In March I thought of what can we do to give Hampden Bowling Club another little shunt into being noticed. Well first and foremost get the Restore 1st Hampden project off and running. Get the focus on restoring this little piece of history and raise some money to get the project motoring. So what else to do but do a bit of running and come up with something a wee bit different. So yes the mission was set. Run 10 x 10ks in a bowling season and set up a crowdfunding page to collect the donations. Oh and wear a Hampden Top!
So next work out what 10ks to do and here is the list. Helensburgh, Pollok Park, Giffnock, Glasgow Mens 10k, Crieff, Musselburgh, Dundonald, Irvine, Trossachs and finish off in the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow. Ha sounds so easy.... The best part of all of them was the atmosphere in the small towns and villages that I ran in. They are truly fantastic. So well organised and attended by the locals. Its truly a carnival atmosphere.
Next get a cool t-shirt. Thanks to Libby again for coming up with it. I wanted it like a tour t-shirt and she came up with a cracker. My wife Maggie was the best support crew ever. She came along and cheered me on. When you finish there is nothing better than someone thats going to look after you when you are completely shattered. David another neighbour of the Bowling Club ran 4 of them with me and made sure I speeded up. Arrol came along to the last one. Andy and Gail came up to Musselburgh and braved the rain to cheer me on in that one. It was a superb run of events and thanks to much to all the support. People asking how I was getting on. It was a marathon of 10ks, well nearly 4 of them :-)
Then there were the times. From 55 minutes in Helensburgh and the first 9 between 52 and 59 minutes. But saved the best till last to come in 49 minutes 57 seconds in the last one. The mission was to duck under 50 minutes and managed to do in proper James Bond style. Hallelujah! It was a real battle to complete them and great to get the full set! Oh and even managed to get my photo in the evening times to promote the Great Scottish Run.
The fundraising pot has amassed an amazing £1,800. So many people to thank and the donations are amazing. The Queens Park supporters club night on QPFCs 150th Birthday weekend was a great event (big thanks to Keith) and added more into the fundraising pot - we managed to get the first ever Scotland v Germany bowling match that night with the QP Fans from SG Wattenscheid. People have been so kind and generous.
So big thanks again to everyone. Who knows what i'll do next year. The 10ks are truly fab and the atmosphere is so worth it. And anyway can do them, so get your running shoes on and get on out there. The Hampden series of 10ks has been established in style....
So back to the funding. We are off and running and the first phase of works has been agreed. The back banking needs sorted and then we can get the paths done. We reckon that alone will cost £15k to 20k so grant funding is the next thing. At least we have shown that we are up for it. And I also have something else up my sleeve to find out even more of the heritage of 1st Hampden. A future blog me thinks!
Thanks again to everyone!
Cheers
HBC Secretary
So next work out what 10ks to do and here is the list. Helensburgh, Pollok Park, Giffnock, Glasgow Mens 10k, Crieff, Musselburgh, Dundonald, Irvine, Trossachs and finish off in the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow. Ha sounds so easy.... The best part of all of them was the atmosphere in the small towns and villages that I ran in. They are truly fantastic. So well organised and attended by the locals. Its truly a carnival atmosphere.
Next get a cool t-shirt. Thanks to Libby again for coming up with it. I wanted it like a tour t-shirt and she came up with a cracker. My wife Maggie was the best support crew ever. She came along and cheered me on. When you finish there is nothing better than someone thats going to look after you when you are completely shattered. David another neighbour of the Bowling Club ran 4 of them with me and made sure I speeded up. Arrol came along to the last one. Andy and Gail came up to Musselburgh and braved the rain to cheer me on in that one. It was a superb run of events and thanks to much to all the support. People asking how I was getting on. It was a marathon of 10ks, well nearly 4 of them :-)
Then there were the times. From 55 minutes in Helensburgh and the first 9 between 52 and 59 minutes. But saved the best till last to come in 49 minutes 57 seconds in the last one. The mission was to duck under 50 minutes and managed to do in proper James Bond style. Hallelujah! It was a real battle to complete them and great to get the full set! Oh and even managed to get my photo in the evening times to promote the Great Scottish Run.
The fundraising pot has amassed an amazing £1,800. So many people to thank and the donations are amazing. The Queens Park supporters club night on QPFCs 150th Birthday weekend was a great event (big thanks to Keith) and added more into the fundraising pot - we managed to get the first ever Scotland v Germany bowling match that night with the QP Fans from SG Wattenscheid. People have been so kind and generous.
So big thanks again to everyone. Who knows what i'll do next year. The 10ks are truly fab and the atmosphere is so worth it. And anyway can do them, so get your running shoes on and get on out there. The Hampden series of 10ks has been established in style....
So back to the funding. We are off and running and the first phase of works has been agreed. The back banking needs sorted and then we can get the paths done. We reckon that alone will cost £15k to 20k so grant funding is the next thing. At least we have shown that we are up for it. And I also have something else up my sleeve to find out even more of the heritage of 1st Hampden. A future blog me thinks!
Thanks again to everyone!
Cheers
HBC Secretary