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Kirkintilloch 12.5K

Kirkintilloch 12.5K offers unique distance challenge

Still time to enter ideal spring tune-up race

Runners looking to test themselves before a longer spring race have just a few days left to sign themselves up for the perfect challenge.

This year’s Kirkintilloch 12.5K will be held on Sunday, 13 February, with limited places of the 350 available still remaining. Over one third of places disppeared in the first 24 hours after launch last month.

The race is held on a quiet but challenging – in other words, hilly – country route around Lenzie and Kirkintilloch. 

The challenge of the route’s 12 hills is eased by the interest it offers runners. The route is full of history, passing by Scottish landmarks like the Gartshore Estate, one of the country’s earliest railway lines and the Irn-Bru factory itself.  

The unusual distance – around 8.75 miles – makes it ideal for tuning up before a spring half or full marathon. Although runners of all abilities are welcome, organisers suggest that participants have a 10K under their belts before taking on their event.

To support club development, organisers will be offering five free places to next year’s event to the clubs winning the top male and female team prizes and three each to the runners-up. 

Held since 2006, the Kirkintilloch 12.5K is firmly established as the test of many runners’ winter training and attracts runners from far and wide.
Olympic marathoner Derek Hawkins (Kilbarchan AAC) has held the course record of 39.50 since 2013. The women’s record was reset to 47.10 by Sale Harrier Sophie Wood at the last running of the race in 2020. 

Kirkintilloch Olympians also organise the Neil McCover half-marathon, traditionally held the first weekend of October. The event celebrates the life of police officer McCover, a much valued club chair and coach, who was killed in a cycling accident in October 2010. 

Full results from previous editons can be found via runABC Scotland's race listing page

Image: Last year's ladies podium: winner and new record holder Sophie Wood (Sale Harriers, middle), second placed Sheena Logan (Fife, left) and third placed Ruth Fraser-Moodie (Springburn, right) (Kirkintilloch 12.5K facebook

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