The Scottish Half Marathon Championships in Inverness, Scotland, confronted a difficult state of affairs when their race medals and T-shirts have been delayed because of the current militant assaults on container ships within the Purple Sea. On the final minute, a neighborhood bakery got here to the rescue, supplying the race with greater than 4,000 finisher biscuits.
Candy style of success for @mhairimaac @InvHarriersAAC celebrating a document breaking efficiency right now at #Invernesshalf.
Mhairi took the triple crown additionally taking the title of North District Champion 2024.@HarryGowBakery @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/iuxW09UnnC— Inverness Half & 5K (@NessHalfMar) March 10, 2024
In a social media publish on Feb. 27, the race stated: “Attributable to unexpected delivery delays ensuing from Houthi insurgent assaults on container ships within the Purple Sea, we remorse to tell you that finisher medals and half-marathon finisher T-shirts is not going to be accessible on the end line on March 10.” The assaults within the Center East had prompted main delivery corporations to reroute their container ships round South Africa, delaying the cargo containing the race’s T-shirts and medals.
This yr’s race boasted document numbers, promoting out with a complete of 4,240 members throughout the half-marathon and 5K distances. With no finisher medals, and with the race going through the uncertainty of what to supply athletes, Harry Gow Bakery in Inverness stepped up to make sure each runner skilled the candy style of success upon crossing the end line.
“We’re thrilled to supply one thing distinctive to the Inverness Half Marathon and 5K this yr with our commemorative biscuits,” stated Fraser Gow, the director of Harry Gow Bakery. “The biscuits have been specifically crafted to replicate the medal design with the occasion brand.”
Whereas race organizers count on the medals and T-shirts to achieve every finisher by the tip of March, many runners expressed satisfaction with the choice. “It’s precisely what we wanted after finishing the race,” one participant wrote on Fb. “It’s as satisfying as a standard medal. Perhaps subsequent time we’ll have edible T-shirts,” one other participant joked.
A number of finishers additionally stated they hoped to see the ending biscuits return subsequent yr. Regardless, this initiative serves as wonderful PR and advertising and marketing for the native bakery.
