TEAM-MATES finished a 13.1-mile run in memory of their late captain last Sunday – then returned to rugby training two days later, albeit with a few complaints about tired legs!
A group of 17 members of Ross High RFC took on the Scottish Half Marathon and, predictably, found themselves getting competitive with each other.
They took on the race in memory of Aiden Hoenigmann, who died in January 2024 of an undiscovered heart condition, and to raise money for a charity in his name.
Training leading up to the event on August 16 was mixed, with long-distance running not a standard part of their fitness regime, which usually focuses on explosive energy and strength.
Regardless, all successfully made it to the finish line, ranging in times from 1h48m to 2h20m.
Chris Tinlin, captain of the Tranent club, said: “Everyone survived, which is all they could hope for really!”
Following the race, they enjoyed a barbecue and gathering at the rugby club, when they were joined by Aiden’s family.
There was not much time to recover, as the players returned to training on the Tuesday ahead of their first match of the season at the weekend, and there were “a few sore bodies”, as well as a good amount of complaining of pain, having completed what was for most their longest ever run only 48 hours before.
Chris, who is one of the more experienced runners of the group and has taken on a full marathon in the past, said that focus would now change back to rugby-specific fitness but added: “You end up catching the bug and quite enjoy it, so who knows, we’ll wait and see.
“We might see a few of them doing a couple more races in the future.”
Money raised has been donated to Aiden’s Heartbeat Memorial Fund, which will pay for a screening team to visit East Lothian and check for heart conditions which would otherwise go undiagnosed – a check that could have saved Aiden’s life.
An irregular heartbeat starved the 27-year-old’s brain of oxygen and, despite CPR performed by his partner Sarah and paramedics, he was placed in an induced coma and did not recover.
The cause of his sudden death was unknown for more than two years. His family only recently learnt that it was likely to be Brugada syndrome, a rare inherited heart rhythm disorder: his family have since been tested and one of his siblings has been diagnosed with the condition.
When combined with other fundraisers recently taking place for the cause, about £10,000 has been raised, and Aiden’s mum Fiona is now beginning to schedule a date for the team to visit.
The Ross High RFC team-mates will be signed up for the screening, which aims to prevent another family from going through what Aiden’s did.
Each screening weekends costs about £14,000 and various fundraisers are already being planned for the coming year, including by the rugby team.
Donations to the cause can be made at c-r-y.org.uk/aiden-hoenigmann
Chris said: “I think everyone would quite happily run it again tomorrow if we knew it would help one more person.”
Share