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Les Hill                           

WHEN DID YOU START RUNNING AND WHY?  1st April 1985. Having moved to Dumfries from Strathaven, and having done some running previously, I thought it would be a good way to get to know people.  So mainly for social reasons. 

FAVOURITE THING ABOUT DUMFRIES RUNNING CLUB?   The friendliness and having company when training, it gets me out on a wet night when I might otherwise sit down in front of the box instead to keep warm and dry.   The weekend trips away running as a group are great fun. 

POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH DUMFRIES RUNNING CLUB?   The assistance I received from club mates when I did the Bob Graham Round (72 miles fell run in the Lake District ) and when I participated in the West Highland Way race (95 miles).  

HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE IMPROVED (SPEED/HEALTH/CONFIDENCE)?    All three of these, plus stamina for long distance runs.  Also as a competitive runner I have developed the ability to keep working hard towards the end of races.  This is because it is something we all do from time to time while training with others.  When training on my own I slow down towards the end if I’m feeling tired but in a group I hang in for as long as possible.

FAVOURITE PLACE TO RUN?   In the Lake District on the fells or on quiet country roads.

 FAVOURITE TYPE OF RUNNING/DISTANCE?  Full marathons and Ultra races.  Ultras are distances longer than marathons.

WEEKLY MILEAGE?   Over 50 miles per week and when training for an ultra I regularly run over 70 miles per week.  I get close to 3,000 miles per year and have run over 48,000 miles since 1985.   I am close to being traded in for a younger replacement.

MOST SATISFYING RUN/PERFORMANCE?   Winning the Scottish 100K (62 miles) championship in 2005 and 2006 were very satisfying but winning the West Highland Way race (95 miles) in 2002 and completing the Bob Graham round in 2000 both remain my greatest running achievements.  In addition to these performances I take great pride in having been selected to represent Scotland at the 100K distance five times.

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