20 Along the Forth: Community in Full Flow
Forth and Flying
Sunshine, still air and a ribbon of road stretching along the Forth set the stage for something special and the runners delivered in style. This year’s 20 Along the Forth had that rare sparkle where everything clicks into place and then some.
Let’s start at the sharp end. In the men’s race, John Bell of Inverclyde AC lit the course up, slicing 77 seconds off last year’s record to clock an extraordinary 1:51:33. That is twenty undulating miles at a relentless pace that barely gives you time to blink.
Not to be outdone, Elizabeth Polgreen of Portobello RC stormed to a new women’s course record, stopping the clock at 2:21:45 and shaving 14 seconds off the previous best. Precision, grit and a perfectly judged run.
And it did not stop there. The conditions helped unlock a flood of fast times with seven course records falling across the day. From Elaine Boyle’s V40F performance to standout runs from Graeme Parker, Mandy Scott, Colin Simpson and Lyn Brown in the V60 and V70 categories, it was a record breaking bonanza from start to finish.
Of course, 20 Along the Forth has always been about more than times on a results sheet. This year the event raised a brilliant £3,250 for MS Society Scotland, the largest annual donation in eight years. That total came from runners, marshals, supporters and the all important cheer squads lining the route. Every clap, every coin and every slice of encouragement added up.
Speaking of slices, Ellen and Laura’s bake sale was a triumph, raising over £600 for Amnesty International as part of a Kilimanjaro expedition with Glasgow University later this year. They send a huge thank you to Blast Running and everyone who supported the sale and hope you enjoyed the treats as much as they enjoyed baking them. Cake-powered generosity is clearly a force to be reckoned with. If you’d like to contribute to their Kilimanjaro challenge, you can donate online.
There was also a quieter, deeper note woven through the day. Race founder Cat, who started the event in memory of her mum Eva, shared that this year marks over £20,000 raised for the MS Society since 2019. While recovering from surgery, she could not be there in person, but the event carried on in full voice thanks to Susie and the team. The spirit of the day felt like a collective promise kept.
And what about your race? Maybe it was textbook perfect, pacing locked in and legs dancing all the way home. Maybe it was a bit more of an adventure with lessons learned mid stride. Either way, twenty miles is never to be taken lightly and every finisher earned their moment.
Relive the day with the event photos .
For full results and deeper race stories, head over to the results page and dive in.
Until next time, keep the legs turning and the stories coming.