Running race 1:55:47 [5] 15.2 mi (7:37 / mi) +660m 6:43 / mi
Edinburgh Seven Hills - 19th - 1:55:47
A race that has been on my to do list for a while, and it didn't disappoint.
Great atmopshere, great scenery, crowds at the top of each hill, but still a low key feel and a tough challenge to boot.
Warm verging on hot at the start, off we went down the steps at a fast pace, struggled to keep up with the leaders, could tell straight away my legs weren't fresh after yesterdays exertions, they didn't feel too tired or heavy, just no 'zip' there for a sustained fast pace. Settled into about 12th across north bridge, instant enjoyment as we weaved through busy traffic and people.
Having only really reccied the route online/on maps (though have been up all the hills in the past except East Craiglockhart & Blackford seeing 4/5 people ahead turn into the arcade was interesting and I made a split second decision to follow them, though the reality was, coming out onto the Royal Mile, we gained 2 seconds at most. Bit of a grind up to the castle, harder than I thought, maintained position as we clipped for the first time.
Fast pace round the bottom of the castle, and managed to gain a pace. There was a distinct group of 5 at the front with a slight stringing out behind as we crossed Princes Street. Felt I was running as fast as I dare go and was holding position. Then another interesting split as half, mainly the leading group but with one exception turned left, and the rest of us went straight on and left at the bottom of the hill. I think we won this one as they came steaming in from the left a lot closer that they were previously, although their faster pace meant they pulled away again quickly as we turned up the small hill prior to the art gallery.
Felt very hot already. 2nd mile - 5:21, put the brakes on a bit and tried to settle into a rhythm for the long straight up to Corstorphine.
In a nice rhythm now as we stretch out up the long drag, working hard but trying to stay relaxed. Those in front seem to be pulling away, except the guy immediately in front, who is getting closer. Then a guy appears from my left, where has he come from? He’s running well and bridges the gap in front of him quickly. Cross the T-junction with the road from my left, bit of a gap in the traffic and run for it, thank incoming car from left and get honked at for my troubles, what did that cost you, 5 seconds? On we go, seem to be closing on both runners ahead, but look up to see Corstorphine looming, so relax a bit prior to the left turning. Dig in and work a bit harder up the path, rises then softens twice, then through wall onto steep bit and I’ve caught the guy in front but no sign of chap ahead of him. I sit in for a bit, legs struggling to move again on the flat, but also to make sure I know the way, to be fair a gap is opened slightly as we enter the clearing and I take some water, up again to the tower and clip #2. We turn and head down and once on the path I open up and take the man who was ahead, can now see the guy ahead of him as well, who must be 9th, that makes me 10th, that will do, lets settle in until the next hill now.
Solid downhill road section doesn’t do me the expected favour as opening up the legs brings a massive stitch in my left side and the gap ahead opens once more. Think I’ve opened up a bit behind though. Safely over the A8 and onto footpath, over railway and tram lines now some of the challengers are stretched out in front on the uphill road to the next footbridge. This was as hot as it got, wiping the sweat from my head at regular intervals.
Have slowed slightly I think, but that’s OK, long way to go, but have completely lost sight of man in 9th now. Through the housing estate and a fair few challengers about now, we exchange friendly greetings and words of encouragment. Straight across the roundabout, right should hit a T-Junction, it's left and first right.
WAKE UP! HERE'S WHERE IT ALL GOES WRONG.
First right here we go, well, isn't this a nice footpath, bending right, right? Right, hold on, should not be bending right. Haven't seen anyone else for a while either. This doesn't feel right. Luckily, for just this scenario, I had a map. S***. I'm following the Water of Leith. It was first right into a road, not a bloody footpath. It was a real 50/50 decision to turn around or carry on, but I decided I had come down the path far enough to carry on, though I'm struggling to estimate how far down I came in hindsight now. Mentally turning back isn't good either, but this did take some of the edge off my running pace as I was a bit demoralised. Worked out revised route, left and right up a road splitting the two Craiglockhart hills, and then left onto the off road stuff. This did have the minor consolation of going most of the climbing on the road, and I avoided the very steep slope of which I now know nothing. As I bounded in and up the steps, one of the challengers made the acute observation 'gone the wrong way?' which I should thank them for as it stoked the fires once more and I eased up to the summit, took some more water and strided down the other side.
Now I was really in the thick of it, racers and challengers galore, part of me tried to think how many places I had lost, but the part of me that won was the part that said just get on with it. No chance of going wrong now but was overtaking people which was a confidence boost. Into the meadow before Braids and people going off at all sorts of tangents. Decided the two people going far right looked like they knew what they were doing, and I could also keep moving as those taking straighter lines looked like they were getting bogged down at the top. This seemed to be a good move as although we had to go slightly back on ourseleves at the top, we had avoided the slow stuff, both ground and people. In a good rhythm up to Braids, more water and onto the ascent, ran it all, but got stuck behind a couple of people for a bit, bagpipes at the top, brilliant!
Turn left and follow everyone else across the golf course, quite fast, but a bit hesitant on my dodgy ankle. Some guy comes past dressed for a beach bbq, running at a similar pace, how casual. I stick with him but it's slow down to the road as we are queuing. Fast downhill and captain casual has caught his HBT mate, I follow them left and a bit of a hairy turn right over the burn, and straight up, walking now but it doesn't feel too bad. Now I would have gone right at the top from memory but they both went left, so stung by my earlier mistake, I follow, though I seem to recall Mr Casual wasn't convinced either. Sharp right and slightly downhill across a meadow as Blackford looms large, loads of people coming in from the right so it seems this wasn't the optimal route. Lots of noise coming from the top, lots of people climing these big steps, a few going steep and left, I stick right, legs burning a bit now, but get a run on left off the steps only to be queuing up the last bit, great atmosphere provided by HBT. Go to bucket by trig point to get water, not drinking water, sponges! Can't find drinking water hidden behind everyone! 30 secs binned. Down we go again, and my two comrades are well ahead, but I get going well, through the allotments and decide Arthur's seat is a) going to hurt, and b) going to be slow, no matter what I do now, so I put the foot down for the road section ahead. Catch and pass the two guys on the road northbound, turn right, feeling tired now but still something left in the tank, through a shaded area and left to the water stop, very refreshing at this stage. Across swimming pool steps and relax quite a lot down to Holyrood. Weave through pink ladies easily as despite there being millions of them, they are all walking. Also despite their being millions of them, with one or two exceptions, they are silent. Nice. Look up and see people dotted like ants across Arthurs's seat, the kamikaze line to the left straight up looks interesting, looks like a no also. Stick slightly right and to the popular line. Legs have ground to a halt now, I've never enjoyed walking up hills and today is no exception. Having said that, I keep moving and it's over quicker than I thought. But I think I would have gone quicker and really hammered the nail in the coffin if the rest of the race had gone well (navigationally). Hiccup at the top as climbing the gully some American is in the way. Again, great support at the top. Slip and slide my way down to the long straight route down, fall twice, very tentative, again something to improve on. Get a good pace on before Haggis Knoll and turn left, but on seeing the village and railings of the Race for Life ahead, spy that the right, easterly route can get round this if I turn right now, so go for it. Doesn't seem many did this, but I think that must have been hard to negotiate surely? How far did the railings go towards the parliament.
Ah, forgot to mention the swimming pool route was another error, as Mr Casual was well up Arthur's seat when I reached it, along, no doubt with a few others.
Anyway, hit the flat field behind Holyrood palace...and here comes the cramp. Pushing yet slowing. Tell myself it isn't far at all. Turn left under the railway and up the path towards Calton, really really struggling to move now, but on hitting the A1 I find something, turn into the hill path and overtake a challenger, up the final steps across the field. Comically stop at first cones before being ushered onto to the finish line itself.
In bits now, haven't felt this knackered after a race for a long time. Take a lot of fluid on board and have a lie down...job (part) done...I will be back!