Organisers of this year’s Alloa Half Marathon have praised the atmosphere in the Wee County as thousands of runners pounded the streets for charity.
The 13.1‑mile race is run by Alloa Round Table, with all profits from Sunday’s event to be distributed over the coming months to local good causes.
These include Love in a Box, which provides Christmas presents for children who might otherwise wake up to nothing, help with club subs for youngsters from struggling families, and funding for talented local athletes who need support to compete on bigger stages.
This year more than 2,300 people signed up, taking numbers close to last year’s record turnout.
Round Table member and organiser Nick Smith said race day itself brought a real buzz, with big crowds around the Hillfoots and a particularly lively scene at the start and finish area at Lornshill Academy.
“If you can create that kind of experience for the runners, but also for the communities, then it’s nice,” he said, adding that this year “may have been the strongest” yet for spectator support.
He described the conditions as “near perfect running weather” – dry, warm and slightly overcast – although a strong headwind along the A91 “really kind of threw a spanner in the works” and left times a little slower than last year.
There was a new name on the men’s trophy, with Sam O’Neill taking the overall win, while women’s honours went to Amy Frankland, who he believes finished second last year before taking top spot this time.
Nick also paid tribute to officials and volunteers – including Wee County Harriers, who helped with course signage and marshalling – and headline supporters AHC Tool Hire and car partner KIA Flear & Thomson, whose backing helps keep costs down.
The race, heading through Alloa, up to Sauchie, Coalsnaughton and Fishcross, along the Hillfoots and back down towards Tullibody, culminated at Lornshill Academy.
Despite the feelgood factor, he warned that rising costs and problems with drivers ignoring legally‑enforced road closures are putting extra pressure on the event. He said organisers had to introduce hostile vehicle barriers this year after repeated incidents of motorists forcing their way onto the course and clashing with stewards.
Nick encouraged anyone inspired by this year’s pictures to consider signing up for 2027 – and invited local men aged 18 to 45 to find out more about joining Alloa Round Table, which also runs the annual Sparks in the Park fireworks display.
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