EDINBURGH WEEKEND 30th/31st JANUARY 2010

[greywolf]

one of the great things about urban events is that they are very often accessible by public transport - but anyone planning on coming to Edinburgh by train should be advised not to fall asleep onboard and rely on the assertion that "Edinburgh Waverly (sic) is situated in the city centre, where all trains terminate..."

[timsmith]

There is now some more detailed information on the Chasing Sprint on the 31st available at:
http://www.jok.org.uk/chasing_sprint/2010/flier

[redkite]

love the entry prices £10.99 and £8.99.

[LostOldTimer]

Will there be a warm, indoor, changing/waiting area for the Urban Race?
The Swimming Pool for 2009 was excellent.

[mharky]

No, the assembly is going to be on the flat fields by Holyrood Palace, the scene of the Edinburgh International XC race, which will be on BBC in January. The Royal Mile and it's pubs & cafes are only a few minutes away.

The commy pool was really good, but it's being renovated for the next two years.

[Lucy.F.]

Although we have not got the swimming pool room this year due to its redevelopment, we will hopefully liase with Dynamic Earth to be able to use their toilets and cafe. So there should be somewhere. We realise it can be quite difficult if people are arriving by public transport. Also we'll try to have club tents up too
(And Dynamic Earth is worth a look in its own right - particularly for the younger generation but it can be interesting for adults too - especially as many orienteers are geography/geology people!)

[andy]

if there is no 'official' arrangement with Dynamic Earth it is accessible by the public and has a cafe/toilets, we used it after the holyrood park event last year

[jjjl]

We have permission to use Dynamic Earth, as Andy says, on the basis that it is open to the public. But no mud!

[Big Jon]

Sounds a good base for the race - but anyone considering taking a small child into Dynamic Earth beware - it is hard to get out when in and having a scared, crying child in the middle of it is no fun!

[LostOldTimer]

Is there currently any / much snow/ice in Edinburgh?
The cold snap is set to continue for some time - I know its early yet - but i hope no-one will even consider cancelling/postponing the event - with evryone already booked trains etc... - or letting us go round 'non-competitively' - either we can go round or not (re. JK 98 Wales - snowed overnight, cancelled event, snow melted, we could still run round even though too 'dangerous' to compete!) I think everyone can make up their own minds, and take their own precautions. and as it always says, 'the competitor is responsible for his won safety' - so the club would not be liable; or is this a load of old **** anyway, and wouldnt stand up in court?

I know we can have access to Dynamic Earth - which looks very interesting, and I'll have a look around after anyway, but would we have to pay to get in to use the cafe/toilets?
Hae they been warned, or any agreement been made?
Are we able to get changed there etc..?

Looking forward to a great City race, and the start of this Nopesport series.
What chances of access to the Castle?

[Gross]

What chances of access to the Castle?

When independence comes along we'll make sure you are one of the first with access to the castle......

[mappingmum]

Is there currently any / much snow/ice in Edinburgh?

Loads and loads and loads and loads. It came on 17th Dec and it hasn't gone away since. My neighbour works in Edin and she couldn't get home last night.

[Gross]

My neighbour works in Edin and she couldn't get home last night.

She must be a total wimp then

[graeme]

There's loads of snow here. We've already enjoyed the longest snowy period since 1982. There's no chance of it hanging around until the end of the month.

It might go and come back though

At the moment it's fine for running - you can just wear dobbs because the pavements are generally untreated. The Chasing Sprint assembly has been inaccessible by car for two weeks. I don't think we'd have cancelled it on any day (though it would track up spectacularly!), but we certainly wouldn't have any good options for carparking to offer.

There have been conditions where it would be unwise to race (mainly clear, with sheet ice on staircases), about twice over the last couple of years.

[Big Jon]

Just get on with it - it'll be fun even if a bit icy in places. Maroc junior training was held today in a wood with up to 2 feet of snow lying in places - some of the smaller ones were struggling a bit to run but everyone enjoyed themselves.