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Peter Hill                            

WHEN DID YOU START RUNNING AND WHY?  I have a vague memory (very vague at my age) of running in the school playground, so I guess that means about 50 years ago!  I have run on and off for some time, usually for general fitness or training for other sports, but only started running for running's sake when I joined the running club in late 1998.  I didn’t intend to start running back then and came to the club to encourage Chas to join, but enjoyed it so much I have been a regular ever since!

FAVOURITE THING ABOUT DUMFRIES RUNNING CLUB?   The Tuesday winter runs around the Crichton.  It is a healthy combination of hard training in good company with elements of competitiveness, humour (if you can accept being insulted) and socializing among a broad range of people.

POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH DUMFRIES RUNNING CLUB?   Probably the odd weekends away, particularly at Rotherham for the 'Round Rotherham' relay.

HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE IMPROVED (SPEED/HEALTH/CONFIDENCE)?    When I joined the club I vowed I would never run a marathon (and still haven’t), but I have done 25 miles off-road and I’m entered for the Windermere Marathon this year, so I suppose my confidence has improved the most.

FAVOURITE PLACE TO RUN?   The first time I ran the Wharfedale off-road Marathon on a good day in June I thought the route was absolutely magnificent.  I ran the route a year later in the wind and rain and thought it was absolutely awful!  So the weather matters!  Locally I never tire of Mabie Forest , but also I like the mountain bike route around Ae Forest.

 FAVOURITE TYPE OF RUNNING/DISTANCE?  When I first joined the club I actually enjoyed road running up to half marathon distance and actually avoided off-road, but now I have to say trail running for two hours is most pleasurable.

WEEKLY MILEAGE?   On average about 30-40 miles, a bit higher at the moment because of marathon training.  I would like to do more but commitments don’t allow it.

MOST SATISFYING RUN/PERFORMANCE?   The Dentdale Run in 2004.  Normally in a race of 13 miles or more it is a case for me of hanging on for the last mile or two just to finish.  In this race however I was actually able to still be racing to the finish and beating the guys I was racing against.  Not only that but I did well enough to get among the prizes and earn myself a crate of beer! (probably just as well I don’t do it too often or I soon wouldn’t be fit enough to run!)

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