Question…

Finally, you have some well-earned time on a Sunday to spend exactly as you wish. What would you choose to do? Would you…

a) Call some friends and arrange to meet for lunch with a couple of glasses (or bottles) of wine, or

b) Grab the credit cards and hit the shops for a retail therapy session, or

c) Rush off to the east coast of Scotland in order to run 10 miles up and down hilly country roads with a biting North Sea wind blowing in your face.

Well would you believe that 45 members of Jogscotland North Lanarkshire choose option “C” (Whit are they like?), and on the 4th March headed up to Arbroath to tackle the “Smokies 10″ ladies race organised by Arbroath Footers. This excellent event is now well established on the running calendar and is particularly well known for it’s superb apres-race buffet.

However, this was far from the minds of our intrepid Jogscotland team of cake samplers, (sorry, Athletes) as they arrived in Arbroath in their luxury coach totally focused on the challenge, which lay ahead on the roads around the town.

‘The Smokies’ is run on a challenging 10 mile route to the south west of the town which the host club diplomatically describes as ‘undulating’. (Anyone who has ever done a running event will know exactly what that means!) However, enthusiasm and expectation was much in evidence as the starters pistol released approximately 300 runners on their way. The race to be first back to the buffet had begun for the ladies from North Lanarkshire.

Despite windy and chilly conditions, not to mention those undulations, the race invariably went well for all our Jogscotland team as they reaped the benefit of regular training throughout the preceding months. This had been the 4th time that Jogscotland North Lanarkshire had attended the ‘Smokies’ as a group and many of the ‘veterans’ of the race had improved upon their times of previous years. However a number of the group were tackling 10 miles for the first time and all were successful in completing the run. (Just goes to show that Jogscotland schedules work!)

It was time for a shower, a change into warm clothing, and a discussion of race experiences whilst attacking the now legendary ‘buffet’, both healthy and slightly less healthy options.

The Jogscotland North Lanarkshire group is grateful for the support of North Lanarkshire Council particularly their provision of transport for the group to this event. The success of Jogscotland in North Lanarkshire is reflected by the fact that this has increased from a 12 seater minibus in 2004 to the need for a 50 seater coach for the visit. We also take our hats off to Arbroath Footers for their organisation of this superb event.

Well then just goes to show that using your precious time to run 10 miles up and down hilly country roads with a biting North Sea wind blowing in you face is much more enjoyable than a boozy lunch or retail therapy……………..Well maybe.

Margaret Deas