Before I ran the Kielder Ultra I harboured this fantasy that I would be super fit and would be able to make use of the Edinburgh Marathon place I had booked for myself last year. Ha, who was I kidding? It has taken me till now to get back to some semblance of training which doesn't involve me running a mile and thinking "that's me done".
So sensibly, or not so, I withdrew my Edinburgh Marathon place and entered the 10K as a consolation prize! What does make me laugh is that I thought to myself whilst entering "well I've never done that 10K before". What this actually means is "I've never run in the EMF 10K". But, in reality I have done that 10K before in several forms and will do in the Race for Life again as there is only one way round Arthur's Seat!!! (unless of course you count turning round and going in the other direction).
So race day dawned. Well, me and Kobi were up really early anyway! Got myself organised, had the breakfast of champions - 2 crumpets and a cup of tea (it was only 6 miles afterall). Checked I had my number.
Then headed into town. It was a bit of a driech morning but warm enough. I had deliberated (with the help of Alastair and Lesley) about whether to wear my Fetch vest or t-shirt. The vest won out and I am glad turned out to be quite warm.
Got to Dynamic earth, met up with Alastair and then put my bag in the baggage tent (well roof, it wasn't really a tent as such) then headed off to the start. It is quite funny that no matter how often you run in these events, how experienced you are or how what distance you are running there is always a degree of nervous energy and chit chat beforehand. I can't even remember what Scotty and I were talking about I just know that when we got to our pens we needed to just go and have two minutes peace to ourselves. Then Michelle and Lesley bounced up to me in my pen with Scotty in tow! I gave them both a hug and it was time for a photo shoot.
Then we all headed off to our own places in the run and waiting for the off. It was a little confusing as the announcer kept getting us to count to three and then nothing happened, which did make us all laugh and then we realised it was the different coloured pens that were being started. There was quite a lot of people, not sure how big a field it was but I was quite impressed. Don't normally see the 10K as I usually do the marathon.
Then finally it was our turn to count to three and off we went. Having run this route several hundred times I was quite happy just to trot along behind people as the huge hill takes any kind of advantage you might get in your time away from you. Past the swans at St Mary's Loch and up the hill to Dunsappie. And then up and up and up and up and up some more. Finally when you hit the top there is pure relief that you made it. I was quite happy this time though because after all my hill training and bog running I took the hill fairly easily and didn't feel like I was ready to expire like I normally do at this point. Then there is the fabulous views of the Pentlands as you turn around the corner. And then a bit further round the hill the stunning views of Edinburgh appear. A real treat for visitors, I had done it loads of times and I still get a wee kick out of seeing the Edinburgh skyline appear. It really is a beautiful old city. Anyway, enough waxing lyrical about Auld Reekie. That was about 4K done now we headed away from where the finish line was and down to Duddingston, past the Loch and round onto the Innocent Railway. Suddenly we were out of the wind and into a leafy walkway with loads of runners all packed around you. It was boiling, thank goodness for the Vest! Alastair and I had talked about this bit earlier in our ramble. We were saying that unusually for a railway it was quite a lot of uphill. And how did the trains get up hill, Alastair explained that, and he pointed out he wasn't a train geek (heard that one before - what is it about Alistairs?), the train would be pulled up the track by a special piece of kit to get it up the hill. So I thought about that fact as I slogged my way up the hill, thinking "wish I had that bit of kit now". Then all of a sudden there was only 1K to go, and as Tracey would say "weeeeeeeeeeeeeee" all the way back down the hill to Dynamic Earth to the finish line. 66 mins - quite happy with that given I had niggles all over the place from the Ultra, it is amazing just how long it takes to get over a big run like that. But still a nice wee 10K knocked out.
Then for some more fun. They led us through the finish line and then down into the car park under Dynamic Earth - the "Runner Only Zone". Which in theory was a great idea, loads of room but it was so packed in the really dark tunnel entrance into the car park and the noise was deafening that quite a few people around me where beginning to panic. However, we made it into the open bit of the car park, got our medal, bag and t-shirt.
I headed out of the darkness of the car park and went off to get my bag. Met one of my Penicuik running pals and we had a wee natter and then my phone rang and it was Lesley wanting to know where I was. We all found each other and yep, you guessed it - time for another photo opportunity.
Dynamic Earth is a great place for a venue, there is loads of room and a handy cafe at the end for a cup of tea! We had a great blether, yak about the run and then all headed our separate ways. Not before we had a final laugh though, Lesley was chatting to another runner about serious marathon running stuff when I nearly jumped out of my skin sending Scotty into fits of giggles at me as I thought the dinosaur behind me had moved. Well it had, and out of the corner of my eye it looked like it did it on it's own but what I couldn't see was the man pulling it along on it's wheels behind me.
So that was that, another race over and I'll be back to run the same course again on 15 June but of course that will be a different race so it will be different! I just love running.
Post race lunch!
don't worry, be happy :)
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