The Two Railways Marathon - June 6th.

I'm not sure quite when Yvonne and I dreamt up the Two Railways Marathon. But I do know the idea came from a run we did down to Musselburgh where we were running down the Loanhead railway and as we passed Dalkeith we were musing whether it would be possible to run down one railway and back up the other.

Turns out you can, with a bit of planning. 

We decided on a date close to mid-summer and started training back in the winter time. As part of our training we set about training for a half marathon in March. We decided on a route in Dalkeith Country Park. It was a two loop route around the perimeter of the park. The first loop was great but on the second loop Yvonne started to find it tough mentally. I think running twice around the same loop on a half marathon was just really hard. But we did it and that reassured us that we were at the half marathon point in our training.

The next stop was getting up the distances. On one of our longer training runs, Yvonne and I were slogging our way along a main road on route to Carlops. I saw Yvonne ahead of me look into the bushes and then move on. When I got to that point, I looked to see what it was she was looking at. A wee pink teddy had been discarded/lost at the side of the road. He was dirty, his head was hanging off and his stuffing was coming out at his feet and arms. I picked him up and popped him into my bag. Later when I showed Yvonne she laughed and said that she had seen him but never picked him up. From that point onwards he was named Ron (after Ron Hill) he has his own Instagram page @ronthehillrunningteddy. And he has now become our wee running mascot.

We gradually got ourselves to the point where we were ready to run 20 miles. Yvonne suggested a route from Callendar to Killin that she had done for her previous marathon training. So we planned our day up in the highlands. Mark dropped us off at Calendar and ran the first 3 miles with us then he left us at Loch Lubnig and we headed off further into the hills. 

It was a great day out in the hills, although very tough. Yvonne kept apologising because she had forgotten how hard the route was. But I loved it, just my kind of route. 

Finally, we got to a stopping point just outside of Killin, where Emily and Norrie met us. We stopped at 20 miles and sat and had some lunch. So that was us at 20 miles.

As marathon day approached, the nerves kicked in. Although it wasn't an official marathon because of Covid-19, it was just ours the whole day had grown arms and legs with Tracey joining us as our bike support crew, Norrie met us at Musselburgh with water and food, and then Elaine, Norrie and Kirsty joined us at Loanhead to take us back to the finish line at Roslin. At the finish line, Rhona, Ethan, Mark and Arwen were there to meet us. 

As with every marathon, the day started with getting my kit laid out and eating breakfast. I hate bananas but they are good slow release food so I choke one down before a marathon. Not sure if it makes any difference.

And off we go!

The run itself was really tough. The day was the hottest of the year so far. We started off really early to try and miss the heat of the day, the irony was that was the hottest part of the day. As we got ourselves into Dalkeith, Tracey came cycling back to us saying that the route we had planned through Dalkeith Country Park was closed and that we couldn't go that way, which meant we had to go round the road adding a mile or so onto the distance. From that point onwards we had to change our route finishing at Roslin instead of Penicuik. 

The road around Dalkeith Country Park was brutal, the sun was baking us both as we ran with the pale coloured stone wall of the park to our left the whole way. By the time we both got out the other end we were absolutely roasting and exhausted. But we were still not even half way. The sun continued to beat down on us, we walked and ran, to just keep moving forward. We ran out of water really quickly, so having Tracey there was absolutely brilliant. 

We changed our route slightly going into Musselburgh so that we could run along the coastal path with the sea breeze cooling us a little bit. Seeing Tracey and Norrie at Musselburgh harbour was both tough and great. Great because it meant we were half way and they had fresh water and snacks but tough because we had to leave them and head off on the second half of our marathon. 

Thankfully, the clouds came over a bit and the second half was not so warm. I think we would both have given up if it had stayed the same as it was so hot. As we moved further on up the railway we both started to get tired, each taking it in turn to motivate the other. 

Tracey gave us a bit of light entertainment (and heart failure) as she stopped on her bike (because I had stopped) and promptly just keeled over bike and all - she forgot to take her feet out of her clipless pedals (a rookie error from a non rookie). Her head bounced off the ground, in slow motion, and Yvonne and I just looked on in horror not quite sure what to do. Once we knew she was okay we all had a laugh but kept checking on her as we went. 

As we got nearer to Loanhead we knew that our running support crew would join us soon. Norrie, Kirsty and Elaine were on their way running from the finish point in Roslin to meet us. It was so nice to see them, but so odd to see them so bouncy and full of energy and us plodding along, 20 miles already in our legs. Kirsty took my back pack for me as my back was getting really sore with it, I was so grateful to her. It was nice to have them with us but I knew that Yvonne and I needed to keep together to keep each other going and there was a short moment where we felt we needed to be social. After a while though we gradually came back together and got on with the job of getting to the finish line.

As we got closer to Roslin we knew we were not going to have enough distance left to the finish line to make it 26.2 so then we began to have to start working out where to go in Roslin to make up the miles. We ended up plodding around Rosslyn Chapel and up the Main Street, then we did a few loops around a housing estate and then another wee loop around the nature reserve. Finally, we were at the distance and we could head to the finish line. Rhona, Ethan, Mark and Arwen were there waiting for us. We ran in with our support crew following behind. 

last wee bit!

The Two Railways Marathon was finished. Rhona gave me a massive hug and then Mark moved in to hug me too. Norrie hugged Yvonne and then directed her and I to Mark. Rhona, Mark and Arwen were excitedly handing us bags. We were so tired it took a while to realise they had all colluded and Mark had put together finishing bags for us. Inside the bag was the most amazing wooden medals with our names on them and the t-shirts I had gotten printed. And the bags had our names on them and were full of the best finishing pack goodies I have ever had. Including a lovely bottle of fizz. 

It may not have been an official marathon, but the distance was just the same, it was just as hard, if not harder because we were the only two doing it but it is definitely up there as one of my favourite races. 

Massive thank you to everyone who made it the day it was. And to my running buddy Yvonne and of course wee Ron.

Was that hard work Ron?

Run the Midlothian border - Route 4 - Capelaw Hill, Pentlands

 

Woke up on Saturday morning to find this glorious sunshine! And warmth. It could not have been nicer for route 4 running along the top of Capelaw in the Pentlands. Great company today, Yvonne, Norrie and Ron (story to follow about Ron!).

We had a few miles on the road to get to the farm track that took us down to Flotterstone.

One we tackled the big tree lined hill (Yvonne and I challenged ourselves to run all the way up!) we got to the spectacular view point overlooking the reservoir.

Then it was round the back of Castlelaw and through the valley between Castlelaw and Capelaw. it never fails to surprise me just how long a path it is and how steep it gets towards the end. Still I do like that path. 

Once up onto the path towards Allermuir we headed over to Capelaw and onto the path which goes behind Capelaw. At this point you are rewarded with a spectacular view of Edinburgh and over the Forth to Fife. It was such a beautiful day, and not being able to go into Edinburgh makes you appreciate the view even more.

Finally we made it to the top and we had to give Ron, our marathon mascot, his official naming ceremony. I found Ron lying in the mud at the side of the Biggar Road when we were on our 14 mile training run a few weeks back. I couldn't leave him there, his head was falling off and he had rips in his wee paws. And he was all dirty, so I stuck him in my back pack and then sorted him all up, giving him a nice new ribbon. 

I decided to call him Ron, after Ron Hill (the famous runner who ran every day for 52 years before dementia stopped him being able to do that). 

Run the Midlothian Border - Route 3 - Vogrie Country Park

Vogrie Country Park is a woodland estate surrounding the Victorian Vogrie House. The house now houses a lovely cafe, where visitors can sit and enjoy the surroundings with a cup of tea. This is a particularly popular spot on a Saturday morning after Vogrie Parkrun takes place in the grounds. 

The park is located around 12 miles (19 km) from Edinburgh between Pathhead and Gorebridge.

Facilities in the parkland include a miniature railway, 9-hole golf course, children's play area and four miles of walks.

The River Tyne flows through the park.

I was joined on my run by Yvonne, Emily, Kobi and Ollie. We started up at the car park and headed off through the woods on the park run route. 

We then headed down towards the river from Pam's Corner. The dogs were absolutely loving running with each other and we were definitely holding Emily back, she was running along quite comfortably. 

This route has a few challenging wee hills in it and although we had a nice dry day to run, it would definitely be very muddy at points on a wet day. 

Emily and Yvonne running ahead with Kobi way off in the distance! 

The country park has a lot of big old trees, which at the moment are just beginning to bud.

I love this wee story time circle that is in the park. A big chair for the story teller and lots of little chairs to sit and listen.

A trip to Vogrie would not be complete without a seat on the big chairs! Getting Kobi and Ollie to sit still on them was a bit of challenge, but we managed it!

So that was route number 3 on the run the midlothian border adventure, thanks to Yvonne and Emily for the company. Where to next? I'm heading up to Capelaw in the Pentland with Norrie, Yvonne and Ron!

Run the Midlothian Border - Route 2 - Loanhead Railway

 I was brought up in Loanhead so it is always nice to take a run around routes that I used to run when I first started running. Although the railway is no longer a functioning railway but instead has been turned into a path which takes you around the outskirts of Loanhead. 

When I was at school in Loanhead there was the occasional train carrying coal would trundle past but the line closed in the late 80's and is now part of the railway path which goes all the way to Shawfair from 

The Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway was a railway line south of Edinburgh, Scotland, built primarily to serve mineral workings, although passenger trains were operated. It is also known as the Glencorse Branch of the North British Railway. It opened from a junction at Millerhill on the Waverley route, to Roslin in 1874 and was extended to a location near Penicuik to serve Glencorse Barracks and a colliery in 1877 and to Penicuik Gas Works in 1878.

Bus services substantially eroded the passenger carryings on the line, and passenger trains ceased in 1933. There was some revival in colliery activity after World War II but most of the traffic had ceased in 1969 and the line finally closed completely in 1989.

My run began at the car park which is in Station Road, down where the original station platform was. This was also where the gates to my Primary school were (long gone with houses on the site now). 

First of all Kobi and I went to look at the bronze statues that depict different aspects of the Bilston Glen pit. There is a pit pony with miner and child and there is the Coghorn which used to have a small black cat on it (but this was stolen by vandals). The Coghorn is a memorial to remember all the miners killed in the pit over the years. 

After looking at the statues Kobi and I headed down onto the railway. As we ran along we spotted a path going up from the railway to what I fondly remember as 'the bing' it is now official called Ramsay Law but it will always be the bing to me. The view from the top was great, and the sun finally came out after quite a gloomy day. The hills in the back ground are the Moorfoots, where Kobi and I were on route 1!

After taking in the sights from the top of the bing we headed back down the hill, after a quick detour to say hello to Mum and Dad and get Kobi a quick drink of water we headed off towards the Straiton Nature Reserve (for those who are from Loanhead it was known as Dirty Dicks - in 1961 it was a trout fishery and the pond was called the Lang loch, it was run by a man called Richard (also known as Dick) he had somewhat of a reputation with the ladies during this time, and the rest is history! this is the only explanation of the name I could find, happy to be proven different).

After Kobi had a bit of a swim in the pond, we headed back up onto the railway. First stop was to go and admire the graffiti art that marks the edge of Midlothian before you go under the by-pass to carry on the railway path into Edinburgh. I always like seeing the changing art as different artists make their own mark. Stunning pictures this time.

Turning back along the railway back towards the car park Kobi and I ran along the railway path, and back to the car. Great wee run to the edge of Midlothian. One sleepy doggy when we got home. 

Next run Vogrie Country Park to take in the border near Gorebridge. 

don't worry, be happy :)