Hebridean Marathon Weekend Comments and Galleries These comments and Photos have come in to Tony or our Web site Galleries Point1 Calanais Stones - Gavin Earons North Harris Trust Marathon - Gavin Earons North Harris Trust Marathon - Adrienne Stewart Bank of Scotland Half Marathon - Gavin Earons Bank of Scotland Half Marathon - Adrienne Stewart Half and Harris Marathon - Sarah Knox Hebridean Marathons - Jim Bruce Ivor Prize Giving Video - Jim Bruce Race Reports Julia Henderson and Richard Dennis - Portobello Running Club Website Comments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I honestly didn't think I was actually going to win the race, even during it. The whole time I was just waiting for some so-and-so to come roaring past, but it never happened. Not once did I look back because I knew if I did and saw anyone there I'd be finished! I even had to ask Jim Bruce at the finish "did I win?" just to make sure I hadn't made some mistake. By the way, you want to see the trophy - an elegant glass vase type thing with the North Harris Trust logo in black and green - one of many things about the race that shows just how much care and thought the organisers put into it, everyone had a great day. Gareth Mayze -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry to have taken so long to send you our thanks for a magnificent weekend. We moved onto Dundee where I come from, for a short break and have just returned home to the rainy South! Why did we all enjoy ourselves so much despite all that wind and all those hills with which we had to contend? I suppose it was the first class organisation, superb hospitality and friendliness, and picture postcard scenery. What more can runners ask for, even if they are slow cart horses like me? It was obvious that a lot of thought and hard work had gone into planning both events. Well done , everyone. I am sure that it will have done the island's future tourist trade a big favour. Even if you don't put the marathons on again I am certain that you will have won quite a few people over to the Half Marathon - and next time they'll bring their mates. Many, many thanks. Peter and Mary Burns P.S. The black puddin' was marvellous. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many thanks for the time and effort you and your team put into organising two great marathons. As a puffy southener it was such a pleasure to come up to these unspoilt islands and run in some quite dramatic scenery. Then to win two over 60 prizes was beyond anything I had done before. I put it down to my new training diet of malt whisky and Stornoway black pudding! Thanks again and continued success to you and your club in all future projects. David Vaughan (100 Marathon Club) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well done to all runners and walkers,fantastic event to be involved -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a quick note to thank you and your team for a great days racing. The -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a matter of interest how many guys were older than my venerable 69 in the event? Best wishes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just wanted to say thank you for a truly memorable marathon. The whole day was great - please pass on my thanks to all involved for all their hard work. I know it was a 'one off' - but it would be fantastic if it could be an annual event!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just wanted to send you a note and thank you for all your hard work in organising the events at the weekend. I didn't stay for the second race, but "enjoyed" the marathon on Saturday (even though I've never had to run uphill for 15 miles into a gale force wind before!) Despite the tough course I thought it was great and very well organised - I've described my experiences in much more detail on my blog www.whwrunner.blogspot.com Hopefully I'll make it back to Stornoway in the future. Just a quick note of thanks for all your efforts over the weekend , was the most amazing marathon ever with the scenery, being Irish we really enjoyed the ceilidh also and to meet Horst Preisler I hope there will be another Callanish stones marathon in 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I took (rather a lot it seems) photos of the Harris Marathon and Stornoway Half which you are welcome to use or not as you wish. I just want to say a big thank you as well to yourself and everyone involved for the organisation that went into last weekend. It was my first half marathon and I'm really glad I chose this one - it was also my first time on Lewis and Harris. Looking forward to coming back again - any chance of turning the wind off though? Everyone I've spoken to at Serpentine since I got back has been asking what it was like and I might be invited to write a wee report for our magazine.
Would that be okay as if it happens I'd like to refer people to the SRAC
website? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a quick note to thank you, SRAC, volunteers and all helpers for an excellent event and a great day. It was a bit humply and breezy but also scenic, friendly and unique. I've left positive feedback on the Runners World events page and will do the same with ERN. Yours aye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a note to say how much my friend ( Sheila Kennedy) and I enjoyed Saturday's run. It was the best organised we have done in a long time and certainly the bonniest route! Lots of water, too, which was appreciated. See you next year Marie Maciver PS -Thanks also for organising such good weather! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a quick note to say 'Thanks' once again for a fantastic weekend. You obviously put a lot of time and effort in organising this event. Two great runs (ignoring Saturdays wind) and fantastic weather. Much preferred Mondays run, glorious scenery. Very well organised and the support where it was, was terrific. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to you and your team for organising such a great event over the holiday weekend. The race organisation was just great along with the hospitality so it was just a pity for me that i had to leave early after the race yesterday to catch the flight back to Glasgow. Thank you -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought organisation was great and Tony Robson and Adrienne did great work and same for marshalls, army cadets, everyone involved with events and tea, cakes and sandwiches - thanks very much. I have a personal connection with Isle of Lewis as I have child there Emma so I thought I give both a go - slow and steady. Sun and heat was hard going at times but support from cadets and plenty water and gel stations helped big time when one minute I felt freezing and then so hot. After finishing first marathon I thought I'd leave it like that and go back to Glasgow but I decided to go down early with walkers thinking if it comes to the bit I can walk it. I still cant believe I ran this too even though I was slow. I was so gubbed at end and felt ill it never really sank in. It was brilliant running with Adrienne and her dog Honey for 13 miles and the Doctor (I cant remember her name) who helped me get into it. They are so many positives and both brilliant events and organisation I wasnt going to say anything but I suppose I'm a bit angryabout some negative coments I heard about the "walkers". I felt it took the shine of what I thought great events. The lady from England who came in in 8hours and raised so much money for cancer I thought did brilliant and deserved just as much applause at end as world record holder from Hamburg. Thanks again Tony, Adrienne, everyone concerned and Honey the dog! Cheers Cameron -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a quick note to thank all concerned for all the effort that was put in to last Saturdays runs. The Stornoway run is so well organised, and I'm always impressed with the number of marshals that help out. All involved come across as enjoying helping out too. I particularly appreciated all the water stops - Saturday was a bit hot for me! Next best bit were all the cakes! So it was either those, or the fact that I was knackered that enabled me to sleep on the bus back down to Leverburgh! A good day out and thanks again for your patience with my dithering around with late entry etc. Best wishes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have to write and say a big thank you to everyone involved with the weekends events. I know lots of people have passed on their appreciation for all the effort made, but personally it has been the best marathon weekend Linda and I have had in Great Britain for sure. You should be very proud of your first ( and last!) marathons. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a quick e-mail to express my appreciation to all at SRAC and everyone involved in any way in helping with the two marathons this weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed both races and found all aspects of the organisation and logistics first class. Of course, the glorious Hebridean weather played its part as well! I hope that after a well earned rest SRAC might consider organising another marathon but even if you don't it's quite likely that I will return to the Western Isles for further races in the future...some of those halfs look very tempting :-) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have just returned home and I would like to express my thanks to yourself and all at SRAC and the North Harrris Trust for providing a most fantastic weekend of 2 great marathons, tremendous support and hospitality. I will remember it for many years to come. Not sure how you managed to get such great weather, 2 fantastic courses. I for one, intend to make every effort to return some time in the near future to have a go at the halfs. Thanks again. Regards David Heron -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My wife and I would just like to express our sincerest thanks and appreciation to you and everyone who helped you for organising a superb double marathon event. We both thoroughly enjoyed the time we had on the islands and were especially taken aback by the dramatic scenery of Harris, that marathon will go down as one of the most scenic I've ever run, hilly but very scenic. We're hoping we can come back some day to run in other races, possibly the half series which would include a couple of the other islands, or maybe even other marathons if you think Skye or Bara might be good places to have them. Anyway, thank you again Tony for all your help and hospitality. Regards Steve & Teresa Edwards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- extracted from Audrey's entry at justgiving.com - please visit and give generously I completed the Hebridean 2 Marathon Challenge.... in the memory of a friend, Rhona MacLennan, who sadly lost her battle with cancer at the beginning of February. Rhona, and her partner James, received support from Macmillan Cancer Support during her illness, and it seemed appropriate that we raise money for Macmillan through this event. It was an amazing experience Both courses were stunningly beautiful if challenging, between the 14 miles of NE headwind for Callanish; and the hills of Harris The sun shone for 3 days in the Outer Hebrides - the Atlantic was freezing My fellow runners gave huge support and encouragement Audrey Macintosh -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well done for getting the results and some photos up so quickly - when we saw the sunshine it made us wish we had come across rather than stayed here to do the Edinburgh Marathon which was a very windy affair. Mind you rumour has it there was some wind at your runs also. Maybe we will come along next year - the amount of folk prepared to run 2 marathons in 3 days is quite something - no shortage of nutters. Well done for organisation etc. Keep up the good work. Peter Buchanan & Mary Hunter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Had a brilliant weekend, really enjoyed the marathon and the whole day was so well organised. Christina Poernomo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stornoway was great-weather brill, purvey superb, nice T-shirts, organisation tremendous-well done all the organisers, volunteer helpers/stewards etc for half, full marathon and fun run. Well done all. Douglas Strachan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just a quick email to say thanks for an absolutely fantastic marathon. This has definitely gone straight to the top as my favourite marathon. I know it was billed as a one off but its certainly one I'd love to run every year - regardless of weather. Please pass on a massive thumbs up to all involved. Everyone was so encouraging. I also much appreciated your words on the coach. Your enthusiasm and welcoming manner added to a tremendous day. Best regards, Ian McIntosh (Spike)
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