This month sees the 30th anniversary of the Linlithgow 10k.
Let’s have a closer look at these 10 million millimetres…
First of all, the 10k hasn’t taken place every year…
The first running was in 1992. Then there was a lost year in 2011 (perhaps due to Lothian Police dragging their heels with confirming permission to close the road? or maybe it was the council dragging their heels? Angus will know…)
And there was a lost year in 2020, due to the covid pandemic.
It wasn’t always 10k in length! (Probably?)
The route originally started at the Swan Tavern and finished at the Cross - which is supposedly less than 10k. The fact that the course record was set on this old route - perhaps lends some credibility to this theory. Rest assured that our current route has been accurately measured by the association of course measurers (sound like a wild bunch of guys) - so we’re confident that it’s now 10k.
The old finish line on the High Street
Photo Credit: Roddy Simpson
Some numbers:
This year we have 93 volunteers
We have 1,038 confirmed entries - which is a new record
There are approx 80 entrants from Linlithgow Athletic Club - another new record
We have over 100 kids in the fun run - an upwards trend from recent years
It costs around £19,000 to run the event. Eeeek.
Despite the costs, we typically make a profit - which is then used to fund ‘health and well-being’ initiatives in the community (e.g. helping with the start-up costs for junior parkrun)
We will have approx 350 entrants are from Linlithgow
In total, 73 athletics clubs are represented this year.
Angus Gallie has ran 25 of the previous events - an attendance rate of 86%
There’s only 1 David Marshall
Runners starting from the Swan Tavern
Finally - massive thanks to the 10k committee - who devote a lot of their time to making this happen every year:
David MR - Race Director
Malcolm Hughes - Race Secretary
Stuart Allan - managing >1000 entries
Jim Bird - ‘elder statesman’ vibes / wealth of experience
Frank Clement - ‘font of knowledge’ vibes / even more experience
Angus Gallie - ‘steady hand on the tiller’ vibes / 86% participation rate
Kathryn Holm - PR / Influencer / mixologist
Mr Marshall - cocky microphone guy (every race needs one)
Mrs Marshall - money stuff and prizes
Graham Chambers - race registration and a million other helpful things
Ian Fyfe - volunteer coordination / voice-of-reason-in-a-world-gone-mad
Seriously though - we can’t list all the things these people do.
This club and this community thank you all for your service.
