Going Runderground: Tweed Valley event shines brighter than ever
Around 1700 runners and walkers descended on the Tweed Valley on Saturday (5 October) to participate in the unique Tweed Valley Tunnel Trail Run and Walk.
The event has fast become a popular fixture in the UK running calendar and this year attracted runners from as far away as Australia, the USA and India keen to experience the unique combination of beautiful autumnal tracks and the subterranean lighting finale in the disused Neidpath railway tunnel.
The Tweed Valley Tunnel Trail Run and Walk, organised by Peebles-based event company Hillside Outside, featured three race distances – 20k, 10k and 4k – as well as a 3.5k walk.
Lucy Colquhoun and Fraser Dickson ran their way to the top step for women and men respectively in the 20k race while the 10k version was won by Johnny Lawson from Portobello Running Club and Nicola Hood from Dumfries Running Club. Youngsters Gregor Collins, 15, and Elena Lee, 12, claimed the top spots in the 4k.
For many, the day was all about the challenge and fun of taking part rather than competing for podium positions, and the event shared the friendly, community atmosphere typical of many Tweed Valley outdoor adventure and sports events.
Following on from a fantastic weekend, organisers are delighted to announce that the event will return next year on Saturday, 10 October 2020 with entries on sale now.
Event director Neil Dalgleish told runABC Scotland online: “We are super excited to announce that the tunnel trail will return for another year. Each year the event has grown substantially and we cannot wait to see what happens in 2020.
“At an otherwise quieter time of the year for events in the valley it is great to see such a buzz in the town with visitors and locals alike, so to bring it back for another year is just fantastic.”
Image: courtesy Ian Linton Photography and Out of Office