Race Round Up 23rd May to 29th May 2022
Sunday 29th May 2022
EMF Edinburgh Marathon Festival
Over the course of the weekend there are the following events listed below which makes way for a great weekend of running which everyone young or experienced can be part of. Kids kilometre, JNR 1.5k, JNR 2k, JNR 5k, adult 5k, 10k, relay, half marathon and a marathon.
Marathon route description taken from the website!
Starting on Holyrood Park Road with the picturesque backdrop of Holyrood Park, this incredible city centre route brings you past the impressive Surgeons’ Hall, designed by William Henry Playfair in 1832. This part of city is a fabulous mix of history, and festival culture. You past Scotland’s premier dance and opera house, the Festival Theatre, which comes alive with a variety of world-class productions, particularly during the summer festival months.
The route then turns right, and meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast.
As you reach Musselburgh, you’ll run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played as early as 1672, before heading further East on the flat to Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam.
As you turn and head back along the coast, you’ll see the beautiful finish line ahead, one of the greatest sights for any marathon runner! With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, the organisers believe that this is the fastest marathon route in the world.
David Hodgson ran his 3rd Edinburgh Marathon and he took to Strava stating he didn’t have much oxgen within his lungs since having Covid. He was pleased he finished but felt it was hard work and considered pulling out at half way, however after a stern chat with himself he was able to crack on.
It was 7 years ago that Debbie Spoor ran her first ever marathon in Edinburgh and this was her 7th effort at 26.2 miles. However, over the past 3 weeks she has endured a hip injury whilst moving house and then with the fire alarm sounding at 7.15am in the hotel on race day morning it was going to be a day not to forget. Debbie ran great but on facebook she stated that she struggled from halfway however the time she ran qualifies her for a good for age place at London next year, she was delighted to finish. Great determination Debbie, the club are very proud.
2642nd Debbie Spoor 3.52.57
5886th David Hodgson 4.40.18
https://www.edinburghmarathon.com/results?event=931
Half Marathon
As you reach Musselburgh as per description above you head further East on the flat towards the historic village of Prestonpans before turning and heading back towards the beautiful finish line within the vast playing fields of Pinkie School.
Andrew has worked hard for this event and within this training cycle he has ran exceptional times at a variety of races. And he was rewarded with again another fine performance where he finished as 2nd V45 male, which is absolutely outstanding. Here are the thoughts from Andrew on how his experience went:
It was an early 8am start for the Edinburgh Half Marathon, weather was great and lots of people had told me it was a quick course! My advice to anybody is never listen to others! It was nice to see good representation from the North East with runners from North Shields, Heaton and South Shields.
I started in the white zone, just behind the quick club runners and for the 4 mile, it was a mix of steep downhill bits, a couple of small climbs, a cobbled road down the iconic Royal Mile and onwards towards Hollyrood Park. As far as starts go this was right up there with the best of them!
Now this is where it got a bit tougher, the course heads towards Musselburgh along the coastal path, I did try and take in some of the scenery but by this time I was hurting! By the time we turned the corner for the last 1 1/2 mile I knew I just had to grit my teeth and get through it. I went through the line in 1:16:39 which I was really pleased with, I couldn’t have given any more!
I did note my Garmin said 13.24 miles which is a bit over the 13.1 miles it should have been, according to my watch I crossed 13.1 mile in 1:15:54 so I am unofficially taking this as my PB 🙂
I would recommend this but be careful and avoid doing the first 4 mile too quickly, it’s tempting but you have another 9 miles after that!
Micky Shore briefly mentioned it wasn’t his day with only 2 hours sleep the night before. However well done Micky on still turning up and doing the best you could have done on the day.
59th Andrew Ball 1.1639 and a new pb & 2nd v40 male
2291st Micky Shore 1.47.20
https://www.edinburghmarathon.com/results?event=710
