boxing day run

Talking of Christmas Crabs, for ten points where is this mural?
Answer at the bottom of the page.

Graham traditionally leads us astray in the Pentlands on Boxing Day but due to the new drink driving laws and the route we plan to do on the 28th, Graham decided we should meet at the Commie Pool and do something on urban trails today.

This was yesterday - 2 puddings; the cheesecake just edged ahead in terms of taste, but the glass of vanilla panna cotta and jelly was a visual treat. Top chefing Sue B! That and a load of drinks meant running today was obligatory.

I was first to arrive at the Pool at 8.57 and worried nobody else would show. However Paul (who has made every Boxing Day run) was next to turn up. This was mainly due to me emailing him last night, which he picked up this morning shortly before setting off to the traditional venue near the pentlands. Whew!

Graham was late (by a whole minute) because the padlock was frozen on his ma's shed (in which was his bike.) He went back up for a kettle rather than use his own hot water.

Steve arrived next bringing the total up to 4.

Graham had us run round Hunter's Bog then up to the summit while he worked out today's route. I had a Plan B 18 miler up my sleeve in case, however Graham had us head in a not so straight line towards the Braids, always keeping an eye out for alleys and lanes, down backstreets and off-the-beaten-track.

Typical was this path down to Duddingston off Arthur's Seat...

which took us to this war memorial for today's Baby Bronze. 
Mary and I were just saying yesterday how that daft phrase has been adopted into the Tynecastle Bronze regime describing a less-than-30mile outing. Thanks Paul for taking the photo.

The playing fields at Duddingston were covered in frost. Interesting how some areas were thick with frost and others not so. It made for pleasant scenery, and nicer when the sun was out.

From Duddingston over towards the Hermitage and Braids.

Hebridean sheep apparently

The observatory at Blackford

There was quite a fog lying up the Forth valley

This was the view from the Braids looking to Blackford Hill with Salisbury Crags behind.

Blackford Pond

Back to the Commie where Paul provided drinks and mince/raspberry/lemon pies

Just over 17 miles in a figure of 8 starting at the top then going straight up Leith Walk, round the bottom circuit clockwise then home down Easter Road.

And here is that mural featuring the crab - Halmyre Street, halfway between my flat and my brother's place

Next run is Sunday 9am from Regents Rd at the top of Jacobs Ladder to do the 7 Hills avec le Skyeline all welcome, do as little or much as you want, bring a bus fare and stuff to eat as it sounds quite long. Forecast is looking OUTSTANDING!

christmas cracker

taps aff

Two days ago the forecast for xmas day was fab. Then yesterday they took that away. Then today after a grey start the sun came out on the drive along to Gullane and it turned into the fab day we had been promised. It really lifted my spirits which were a bit subdued after quite a lot of work and not much running and the hellish spiritual squalor of the run up to christmas. Lower case c. It is just a terrible time of the year. In the past I have put this down to my financial inadequacies at this time of the year however that not being the case this time I realise I have a deep set hatred of this epi-centre of materialism and the pretence we are celebrating something other than shopping and cheap sentiment, rich food and hangovers and precious little that will do us good. With a soundtrack of meretricious nursery rhyme earworms as pleasant (though less sophisticated than) the splashes of vomit peppering the streets. It is like the whole world is on stupid pills and if you don't play along and shove tinsel up your ass you are frowned upon.

Ok, rant over. I had a great Christmas actually. Capital C.  I got an unexpected present of a pair of Hokas - Cliftons -  from Santa (review in due course) and a lovely piece of cheese for my work sandwiches from Mary. The Cliftons, exceptionally light road shoes, and yet with plenty cushioning, have arrived just in time for the Promathon, and today was their inaugural run. 

It would have been appropriate to see three ships come sailing by but alas there were only 2. There were however three wise men (and a dug.)

We did a quick 4+ miles around the golf course and usual trails. While we were coming back along the beach we saw these 2 who had just come out the sea. So we are not the only ones. The sun was streaming through the trees in the woods and I was really enjoying being out and about in the bright weather, recharging my batteries.

Saw this chap who on closer inspection seems to have an unusually long top bill.

Next up; the submergathon. I was excited to try out some new kit I had invested in from "the DIVE Shop" (Edinburgh Diving Centre) Polwarth. Much thicker gloves, better socks and a thick balaclava type hood rather than swimhat. I was delighted to find they all worked very well and made it possible to stay in the water long enough to swim rather than just duck in and out. And hands and feet and head definitely less numb. And I wasn't stripping off with chattering teeth afterwards. However the face still gets mighty cold and if you dive in too quickly you get a flush of cold water parting your hair. And it was still possible to operate M's new waterproof camera with the rather massive new gloves, which worked well and stopped fingers going numb in minutes.

Mary relaxing in the sunshine.

despite the new kit it was still coolish

waving not drowning

After a short time with your face in the water you lose the power of speech.

We jumped in the Berlingo and headed back to Edinburgh and a marvellous meal at Neil and Sue's with their family. What a fab Christmas! Neil and the boys are planning a (non-wetsuit) immersion over the holidays which should be fun. Watch this space.