Stornoway Running and Athletics Club
Heb3 Series heads for record year in 2007
After the first three of the five Hebridean half marathons (in which runners must compete in at least 3 of the 5 races), participation is at a record level! Overall numbers are set to exceed the usual numbers of 40-60 runners, as 15 competitors have already completed all three events so far, a record in itself!
Last year, over 400 runners completed in at least one of the Heb3 races with about 80% of these runners living out with the islands. The attraction of the Heb3 brings many of them to stay in the islands for one or two weeks, as the five races are organised on three and two consecutive weekends for this purpose.
Last year the organisers, Stornoway Running & Athletics Club (SRAC), introduced a £200 cash prize for the winning team, donated by Buck MacAskill of N&C Recruitment (sponsor), which was won by Portobello Running Club. After three races this year, Forres Harriers are in the lead, although Portobello have a strong team entered for the final series races in Barra and Harris. SRAC’s team in 2007 is strong in numbers, but will be hard pushed to catch the leaders. (Some SRAC runners are representing The Western Isles in the World Island Games in Rhodes and are not running the Heb 3 this year).
Uniquely in Scottish road racing, every successful competitor in the Heb3 is given a quality racing vest as a memento, printed with an eye-catching logo of the Western Isles with the half marathon names in Gaelic. This is possible because of the sponsorship of the Heb3 event by N&C Recruitment, The Co-Op Community Dividend and Run & Become in Edinburgh.
A record number of running vests have been printed in anticipation for the final Heb3 event, the Harris half marathon, on Saturday 7th July.