The sculptures at the Helix Centre in Falkirk stand at the start of the Fourth and Clyde canal and provided a magnificent backdrop for the 2019 Chase the Turkey fun run. The run was organised by Lynsey Gow, events officer with the Falkirk Community Trust.
The magical Kelpies are over 100ft tall and were created by Andy Scott and modelled on the Clydesdale Horses Duke and Baron who kept a watchful eye on the proceedings.
This event is intended as a fun, family Christmas run and was inclusive for all ages and abilities. Entrants are encouraged to try to catch several runners dressed as turkeys.
The event was originally scheduled for the previous Sunday but high winds meant it had to be postponed for 7 days and although thankfully the winds had dropped it was bitterly cold and sleet was lashing down from the skies. Fortunately the warm up took place under the shelter of the visitor centre and as we started the run the rain stopped.
The course was pancake flat along the canal and around a pond where we went across wooded boards over the water which were extremely slippery so we had to walk those bits, not that it mattered as this run wasn’t at all competitive. The Turkeys were pretty fast thought and found themselves having to hold back at times and wait for the faster kids to catch up with them. They certainly looked to be enjoying it though and a good time was had by all despite the freezing wether.
All people wanted to do when over the finish line was get inside and I’ve never seen a run clear so quickly but we did have time to collect our event t-shirt and a bag of popcorn.
Full credit to Lynsey and her team for organising the event in some very challenging Scottish weather conditions.
Review by Fred Beckett.
Check out this little video of the start which gives some idea of the conditions: https://www.facebook.com/465684073471020/posts/2744022772303794/?vh=e&d=n
Quirky Races 