Pentland Runners       

Mad May-Day Mini-Marathon Brunch Run, Sunday 1 May, 18.7 k from Balerno to Ratho Adventure Centre.

Following last year’s successful run we decided, at rather short notice, to do it again before the hectic race season really got going in May.

This year we added a couple of new start points for those who didn’t want (a) the climb up Johnsburn Rd, (b) a yomp through some squelchy countryside and (c) the risk of getting lost somewhere in the moorland between Balerno and Carnwath. A total of 13 runners decided to brave all three and go the whole way. Only Lyndsey succumbed to the squelch, a full frontal mid-air swallow dive. They were joined by 4 who set-off at the 11k-to-go, and a further 3 at the 5k-to-go points. The planning worked a treat with runners from all three groups coming home together. I was exhausted – getting in and out of the car so often is so tiring. Not so welcome was the rain which was a tad heavier and more persistent than desirable, but I had a rain jacket in the car, and everyone else scrubbed up well (the hairdryers must have been doing overtime) before being joined by families for lunch.