Cambuslang Harriers runner Fraser Stewart has set his sights on the London Marathon next month after winning his first ever title at the Inverness Half Marathon last weekend.
The 35-year-old took gold in the Inverness Half Marathon and Scottish Half Marathon Championships, completing the 13.1 mile course in a time of 1.05:24.
Natasha Phillips from Dundee Hawkhill Harriers finished the course in 1.11:56, a new female record in the race that was previously set in by Cathy Mutwa in 2007 with 1.13:21.
This year’s Inverness Half Marathon and 5k, which also incorporated the North District Championships, attracted over 3,600 runners from across the UK.
It’s a first title for Fraser Stewart, who says it’s a dream come true, and while he’s not aiming to win the London Marathon, he would like to by up there with the top Scots.
Fraser, originally from Eaglesham, but who now lives in Cathcart, said: “It was great, it was a really good race, and it was the Scottish Championships as well, so I was really delighted to get my first national title.
“It was a great day out.
“It’s a national title, which is the biggest achievement you can get, really, in Scottish running.
“I knew I was going to win it probably after about nine miles.
“There was a group of three at the start, and then it whittled down to just the two of us about four miles in, and then at nine miles I could sense the guy I was with tiring a bit.
“I put the foot down, got a bit of a break, and I didn’t have to stress too much at the end about having a sprint finish.
“When I started running for Cambuslang Harriers this is not something I ever thought I would be doing.
“I won a couple of team medals and titles but never an individual title and I’m delighted to win one – it’s something you dream about, it’s great to finally do it, and it’s something that will always be in the record books.
“Running fast times is great, but you want a medal to show for it, because that will always be there.”
Fraser, who has been running at Cambuslang for five years, added: “It’s a good stepping stone.
“I’m doing the London Marathon at the end of April, so it’s a good push forward and gives me confidence for doing that.
“If I can be up there with the Scots and run a personal best that would be great, and I’ll keep grafting away, I’ll push on.
“The Scottish 10-Mile Championships is in three weeks’ time with the Tom Scott 10-miler, so I’ll go into that full of confidence and see what we can do on the day.
“But there are so many good guys competing at Scottish club level at the moment, so it’s not going to be easy.
“I’ll give it my all, and will feel confident going into all the races from now on.”
Mike Johnston, convenor of the scottishathletics Road Running and Cross Country Commission, said: “It has been a great event and a good opportunity for our elite and club runners to test themselves on the Inverness course.
“Congratulations to Fraser and Natasha, we hope all the runners, coaches and spectators involved have had a successful and enjoyable race.”
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