2013

18

Aug

“Summer-Tastic”

Edinburgh Running Network has been putting on Scotland’s most unique running event since 2010. Now in it’s 4th year, the LP Run took place in Edinburgh on Sunday 18 August. The run is based on the longest continuously run race in Houston, Texas, now in its 46th year. It involves runners going as FAR as they can in a set distance – in this case 33 ⅓ minutes.

The Warm Up

Pre-race aerobics warm up got people ready to rock and roll their way round Meadowbank Stadium (and the clock stands ready to count down at 33 minutes and 20 seconds). Gordon Faulkner, physical trainer and ERN member, led the 78 participants, plus assorted accompanying friends, family and children in an aerobic warm up

The Event

Duly warmed up, the runners awaited the starting gun as the warm up music of “Spinning Around” and “The Final Countdown” faded out. Then began the task to run as many Revolutions Per Minute (laps) of the track as possible during 33 ⅓ minutes, the number of times a vinyl LP rotated per minute. We were grateful to Stewart Hamilton who produced an integrated playlist of all the tunes runners had requested which lasted precisely 33 minutes and 20 seconds.

This year’s music theme of ‘summer sunshine’ was supported by the weather, with the runners having to contend with some slightly windy conditions including a bit of a head wind on the back straight. The opening track was “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls and the final track was “Spanish Castle Magic” by Jimi Hendrix.

Official starter, and cake competition judge, Barry the Gun gets the event underway

 

  

 

  

 

Runners spinning round the deck of Meadowbank Stadium

 

Runners collect their ‘lap counters’ as the time ticks away…

 

As the gun sounds for the second time, everyone stops and waits for their additional distance to be measured!

 

Ros and Ellie measuring the additional distance run at the end of the event with support from Down’s Syndrome Scotland volunteers.

The Winners

It was a closely contested competition for first man and first woman. The honours went to Louise Cullen, first woman, who ran 8.19km and to Phil Humphries, first man, who ran 8.88km. There were also spot prizes for the runners who’s ages were closest to 33, 45 and 78 on 18 August 2013, namely Jennifer Macdonald, Eleanor Mackenzie and Mike Murray. The winners were presented with commemorative LPs, and the top finishers a special LP medal.

Phil Humphries, receiving Chariots of Fire LP by Vangelis

Louise Cullen, receiving Track Record LP by Joan Armatrading

The two winners with their unique LP medals

And after the run, it’s all about the cake!

The Cakes

ERN love their cake, there was a cake competition too. The cakes were judged by Barry the Gun (our official starter), Mike Russell (cake competition organiser), Chris March, Club Chairp and Pratish Dholakia and Lily Scott from Down’s Syndrome Scotland, whilst the race was being run. Prizes were awarded for the Tastiest Cake, the Best Dressed Cake and Best Traybake. Then, after the race was done and dusted came arguably the best bit – tea, coffee and cake!

There were all sorts of cakes including a spectacular Summer Sunshine cake complete with ice cream cones, a chocolate and beetroot cake, a vegan carrot cake, a chocolate raspberry traybake, and various lemon, passion fruit and ginger concoctions. The “Best Dressed” entries were a feast for the eyes, with a cake representing a 100m track. There was even a cake celebrating the logo of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, representing the extra chromosome that people with Down’s Syndrome are born with.

The judging panel had a difficult time deciding but in the end, after blind tasting and comparing the results of 5 independently scored sheets, they came to a consensus on the winning entries. Mike Russell, in presenting the prizes, said “it was an incredibly hard job choosing between so many fine looking and wonderful tasting cakes”. Barry the Gun, who has been on the judging panel since the LP run began in 2010 said: “the standard keeps getting better every year, particularly on the presentation”. The judges views were then corroborated by all the runners who enjoyed a fine feast of cake after their exertions on the track, with very little left at the end of the event, a sure sign of success in the baking and eating departments!

The Results

Running Results

Record number of entrants this year at 93, with 78 competing on the day (45 women and 33 men)

Baking Awards

Best Traybake – Julie Lindsay for Raspberry Chocolate Brownies

Best Dressed Cake – Karen Furey and Heather Jones for Luscious Lemon Cream Cake

Tastiest Overall Cake – Kirsten Hill for Summer Chocolate Fudge Cake

There were 28 cakes entered into the cake competition, around one third traybakes and two thirds traditional round and square sponge cakes of various kinds

The Music

The music element really fired people up. Les McIntosh said “the tunes and the beat really kept me going out on the track” and Bex Carter said “loved the music and the megamix, including the ones I hadn’t heard before!”.

Here is the playlist from the 2013 LP run, in alphabetical order, not in order of the playlist

The Charity Link

Edinburgh Running Network like to give back to the local community and this year our nominated charity to benefit from the event was Down’s Syndrome Scotland. We were delighted to present them with a substantial cheque for over £480 from proceeds collected on the day and from some surplus from the event. We wish them well with their ongoing activities to provide support to families and individuals with Down’s Syndrome.

There was a special moment during the presentations of the prizes when Aicha Reid, a longstanding member of ERN, said a few words about how DSS had helped their family this year, when their daughter Flora was born in January unexpectedly with Down’s Syndrome. Aicha said: “Before we had a baby with Down’s syndrome I would have imagined that Down’s Syndrome Scotland were probably nice people doing good things. Now I know that they are amazing people providing invaluable support to families like ours.

Pandora Summerfield, Chief Executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, thanked all the runners, cake makers and volunteers for their support and said: “All of you have made a real difference today. Donations of the kind you have contributed today are the lifeline of small charities such as ours. Last year 87% of our entire annual income came from fund-raising events such as this. So thank you on behalf of Down’s Syndrome Scotland. You can all go home proud of what you, a runners community, have done today supporting the community of people who help those with Down’s Syndrome”.

Heather Jones, LP Event Coordinator, said “I am proud to be associated with a running club that cares about the wider community beyond those of us able to enjoy fitness, exercise and friendship through running. It was a coincidence that this year our charity partner is also one which has provided direct support to the family of one of our members, and I am so delighted that in this our biggest ever year of participation, we have raised our largest ever donation to a local charity”.

The final total raised for Down’s Syndrome Scotland was £627.32.

A Big Thank You

With special thanks for the hard work and dedication of all those involved in putting on the 4th annual LP run.

The Race Committee – Ellie Barnard, Ros Derham, Rachel Moir, Mike Russell, Gillian White and other ERN volunteers – Sid Bratley, David Forester

The Charity Partner – Heather Irish, Sharon Kane and Pandora Summerfield from Down’s Syndrome Scotland, and the 11 DSS volunteers who helped out on the day

The Music Maestro – Stewart Hamilton

The Aerobics Instructor – Gordon Faulkner

The Photographer – Bob Marshall

The Scottish Athletics Official Race Starter – Barry “the Gun” Craighead

The Cake Judging Committee – Barry Craighead, Chris March, Mike Russell, Pratish Dholakia and Lily Scott

See you next year!