orders at Kelso Racecourse's Sunday fixture
Probably for the first time in Kelso Racecourse’s 192 year history, runners, not riders and racehorses, were being cheered around its course at last weekend’s fixture (Sunday 2 March).
Enthusiastic supporters urged the 98 runners on at the inaugural Lindsays sponsored ‘Borders Marathon and Relay 2014’ event at the Roxburghshire racecourse. Each completed lap raising money for a charity that helps turn around the lives of troubled young people in Britain.
The fund-raising event was the brainchild of a local runner Chris Renton (handicap 13.1) who says he wished the charity had been around for him when he was younger:
“Brathay Trust helps young people who have had a really bad start to life either coming from broken homes or affected by abuse. I can relate to that. In my mid-teens I was abused, although not by family, and I would have liked to have been able to turn to a charity like Brathay for help. Now kids can, as long as the charity can fund its work.”
The 49 year old Edinburgh bus driver, also from Roxburghshire, started running to lose weight six years ago when he was 17 ½ stone. Now a 13 stone, super-fit accomplished, marathon runner he also wanted to organise this unusual fund-raising run to reinstate a local long-distance run. As he explains:
“Our nearest marathon is probably the Kielder marathon over the border in Northumberland. With running becoming more popular, and this format allowing supporters to be more involved, I thought a race-course marathon would go down well. And, given the success of this event, it’s definitely going to take place next year.”
“Lindsay's decision to sponsor the marathon means that all of the money raised through entry fees will go to Brathay Trust. A big thank you has to go to Kelso Racecourse and to Kelso Golf Course for their help and support too” Chris adds.
Prizes were awarded to: Hugh McKinnes for first male to finish in 2hrs 52 minutes and 59 seconds and to Jo Thom from Edinburgh Athletics for first female to finish in 3hrs 19 minutes and 57 seconds, a personal best for her. The first place relay team prize went to Gala Harriers. A full list of results can be found here.
With just over two months to go, Chris will now be focussing on training for a mega marathon event he is taking part in on from Friday 9 May. He is one of 15 runners picked to compete in one of the toughest and most scenic road races in the UK, Brathay Trust’s 10 in 10. He will run 10 officially measured marathons in 10 consecutive days around Lake Windermere.
“Only 15 runners in Britain are picked every year. I’m the first one from the Lothian and Borders to be selected for the race so it’s a great honour” says Chris.
“I’ve never tackled anything like this before. It is going to be mentally and physically challenging and quite fitting that I will be crossing the finishing line on the 10th and final day as I turn 50”.
To sponsor Chris and help him meet his £3,000 target please visit his JustGiving page at: http://www.justgiving.com/Chris-Renton1