Nearly 200 ladies rose to the challenge of Sunday’s ‘scenic and undulating’ Smokies 10 Mile Ladies Road Race, organised by the Arbroath Footers Running Club.

Traditionally held on the first Sunday in March, the ‘Smokies’ is one of the few women’s only events left in the race calendar. 

Being held so close to International Women’s Day (Tuesday, 8 March), the event gave some of Sunday’s participants pause to reflect. One wrote on social media how the race gave her the chance to ‘speak with some truly inspirational women’.

Another commented on the wide range of participants the event attracts, saying how good it was to see ‘so many 60+ year olds running too’.

The event’s traditionally strong organisation drew praise from runners too, with many commenting on the ‘well organised, fabulous friendly marshalls’. ‘Brilliant event as always. So good to be back’, wrote another. 
 
While there were some fine performances in the Angus sun, no one took home the £100 cheque for breaking the course record of 58.38 – set by Fiona Lothian way back in 1998.

And it was all change for the podium since the last time the event was run, in 2020, too. Fife’s Jennifer Spence crossed the line first in 1.05.21, closely followed by Edinburgh AC veteran Lyndsey Fraser (1.06.32) and Dundee’s Kate McIntosh (1.07.53).

Results of this and past editions of the Abroath Smokies 10 Mile Ladies Road Race are available on runABC Scotland.

Image: Smokies 10 Mile Road Race (facebook)