Grant Baillie in Monument Mile Classic action at Stirling earlier this year (photo by Bobby Gavin)
By Aidan Gilbride
His name has become synonymous with East Kilbride Athletics Club – you can’t think of one without thinking of the other.
In the last 32 years, Grant Baillie and EKAC have built a symbiotic relationship and it’s fair to say that the club is stitched onto the fabric of Grant’s life.
He joined at 13 years old as he had friends at the club and, in the following three decades, he met his future wife, Kelly, and they had two children together, Ben and Zoe. They themselves now run for the club, and amazingly Grant now trains in the same group as them.
For Grant, friendship, family and community were crucial in his development as an athlete and person.
‘You build a bond in a running club which grows as you get older which is what kept me going – friendship,’ he said.
‘The social benefits of running together create lifetime friends. I can see that same story now playing out with my kids.’
Years of hard work are now paying off, with people now taking notice as Grant revels in Masters athletics.
‘Consistency is key; trying to get out some form of run every day, maybe one day off occasionally,’ he summarised.
‘I have found my sweet spot mileage-wise is around 50 miles a week. If I tend to go over that, I’m more likely to pick up small injuries. Quality over quantity has always been important for me.’
He continues to prove age is just a number with some club members stating that he is ageing like fine wine.
It’s hard to argue against this as in the last two years he has run personal bests in seven disciplines from the 1500m to the 10km including a Scottish Masters Record.
‘To be at 45 and still setting PBs is something I don’t take for granted.’
First and foremost, goal setting is a priority to him, and he feels without setting goals you could fall out of love with the sport.
‘If you don’t love something, why do it?’
Every year Grant, who works in the Fire Service, targets races and sets out several goals to keep him motivated.
‘There are times I’ll come home from a nightshift and be shattered; I can’t be bothered going out for a run, but I always think back to my goals and targets and what I want to achieve and that gets me out that run.’
He also credits persistence, and never giving up and that when he doesn’t achieve a goal that motivates him even more.
He cited an example of this to be when he won the Lindsays Masters XC Championships title in February.
‘I’d been trying to win that title for years.’
Outside of running, Grant has his career in the Fire Service as well as having a family.
‘Working in the fire service is a disciplined service with set routines and training you must do every day. It is no different to running and I do think that balance has complemented each other nicely.
‘And so I think it is just about managing your time properly.’
Grant in cross country action with two other superb Scottish Masters athletes – Darrell Hastie of Gala Harriers and Mark Docherty of Inverclyde AC (photo by Bobby Gavin)
Grant celebrates at the Monument Mile Classic (photo by Bobby Gavin)
When asked about his career highlights, in typical Grant fashion he played it down and said a race that he will never forget is the West District XC Relays in 2017. East Kilbride fielded a team of three generations of home-grown athletes and took the title against the odds.
‘Running can feel like a very individual sport, and you are predominantly in it for yourself. But to do that against the other teams that were there that day remains a real high point in my career.’
This past August he won the M45 World Masters 3000m Steeplechase title in Björlanda, Sweeden.
‘I have never had a feeling like that crossing a line, it was a shock,’ he smiled.
‘It was crazy because hand on heart I did not expect to even win a medal. I went over to primarily to do the 5km.
‘I used to steeplechase when I was younger and thought I’d give it a go.’
Before 2024 Grant had not done a steeplechase race in nine years and stated the only steeple training, he did before that world title was at the Scottish Masters Championships in Dundee the month before.
When describing the race, Grant himself says he still did not believe he could win it until the final water jump when he saw the German runner look behind him.
‘I started speeding up and blasted it at the final hurdle and I dipped him on the line. The response since from the athletics community in Scotland has been amazing.
‘Folk I haven’t met before have come up to me at different races, saying congratulations which has been fantastic.’
Photo by Bobby Gavin
East Kilbride Athletics Club President Gordon Colvin said: ‘Loyalty is one of Grant’s great qualities, he’s a fantastic role model to all the kids at EKAC and it’s a privilege to have him at the heart of the club.’
His son Ben also said: ‘He is my inspiration, I’m trying to get closer to him and keeps me motivated. I look up to him up to him a lot.’
To that Grant reiterated how important the club is to him.
‘It’s been a huge part of my life. Growing up there were many times I could have left via offers from other clubs, but East Kilbride is my club.
‘This is where I grew up. It goes back to what I said earlier about the friendships I have made through the club. They are lifetime friends. It really is running with your best pals.’
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