EDINBURGH WEEKEND 30th/31st JANUARY 2010

[Mrs H]

God dammit - and it was just in those last few controls when I was running out of puff - never mind there's always Carlisle

[Lucy.F.]

Hehe I wasn't impressed when he said about the english not knowing how to dance at ceilidhs! Many of us do! And when he said about me and Ali sat not dancing - there was a reason why I wasn't dancing - i was rather tired!!! but never mind!! Hope you enjoyed the rest of the ceilidh anyway and you weren't too bruised from your fall!!!
Lucyxx

[Scott]

Awesome weekend - to plagiarise AngryHaggis' verdict, easy the most spectacular urban race I have run. Huge thanks to all involved.

It will, however, be quite some time before I'm ready to tackle another flight of steps.

[mappingmum]

So then Scott, did you realise when you were in Princes Street gardens and remember this was THE bit you weren't to run across the grass?

[madmike]

Great urban race - the best planned urban race I've ever been to.

How could it be even better? Very difficult to improve on something this good but 2 minor points I'd make are:

1. A middle course for the M40+ please as that long race was a long long way, particularly with 2 races the next day.

2. You cannot be too aggressive in cutting circles around the controls to aid clarity for the visually challenged - i.e those of us over 45!

[Scott]

So then Scott, did you realise when you were in Princes Street gardens and remember this was THE bit you weren't to run across the grass?

Yes! I took a red pen an scribbled a random squiggle between 15 and 16 at the start, which reminded me. But the organisers had also attached a very visible reminder to the control just before we entered the gardens, which I thought was a great idea.

[madmike]

But the organisers had also attached a very visible reminder to the control just before we entered the gardens, which I thought was a great idea.

second that - really good idea

[EddieH]

I never saw it but I never see notices at controls anyway - too focused on the next leg. The warnings however had been enough to make it pretty memorable.

[andypat]

I saw it! was a good idea - maybe Eddie you took an unanticpated route to that control as the notice was only visible from the South!

[EddieH]

I came from the West - I thought it was the best route, but splits and routegadget prove otherwise. Anyway I very much doubt I would have noticed the notice.

[Scott]

I came from the west but managed to spot it, although by that point in the race I was moving so slowly that I don't think I would have had much excuse for missing it .

[keever]

...minor points I'd make are:
1. A middle course for the M40+ please as that long race was a long long way, particularly with 2 races the next day.

This has been noted, especially as the long course was pretty much full over a 3 hour period with start intervals of a minute.

[Angry Haggis]

...minor points I'd make are:
1. A middle course for the M40+ please as that long race was a long long way, particularly with 2 races the next day.

This has been noted, especially as the long course was pretty much full over a 3 hour period with start intervals of a minute.

On the flip side, it's nice to run a course where there's over 140 other people to compare times/splits with.

I thought the race was brilliant - sure there were lots of steps but that just makes it more interesting and spreads the times out more. It wasn't quite as technical as last year but was certainly more spectacular, with that world-famous view down Princes Street from No. 4. I think this race is second only to Venice in terms of the most enjoyable areas I've ever run on. Might even be a contender for the World 101.

(p.s. I still have a cheap spare train ticket up to Edinburgh for the British Nights & Scottish Nights in early March if anyone is interested. King's Buildings should be a great area.)

In case you didn't see the link that was posted earlier:

[graeme]

It wasn't quite as technical as last year

There were some truly epic route choices, none of which I got right.
If by "technical" you mean fiddly mapreading, note that they didn't use the most technical sprint-O style new bits.
Which means ...
It could be even better next year!

[Mrs H]

The early date and the hope of an intermediate men's course means we are already pencilled in - any idea what might happen on the Sunday ? (always hoping we can emerge from the ceilidh injury free for the first time ever! )

Can I just add that being able to use the facilities (and viewing point) of Dynamic Earth really added to the experience as far as we were concerned just as the Commonwealth Pool did last year. Its really great to be able to socialise in a nice warm convivial place at these urban races at this time of year.