User:Davidpstewart

Dundee Roadrunners AC
Dundee Roadrunnersis an non-elite amateur athletics running club affiliated to Scottish Athletics. The club is based in the city of Dundee, situated on the north-east coast of Scotland in the UK. Its philosophy is of friendly participation in running for fitness health and social benefit rather than a primary orientation towards competition.

History
Dundee Roadrunners was formed in 1984, and its members have been active participants in the sport of running in its various disciplines since that date. The club celebrated it's twenty fifth anniversary in 2009. The club grew out of a group of runners from Valentine's Greetings Cards led by a runner named Dave Roy. The stimulus for this development was running boom of the mid 80s and specifically the second Dundee marathon of that year. By 1985 a membership of 180 runners was recorded rising to 250 the following year. Numbers have declined since that peak but remain healthy with lady runners particularly well represented. Originally based at Lochee Baths in Dundee the club now is meets at Energie, a gym on Main Street in central Dundee. The club has enjoyed much competitive success in both men and ladies' events over many years but remains committed catering for runners of all levels. The club has had strong links with Laufgemeinschaft Würzburg since 1986 through Dundee's twinning with this city, and many reciprocal visits have occurred over the years.

Activities
The club meets every Tuesday and Thursday evening through-out the year at Energie on Main Street. On Tuesdays group runs over 6,8,and 10 miles start at 6.30pm. The club actively recruits new members throught the year and invites any runner interested in running to join these activities without any requirement to join the club formally. In the winter months these runs offer the safely of running in groups on well lit routes. During the summer runs extend to the pleasant hinterland outwith the city, and once a month these runs begin at Clatto Park a country park on the fringes of the town. On Thursdays the members of the club meet for specific training sessions led by the club coaches, which may consists of interval training, hill sessions, or speed drills. Runners within the club run mostly on the road, but actively train and complete in Cross Country and Hill Running, with a number of members also involved in duathlon, triathlon and adventure racing.

Club Open Races Races
The club organises two open races every year.
 * 1. Templeton 10 Mile Road Race
 * This popular open event is held on the first Sunday in November and has attracted runners of all standards including former World 10000m champion Liz McColgan through to casual fun runners over the years. It is for many runners the last big event of the season and usually attracts a field of about 350-400 participants. It begins and ends around Clatto Country Park. The course is scenic and hilly, providing a real test of personal commitment and excellent post race hospitality.


 * 2. Whitetops Hill race
 * Whitetops_race_1.JPG This race is held on the last Thursday of June, and is a hill race aimed at the novice hill runner. It is part of the Scottish Hill Runners calendar and consists of a 10k run and a 274m climb. Race registration is at Kirkton of Auchterhouse School, but the race starts and finishes at Old Balkello Woods. The entry is usually around 30-40 runners of all standards.

Club Championships
The club organises a number of internal competitions.
 * 1. Spring and Autumn Handicaps
 * These are two short races around the Nature Trail at Camperdown Park. Runners are given a handicap based on their most recent 10k time with the aim of as many runners as possible finishing at the same time and with an equal chance of winning. The later event in the autumn allows a measure of progress over the season.
 * 2. John McInally Trophy
 * This event is a straight 7.5 mile race over quiet country roads held in May for all club members, and was initiated by and named after one of our oldest club members.


 * 3. DRR Club Hill Championship
 * This is a shorter vesion of the Whitetops race and begins and ends just off "The Brae" in Auchterhouse.

Social events
The club organises an annual dance, a summer barbecue, with live music and a mini-duathlon, occasional weekend "soup runs" over the winter and fun events throughout the year such as the Twin Peaks and Reindeer Roundup events.