The Fast One: Hundreds ready for our Scottish 5k Champs

Wednesday 1st May 2024

Road Race GP shares after Marathon Champs

The countdown is almost over as we head towards Friday night road racing and the eagerly-awaited Scottish 5K Champs beside the seaside in Edinburgh.

Very few events in Scotland sell out quite as quickly as this one hosted at Silverknowes by race organiser Adrian Stott and the Sri Chinmoy club plus local volunteers.

And if you have to be rapid simply to ensure your place in the race, then the Men’s and Women’s podiums are liable to be even more hotly contested.

Individual medals are up for grabs at U20, Senior and Masters level (in ten-year bands) and team medals are on offer, too (at U20 and Senior).

The race itself also has a series of prizes on offer and disappearing into the Silverknowes sunset clutching a pineapple is now very much a thing for our elite athletes in various age groups.

Before we look at some names – and those lists of contenders are never intended to be exhaustive – there are two more aspect to note re Friday night.

*International vests will be selected for Belfast 5k event in June off the back of performances at Silverknowes

*Road Race GP shares are on offer with £4000 in total up for grabs – with athletes asked to run inside certain time standards to earn A or B shares#

Jamie Crowe and Lynn McKenna took the titles with strong runs last year and our team winners were Central AC (men) and Shettleston Harriers (women).

On the start-lists, the Men’s race once again looks packed with quality and depth.

Out to land gold this year (with Jamie Crowe now ruled out) are Scott Stirling, Lewis Hannigan, Sean Chalmers, Michael Ferguson, Luca Fanottoli, Jamie MacKinnon, Mike Christoforou, Peter Avent, Dermot Cummins, Jacob Adkin, Ross Good, Tom Martyn and doubtless a few more besides.

Annabel Simpson won the Scottish 10-Mile Champs at Strathclyde and features alongside Jenny Selman and Steph Pennycook in a Fife AC team which looks hot favourites for the team golds in the Women’s race.

Who else might challenge? Morag Millar is a former winner plus Kirsty Walker, Sara Green (W40), Millie McClelland-Brooks (U17), Eve MacKinnon, Zoe Pflug, Stefanie Tucker, Jenny Bannerman, Lesley Bell and others.

A few points to highlight on behalf of the race organisers:

* Please car share where possible and park responsibly at Silverknowes

*With a big field we ask people to line up sensibly and be patient in the first 100m-200m to help ensure a smooth getaway for all

*To save waste, we encourage runners to bring a water bottle to fill from the available water containers

In addition, the Sri Chinmoy event is partnering with Zambia and Malawi community partnership and asking folk to bring along old running shoes

The race is acting as a collection point to send old running shoes to Africa. If you have any old trainers that still have some life in them, please bring them along on Friday.

There will be a collection point on race day near registration.

Full details via this online link

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Tags: Scottish 5k Champs, Silverknowes