East Lothian rugby coach runs Malaga half marathon in memory of late team captain
Rugby player's legacy lives on as former coach raises £2,000 for memorial fund
An East Lothian man has raised more than £2,000 in memory of a former rugby teammate after completing a half marathon in Malaga.
Michael Hird, from Tranent, took on the 21.1km race in aid of Aiden’s Heartbeat Memorial Fund, which was established following the death of Ross High Rugby Club player Aiden Hoenigmann.
Aiden Hoenigmann died suddenly in 2024 after collapsing in his home, suffering cardiac arrest at just 27 years old.
Michael, 24, has raised £2,096 through his JustGiving page, with all donations going directly to Aiden’s memorial fund. He had known Aiden for several years through Ross High Rugby Club, where he was head coach of the men’s team for three seasons.
The pair grew particularly close after Aiden, who was captain at the time, approached Michael in 2023 and asked him to help coach the team.
Speaking to the Evening News, Michael said: “With him being the captain, we grew quite close and were chatting quite a lot on a daily basis, primarily about rugby but other things as well.
“There was a good connection between us.”
Earlier this year, Michael joined around 18 or 19 fellow runners to take part in the Edinburgh Half Marathon.
He enjoyed the experience and decided to take on another challenge, signing up for the Malaga Half Marathon. Michael trained for around two to three months, running two or three times a week and following a personalised training plan.
However, he admitted the race proved more difficult than he had first anticipated. The Spanish heat and the emotional weight of the challenge only made it harder.
Having travelled to Spain alone, Michael admitted he became overwhelmed by the crowds and the occasion.
He said: “Halfway through the race, just through the emotion and heat, there were a couple of times when I was like ‘Jeez, I’m not actually going to finish this race’.
“I put quite a lot of pressure on myself at the beginning as well. Even halfway through, when I had to stop for a breather, I was like thinking by stopping, you’re letting people down.
“But knowing that people had donated and such a big cause was behind it kind of pushed me through to the end.”
Despite the difficult moments, Michael crossed the finish line and was handed his medal, describing the experience as a mixture of relief and pride.
Reflecting on the support he received, Michael said he had been taken aback by the generosity of those who donated.
The first East Lothian cardiac screening weekend has been secured from May 29 to May 30, 2027, as family and friends continue efforts to help prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy.
Michael said: “Aiden was just a fit and healthy guy. It’s just one of these things that takes you by surprise. You never know what's going to happen, so it’s all about having that safety first.
“If anybody can get checked, then hopefully this will help and doesn’t happen again.”