Scotstoun Stadium

I was up at Scotstoun this afternoon having a look at the new building. It is all very impresive and still smells of newness - you can literally smell how new it is. From the car park that we have always used, the facade is about three storeys high with a central entrance and, I think, eight turnstiles. These are all locked and entrance is round the corner at the end of the building.

On entry the reception desk is on the right and the indoor training area is straight ahead through the swing doors. With six lanes of 90 metres and a long jump pit on the left it is very impressive. The approach to the LJ pit is side by side with the three long lanes and at the end of the approach there are three more lanes giving six x 60 metre lanes. There are also High Jump and Pole Vault faciities there too. There are several toilets there as well as at least a hundred kit lockers.

If you want to go outside, then there are doors halfway up the straight that lead straight out to the new looking track. The old stand has been rebuilt and is very impressive with big blocks of alternating green and blue seats. On the far side along the back straight there are covered seats too. The grass infield had rugby goalposts up when I was there. Access to the grass training area is at the end of the track without any obvious barriers. It is an excellent training facility although I can see the indoors straight being really 'hoatching' or even 'heaving' with bodies on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. For best use you would have to go during the day or at least before about 6:30 pm when you would probably get it to yourself.

At the very least it is worth a look and any distance runner looking for a good rep session could have a real work out there = the new track seems much softer and kinder to the legs than the old Scotstoun track which was so hard for athletes doing long reps. Sprinters might regret losing the very firm surface though!