Fiona Carver sadly died on New Year’s Eve. She was an active member of the club, bringing her gritty and tenacious running to many individual age category wins and team medals.
Fiona had a unique talent as a runner, not only could she give 110% at training and in races, but she could also do this whilst constantly chatting at the same time! There are very few people who can do laps of the track, or hills reps on the muddy hill at Sighthill in the dark talking all the way round. A run with Fiona was never a quiet boring affair, she always had an interesting story to tell and could keep you amused for miles, all you had to do was try & keep up with her and agree now and again, which often is all you could do as you were struggling for breath.
This openness and friendliness were what drew a lot of people to Fiona. She was the friendly face of Corstorphine Athletics Club, making new members feel welcome, giving lots of encouragement and praise, she always made you feel good. Fiona led the organisation of many activities which drew the club closer together, including memorable training weekends in New Lanark and Balmaha where her infectious enthusiasm for running in the hills and her supportive nature shone through.
She had a great deal of success as a runner, both at an individual level and as part of a team. She was willing to give anything a go and took part in all types of events from track, trail, hills, half marathons, marathons & ultras, and had a lot of success winning prizes from the Glentress Trail Half to a huge wooden obelisk for winning the Muckle Toon Trail Half Marathon and individual bronze medals at the Scottish Athletics National Masters XC Championships, W55 Category in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
It was running with her club mates that really drove Fiona on. She took part in various team events including the Devils Burden Hill Relays, and the Scottish Long Coastal Relays – keeping her teammate awake with her chatter running 20 miles through the night in the dark! She was also part of the bronze medal V50 team at the 2016 East District XC Relays and the legendary gold medal winning V50 team at the 2019 Scottish Altheltics National Road Relays.
Always modest about her own achievements it would take a bit of persuading for her to divulge her latest successes, often deflecting attention to others who had run brilliantly. The many district and national medals tell the story of someone who found her running mojo and shared that love of running with anyone who wanted to hear about it. She was a very good listener, always showed a kind friendly interest in how her running companions were getting on and would readily join in for chatty runs – preferably long and off-road and followed by coffee and cake.
As well as running with the club and so many friends she made through running, Fiona loved to run by herself. She found her own calmness taking off for a few hours in the Pentland hills. Fiona didn’t do little 5ks round the park, if she was going a run, it meant 10 miles at least with a few big hills thrown in for good measure!
Fiona was a great runner and extraordinary person, and we invite you to run with Fiona on your next run.
Fiona’s funeral is on Friday 27th January, 12 pm at Mortonhall Crematorium followed by a reception at Braids Hills Hotel, all are welcome.
I met Fiona on a few occasions. She joined CAAC about the time I was leaving, but through the friends I had at the club I met her. She always seemed a nice naturally welcoming person. I feel so sorry for all her close friends and family to loose seemed a great person and the club to loose such a great ambassador.
RIP Fiona. You’ll be missed by many. You were such a determined inspirational person to be with what ever you were doing.
Those runs or hikes, long or short, felt so much quicker and easier as you were always making conversation and chatting about anything.
Thanks for sharing and for the memories that will last me for my lifetime. ❤️