Locals in a Mearns village are hot-footing it to a running club which now boasts around a third of the entire community in its ranks.
From a pedestrian start, St Cyrus Solos Running Club is racing ahead in the membership stakes – and the name given to it as a joke when it was trying to get off the ground has stuck.
Simon Chalmers, who works offshore, founded the club after putting an advert in the village newsletter but failed to attract a single response.
As a joke, on his next trip offshore, a colleague stuck St Cyrus Solo Running Club on the back of Simon’s coveralls.
Undeterred, Mr Chalmers placed another advert in the newsletter, boasting of 100% attendance record at some event and signing off as ‘still the only member’.
From a standing start, the club has now attracted more than thirty members, in a village with just 100 residents.
Many of the new members were not runners before joining the club, and word of the group’s popularity is also encouraging other athletes in from neighbouring communities.
Mr Chalmers said: “We have a range of members, with our youngest is 14 and a couple of super veterans who are over 50.
“Our training sessions vary week on week and we meet twice a week, with a varied training schedule.
“We may do hill repeats, sprints, and a variety of conditioning or speed work, with the occasional social plod where we all catch up.”
He continued: “Training is dictated by who turns up on the night so, for example, if we have a new member or someone recovering from injury we will tailor the night to suit and nobody is left behind
“Our members range from those who are run/walking right up to 3hr marathoners and a few who recently completed an ultra-marathon.”
The club is currently trying to become affiliated with Scottish Athletics will allow them access insurance, and promote the club to new members.
New members are welcome, who can hot-foot it to St Cyrus village hall at 7.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“When I first put my ad in the village newsletter I never thought I’d be chair of a club, with a committee, a constitution and affiliation to a sport governing body – it all started as a bit of a joke and I’m delighted with how quickly the momentum has gathered.
“The Montrose parkrun has been great for us, and it’s fantastic to see so many non-runners getting involved in the sport and catching the running bug.”
