Forfar Loch 5k gets off and running at last

It’s been a long time coming after originally being thought up over three years ago but, finally, the Forfar Loch park run launched on Saturday.

Despite a low-key build-up to its launch, nearly 200 runners still headed down to Inchmacoble Park, where the event started and ended.

The park run is the brainchild of Rebecca Findlay, Rhona Guild and Magnus Moncrieff, with it borne out of a desire to provide a fitness activity for both adults and children.

Findlay said: “We started planning this three and a half years ago but have come across so many stumbling blocks.

"We thought it would be easy to set up but were hit with the pandemic, which delayed everything.

"It was finally good to get it up and running on Saturday because it’s been a long time coming.”

Findlay, a Forfar Road Runner, works at Northmuir Primary School, where Moncrieff is the sports co-ordinator for the school’s cluster.

Northmuir’s pupil running club sees around 40 youngsters each week take part, so the pair were originally planning a regular junior park run to provide more opportunities to run.

That’s when they were contacted by Guild, who worked with the NHS.

Having established a successful ladies’ cycling group, Guild confirmed the enthusiasm within the local healthcare community for park run events.

"That’s how we decided to have an actual park run rather than a junior one,” added Findlay, who said there was a real “buzz” about the launch event at the weekend.

"We had a soft launch the weekend before, where we invited family and friends down to run the route and let the volunteers see what it would look like on the day.

"We were advised not to advertise it, so we didn’t get lots of people showing up, but we still got 188 runners, which is phenomenal.”

The free park runs, which can be walked, jogged or run over 5k, will be held weekly from Strathmore Rugby Club’s training pitch.

Parking is available for those wishing to take part at Angus House.