With a record 900 runners for 2014, Campbeltown’s Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon and 10k Run will be at Get Go at 10.30 this Sunday, 25th May, at Kinloch Green.
It’s a weekend that annually puts Campbeltwon and Kintyre on a lot of maps, with the town en fete to welcome the runners, many of whom bring their family and friends for the weekend.
This year, Saturday 24th May sees a new element, Expo 2014, a fair showcasing local produce and products. This opens at 13.00 and is in the Victoria Hall, on the waterfront near the landmark and wonderfully restored Royal Hotel.
Between 18.00 and 20.00 on Saturday evening, the Harbourview Grille at the Royal Hotel is hosting this year’s pasta party to ramp up the carbs for the following day. It’s a mixed pasta buffet at £12 pp.
The mass start at 10.30 on Sunday, for both races, is this year on the Esplanade near the War Memorial, with a sharp right turn onto Kinloch Road which leads onto the new Aqualibrium Avenue and then onto Milknowe Road.
The 10k route then splits from the half marathon route with a right turn at the Dellwood Hotel.
The Half Marathon route is marked by its crossing of the renowned Mach Dunes Golf Course and the stunning beach section – it may be scenic but does it hammer the muscles?
The MOKRUN website has all the details anyone could want and carries downloadable pdf maps of the routes of both races.
First class organisation and marshalling is a hallmark of MOKRUN, an utterly celebratory event of enviable high level athleticism alongside a sprinkling of celebs who annually come out to play at MOKRUN – and a mass of community runners of all ages keeping fit, running awesome times and facing challenge together with roars of encouragement from the usual huge crowds.
Then there’s John Armour and the Argyll FM team providing a highly informed running commentary [it has to be a running commentary] in the closing stages as the runners come in to the finish on the Esplanade.
If you’ve never run in it, it will have to be next year for you now. If you’ve never seen it – go for it. The weather forecast is looking good – dry with some sunny periods.
The MOKRUN weekend has the Kintyre Songwriters’ Festival alongside it, together making a family weekend to remember in this magnificent Kintyre merchant town.
