Edinburgh
is a great city for running, whichever side of the city you are you
can find a park or a trail within a few miles and, plenty of hills to
explore. I've always lived in the centre/south side of town so that
my routes are mainly based there, this is a great site to explore
more options:
My
usual routes are:
Meadows
1.8
miles / 2.9km each loop
The Meadows offer a good training ground especially in the short winter days, as there are lights
around. I usually go there once or twice a week alternating:
- Recovery runs (after a hard run, 20 to 45 min steady runs at a very easy intensity);
- Tempo runs (30/40 min of a not too intense steady running);
- Interval workouts (short segments of hard running separated by segments of recovery jogging).
The
loop around Arthur Seats is about 5 km, then you can add kilometres
and gradients as you like. I usually do 3 or 4 loops and climb 3
times from different sides of the hill, this would be 20/25 km run
with some good uphills, and downhill workouts.
This
is a 15/20 km route good for foundation runs (1 or 2 hours steady
run performed at a comfortable pace, usually done during the first
phase of a marathon training). The canal is all flat and you can go
on for miles and miles (it leads to Glasgow...).
To
make it less boring I usually add some forest trail and a couple of
hills. I usually take the cycling path to Colinton, then following
the Water of Leith, cross the road, go up the stairs and join again
the Canal to go back towards the centre. Then take the first way out
on the left, cross the bridge and head to Craiglockhart Hill. You
need to go up and go down the other side and you will end up in
Comiston Drive. Head to Blackford Hill, follow the stream, go up till
you reach the top and then go back from the other side towards
Marchmont and back to the Meadows.
8.2
miles/13km one way, doubled to go back (or you can take the bus 44 in
Balerno)
This
is another variant of the Canal route, you basically follow the
cycling path (NCN 75) till Balerno. It's a very pleasant route, quite
and green but can get muddy if it has been raining before.
Pentlands
The
route I usually follow is about 24 km, or 40km if I run all the way
back to Edinburgh.
This
is a tough one. If you are not familiar with the place, make sure
you have:
- Proper shoes, be prepared to get back with muddy and wet feet;
- Windbreaker or raincoat as the weather is very tricky up there;
- I would also bring gloves, hat and some extra layer just in case, regardless of the season;
- Water and food;
- A map - you can print it out from here:
- Money in case you need to get the bus back (once I had to trade 2 apples for the fare..)
The
Pentlands allow for an infinity of routes. This is my favourite one.
I
usually get the bus 15 and get off at the first stop after the
bypass. At the parking I take the path up Carketton Hill, by the time
you are on the top you have already digested breakfast twice. From
there I follow the track to Allermuir hill and then Castlelaw Hill
(the one with the red flag). I used to go down from there but then
was told is a dangerous zone like training ground. Too bad, I loved
that vertical descent. Anyway, follow the big road down to Castlelaw
and then the path to Glencorse Reservoir. From there I take the 5
Hills path: Turnhouse Hill is the first, followed by Carnethy Hill
and Scald Law. At that stage I get the shortcut that brings down to
the Howe and get the track to Balerno. Most of the time I get the bus
44 back from there, but when I feel strong I keep going, run down the
village and follow Water of Leith via the NCN 76, and then the canal
back to Edinburgh.
Aviemore
/ Glenmore
After
a while you get bored of the same routes and you need new landscapes.
The
mountain marathon I signed in at the time was approaching and I felt I needed mountains,
not hills, to test if I had any chance of survival. I really had no
clue of how to train for this marathon, but I guessed running up
hills as much as I could was probably a good idea. A month before
the big day I decided to run up the 2 highest hills in Scotland: Ben
MacDui and Ben Nevis, both easily accessible by train.
 |
| Loch Morlich |
On
29 April I got the train to Aviemore and then cycled the 7 miles to
the Youth Hostel in Glenmore, where I'd have spent the following 2
nights. I would run the day after, and cycle to Pitlochry on the last
day.
There
was an alert for strong wind for the following day. But there I was,
so that I had to try. By 8am I had breakfast and was ready to kick
off, a couple of red squirrels were having an argument while I was
stretching, and I took it as a good omen. I wasn't sure where I was
going but I thought I'd figure it out along the way, as long as you
go up you can't go wrong.
The
path up to the sky resort was clear, but then I had to go back a
while and take the one going right to the corrie and then passing the
section of giant blocks. The wind at that stage was almost hurricane
strong and on getting out of the giant blocks I got blown back to
them. There was no way I would have been able to run in those
conditions. The Ben MacDui plan failed, the mountains decided it was
not an ascent day and I never challenge their decision.
The
day was still young and I was feeling good, so that I turned back
toward the sky resort and tried my luck going up a smaller pick by
its side. The wind was still strong but I could stand up, or dance
around like when back from a too many drinks night. After that I
started to go down, but I felt it was not enough and decided to
follow the blue track. At its Northern point I looked up and saw a
hill, the first of the three hills facing Loch Morlich, and thought
mmhhh...a traverse wouldn't be bad. So up I went, first to Meall a
Bhuacaille (810m) then Creagan Gorm (732m) and finally Craigowrie
(686m). I started to feel tired, and the gales didn't give me a
break, it got so strong that it was deforming my face when facing it,
unreal. I couldn't find the track any more and had to improvise my
way down the last hill, and gladly joined the orange trail back to
Glenmore.
 |
| The wind playing with my hair |
The
hostel was not open yet so that I laid outside doing some stretching,
sheltered by the wind and with sunshine curing my muscles. In total
it was an unexpected, and unplanned 38k run. Really happy with the
result and the feelings. The landscapes were superb at every moment,
and the fight against the wind quite motivational.
The
day after I went for a quick run around Loch Morlich, but that was
too much and my hamstring was there reminding me that I'm not 20 any
more. I then gladly got on my bike and cycle to Pitlochry, but it was
not getting better. Back home I learnt why you don't put ice on your
skin without a towel...I always wondered what a cold burn looked
like, and finally had the chance to see it on my own skin. It took me
a couple of weeks to get back in full shape, lesson learnt:
- Sometimes it's better not to know, or plan.
- Don't overdue, sometimes it's better not to run.
- Never ever put ice directly on your skin!
I
hiked up Ben Nevis a few years before and knew the path is clear, at
least up to the snow line. The weather was not on my side though and
from Fort Williams I couldn't see the top. But again, there I was so
that it was worth a try. I was staying in a hostel and was quite glad
to leave it very early. The fresh air in the morning always raises my
mood, and that felt like a big day.
I
start running from the bus station along the main road, and then at
the car park took the path up the mountain. The stones were wet and
the path muddy, and it would start to rain soon, but it felt good.
There is something about going up in the mountains, the mystery and
excitement to reach the top and see what's on the other side, and
this feeling gives me a couple of gears more.
Half way to the top,
when the path bends right I had to put on 2 more layers and gloves.
Up there it was still winter, and it was not far until I would see
the snow. After the snow line it got foggy, really foggy. The
visibility was limited to 10m, and it was so early that I didn't
meet anybody. It was only 800m left to reach the top but couldn't
find any reason to keep going. It was not worth getting lost just to
see nothing. I had to turn back.
Looking up I felt sad, but as soon
as I turned and faced the downhill I had a huge smile and flew down
enjoying every single jump.
It
took me 2h 23” to run all the route up and down. The ascent failed
but I was feeling good. So good, and so early, that I decided to
punish my cowardice with an extra 13 km up and around Cow Hill, which
offers a nice view on Fort William.
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