Pitreavie AAC’s Endurance (PAACE) runners were once again participating in local races. Runners took to the hills near Kelty in the Path of Condie race put on by Kinross Road Runners. With almost 1500 feet of ascent and a half marathon distance, this race is known to be tough but rewarding with beautiful scenery. First home for PAACE was Scott Clark in 1h 40m 9s, followed by Cam Warner in 1h 47m 37s, and Gavin Major in 1h 51m 47s.
Not content with pushing himself at the Path of Condie, Scott Clark took part in the Dunfermline Parkrun the following week as a warm up for the main event at Scottish Coal Carrying Championships, which he ran alongside club mate Graeme Baxter. The Kelty race commemorates stories of miners who used to run home from the pits with bags of ‘rakers’ or ‘clugs’. Huge local support encouraged competitors in the incredibly tough challenge of carrying a 50kg sack of coal (men 50kg and women 25kg) over an uphill 1km route, but Graeme and Scott nailed it in 7:13m and 7:57m respectively. The male and female winner, Wallace Nelson, and Caroline Leach won in an incredible 4:57m and 5:27m.
PAACE were also out in force at Blast Running’s Sunset Marathon, which took place on a damp August evening, starting in daylight at Crammond and finishing late into the night. Runners entered either in teams, splitting the 4 laps between them, or ran the full marathon individually. Of the 6 PAACE members running the full marathon distance, Neil Maclachlan (SM) came in 1st for Pitreavie men in a superb 3h 25m 12s, with Ben Fraser (SM) close behind in 3h 28m 05s, and 11 PAACE runner forming teams to enjoy the atmosphere and perfect running conditions.
Meanwhile, David Henderson’s training with the club continues to pay off, with a 37m 36s 10k in the Roon the Toon in Kilmarnock, and an improved 36m 47s PB in the Perth 10k a week later. The race was supported by 7 other PAACE members, including Claire Fairbairn and Tina Khan who only recently completed the Couch to 5K with the club’s Jog Scotland group (Ready Steady Go Pitreavie), and Debbie Cooper who’s running streak continued after completing the Blast Sunset full marathon the previous week.
Elswhere in Fife, the tough, hilly Kirkcaldy 10k trail race included several PAACE entrants, with Kym McCulloch placing 3rd in the V50F age group, a great result for Kym who continues to strengthen as runner with the support of the club. Over in Cambus, Clackmannanshire, Christine Syme took to the trails of the Cambus Quarter, an ususual 6.5m distance. The relatively flat, scenic and well organised race also included a post race treat of a burger – a welcome touch by the Wee County Harriers, who organised the race.
The club continues to enjoy supporting the thriving Parkrun scene, with over 30 members running and numerous others volunteering at local events including Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Lochore, although one member, Andy King, enjoyed the Guernsey Parkrun – slightly further away from home! There were great times from Iain Howatt (19:27m) at Dunfermline, and Craig Chisholm (19:36) at Kirkcaldy.
