It was a busy day in East Dunbartonshire on Sunday (11 February) as both the Kirkintilloch 12.5K and Neil McCover Memorial Half Marathon took place at the same time after the latter event was rescheduled from its usual October date due to a flooded course.

Between the two events more than 300 runners were testing themselves on the roads around Lenzie and Kirkintilloch. The 12.5K offers a those taking part a 'unique distance over a challenging course' and is considered a fantastic event for testing stamina and training ahead of spring half or full marathons while the half marathon is a classic in the area.

Speaking after the races, organisers said: "Thank you to all the runners who took part. With the need to change the courses this year, we would welcome your feedback on the revised course. Our thanks must go to all the volunteers from Kirkintilloch Olympians and friends, from the Kirkintilloch Scouts, the Police Cadets and the officers from Police Scotland who were out on the course to marshal everyone safely around."

Those who had taken part in the events were quick to praise the routes, with 12.5K runner Pauline Friel commenting on Facebook: "Really liked the new route this year, loved the trail section, and it was just a little bit kinder than the original route but still a fair share of hills!"

Half marathoner, John Speirs, commented: "Best marshalling I have ever seen. Genuinely! The looped bit in particular was fantastic. Guy briefed me on what to do next lap. Let me concentrate on racing. Thank you to everyone who volunteered."

The top three male runners in the 12.5K were Bellahouston Harrier, Fraser Armstrong who managed to keep ahead by 19 seconds of the second-placed runner to win in a time of 42:25. It was Giffnock North's Greg Turner who claimed second place in 42:44 and Bryan Mulgrew of Bellahouston Roadrunners came third in 45:23.

In the women's 12.5K race Isabella Ellwood of Edinburgh AC won in 51:45 with Garscube Harrier, Laura Gray coming second in 55:44 and Laura Stewart completing the podium in 55:45.

Over in the Half Marathon Gregor Yates of Inverclyde AC stormed home in 1:09:46 while Kirkintilloch Olympian, Oliver Hall was second in 1:13:32 and Andrew Kirk third in 1:14:55.

The top three females were Deborah Gray of Bellahouston Roadrunners in 1:29:40, Calderglen Harrier's Karen Allen in 1:35 and another Bellahouston Roadrunner, Cathy Wood, took third place in 1:37.

You can find the full results via runABC's results page here.

Image: Kirkintilloch Olympians Facebook