Still Running (weakly). Issue 26

PAST – inspiration – On this St. Andrew’s Day, I thought we might celebrate great Scottish runners.

Wyndham Halswelle ran in the 1908 Olympic 400 metres (each race consisting of four runners, and not run in lanes), but during the final he was blocked off by an American rival, Carpenter, who was disqualified. The other two Americans withdrew in protest, and Halswelle completed the rerun alone to claim the gold. He was killed by a sniper at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915.

Ian Stewart is probably my favourite recent Scottish champion. European 5,000 gold in 1969, Commonwealth 5,000 gold in 1970, he claimed “only” the Olympic bronze in 1972, retired from running in disgust to race bikes instead, before returning to win European Indoor 3,000 gold and World Cross Country gold a week apart in 1975. A no-nonsense character, who could be difficult with the press, he earned the nickname “the sandpaper kid” in some quarters!

PRESENT – perspiration – Current Scottish runners of course include Laura Muir (Olympic silver), Eilish McColgan (Commonwealth gold), and the last two World 1,500 metres champions, Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr. Have a Youtube of “Eilish McColgan 2022 Commonwealth” if you want to witness the epitome of grit and determination – and a wonderful emotional moment of Eilish with her mum, Liz, who won the same title in 1986 and 1990!

FUTURE – suggestion – “For breakfast, generally it’s porridge all-year round. I have it hot in winter and in summer make it with milk, ‘Bircher’-style, and put it in the fridge to cool. My favourite combo is banana and peanut butter” – Laura Muir.

From some sublime Scottish inspiration to the more mundane – porridge! Whilst it is true that, in his dictionary, Dr. Johnson defined oats as, “a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people,” the Highland staple has found a niche in almost every runner’s diet. Quick, nutritious, high in vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, porridge is easily digestible and provides slow-release energy. And you can of course load it with fruit, nuts, seeds, honey and so on.