As part of the club’s Inclusion Group activities we are highlighting the huge benefits of running as we get older. Two of our members have very kindly agreed to chat to me about their experience. First up is Yvonne McHugh, our much loved, and slightly revered leader of Let’s Go Linlithgow (the Jog Scotland side of Linlithgow Athletic Club). She was also voted LAC Club Member of the Year 2022.
How did you get into running?
I ran in school and in my early twenties, but hadn’t run much since then. I had retired early due to my mum’s illness, so I could help take care of her. This experience made me determined to stay fit and active as I grow older. I mentioned to a friend that I was looking for something to do for fitness.
She had seen an advert for Couch to 5K on Facebook. So from April to June 2019 I completed the course, led by Alex Wood and Roddy Simpson, followed by the 5K to 10K course with Lorna Simpson and have never looked back.
When did you start coaching?
I completed my Jog Leader course on 31 st August 2019, and followed that up with helping at Linlithgow 10K as a marshal. In 2020 I helped lead a Couch to 5K and then 5-10K course. I also qualified as a Coaching Assistant and began helping at the club’s Juniors sessions. During 2022, with the help of two of my fellow Jog Leaders we restarted the Girls Run Group for 14-18 year old girls. In January 2023 I completed the next tier of my coaching training, Coach in Running Fitness.
How have things changed since you joined?
Covid had a big impact. Although it meant restrictions at the time, it actually led to a growth in what we offer to runners. At a Zoom meeting of Jog Leaders in September 2020 we agreed to start the 30 minute groups on Mondays and Fridays and the 45 minute group on Wednesdays. At the time we also offered a Saturday group in lieu of parkrun. There were limits on numbers and rules on social distancing initially, but we were getting people back out running which was great.
Let’s Go Linlithgow is an award winning Jog Scotland group. Tell us about that.
We were nominated for Jog Scotland Group of the Year in 2021 by our members. The club booked a table for the awards night and we went along not knowing whether we had won. Winning (pictured below) was amazing. It was a huge boost to everyone involved in Let’s Go Linlithgow and the club as a whole.
What have you found to be the main benefits of running as you get older?
The running is keeping me fit and healthy, but that’s only part of it. It’s kept me learning and developing through my coaching training. Running as part of a group has had a huge positive impact on my mental health. I love meeting lots of different people. Also, encouraging others to run is a great feeling too.
What are your plans for the future?
I am now 66 years old. I have just run The Great Scottish Run half marathon in Glasgow and running longer distances at a slightly slower pace is something I want to keep doing. I have been a pacer at the last three Linlithgow 10Ks. Next year I’m going to run it for myself. I regularly marshal at Auldcathie Parkrun. As well as running I plan to keep doing Yoga with instructor Aileen, one of our runners at the Friday morning group. I’m still hoping to be leading Let’s Go Linlithgow, as well as being a representative on the club’s board of trustees. Although I am still coaching, it’s been a pleasure to hand over some of this responsibility to our new Jog Leaders.
By Claire Emery, Linlithgow Athletic Club Inclusion Group
I hope you enjoyed reading this. I will be posting our next ‘interview’ in a few weeks time.
Photo taken at Jog Scotland’s annual awards night 2021. Yvonne is pictured middle.
