Killie Striders embrace marathon challenge as club members take on top events
The club had 27 members taking on 26.2 mile challenges across two separate events
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 inolved 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.'
She added: 'I'm really just overwhelmed by the commitment and effort they all put in, training throughout the winter to then be running on a roasting hot day and completing it. I'm really just so proud of them all.
'Most of them started as beginners with our club, some even just in the last year or two and have worked up from not really running at all to then taking on marathons.
'We have one runner who joined us three years ago and Manchester was his seventh marathon. It's a tremendous achievement and I think it's something that goes to show you what can be done if you push and challenge yourself.'
Rosie revealed, too, the importance of the club to some of the members and the challenges they've come through.
She said: 'Running for a lot of people can really benefit your mental health. I hear and have been told stories from our members about the role it's helped play which is so important.
'There's a real social aspect and togetherness at the club. It can help bring people through difficult or challenging times.
'We have people who are cancer survivors, or have been bereaved, or are struggling with their mental health or battling illnesses either themselves or know family and friends who are and the people they meet through the club have helped them.
'Running, I know, has been a massive part of that and being part of a club and making friends.'
The club boasts around 150 regular members, many of whom will be tackling Kilmarnock's Roon the Toon 10k this weekend.
Rosie, and her fellow coaches, say they work hard to ensure programmes are detailed and specific to each person's needs and goals.
She insists that flexibility and personal touch is key to the club's success.
She said: 'We take from beginners to advanced, with six levels. We've got every level of running and the only barrier is you have to be 18 or over. How I see it is that as soon as you put one foot in front of the other, you're an athlete
'We're inclusive to anyone who wants to come along and we can take you from being an absolute non-runner to helping you achieve whatever it is you want to achieve.
'The club has our Couch to 5k and then beyond and you can work your way through the categories if you wish.
'But we don't just teach you how to run. We work on technique and work on position and posture, the sort of things that help you avoid injuries.
'The coaching staff are all very passionate and put in a huge amount of time and effort into the club. We all love to see runners progress and reach their targets.'
She added: 'Everyone has their own goals and our aim is to get you there. We take time to work on specific plans for each runner.
'Some maybe just want to be able to go for a run to clear their head every so often, some maybe want to look at competing in marathons. We can adjust to whatever you want.'
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