PBs galore for Harriers

THE AJ Bell Great Scottish Run is one of Scotland’s premier running events, offering a scenic and fast half marathon course that begins in George Square, right in the heart of Glasgow. And a number of Dumfries Harriers travelled up for the event earlier this month. Bill McKinney was the sole Harrier to take on the 10km distance. Demonstrating true sportsmanship, Bill paused mid-race to assist a fellow runner who had fallen. He crossed the finish line in just over the hour mark, clocking a time of 1:02:01. The half marathon was where the Harriers truly shone, with eight club members tackling the 13.1-mile course. The hardest working Harrier Alex Dingwall led the charge with a superb time of 1:40:44. Not far behind was the newly crowned female club champion, Kat Reid, 1:50:37, Sonia Marquez, the club’s Spanish resident, travelled over especially for the event, and she earned a new personal best of 1:51:14. Cole Nish, a graduate of this year’s couch to 5K programme, took on the half marathon for the first time and finished in an impressive 1:53:05. Jenny McKinney, who has been steadily increasing her weekly mileage in preparation for this challenge, was next to cross the line in 1:57:57, yet another personal best. Tina Roscoe, full of nerves and excitement ahead of her first half marathon, was ecstatic to finish in 2:05:30. Karrie Milroy, who had trained impeccably for the event, suffered a fall at the 4km mark, but showed incredible resilience. She powered through and crossed the line in 2:06:54 and achieved a personal best. The final Harrier to complete the course was Lynn Goodwin, who rounded off the team’s efforts with a determined run and a new personal best of 2:08:24.