Certainly, when I head to Islay I’ll be staying the whole weekend in a shepherd’s hut, and most probably doing a bit of touristy stuff while I’m there too! It’s exactly the kind of trip that shows how these events quietly support local tourism – filling accommodation, pubs and cafés at times that might otherwise be a bit quieter.
Don’t get me wrong, the larger events are great too – they are generally very well organised, with fun add-ons like Mr Motivator-style warm-ups and larger support crowds as you run by. It’s also pretty cool to run around a city. But I would suggest that these events are often organised more in isolation than as a collaborative community effort, which makes me wonder whether they encourage the same kind of sustained visitor experience and return visits that smaller, community-led events tend to foster.
In my view, smaller events in rural places win the day and are a great showcase for community-led tourism. There is a sense of pride, ownership and inclusivity in the organisation, as people from the community take on different roles – from handling registrations and marketing the event, to marshalling and manning water stations. There are youngsters handing out t-shirts and delicious home baking contributions, right down to a local maker being appointed to produce the medals. It’s a real community effort, and everyone can get involved. Competitors might bring their families along, creating great displays of support for the journey it took to get there. While running races competitively might be a weekly activity for some, for others it’s all about participation, with the race representing a personal challenge or milestone. Perhaps they are recovering from injury or illness, or took up running to support their mental health. Maybe they are running for a charity that’s particularly close to their hearts. Whatever the reason for being there, there is often a story attached. Add families and supporters to the mix, and it creates a lovely buzz around the event.
Local sporting events add to a strong sense of place – what better way to experience somewhere than to run around it? You may disagree, but there is definitely a sense of camaraderie: friends will come together and do a bit of training in the months leading up to the race. We are all in it together, and the pain is ours to endure! Inevitably, on the day, mysterious athletes will turn up out of nowhere, sprint the whole thing, and put the rest of us to shame. And afterwards, like a thief in the night – they’re gone! And we are left here in our community, where the Ardlamont loop waits patiently until next year when we, along with others, will inevitably repeat the challenge and once again feel proud of our achievement.
The Kyles 10 Miles has been going for many years now and, aside from a few low-key grumbles about road closures, it is generally received very positively and, most importantly, people feel they can get involved. There’s always a sense of excitement and build-up around the event, not only amongst the runners and walkers, but the spectators too.
For visitors, it offers a glimpse of Tighnabruaich at its best – a welcoming community coming together, soaking up the natural surroundings, and supporting one another. If there’s one thing that local runs like this keep proving, it’s that the best races aren’t always the biggest – they’re the ones that leave a place feeling a little more connected than when you arrived.
