Eskapade 2018

23rd December

This is an annual or nearly annual Carnethy bunfight as an alternative to Christmas shopping or any other foolish seasonal malady. About 24 (mostly) off road miles from the mouth of the Esk in Musselburgh to Carlops, where it is still in it's infancy, just a baby river Esk. There are all sorts of traditional trespassings and Christmas lectures and wall climbing and sewer surfings. The main pack set off at 8.30 led by Fearless Willie G, pretty much first light, rumour has it. Another faster group set off an hour later then finally the proper slug-a-beds like myself only set off at 10am, a more civilised hour.

I hadn't realised the medium group were already set off and it was only Nasher, Nick and I in the last group. I was hoping I wouldn't be the back marker, but I was. I was still in recovery from some throat/cold bugs and could do without a thrashing up the riverside. But there was no eskape. Also I probably ran the furthest distance of the day. I ran 3 miles to meet Nick on the prom and had covered 6 by the time we set off from Goosepoop St at the estuary.

So not as many pics taken today. I did take the good camera as no rain was threatening, but as the sun didn't really come out much, neither did the camera. Also, every time I got the camera out and stopped for a photo the other 2 disappeared into the distance. I would wipe the tears and snot away and struggle onwards to catch up. Never mind only another twenty-odd miles to go!

I hadn't noticed this seasonally apt road until now,
passed on the way to the Prom.

Of the 2 sides of the Mussel sculpture past Joppa this,
the Northern facing one, is far better.

 

DyukaBucloo estate

outside toilet

visually this is one of the highlights of the run,
but unfortunately my models hared on without slowing

We caught up with the main body of runners somewhere about Roslyn. I got chatting to a couple of folk and when I looked around my team (so much for teamwork) had ditched me, taking a lower path and skipping ahead. I hurried along and caught them while they were considering a diversion where there had been (I think) a bit of landslip. We ran on (still no sign of the mid-group who had forged ahead) and came to first one, and then another junction. Both times we took the trail leading down towards the river and both times were rewarded with roots, jumps, scrambles and slippery rock clambers. This proved more fun than it sounds though I didn't want to get the camera out for the worst of it as it would have been easy to either do a long slide into the river or clatter over the green and slimy rocks. There was an ambience of damp that slicked everything with a high fall potential though the precipitous drops focussed your attention and nobody took a header. Not even Nick who sports Hokas so old they are polished to bowling-shoe slick. On the return to the main trail from the second riverside excursion we caught up with the back of the main pack again!

Again I got chatting (it is a social run!) and again Nick and Graham disappeared off, though this time trying to keep up with an Amber-powered-Gordon who has embraced a new and speedy lifestyle thanks to harnessing doggy power. I began to feel very weary on the last couple of miles into Penicuik, a sign I hadn't been eating enough. On the way to the insalubrious Royal Hotel I bought a large unbranded can of energy drink which I diluted with water in my back pack reservoir. That and a couple of paracetamols worked miracles. Or maybe it was 2 juicy sausages in a white roll. Ever since sausages were deemed cancerous we have not had them in the house never mind white bread rolls. It was totally delicious and may just have been the fuel my flagging reserves needed. I also spent more time standing than sitting at the Royal. In the past I have sat down and chatted and upon re-starting running found it almost impossible. This time I felt ok after a short while. Note to self for next time: take a dry top. Horrible sitting around in damp clothes eating sausages.

The medium group and the fast group joined forces and there were about 9 of us with Ross up the front breaking the trail. He seemed to know the route and we left by a different way to any I can remember although it quickly merged into the familiar path. Good to have Michelle along in our group, the only female, but surely capable of out-running any of us as she does the most gnarly ultra races almost every weekend. 

After a while the lack of light and tiredness meant I didn't get the camera out. I found the uneven tussocky ground less troubling than on previous eskapades but no idea if it was easier going or just the lucky sausages were doing it for me. Probably paracetamol and caffeine combo. Graham reckoned it was the fastest we had ever got finished - still daylight - which was handy as he had a dinner to go to that evening. His good wife Mrs. Nasher drove out to The Allan Ramsay where we were rehydrating and gave Nick and I a lift into town where we very quickly caught a bus that took me all the way home. Final mileage was exactly 30 miles. So although I finished the TB runs in November I inadvertently did 2 in December. It was great fun seeing everyone and chatting esp those who no longer live in Edinburgh, and the run was quite nice too. Highly recommended!