Cupar’s Maggie gets off couch and pulls on her running shoes

Young Maggie Duncan has shown grit and determination during lockdown prompting the Cupar schoolgirl to take up running for the first time in her life in memory of a much-loved Granny.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th May 2020, 12:45 BST
Maggie training along the Kingask trail towards Foxton, near Cupar.Maggie training along the Kingask trail towards Foxton, near Cupar.
Maggie training along the Kingask trail towards Foxton, near Cupar.

The 11-year-old has undertaken the Couch to 5km programme over the last two months – a structured challenge that builds up from short runs, broken up by spells of walking, to running a full 5km distance.

The Castlehill Primary School pupil who has been waking/running from her Dalgairn home commented: “I’d done no running at all.

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“I found it quite hard but I’ve gone longer and longer, it got hard again.

“I’ll keep going, I’m at 4.7km just now.”

Maggie’s challenge was to run 5km at the now cancelled Edinburgh Marathon Running Festival weekend in memory of her granny who died two years ago, raising funds for the Stroke Association.

Her fund stands at £877 as of press time.

On Saturday, May 30, Maggie will run her 5km from Dalgairn along the farm tracks, out to the viewing tower beyond Foxton Farm and back home.

Looking ahead Maggie said: “I hope to keep on running, when things get back to normal, I could aim for a 5km Parkrun.”

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Maggie’s JustGiving page is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/maggieduncan

All donations appreciated.

• Several of Fife’s established running groups host their own Couch to 5K classes aimed at those who are inactive or haven’t run for some times.

The NHS is supporting people get involved in the fitness scheme with advice and running plans available to those wishing to take it up.

Visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week/ for details.

Related topics:Parkrun

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