We are always keen to get feedback from those of you who have taken part in previous runs so please don't hesitate to contact us to let us know your thoughts on Richies Run.

Please find below some feedback from those who have attended the 2010 race.

Good Afternoon All
 
Just wanted to ask when results and pics go online usually?
 
But mostly just wanted to pass on to yourself and the other organisers/ marshalls/ etc a big thanks especially to the family from Greens running club in Glasgow.
 
The event was brilliant, a lovely atmosphere, well organised and marked, a challenging but great course and really helpful and friendly marshalls/locals.
 
Thought the goodie bags t shirts etc were great considering the small entry fee and thought the free tea and coffee was amazing!
 
I think i may have came 4th or 5th in the 9 mile and one of my friends from our club came 2nd in the 5 mile so was a great boost!
 
We cant wait for next year!
 
Regards
 
Peter Collins

I cannot really speak highly enough of the race, the organisation, atmosphere, people, scenery, route, reason, prizes, goody bags……. It was amazing. (The only downside for me was the tremendous heat which made those towering slopes just that little bit more difficult!)
 
Any trepidation was completely wiped out when yes, all the road signs directing us to the site were in place as promised and the sea of what seemed to be club-runners vests parted and there were ‘us ordinary folk’ too. It truly was a mix of abilities, unlike some races which promise this but then every starter is club-affiliated which isn’t very beginner friendly.

I’d signed up to the 9 miler originally but, on advice from a couple of previous runners via an on-line forum – I down-sized but that was definitely enough for anyone, fun-runner and club-runner alike. I had some great banter along the way (between hyper-breathing) and I hope I encouraged as many as helped me. The race was tough, there’s no doubt. One part of me wished I could have had an elevation map before I came, so I could ‘hum and hae’ over it and pretend that ‘saving myself’ on the out would really have helped on the way back. But no map would have changed my fitness level (low) or my ability to navigate the hills. 

Afterwards I thought no; the real challenge is in not knowing what lies ahead and taking every hill as a separate mini-challenge in itself and as I faced the outward  journey on the 5 mile route, I thought how this is a metaphor for what Richies family could have felt after he passed away- facing something unknown and difficult. In that way, the challenging undulation of the race made sense. Thinking these thoughts took my mind off the tiredness of the ups. My legs were heavy quite early on so I tried to concentrate on looking out over the glen and thinking that Richie must have run this route before and how although he was gone, I could still see all the things he saw when he ran. Again, these thoughts distracted me from feeling tired and brought the meaning of the race home to me. Without romanticizing or trivializing what can only be imagined as the most harrowing thing to have happen to any family, it is an amazing thing to be part of a memorial and for me, certainly made me rethink all the people whose presence  I take for granted.

Having forgotten to ‘count’ the downs on the way out, I then faced a bit more of a mental challenge on the return as the heat also took its toll. Luckily I had some company on the way back and was completely humbled as a much senior lady chatted then dug right in and ran the hill which I walked. Nice one! I went on to walk the next two I’m afraid. I wanted to finish in under an hour and I scraped that, to the applause of spectators and those already finished; I was passed by the 9 mile men’s winner on the final straight but I don’t think I held him up. Hopefully my finish photo with arms aloft won’t look too horrendous either and that’ll be a great momento; can’t say much for the winners though cos I’ll be in the background of his!

I was well impressed with my goody-bag; a real good quality medal, tee-shirt which I will wear with pride and the sun had made my tunnocks tea-cake a gooey messy treat!  A lovely cup of tea and I was already forgetting about those hills and started lurking about the finish line to clap for everyone else coming through. My favourite runners had to be the three – I wont say elderly, I’ll say Super-vets – who had brought their own picnic and advised me to “ do the 9 mile next year – you can run a lot slower for that one”. l raised an eyebrow and laughed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if my brain forgets all about the pain I have in my legs right now (from not stretching and just lolling around soaking it all in) and places a firm entry for next years race.

I hope you do this race every year and there should be more events of this caliber, I can’t fault it. It’s a great challenge and I don’t think the reason for the event was lost on anyone; it’s a fantastic tribute and I was grateful to be part of it. Hats off to everyone who stayed around to the very end to welcome the injured runner over the line. I admire the grit of someone to finish under duress and also know the disappointment of finishing last only to find that everyone’s gone home. But not at Richie’s Run!

                Please pass on my congratulations to everyone involved. Looking forward to next year – 9 miler here I come!
 
Carolyn Hare