Thousands set to take part in Great Winter Run

Published on Thursday 6 January 2011 12:18

FROM the world's best athletes to fundraisers who have been in training for a few days, the stage is set for thousands of competitors to converge on Holyrood Park tomorrow for this year's Bupa Great Winter Run.

The 5k race around Arthur's Seat is part of a full day of racing in the park.

The morning will see the Junior Great Winter Run and youth inter-district cross country races, and in the afternoon, world-class runners including Eliud Kipchoge, Steph Twell and Mo Farah will compete in the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country, which will be shown live on BBC1.

Among those taking part in the race for charity is Jeremy Hughes, of Blackford Grove, who is raising money for the James Gillespie's Trust, which supports extramural activities at the high school, including its links with a school near Durban, South Africa.

Mr Hughes, 49, who is chairman of the trust, said: "The difficulty of being involved in charity work is that you have to have an income stream and if you've no money you can't do anything.

"The trust really is all about becoming part of the landscape of the school, so we link the current school and young people with former pupils, with the idea that once you've been through the school you're always part of that community, and part of the wider community.

"Gillespie's also has a strong link to the South Africa with a partner school in Umlazi, so your local community becomes world wide. It's a very strong ethos."

Mr Hughes, whose sons Lloyd, Owen and Rhian have been pupils at the school, is bracing himself for a tough race. He said: "I haven't run for many years because it's too cold in Edinburgh in winter, and sadly the bad weather has disrupted my schedule, so my training started on about Tuesday when I went to the gym. But if you're going to raise money, it has to be a challenge - and this will be a challenge."

Last year's 5k run had to be shortened because snowy weather made the usual course around Queen's Drive impassable, and organisers have arranged a back-up course. However, with no heavy snow forecast, runners look likely to follow the standard course, gathering at the rear of Holyrood Palace for a noon start before following the road clockwise for one lap.

Lynsey Stephenson, of organiser Nova International, said: "It's going to be a fantastic day and with some of the world's best elite athletes participating, it's certainly a great day out for all the family."

The full list of finishing times will be published in the Evening News' special souvenir supplement on Monday.

ON YOUR MARKS

&#149 10.15am: U13 Girls' inter-district cross country

&#149 10.35am: U13 Boys' inter-district cross country

&#149 11am: Bupa Junior Great Winter Run

&#149 11.10am: U15 Girls' inter-district cross country

&#149 11.30am: U15 Boys' inter-district cross country

&#149 12pm: Bupa Great Winter Run

&#149 12.05pm: U17 Women's inter-district cross country

&#149 12.30pm: U17 Men's inter-district cross country

&#149 1pm: BBC Live transmission of Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country starts

&#149 1.07pm: Men's short race

&#149 1.25pm: Women's race

&#149 1.55pm: Men's international team challenge