A tale that strides across two cities

Club takes on marathons in London and Manchester

- CALLUM CARSON

A remarkable 27 members from Killie Striders tackled two separate marathons on the same day recently - leaving their head coach ‘bursting with pride’.

The club had 25 runners complete the 26.2-mile Manchester Marathon, with another two taking on the London version on the same day.

The challenge was made all the more difficult by the unseasonably hot temperatures and gruelling humidity.

Runners from all ages, abilities and experience took part and head coach Rosie McGrane believes that shows what can be achieved with goals, support and the camaraderie that being involved in a running club can bring.

Speaking to the Standard, she said: “To have 27 runners completing a marathon on the same day was quite an achievement and it's something that has me, and everyone at the club, bursting with pride.

“We had runners from every age category between 20s and 60s, we had folk running in under four hours and others who crossed the line in over six hours and everything in between.

“The heat was actually really difficult and it’s something that you can’t really train for, not with any regularity in Scotland anyway, that’s for sure.”